Seeing their firm attitude, Ninth Elder ultimately found it hard to stop them any further. He could only suppress his worry and repeatedly cautioned them, “Remember, self-preservation comes first in everything. If you encounter danger, do not try to be a hero. Hide if you can, and especially avoid Ye Chang'an. That man is ruthless and underhanded; you must absolutely avoid a direct conflict with him.”
“Yes! Rest assured, Ninth Elder!”
After giving his warnings, Ninth Elder raised his hand, preparing to remove the soundproofing barrier. His gaze swept over the crowd, and he suddenly noticed something was off. Frowning, he asked in a deep voice, “Where is Lin Mu?”
Chen He hesitated. “Uh, Seventh Senior Sister went to be a guest...”
...
The bedroom's decor was extremely luxurious. Several massive night-luminescent pearls hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a soft, white glow that illuminated the hall with a warm, translucent light.
Song Yao had been led into the hall, sitting down in bewilderment before a carved jade table.
The table was laden with all kinds of exquisite delicacies, with a dazzling array of pastries and candied fruits.
Chen Qingqiu sat directly opposite her. A moon-white dress accentuated her ethereal figure, and her features were cold and noble.
She looked up at Song Yao.
The young girl was also tilting her head, looking back at her. There was little emotion in those beautiful eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like a genderless Guanyin statue in a temple.
Chen Qingqiu's cheeks involuntarily flushed with a light blush. Her fingertips curled slightly as she pushed the delicacies forward, her cold voice carrying a trace of hard-to-detect awkwardness and hesitation. “What... what do you like to eat? Just tell me.”
Song Yao grew even more bewildered.
She had never met Chen Qingqiu in this life.
What was this about?
She leaned back slightly and shook her head, feeling a bit hesitant.
If she was recognized, should she run, or should she deal with Chen Qingqiu?
There shouldn't be any irreconcilable conflicts between her and Chen Qingqiu, right?
No, wait...
There was still Ye Chang'an standing between them.
Was Chen Qingqiu planning to kill her for Ye Chang'an's sake?
As her thoughts drifted into increasingly absurd territory, Chen Qingqiu bit her lip and spoke haltingly, “Don't... don't be afraid. I just want to ask you a few questions.”
Song Yao: “...”
Something was off again.
With Chen Qingqiu's extreme social anxiety—a personality where she wouldn't speak unless absolutely necessary—if she wanted to kill her, she would have struck directly instead of sitting here chatting with her.
Besides...
There was a faint scent of alcohol lingering in the air.
Had Chen Qingqiu been drinking?
Feeling a spark of curiosity, Song Yao leaned back over the table. “What questions? Feel free to ask.”
The person who had just been full of wariness had suddenly taken charge of the conversation, startling Chen Qingqiu and making her cheeks turn even redder.
She clutched her sleeves, stammering, “Well... did your... did your Third Senior Sister really die? I heard her remains were never found. Is... is there any chance she might still be alive?”
Song Yao was taken aback, not expecting this question.
Back then, she had found this socially anxious little mute amusing, so she had pinched her face and waist a couple of times to tease her, scaring the girl so much she almost committed suicide.
How could she still remember it now, even chasing after people to ask if she was dead or not?
Resting her chin on her hand, she reached for a pastry. “I heard her soul lamp went out, so she must be thoroughly dead. Rest assured, Saintess.”
“...”
Chen Qingqiu had already heard this answer countless times.
The young girl before her was not the first person she had asked.
But hearing such a definitive confirmation still drained most of the color from her face.
She clenched her palms, her fingertips turning white from the force. After a long silence, she looked up at Song Yao again and asked softly, “Then... will she hate me?”
The pastries here were noticeably more delicious than the ones outside.
Song Yao was putting extra effort into eating more to gain weight and get healthier.
With her cheeks stuffed, she replied casually, “Hate? Why would she hate you? You're so beautiful, she probably liked you too much to ever hate you.”
But Chen Qingqiu visibly panicked, her fingertips trembling. Her voice carried a hint of a sob as she eagerly refuted, “You don't understand! Back then, I clearly said I would go with her into the Earth Realm. But... but I was trapped by my master and couldn't make it. She died all alone in the Earth Realm. She must hate me!”
Song Yao suddenly choked.
What?
Chen Qingqiu wanted to accompany her into the Earth Realm?
How did she not know about this?
No, wait.
She tried hard to recall. Before she was thrown into the Earth Realm, it seemed a Beiyao Sect disciple had indeed delivered an orchid-embroidered sachet to her through a series of hands.
Inside was a small slip of paper with some cheesy words about living and dying together, never parting.
It was signed with a single character: Qiu.
At the time, she was in a hurry to fake her death and run away. Besides, there were plenty of young ladies and gentlemen sending her sachets, so she hadn't paid it any mind and simply tossed it aside.
So it was from Chen Qingqiu, meaning she wanted to go to the Earth Realm with her?
She was instantly filled with respect.
Chen Qingqiu looked introverted, but she was actually this loyal?
They had only met a few times and barely spoken, yet she had been willing to go to her death with her.
If she had known, she wouldn't have pinched her face back then.
Feeling deeply guilty about her past roguish behavior, Song Yao comforted her, “Going to the Earth Realm was her own business. It was so dangerous, so she probably didn't want you to accompany her in the first place. How could she possibly hate you?”
But Chen Qingqiu was not comforted in the slightest. Her tears fell instantly as she suffered a minor breakdown. “How could she not hate me? I... I even got betrothed to her sweetheart...”
Song Yao: “...”
Her sweetheart... she didn't mean Ye Chang'an, did she?
How disgusting.
If she had known, she would have cleared things up before faking her death. Being tied to someone like that was incredibly unpleasant.
She sighed softly and said, “She's already dead. How would she know about your betrothal to Ye Chang'an?”
Then she added, “Besides, even if she did know, she wouldn't blame you. He's just Ye Chang'an. He's not worth it.”
Chen Qingqiu's tears fell even faster. “She doesn't hate me... how can she not even want to hate me...”
Song Yao: “?”
No, wait.
What was wrong with this girl's logic?
Why was she practically begging to be hated?
She wasn't in the mood to act as a therapist. Looking up, her gaze collided directly with Chen Qingqiu's tear-filled eyes.
A crying beauty was always a stunning sight. Right now, large tears rolled down, splashing against her pale cheeks and leaving faint, wet trails.
She looked fragile and deeply moving.
Song Yao's old habit of being unable to walk away from good-looking people instantly flared up.
Sighing helplessly, the grape she was holding in her hand took a turn and was brought right to Chen Qingqiu's lips.
Her cold, indifferent eyes sparkled with faint glints of light as she coaxed, “Alright, stop crying. Who knows, maybe Third Senior Sister simply couldn't bear to let you go, which is why she didn't want to drag you along to lose your life?”
Without giving her a choice, she popped the grape into Chen Qingqiu's mouth, her fingertip brushing away the tears on the girl's face as her eyes curved into a smile. “Besides, you look much better when you smile.”
A sweet, fresh juice burst in Chen Qingqiu's mouth.
Chen Qingqiu had absolutely not expected her to make such an intimate gesture.
Her crying stopped abruptly, and she froze in place. Her fair cheeks flushed crimson instantly, the blush spreading from the tips of her ears all the way down to her neck. She instinctively wanted to shrink back.
But Song Yao retracted her hand a step ahead of her, acting as if nothing had happened as she asked casually, “But why did the Saintess think to ask me this? Honestly, I've never even met Third Senior Sister before.”
Rate on N.U.
