The starlit eyes reflected in the water are hazy, the willows sway in the wind.
I still remember the bright moonlight in the Deep Courtyard among the pear blossoms.
Silver candle tears, black hair falling, regret hard to dispel.
Yet I laugh as the Jade Hairpin is slanted, trembling between the twin peaks.
When that woman, dressed in a pale yellow gown, her figure full yet not overweight, entered his sight, Xu Ping’an’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.
Though they’d only been apart for a few short months, it was obvious she had grown much thinner.
The baby fat once on her face had faded away, and her eyes no longer glimmered with the lively light of the past.
Yet even so, as those eyes swiftly swept across the courtyard, in an instant, they locked onto him.
“Ping’an. Is it really you?”
Before the words had even finished, the person was already in motion.
Like a young swallow returning to its nest, she hurried a few steps, then broke into a run, and dove straight into Xu Ping’an’s embrace.
“It’s you… It’s really you… It’s really you…”
Tears were already streaming from her eyes, pouring down like rain and wetting Xu Ping’an’s chest.
Feeling the gentle body in his arms trembling slightly, Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
What a tangled fate.
The Liu Yingying in his arms clung to Xu Ping’an as if she feared he would vanish the very next moment.
Of the three women nearby, Li Yuer was the wisest.
Knowing it wasn’t the right time to interrupt, she led the other two away.
Xiao Yunyuan, who was standing at the entrance of Autumn Water Hall, also quickly retreated, leaving the place to the pair inside.
“Don’t cry. Seeing you cry makes my heart ache…”
Looking at Liu Yingying in his arms and recalling her former high-spirited self, then seeing the haggard face of today, Xu Ping’an felt something he couldn’t keep in any longer.
If only he had known she’d end up like this, he should have come sooner, or simply taken her away by force.
Anything would be better than seeing her so worn out now.
Suddenly, a blow struck his chest. Xu Ping’an was startled, and instinctively looked down at Liu Yingying, only to see her lifting her hand and pounding on his chest over and over.
“Why… Why… Why, do you dislike me so much?”
Why?
There was no real reason.
At the beginning, Xu Ping’an had simply not wanted to get too involved.
But sometimes, the human heart is just that uncontrollable.
Xu Ping’an quietly looked at Liu Yingying, then suddenly reached out and hugged her tightly.
“I like you. I’ve always liked you. Before… I just didn’t want to be too entangled, but seeing you again, I’m sure now… I don’t want to lose you ever again.”
“Really?”
With a face streaked with tears, Liu Yingying looked up at Xu Ping’an, a hint of hope in her eyes.
“Really.”
“Why didn’t you say it sooner…”
Even if he had wanted to, it hadn’t been easy to say.
“Alright, don’t cry anymore. Seeing you cry hurts my heart. Be good, from now on… I won’t let go again, okay?”
“Mm~”
“Uh~ can you let go a little? I can’t breathe~”
“No!”
Though she said that, she still loosened her grip a little, so at least Xu Ping’an wouldn’t get squeezed to death.
“Ping’an… I missed you.”
“Mm, I know.”
“Ping’an, I dreamed of you.”
“Mm, I know.”
“Ping’an, in my dream you married me, Eight Carriage Procession, Red Bridal Dress.”
“Mm, I know.”
At this point, Liu Yingying suddenly looked up at Xu Ping’an.
“You will marry me, right?”
“Yes, I will marry you, Eight Carriage Procession, Red Bridal Dress.”
Only then did the beauty in his arms finally show a smile.
Though her face was streaked with tears, she couldn’t suppress her joy.
She buried herself in his embrace, the corners of her mouth unconsciously rising.
“In this moment, I am content. Even if you lied to me, I have nothing else to wish for in this life.”
Hearing this, Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.
This girl, does she have a bit of PTSD?
“Why would I lie to you?”
“Then, if you marry me, what about your other wives? And what about Li Yuer, oh right, and that Xiao Jing’er!”
“Uh~ or… should we add one more?”
“Ha!? You… how long has it even been? Where did you go and pick another wildflower!?”
Liu Yingying was indeed still the same Liu Yingying, genuine and proud.
She glared fiercely at Xu Ping’an, and pinched him hard on the waist.
“Can’t you just attract fewer flowers? Aren’t these enough for you to enjoy already?!”
Xu Ping’an could only grimace in pain and give a bitter smile.
There was nothing he could do—he brought this upon himself.
Crystal Palace… is really not easy to manage.
“No choice, if I don’t tend to the delicate flowers, they’ll wither away. You know my nature, don’t you?”
At that, Liu Yingying pouted.
“Of course I know you. Soft-hearted like a steamed bun, easy to be pinched and kneaded…”
But then she suddenly came to her senses.
“Wait, this isn’t the time to talk about this. Where are the other sisters? Are they all here?”
“Uh~ what are you doing?”
Xu Ping’an was caught off guard. This little lass changed the subject way too fast—he couldn’t keep up.
“What am I doing? Do you even need to ask? Of course I’m going to have a good talk with the other sisters, so we can figure out how to keep you in check. Otherwise, who knows how many wildflowers you’ll attract to the courtyard in the future!”
Ah, this.
Xu Ping’an rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Suddenly, he felt like Liu Yingying was right.
Why did he feel a bit guilty?
“Um… they’re inside the house watching the fun.”
Liu Yingying froze, then quickly bowed her head to wipe her face with a handkerchief.
“It’s all your fault… If not for you, how could I let others see me in such an embarrassing state.”
With that, she lightly tapped Xu Ping’an’s chest, and before he could respond, she strode into the house.
“Don’t follow me, I’m going to talk with the sisters.”
“Ah… oh, okay.”
Xu Ping’an nodded dazedly, suddenly feeling… a sense of foreboding.
He shivered involuntarily, shaking off the strange thought from his mind.
Right, there was another person he should thank.
Even though that person was his ‘Senior Brother’, as the saying goes, even close brothers settle accounts clearly.
Since the other had helped by bringing her over from Blazing Fire Peak, if Xu Ping’an didn’t show some gratitude, he’d look petty.
He quickly walked to the gate of Autumn Water Hall.
At this time, Xiao Yunyuan hadn’t gone far and was still quietly waiting there.
“Senior Brother Xiao.”
“Junior Brother Xu, you finally came out. What happened just now… I really didn’t feel comfortable walking in on that.”
Seeing Xu Ping’an emerge, Xiao Yunyuan let out a breath of relief and hurriedly said:
“Junior Brother Xu, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it? Senior Brother Xiao, please speak your mind.”
Xiao Yunyuan scratched his head a little awkwardly.
“It’s like this, Junior Brother Xu… I brought Liu Yingying here for you, but later, I still have to send her back.”
“Ah? What do you mean?”
Xu Ping’an looked at Xiao Yunyuan in surprise.
“Actually, it’s not a big deal. After all, we’ll all be fellow disciples in the future, so meeting won’t be hard. But Blazing Fire Peak can’t just let her go easily, because your confidante… has outstanding talent. She was chosen by the Elder of Fiery Peak to be trained as a Disciple. Honestly, it took quite a bit of effort to borrow her for just this short while.”