“Young Teacher, I asked a servant to prepare food. Would you like to have some?”
Shui Yun’er came quietly to behind Xue Qilin and said softly. Xue Qilin didn’t look back.
“It’s already noon?”
Perhaps this is related to the fact that she didn’t have a any water since last night, but her voice was slightly hoarse, giving off the impression of being chapped.
“Mhm, it’s already noon.”
Shui Yun’er’s voice sounded a little disconsolate.
“That so…”
Before she knew it, it was already noon.
Qi Qiqi still hasn’t woken up. As if she turned into a statue, Xue Qilin has been sitting like this the whole morning. During this time, Shui Yun’er has gone out. Xue Qilin didn’t ask her what she has been up to, nor did Shui Yun’er say herself what she has done until now.
“I’m not hungry.”
Xue Qilin still didn’t look back, as if her eyes are glued to Qi Qiqi’s sleeping face.
“Go by yourself.”
Shui Yun’er surprisingly fell silent.
She didn’t speak, nor did she leave, she just stood behind Xue Qilin. Xue Qilin could sense the other party’s gaze on her.
Finally —
“Little Yun?”
Xue Qilin called the girl who suddenly embraced her from behind, astonished.
Shui Yun’er didn’t speak. She just continued to hug Xue Qilin tightly. Her embrace exudes a warmth that could easily seep into Xue Qilin and warm the lass’s tired body and scarred heart.
“– please don’t make me see you sad.”
At this moment, the girl’s voice sounded, sounding like the chirping of a cicada, and Xue Qilin trembled.
“No matter where you go, no matter what you do, I will support you; even if you become an enemy of the world, I will stay by your side. But please don’t make me see you sad.”
Shui Yun’er’s calm voice was full of distress.
“Young Teacher, I will feel heartbroken otherwise.”
— when did it start?
Since when did her vision narrow so much that she could only see Qi Qiqi, since when did she start ignoring others, ignoring Shui Yun’er?
Because Qi Qiqi was suffering, Xue Qilin only focused on her. She wanted to pull her out of the suffering, thinking that it didn’t matter if she herself got hurt in the process. However, Xue Qilin, who forgot that Shui Yun’er loved her dearly, unconsciously pushed the other party into a prison of pain and torment.
The lass only wanted to help a loved one, but then ignored that her actions are tugging at some person’s heartstrings.
— Xue Qilin, you’re really ridiculous.
The lass said this to herself. She suddenly felt ashamed and guilty.
But it should not be too late. Xue Qilin stroked Shui Yun’er’s arm wound around her bosom.
“Alright, alright, I got it.”
Xue Qilin did not apologize.
The lass thinks that what Shui Yun’er needs is not an apology, but her to respond to the other party’s expectations. So she deliberately responded in a brisk tone.
“… really?”
As if a child trying to confirm if her mother would keep her promise, Shui Yun’er asked in an uneasy and expectant tone.
“When did I lie to you?” Xue Qilin took hold of Shui Yun’er’s hand, “Didn’t you say that you would trust me?”
“Young Teacher, this statement of yours is really crafty.”
When the always steady Shui Yun’er grumbled coyly in a rare fashion, Xue Qilin realized once more the fact that she is still a child.
Yes, she is only fourteen… Her past is full of pain, how could I make her suffer anymore? Xue Qilin reprimanded herself for being selfish.
“But, I trust you — I have always trusted you.”
Shui Yun’er’s tone was firm and full of strength, as if he was declaring some kind of determination.
Xue Qilin knows that not only Shui Yun’er, but also Qi Qiqi trusts her deeply. It was because she believed that Xue Qilin could bring Gong Tianqing back that Qi Qiqi revealed an expression a betrayal when the other party failed to respond to her trust.
Qi Qiqi’s trust may be blind.
But, in many cases, pure and deep trust is essentially blind.
So, Xue Qilin does not blame her. Even though she was hurt, she does not blame her.
Besides, Qi Qiqi is only sixteen. No matter how sensible and mature she appears, she is still only a child.
When I was sixteen, I was acting wild. But Little Seven is already shouldering the entire Merak Temple… Thinking till here, Xue Qilin couldn’t help but smile.
“Really, comparing yourself to others will only make you angry…”
“Um?”
Shui Yun’er, who doesn’t seem to understand what Xue Qilin meant by this, made a puzzled sound. Xue Qilin replied with “it’s nothing” and didn’t explain.
Then, she patted Shui Yun’er’s hand and asked her to let go.
“Let’s eat.”
Shui Yun’er issued a soft “mhm” and let go of Xue Qilin. Then, Xue Qilin stood up and stretched herself.
It might be an illusion, but when Xue Qilin looked at Qi Qiqi again, she found that her face seems to be a bit more at ease.
Xue Qilin hesitated for a moment, but still didn’t wake the other party up to eat.
Every night since Gong Tianqing disappeared from the Merak Temple, Qi Qiqi could only toss and turn in bed, unable to fall asleep. She even had to get under Xue Qilin’s quilt several times to get some comfort from her and be able to fall asleep peacefully.
Let’s let her sleep a bit more. Xue Qilin pulled a few strands of beautiful hair sticking to Qi Qiqi’s face away, then turned around, bypassed the folding screen, and walked to the table.
On the table, there are a few common side dishes, all of which are Xue Qilin’s favorite. Shui Yun’er clearly arranged them intentionally.
“It would be a shame to let them cool down.”
Looking at the food on the table, Xue Qilin mumbled to herself.
Shui Yun’er covered her mouth, smiled, and said, “It would really be a shame to let them go to waste.”
“Oh, that would be indeed bad.”
“Yes, so let’s eat them quickly.”
The two smiled at each other and sat down at the table one after another.
Shui Yun’er opened the small rice tub placed on the table and filled two bowls, and then put a few pieces of meat on top of one of the bowls. She pushed this bowl to in front Xue Qilin.
“Young Teacher, have some more, or else you won’t be able to grow up.”
“Impudent!” Xue Qilin protested angrily, “What do you mean by won’t be able to grow up. You should have some more instead. I am already an adult, okay? I’m more than twice as old as you.”
“Shouldn’t it be several times?”
Shui Yun’er tilted her head slightly.
Xue Qilin rolled her eyes and took a few bites of the food.
At this moment, Shui Yun’er suddenly asked, “Young Teacher, do you want me to get in touch with the Red Chamber?”
“Huh?” Xue Qilin blinked, “Red Chamber? Why would you get in touch with them?”
“I wonder if they have any useful information.”
Seeing the puzzled expression on Xue Qilin’s face, Shui Yun’er explained her intentions.
“But, it was the Shadow Gate that abducted Little Qing?”
In Xue Qilin’s impression, the Shadow Gate is the most elusive sect in all of Hua Dynasty. Their people are very good at hiding and erasing their tracks.
Although Xue Qilin once heard Qi Qiqi say that the Red Chamber has a larger intelligence network than the Leisure Manor and is the most influential organization in the underground outside of the Imperial Court, but she doesn’t think that the Red Chamber has the ability to find out Gong Tianqing’s whereabouts.
“Although the Red Chamber may not be able to find the whereabouts of Little Sister Gong, but we should be able to get some clues from their intelligence.” Shui Yun’er said with a smile, “Isn’t it better than nothing?”
After contemplating for a while, Xue Qilin felt that there would be no harm in following Shui Yun’er’s proposal and there may even be unexpected gains, so she nodded.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
Perhaps because she is happy that Xue Qilin accepted her proposal, Shui Yun’er smiled brightly, and then picked up a few vegetables for Xue Qilin.
At this time, Xue Qilin doesn’t know how much Shui Yun’er has done for her and Qi Qiqi.
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