“Is this really okay? Huanhuan is screaming so miserably. She might actually need our help.”
You Yuelan, who had been pulled out, glanced back at the small courtyard, pursed her lips slightly, and spoke with some reluctance after listening to the pitiful cries.
“There’s nothing wrong with this. Miss had it coming. Who told her to mess around all day? Let the Eldest Daughter teach her a lesson, at least let her learn some restraint. That way, Miss should behave a bit next time, or at least not dare to be so blatant anymore.”
Dong Yuner spread her hands, shook her head, and said helplessly, “And the key point is that the Eldest Daughter knows her limits. She won’t actually hurt Miss, at most make her bottom a little sore. Miss is screaming so miserably just to suffer fewer hits. She’s probably secretly enjoying it.”
“Is that so? I really didn’t think of that. But if that’s the case, it’s fine. It’s good that she’s okay.”
Hearing this, You Yuelan finally let out a sigh of relief. Since Lin Huanhuan wasn’t really hurt, she didn’t need to bother helping. Although she was willing, it would still feel tiring.
“So, Dong Yuner, did you call me out for something? Can you say it quickly? After you finish, I still want to go back and rest for a while.”
You Yuelan suddenly spoke, startling Dong Yuner, who had been intently listening to Lin Huanhuan’s screams while secretly laughing and feeling a bit sorry for her.
She turned her head, her eyes fixed on You Yuelan, and asked, “How did you know I had something to say? I shouldn’t have shown any sign of that, should I?”
You Yuelan blinked her big eyes, shoved her hands into her skirt pockets, and replied calmly, “Even though you didn’t say it, I just felt it. I shouldn’t be wrong, right?”
She paused and then said softly, “After my Dao Foundation and soul were damaged, my mental state has been abnormal. Occasionally, I can keenly sense what others are thinking. It’s far from mind reading, but I can roughly pick up on some things.”
“So to adapt to this state, I started avoiding contact with others. I really hate trouble, so I try to minimize interaction whenever possible.”
Hearing this, Dong Yuner’s pupils contracted sharply, taken aback.
“Looks like I really underestimated you. To survive well in this world, no matter who you are, everyone has their own unique survival skills.”
Dong Yuner couldn’t help but sigh.
“Is that a compliment?”
You Yuelan nodded.
“You can think of it that way. Can you please get to the point? Otherwise, in a little while, I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep leaning against these bamboos.”
You Yuelan didn’t know why, but ever since her Dao Foundation and soul were severely damaged, she seemed to become much more drowsy, unable to concentrate her will. However, the Sleeping Lotus Scripture she cultivated ran fastest while she slept. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“This Sleeping Lotus Scripture really is a pain.”
You Yuelan had moved to Xiaozhu Peak a few days ago, and Dong Yuner had gotten somewhat familiar with her, understanding her condition. Sometimes, it wasn’t that she wanted to rest at any moment, but that she simply couldn’t control it.
Dong Yuner frowned slightly, then nodded and said, “Alright, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ll just say it directly.”
“Today, I only have one question: I want to ask you—what are your feelings for Lin Huanhuan now?”
Dong Yuner said this with extreme seriousness, even directly calling Lin Huanhuan by her full name.
She stood among the bamboo grove, her green clothes like jade, her earnest eyes reflecting You Yuelan, who was lost in thought.
“Feelings for Lin Huanhuan…?”
Hearing this, You Yuelan was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head and pursed her lips in thought.
Faced with this question, the weariness in her heart seemed to be blown away. Only when dealing with matters related to Lin Huanhuan could she feel less tired.
What exactly were her feelings for Lin Huanhuan?
You Yuelan couldn’t help but ask herself inwardly:
‘I don’t think I’ve ever asked myself this question.’
‘My meeting with Lin Huanhuan seemed to start with her threatening me. At first, she was actually hiding other motives, but I was too lazy to look into it back then. Now, it seems that’s gone.’
‘If I judge by actions, at the beginning, Laoda Anying told me to get close to Lin Huanhuan, to proactively become her pet and target of bullying in order to gather some intelligence. But in reality, I got no intelligence at all. Instead, I hugged her and slept very comfortably.’
‘Now everything is over. Laoda Anying and Chiya have already surrendered. The others are gone too. So, what reason do I have left to stay by Lin Huanhuan’s side? Or rather, what reason am I using to stay by her side? And what is she to me?’
As You Yuelan thought this, she felt a sour and tight sensation in her heart, as if she had eaten a disgusting dark dish. She even felt dizzy and wanted to vomit.
Especially when she thought that if her answer wasn’t good enough, she might have to leave. The pain in her heart became sharp, like someone cutting it with a small knife, aching so much she could barely breathe.
You Yuelan lowered her head in contemplation, while Dong Yuner waited quietly.
One was still and lifeless, the other spirited and determined, like two extremes that never intersected. Yet they met here, about to begin a war without smoke.
After a long time, You Yuelan finally raised her head again. Looking at Dong Yuner, who had been waiting, she answered calmly and firmly, “I don’t know.”
“I don’t know what my feelings are for Lin Huanhuan right now.”
Dong Yuner, who had been slightly excited seeing her lift her head and was waiting for a bold declaration, was taken aback.
“You don’t know? What kind of answer is that?”
Dong Yuner couldn’t understand and said somewhat unhappily, “Don’t tell me your feelings for Lin Huanhuan are so casual, no different from an ordinary friend?”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
You Yuelan shook her head and said calmly, “What I mean by ‘I don’t know’ is simply that I don’t know how to categorize my feelings for her.”
“Because these feelings I have for her, I’ve never felt for anyone before.”
“In some ways, it’s like the familial affection I have for my Senior Sister. I rely on Lin Huanhuan too, and she’s very good to me. I’m grateful, very thankful.”
“In other ways, it’s like a past friendship. I feel sad when she’s angry, but much more intense. This feeling even lessened some of the side effects from the Sleeping Lotus Scripture. It’s a very strange, very strange feeling. I don’t know how to describe it in words.”
“I only know that in the future, I still want to be with her like this, to keep being together. Being able to hold her while I sleep is all I want.”