Dark clouds blotted out the sun as a fierce wind swayed the trees.
Li Ruoshui’s oil-paper umbrella was tossed wildly by the gusts, but it still managed to keep most of the rain off her face. How did this rain show up now? It was all so dramatic. Scenes from TV dramas played involuntarily in her mind.
She desperately wanted to say, “Let me explain,” but the words died on her lips every time she tried to voice them.
What was there to explain? From her perspective or from Lu Zhiyao’s, neither was wrong. Their trains of thought had simply veered onto different tracks. The most important thing now was to make him understand her reasoning.
“It’s true. I asked you.” she said. “I will leave the Zheng residence. It’s just a matter of postponing it for a few days. Is that really so unacceptable?”
Her words repeated themselves in his mind: ‘Is that really so unacceptable?‘
Of course it was unacceptable. Why should she refuse him because of Zheng Yanqing?
A smile tugged at Lu Zhiyao’s lips amidst the downpour. It seemed forced, yet still carried a trace of that gentle tolerance. To Li Ruoshui, that smile was painful to see. No one was happy all the time. If you didn’t feel like smiling, you shouldn’t have to. There was no need to force it.
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Fbl jdlo vbyv ytallkdt okvb bkx aktbv dso oswze cl vbl lypklpv oyu vs rzynyvl bkx. Jwv pbl eked’v oydv vs.
Fbl oyp fwpv eyup yoyu qasx oayrrkdt vbkdtp wr yv vbl Hbldt lpvyvl. Ebu vbaso yoyu yzz bla rastalpp dso? Fbl byvle zlyhkdt vbkdtp byzq-qkdkpble.
“Fsxlsdl kp rskpsdkdt Hbldt Zydikdt kdpkel vbl Hbldt alpkeldnl. R fwpv dlle y qlo xsal eyup vs plvvzl vbkp.”
…
Eykv. Ebu oyp bl ps kdpkpvldv sd bla zlyhkdt vbl Hbldt qyxkzu?
Tla tygl pbkqvle vs bkp aykd-ealdnble qynl, vs bkp zsolale zypblp. G pweeld vbswtbv qzypble vbaswtb bla xkde.
Ls oyu.
Uswze vbkp… nswze vbkp cl flyzswpu?
The corners of Li Ruoshui’s mouth slowly curved upwards. Suddenly, even this storm seemed a little charming.
“Why do you suddenly want me to do this? You didn’t seem to mind me staying at the Zheng residence all this time. Why are you so adamant I leave today?”
Her question only tangled Lu Zhiyao’s thoughts further.
He wasn’t pondering the answer to her words. Instead, he was fixated on her repeated refusals.
Lu Zhiyao didn’t understand. Didn’t she like him? Then why was she protecting Zheng Yanqing? What did Zheng Yanqing’s life or death have to do with her?
The rain pattered loudly against her umbrella and the leaves, a sound that inevitably reminded him of the story he’d heard at the teahouse. Lady White Snake and Xu Xian had also met on a day of torrential rain.
The white snake hadn’t loved Xu Xian initially. Bound by a debt from a past life, she was compelled to marry him to repay her gratitude, and through that union, achieve immortality.
Yet, after marrying him, she fell in love. To help him, she willingly endured imprisonment under a pagoda for thousands of years.
…
That was what marriage was. That was the true nature of marriage for ordinary people.
He had always believed married couples would turn against each other, that they grew to loathe one another, that husband and wife were the most laughable relationship under heaven.
So he had often lingered at the Zheng residence, perched on the roof above their room. His initial thought was to help her when Zheng Yanqing eventually revealed his true colors, to keep her from getting hurt. After all, if you came across a stray cat on the road, you had to take care of it, didn’t you?
However, reality wasn’t like that.
They would share amusing stories inside the room, eat meals together, go out for strolls together, and even stay in the same room at night.
All of it irritated him immensely. It felt like having a puppet, painstakingly crafted over a long time, stolen away. How could the thief get off scot-free?
Countless times, he had placed his sword against Zheng Yanqing’s neck, only to withdraw it at the last moment.
After all, Li Ruoshui liked him. How could that be considered Zheng Yanqing stealing? If he really killed Zheng Yanqing, it would only prove Li Ruoshui had been stolen away. That wouldn’t do.
At least, that’s what he had believed until yesterday.
After all, Li Ruoshui had kissed him. Wasn’t that proof she loved him?
But it never occurred to him that love could change. That marriage could change it.
It was a good thing Li Ruoshui didn’t love him. He didn’t want her tainted by something as vile as romantic love. But how could she change her mind so casually?
Shouldn’t people keep their promises?
If she said she loved him, she should honor that. Yet she wasn’t the type to break promises so easily.
He reasoned to himself: ‘It’s not Li Ruoshui’s fault. It’s Zheng Yanqing’s.’
It was all that despicable thief’s doing, corrupting Li Ruoshui.
The chaotic knot of thoughts unraveled instantly. The problem that had plagued him for so long was solved. The tension in Lu Zhiyao’s brow eased, and the curve of his lips seemed genuinely lighter.
Lu Zhiyao lowered his head and began to laugh. He laughed until his shoulders shook, until the hand gripping his sword hilt was white-knuckled.
Such a simple answer, and it had taken him this long to see it.
“I’ve finally figured it out.”
He stood up. Whether from heightened emotion or laughing too heartily, the corners of his eyes were tinged with red. Combined with his gentle features and rain-soaked hair, he resembled a compassionate bodhisattva who came to save lost souls.
He drew his sword and started walking toward the room, so excited his hand trembled, making the blade quiver.
Soon, Li Ruoshui would thank him for rescuing her from this suffering.
“You’ve figured it out?” Li Ruoshui watched him get up and head inside, feeling rather relieved. Holding her umbrella, she followed. “You finally decided to get out of the rain. It’s pouring. You’ll probably catch a cold tomorrow.”
Inside the room, water dripped steadily from his clothes, seeping into the carpet and leaving a dark, damp patch. The cracks in his sword’s blade fractured the candlelight into distorted shapes, which also reflected Zheng Yanqing’s puzzled expression.
“You forgot your scabbard,” Zheng Yanqing said.
Li Ruoshui left her umbrella outside and brought the scabbard over to him. Her relief was short-lived. The next moment, she saw Lu Zhiyao rotate his wrist slightly and tilt his head.
She knew these movements all too well. They were his prelude to action.
Reacting on instinct, Li Ruoshui took a step back, a hand flying to her own neck. Before she could speak, she saw the blade sweep toward Zheng Yanqing.
A cold glint flashed. With a loud clang, Li Ruoshui blocked his sword with the scabbard in her hand. She had to admit, Lu Zhiyao’s training was proving useful. It was already showing its first results on her.
“…Are you two practicing swordsmanship?” Everything had happened in a single breath. Zheng Yanqing hadn’t even put down his brush, merely staring dumbfounded at the sword hovering near his head.
“Are you an idiot? Get out of the way!” Li Ruoshui’s voice rose sharply. Her arms were being forced down; even using both hands to hold his blade back was a struggle.
Zheng Yanqing hastily nodded, grabbed his book, and scrambled to the dining table in the middle of the room. He looked at them, wanting to speak but holding his tongue.
“Even if it’s raining, you can practice in the covered walkway. Why do it inside the room?”
In Zheng Yanqing’s eyes, Lu Zhiyao was a gentle, courteous young master. It never crossed his mind that this man was here to kill him.
Lu Zhiyao sighed and withdrew his sword. He reached out to touch the side of her face. His icy fingertips made Li Ruoshui shiver.
“So pitiful, being deceived by someone else.”
Li Ruoshui: ???
Who was deceived?
She was utterly lost. Was he jealous like she thought? But his behavior didn’t quite seem to fit. Could someone please give her a clear answer?!
The moment Lu Zhiyao turned, Li Ruoshui dropped the scabbard and without hesitation wrapped her arms around him from behind, holding his waist in a tight grip.
“Let’s talk this through. No need for swords.”
Outside, the wind grew stronger, rattling the doors and windows. Drafts sneaking through the cracks made the candle flame dance wildly.
The room darkened considerably in an instant. The light flickering on Lu Zhiyao’s face was murky and indistinct, making his expression hard to read.
Zheng Yanqing sensed the shift in atmosphere. Clutching his book, he watched the pair, a vague suspicion forming in his mind.
In the guttering light, he caught sight of the smile on Lu Zhiyao’s lips. It was still gentle, but the flickering candlelight stretched it into something bizarre and terrifying.
Lu Zhiyao didn’t hesitate. Even held by Li Ruoshui, he didn’t advance further. He simply raised his hand and sent a plain-looking dagger flying.
Zheng Yanqing felt a heavy impact on his chest. His eyes widened in shock. Looking down, he saw a simple black dagger embedded there.
“…My manuscript.”
Li Ruoshui peeked out from behind Lu Zhiyao. By the flickering candlelight, she saw what had happened and couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
Although the dagger had been aimed at his heart, the book he was clutching to his chest had blocked it.
A small mercy amidst the misfortune.
Lu Zhiyao could still hear Zheng Yanqing’s heartbeat. He curved his eyelashes, his smile tinged with helplessness.
Not being able to see was indeed inconvenient. It seemed he would only feel at ease, only feel true satisfaction, by personally driving his sword through the man’s throat.
He took hold of Li Ruoshui’s wrist and pulled her away. “I’m helping you. Why are you stopping me?”
Pulled aside, Li Ruoshui looked anxious. He wasn’t listening to reason at all, and she was no match for him in a fight. She had to restrain him first.
Her hand reached his waist and gave a light squeeze. Lu Zhiyao couldn’t help but tremble at the touch.
Seizing that instant, Li Ruoshui hooked an arm around his neck and used all her weight to pull him down to the floor. She flipped over, straddling his waist, pinning his wrists on either side of his head like a villainous bandit abducting a maiden.
She turned her head toward Zheng Yanqing, frantically signaling with her eyes. “Run! Now!”
Zheng Yanqing finally grasped the situation. He set down his book, picked up a stool, and walked over. “Miss Li, I won’t abandon you and save myself. I’ll help you!”
Li Ruoshui: …
She screamed mentally: ‘That’s NOT necessary!!! I’d be safer if you’d just LEAVE!’
Hearing Zheng Yanqing approach, the momentarily stunned Lu Zhiyao blinked and snapped back to the present.
He sat up, bringing his face within a finger’s breadth of Li Ruoshui’s where she sat on his waist. Their breaths mingled, as if they were about to kiss.
Lu Zhiyao picked up his slender sword and, without a moment’s hesitation, swung it backhanded toward the space behind Li Ruoshui.
The sharp blade sliced through the stool Zheng Yanqing held before him, opening a gash on his arm.
Finally, he had drawn blood. Excitement made Lu Zhiyao’s hands tremble. He could finally put an end to this mental turmoil.
Hearing Lu Zhiyao’s low chuckle, Li Ruoshui hesitated no longer. It was time to use her ultimate life-saving move.
She leaned down and pressed her lips to his, which were pale and cool.
Lu Zhiyao was soaked through, the chill having seeped into him. Even his lips felt cold.
Like that bowl of sweet cold dumplings1[1]冷元子 (lěng yuán zǐ): A traditional Chinese dessert, often translated as “cold dumplings” or “iced dumplings.” They are small, chewy balls served chilled in a sweet syrup or other cold liquid. The texture is soft, smooth, and slightly bouncy. from her dream—icy, soft, with a clean sweetness.
Her hands climbed to his shoulders. She closed her eyes, savoring the taste of this delicious, frozen treat.
Li Ruoshui’s initial intention had been solely to stop him, but an indescribable flutter of excitement rose within her. It felt as if her own heartbeat was keeping time with this kiss.
“So that’s how it is,” Lu Zhiyao’s low, hoarse voice sounded by her ear during a brief pause for breath, leaving her confused.
“What is?” Li Ruoshui’s voice held a note of uncertainty. She looked at Lu Zhiyao, momentarily forgetting she was still straddling his waist.
Lu Zhiyao thought back to that night, how she had trembled as she kissed the corner of his mouth.
It wasn’t to make him happy. It wasn’t because she liked him. It was just to stop him from killing. Just like now—she kissed him only to make him spare Zheng Yanqing.
Lu Zhiyao let out a soft sigh. “If you don’t like me, why kiss me?”
She didn’t kiss him out of affection. It was just like everyone else trying to keep him from “losing control.” The only difference was that others tried to kill him for it, while she used a kiss.
It was good that Li Ruoshui remained untouched by romantic love. She was still herself, not transformed into something hateful.
Lu Zhiyao patted his still-racing heart, frowned, and helped the dazed Li Ruoshui to her feet.
“How do you know I don’t like you?” Li Ruoshui grabbed his sleeve, asking the question.
But she didn’t realize the ambiguity of her words. What she intended as a rhetorical question, in Lu Zhiyao’s ears, sounded like a confirmation.
Her words repeated themselves again in his mind: ‘How do you know I don’t like you?’
He didn’t reply, only feeling he should no longer stay here.
Lu Zhiyao smiled and nodded. “Not liking me is good.”
He stood up. His disheveled robe hung open. Combined with that smile, it gave Li Ruoshui a strange sense of fragility about him.
“Then I have no reason to kill him.”
He had wanted to kill Zheng Yanqing only because the man had caused Li Ruoshui to break her promise. But if Li Ruoshui didn’t like him, then there was no promise to break in the first place.
Zheng Yanqing hadn’t stolen his puppet, because he never had one to begin with.
The violence had begun abruptly, and it ended just as abruptly.
Following his sudden departure last night, today, he left once again.
[1]冷元子 (lěng yuán zǐ): A traditional Chinese dessert, often translated as “cold dumplings” or “iced dumplings.” They are small, chewy balls served chilled in a sweet syrup or other cold liquid. The texture is soft, smooth, and slightly bouncy.
TLN: o.o
EDN: Ooohhh.. Damn, I can hear someone’s heart shattering to pieces.
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