A lonely figure on a small, solitary path.
While Lin Huanhuan was fighting at the Huang family, Dong Yun’er sat on the mountain path of Little Bamboo Peak, her expectant gaze fixed on the empty road.
She watched and waited, just like that, waiting for Lin Huanhuan to return, to fill her hollow heart with a touch of warmth, to heal the wounds she had suffered today.
But the longer she waited, the heavier and emptier her heart became.
The words You Yuelan had spoken to her during the day were like a lingering nightmare, echoing incessantly in her ears, tormenting her unbearably.
The only thing that offered her some resistance was recalling the past she shared with Lin Huanhuan. Even though she knew in her heart that none of it was real, that it was all just her own overthinking.
But… this kind of fearful thought was unavoidable. The more she tried to forget it, the clearer it became, sinking its roots deeper into her mind, causing her immense pain. It was like trying to fly by stepping on your own feet in a spiral—impossible to break free.
She yearned to see Lin Huanhuan, to receive her comfort, to confirm that those thoughts were false, to ease the ache in her heart.
But she didn’t know why. Miss didn’t return today, and she hadn’t even left a single message. She just disappeared, no one knew where.
Normally, Senior Sister Ling Ling wouldn’t return. She worked at the Punishment Hall and had many matters to handle daily; her position was said to be quite high. As for Master Song Zhuying, after finishing their lessons, she left Little Bamboo Peak. It had been so long without a single message, it was as if she had vanished.
As for servants, they weren’t used to them, and Dong Yun’er believed having herself was enough, so naturally, she didn’t hire any.
For all these reasons, Dong Yun’er found herself waiting alone on the deserted Little Bamboo Peak today, awaiting Lin Huanhuan’s return.
She couldn’t even find someone to vent her emotions to. Although Dong Yun’er wouldn’t seek out others to confide in, having the option and not having it were ultimately different.
When the bright moon rose, bathed in its clear, silvery light, Dong Yun’er couldn’t help but lift her head, her eyes filled with an indescribable confusion.
“Miss, where are you now? Why aren’t you back yet? Are you very happy right now?”
Dong Yun’er asked wistfully. In this empty world, the only responses were the rising and falling chorus of cicadas and frogs. The gentle breeze seemed to be her only companion.
She lowered her head, feeling the Emotion-Responding Sword within her grow slightly warm, stirring restlessly as if it might leave her body at any moment and unleash a world-shaking strike upon the outside world.
Only now did she finally understand what caused her the most pain, and she finally understood how to use the Emotion-Responding Sword. Her strength had greatly increased.
But, if given a choice, she would rather not know what caused her the most pain. She would rather stay with Lin Huanhuan forever, living happily.
“It’s truly painful. This sour, heart-wrenching feeling… I haven’t experienced it in so long, and it’s back today. I really don’t like it.”
Dong Yun’er raised her hand, making a grasping motion towards the full moon in the sky, as if trying to seize it. But when she moved her hand away, the moon remained in the heavens. It turned out she had only seemed to grasp it.
“Miss, I miss you so much. I’m practically going crazy missing you.”
Dong Yun’er’s plaintive voice echoed through the empty bamboo forest, startling a flock of birds. Even the cicadas seemed frightened by her, no longer daring to chirp.
If she didn’t know where Lin Huanhuan was at the moment, she might have sprouted wings, flown to wherever Lin Huanhuan was, and loudly demanded why she hadn’t returned for so long, asking if she knew how agonizing the wait here had been.
After a while of wild thoughts, she sighed again, speaking to the bamboo forest as if to herself. “Actually, I know too. Miss probably has something important to do. It must be important and urgent, otherwise, you wouldn’t have just disappeared without saying anything.”
“But I can’t understand, why didn’t Miss take me along? Am I not trustworthy? Or what kind of important matter is it that requires you to hide it from me and go alone?”
“Or perhaps, it’s all just a misunderstanding, all caused by my overthinking. But I just can’t help it. I just can’t stop thinking this way…”
“I can’t even help it, just like before, wanting to capture Miss, wanting to lock Miss up in a small dark room or a basement, so Miss can only see me. That way, we should never be separated again, right?”
She confided to the night the thoughts usually buried deepest in her heart, thoughts she dared not express. Because she was afraid—if she didn’t vent a little by speaking them, what if she really couldn’t hold back and took such action?
Lin Huanhuan already trusted her so much, yet she would still act in a way that betrayed that trust. How heartbroken would Lin Huanhuan be then?
She didn’t want that. She didn’t want to hurt Lin Huanhuan, even though her heart ached…
Finally, to prevent those strange thoughts from surging forth like a tide, she chose to sit on the small path of Little Bamboo Peak, temporarily sealing her heart, waiting quietly.
She had long lost track of time. She didn’t know how long she waited before finally seeing the figure she had longed for.
After confirming it wasn’t a hallucination, Dong Yun’er could no longer suppress her heart. The feelings of longing erupted like a volcanic explosion, surging forth overwhelmingly, blotting out the sky.
When Lin Huanhuan returned to Little Bamboo Peak and saw Dong Yun’er sitting there dazedly, like a stone statue waiting for her wife, she finally remembered what she had forgotten.
‘Oh no, I actually forgot to send a message to Yun’er saying I wouldn’t be back tonight. Looks like she waited here for me all night… This… I’m too careless. I absolutely must not do this next time. Absolutely!’
“Miss, you’re finally back.”
Dong Yun’er quickly stood up and approached, wanting to pour out all the longing and质问 in her heart. But the words stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
She didn’t know how to express those emotions. After all, she couldn’t possibly say: “Miss, why haven’t you come back for so long? Do you know I’ve missed you so much I’m going crazy? I even want to lock you in the basement and chain you up with magical artifact shackles!”
Out of fear, Dong Yun’er hesitated, unsure how to begin.
Lin Huanhuan looked at her bloodshot eyes and her small, exhausted face, and immediately understood. Dong Yun’er had truly waited for her all night and missed her terribly.
With the physical resilience of a Foundation Establishment expert, going without sleep for a whole month wouldn’t be a problem. To become like this after just one sleepless night… Lin Huanhuan could hardly imagine how much torment Dong Yun’er had endured deep inside. After all, Dong Yun’er was a yandere.
Lin Huanhuan’s heart felt like a melting snowflake, leaving only flowing liquid and the sound of dripping water.
She took a step forward, actively embracing Dong Yun’er, gently patting her back.
“I’ve kept you waiting, Yun’er. I’m back.”