Refusal to Speak

Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "I might have been the one who encouraged you to drink, but I never intended for you to drink yourself into a stupor."

Chang'e only smiled and replied, "But I want to drink until I pass out. Right now, I'm only a bit tipsy, but I haven't fallen yet..."

Hearing this, Su Qing understood that Chang'e truly had something on her mind, and it wasn't a small matter.

Helpless, she shook her head. "Alright, that’s enough for now. Can you tell me what’s really bothering you? Given the relationship between us, surely there’s no need to keep it a secret? So, Sister Chang'e, just tell me. Whatever it is, you'll feel much better once you let it out. After all, carrying a burden alone is always the hardest."

Su Qing naturally didn't want Chang'e to bear too much on her own...

...and she certainly didn't want to see her looking so melancholic.

For her to act this way, it was clear that she had encountered some major trouble...

...after all, if it were just a minor thing, why would she be like this?

Even the official business she usually hated most couldn't make her this wistful.

Therefore, Su Qing desperately wanted to understand what had happened. Only by knowing the truth could she help her or offer some comfort.

As Chang'e listened to Su Qing, even though the alcohol had gone to her head and begun to numb her nerves, her mind remained uncharacteristically clear.

She shook her head. "I can't... You can't help with this. In fact, if you knew what was happening, it would be hard for you to stay calm. So, Xiao Qing... don't ask anymore."

Su Qing fell silent for a moment upon hearing those words...

On one hand, she hadn't expected Chang'e to not be completely drunk; on the other, she hadn't realized the situation was even more serious than she had imagined.

She remained silent for a while, then looked at Chang'e. "No, even if I can't help, even if I can't handle it..."

As Su Qing spoke, her mouth was suddenly blocked. The words she wanted to continue were forced to a halt.

She looked at Chang'e in disbelief. She truly hadn't expected Chang'e to choose such a direct method to silence her...

However...

It seemed perfectly in line with Chang'e's usual style.

Helpless, she could only close her mouth for now.

A moment later, Chang'e's lips parted from hers.

She looked at Su Qing and said, "Don't blame me for not telling you... I just can't bear to see you sad and worried over this. So, don't ask anymore. I know that an unresolved curiosity can be very painful, but no matter what... it's still better than knowing everything."

Su Qing cared for Chang'e, but wasn't Chang'e also refusing to tell Su Qing out of care for her?

Even though she knew this would make Su Qing feel uneasy, it was still better than her knowing the truth.

Hearing this, Su Qing was silent for a moment before letting out a helpless sigh. "Fine. Since you've put it that way, Sister Chang'e... I'll listen to you. But I'll say it again: if you really can't hold on alone, you must tell me. I want to face it with you. No one can carry everything on their own."

Su Qing didn't know what had happened, so she could only offer these vague words of comfort.

Chang'e seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at Su Qing's response. Then, she slumped against Su Qing and suddenly lost consciousness.

Clearly, she was already incredibly drunk.

She had only been forcing herself to stay awake until now.

Su Qing sighed helplessly and shook her head. "Honestly... just what on earth happened?"

Su Qing felt helpless, but there was nothing she could do...

Looking at Chang'e in her arms, Su Qing gently stroked her hair. 'So many things have been happening lately... I hope, I really hope she'll be alright.'

Su Qing didn't want her friends to become despondent. Again, she preferred the happy, cheerful Chang'e...

"I should take her back to her room." Su Qing shook her head and lifted Chang'e from the floor.

Since she was the one who got Chang'e drunk...

...she naturally had to handle the aftermath.

Otherwise, it would be like starting a fire and just walking away.

Carrying Chang'e, Su Qing headed toward her bedroom.

Su Qing had been to Chang'e's room countless times.

Thus, she quickly arrived.

The room was as messy as ever...

Fortunately, while things were scattered about, it wasn't dirty. There were just too many miscellaneous items, making it look cluttered.

Su Qing ignored the state of the room and quickly laid her on the bed, then helped her take off her shoes...

She also removed the cumbersome hair ornaments.

Once she finished, Su Qing let out a long breath and sat by the bed, watching the sleeping woman.

In sleep, Chang'e was as beautiful as ever...

Even more endearing than when she was awake.

However, her slightly furrowed brows stirred a ripple of emotion in Su Qing's heart, making her worry about Chang'e's condition.

"Sigh, this woman... she really is a handful." The more Su Qing thought about it, the more helpless she felt, eventually letting out another sigh.

She reached out to smooth Chang'e's hair...

A moment later, seeing that Chang'e's breathing had steadied, she finally relaxed and prepared to leave.

Now that Chang'e was drunk and asleep, she couldn't stay here forever. Besides, if she stayed and kept looking at her, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from wondering what was troubling her...

In that case, nothing would change...

So, Su Qing decided to walk around other parts of the Moon Palace first.

She would chat with Yuer and Gongsun Zhixue...

And perhaps see if Yuer knew anything.

However...

Just as Su Qing was about to get up and leave, Chang'e suddenly grabbed her.

Chang'e opened her eyes dizzily, pulled Su Qing close, and said, "Don't leave me."

Su Qing was a bit stunned. She didn't know what kind of incredible thing Chang'e had just dreamed about to react so strongly when she tried to leave.

But on second thought...

Su Qing felt that this reaction was likely tied to whatever was troubling her earlier.

So, she gave a helpless smile and said, "Of course I won't leave you, Sister Chang'e. But what exactly did you dream about? Can you tell me?"

Su Qing sat back down beside her, looking into her half-open eyes...

Chang'e looked back at her. It was unclear whether she was conscious or not, but when Su Qing asked the question, Chang'e suddenly closed her mouth and simply pulled Su Qing into her embrace.

"Just stay with me for a while. Just like this." Chang'e spoke dizzily.

Then, she seemed to fall back asleep.

Being held like this, Su Qing found it inconvenient to break free. It wasn't that Chang'e's strength was so great that she couldn't escape...

...she simply felt that if she did, Chang'e might wake up again. So, she stayed put on purpose.

After all, though Chang'e was much stronger than her, how much strength could she have while asleep and drunk? Breaking free would have been easy.

Lying in Chang'e's arms and listening to her heartbeat, Su Qing couldn't help but think, 'Chang'e really is something. Even in this state, she's still so tight-lipped... It seems she truly doesn't want me to know about that matter no matter what.'

She felt a bit speechless and helpless.

Why did she act as if Su Qing were so fragile?

Su Qing had lived for so many years, after all.

What hadn't she experienced?

How could she break down over one little thing? So, telling her really wouldn't have been a problem!

Su Qing shook her head inwardly and closed her eyes...

She was being held and couldn't do anything else, nor could she leave.

So, what else could she do besides sleep with Chang'e for a while?

Besides, this was nice too. A good sleep would help her recover her own spirit...

Everything she did afterward would be much easier with a refreshed mind.

Time slowly passed.

Before they knew it, several hours had gone by.

After so much time, Chang'e finally woke up from her drunken state...

Upon waking, she immediately discovered Su Qing sleeping in her arms... and realized what she had done.

She reached out and touched Su Qing, a helpless expression appearing on her face. She thought to herself, 'I hope I didn't tell Su Qing about that matter while I was drunk.'

Chang'e thought back and shook her head. It seemed she really hadn't let anything slip.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, she woke Su Qing.

Su Qing hadn't been sleeping very deeply. When Chang'e touched her earlier, she had already partially woken up.

So, when Chang'e called her, she quickly opened her eyes.

She propped herself up and looked at Chang'e. "Sister Chang'e, are you sober now?"

"Of course I am..." Chang'e nodded. "So? Even getting me drunk didn't work, did it?"

How could Chang'e not know what Su Qing had been thinking earlier?

Su Qing let out a yawn. Perhaps because she had slept too long, she wasn't quite alert yet and kept yawning.

"Yeah, it was completely useless. I didn't realize you had improved so much since we last met! But I still want to ask—"

"No need to ask. I won't tell you," Chang'e said, letting out a breath and shaking her head.

The reason Chang'e had asked just now was naturally to confirm with Su Qing...

After all, she hadn't been sure if she really kept her mouth shut while intoxicated.

Hearing this, Su Qing nodded helplessly. "Fine. If you won't say it, you won't. Anyway... I'm completely out of ideas when it comes to you."

Chang'e gave a light chuckle. "After all, I've grown too! Alright, don't think too much about these things. Whether you know or not won't have much of an impact on you. Just keep doing what you need to do."

Chang'e's mood seemed to have recovered quite a bit, and her smiles were becoming more frequent.

However, Su Qing could still tell that her smiles were somewhat forced.

It was as if the smiles were mainly for her benefit.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile and nodded. "I understand. Don't worry, since you're unwilling to speak, I won't press you. But I'll say it again—"

"I know what you're going to say, so there's no need to repeat it." Chang'e smiled. "If I really wanted to tell you, I would have done so long ago. As for whether I'll change my mind in the future, I don't know, so I won't tell you for now."

Su Qing pursed her lips. This woman never changed, no matter how much time passed.

She sighed. "Suit yourself... Since you're up, I should be going. I'll go see Gongsun Zhixue and chat with Yuer for a bit, then I have to head back. There are still many things to settle in the Northern Continent! I can't leave everything to my subordinate... she's already working hard enough."

Chang'e smiled but didn't let go of Su Qing. Instead, she flipped over and pinned her down. "You're already in bed with me. Don't you plan on doing something?"

Su Qing looked at Chang'e and smiled. "Sister Chang'e, stop joking. Even you wouldn't be thinking about that kind of thing in this situation. You don't need to use this method to try and reassure me."

Seeing her thoughts seen through at a glance, Chang'e felt a bit awkward. She touched her cheek and released Su Qing.

"Fine, fine. You're becoming more and more boring. Since you're not interested today, we'll just wait until next time." Chang'e pursed her lips, speaking stubbornly.

Su Qing shook her head. The woman said that, but she likely wouldn't follow through next time either...

After all, she knew Chang'e too well...

However, Su Qing didn't say anything more. She only nodded with a smile and stood up to head out.

"Sister Chang'e, remember what we agreed. If you ever want to talk, you can come to me anytime... I can help share the burden." Su Qing said one last time before leaving.

Chang'e smiled and nodded. "Mm, I'll remember."