She didn't know how much time had passed. Finally, she finished cutting, placed the scissors on the table, and carefully unfolded the red paper. She held it up to him, a faint smile appearing on her face. ...A. She softly asked, "Do you like it?"
It was a very cute paper-cut sticker. A chubby baby with pigtails was holding a Spring Festival couplet. On it were four crooked characters: Mingxi Jianyu.
Tianquan slowly reached out and took it, his fingers gently tracing the paper-cut as if he couldn't bear to touch it, afraid that the slightest force would damage it. He looked at it for a long time before slowly folding it up, taking out the purse, and placing it inside along with the piece of Xuan paper. Then he looked up at her quietly and whispered, "You..."
As if knowing what he wanted to say, Xiaoman quickly called out in an even lower voice, "Jianyu."
He smiled slightly, feeling an overwhelming surge of emotion. The beginnings and endings of his life's destinies had never been in his control. She was clearly within reach, yet it felt like an entire world apart. If he were to leap over her, he would truly shatter into dust. Even then, he could only lightly brush her cheek, unable to get any closer or hold her any tighter.
He raised his hand and hugged her tightly, whispering, "...call me again."
She said softly, "Jianyu."
He lowered his head and kissed her lips, murmuring, "Say it again..."
"Jade."
He held the back of her neck and kissed her deeply, unleashing all the remaining strength of his life. Those past ties, these past events, were no longer his concern. He finally took flight, but not in the same direction as her. The warm spring rain fell on his wings, but he could only weep.
Something wet Xiaoman's face, and she reached out to touch it, but he grabbed her wrist: "...Call me again."
"Jian Yu..."
He gently kissed her cheek. "Xiaoman, you must forget me." She stared blankly as he released her, then took a small, gleaming knife from his boot, twirled it against her right ear, and blood immediately dripped down, staining her hand. He placed a blood-stained flower in her hand, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Flower... it's yours now."
Xiao Man suddenly felt heartbroken, clutching the flower in her hand tightly, her vision blurring.
He took out a silver needle from his pocket, pinched her right earlobe, and gently pricked it in. Then he threaded the needle through her right earlobe, twisted it into a knot, and smiled slightly: "Now, it's done."
Xiaoman took a deep breath, but couldn't utter a single word.
After a long while, she seemed to suddenly awaken from a dream, murmuring, "If... I... I can't forget..."
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and whispered, "It's better to forget each other in the vast world than to cling to each other in hardship."
It's better to forget each other in the vast world than to cling together in hardship.
Xiao Man nodded blankly. She knew she would understand the meaning of those words someday, but not now, because she couldn't believe she was so heartbroken right now, as if half her body had collapsed. Someone had asked her if she truly loved him. Even now, she still couldn't answer that question.
If I say I love him, I'm lying to him. If I say I don't love him, I'm lying to myself.
As dawn approached and the rain gradually subsided, Tianquan stood up, put on his cloak, and said without turning his head, "I'm leaving. Someone should come to rescue you soon. Be careful of that Mr. Xue."
Xiao Man jumped off the bed and called out, "Jian Yu!"
Tianquan paused for a moment, then said softly, "Take care. Perhaps we'll meet again someday."
He pushed open the door quickly, as if afraid of being asked to stay, forcing himself to leave immediately, disappearing into the misty rain in the blink of an eye. Xiaoman chased after him to the door. She stared blankly as he walked away, her right ear throbbing with pain, as if his right ear was also grieving, its pulse throbbing uneasily.
He was always around, and whenever there was trouble, he was always the first to come to the rescue.
If, if only I had met him sooner… Xiaoman exhaled. No, the first person she actually met was him; perhaps this was fate. He was the first one she met. A noble young man riding a white camel alone in the vast desert, but she fell in love with the rough, uncouth man carrying three swords.
Let us forget each other in the vast world, let us forget each other.
Xiaoman didn't know how long she had been standing there. The spring rain soaked her shoulders, and the wind was chilly. The figures in the rain had long since disappeared into the distance. She stirred, lowered her head, and turned to go back inside.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps splashing in the water rang out again. Xiao Man quickly turned around and saw a person walking slowly towards her in the spring rain.
He wore a light purple robe, his long, wet hair cascading over his shoulders, and his eyes were long and deep-set. His face was alluring and seductive.
Xiao Man gasped, utterly bewildered! How had he found her?! Wu Naihe slowly walked over, entering the house. He wiped the rain from his hair and smiled at her: "Found you, Xiao Man."
She was at a loss, took a step back, and murmured, "How could you..."
Helpless, he laughed and said, "I was halfway there when I suddenly felt uneasy, so I went back to Xiangbuleng. As expected, you disobeyed me, escaped on your own, and even killed my master. So, what do you suggest we do?"
"Your master was clearly... imprisoned by you..."
Helpless, she smiled gently: "But I didn't intend to kill him."
He looked around, sniffed the air, and said softly, "Was it my junior brother who rescued you? I recognize the scent of Moonlit Fragrance. Where is he?"
Xiao Man whispered, "He... is gone."
He sighed helplessly, "What can I do? You're so disobedient, and yet so many people are protecting you. It's really difficult. Tell me, how should I punish you?"
Xiao Man noticed his gaze lingering on her hands, a very ominous sign. She quickly put her hands behind her back and muttered, "I...you're useless to me...I told you long ago, I'm not Guo Yusheng's granddaughter...If you're so capable, why don't you go and catch his real grandchildren?"
Helpless, he sighed, "You're so foolish, this silly child. How could you not be Guo Yusheng's granddaughter? Your maternal grandfather's illness was a lie. It's just that your maternal grandmother never liked him. After she died, your maternal grandfather became paranoid. Around that time, your mother was kidnapped. The kidnapper was your grandmother's fiancé before she married your maternal grandfather. He threatened that either pay him money or he would demand his daughter's return to the family line. This provoked him, so he simply let him have his way. Therefore, you really are Guo Yusheng's granddaughter. With you here, why would I risk going to Lianfang City to find his other grandchildren?"
To put it bluntly, she had no protective umbrella over her head, so they treated her like a ball, bouncing her around.
Xiaoman thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Okay, then I'll write a token and give it to you right away. You mustn't hurt me."
Helpless, he spread his hands: "If you had been this obedient from the beginning, how could I have hurt you? Okay, I agree."
Xiao Man walked to the window, took a piece of red paper, hesitated for a moment, quickly wrote a few words, folded it, and turned to walk away.
Helplessly leaning against the wall, she gently rubbed her forehead with one hand, frowning, as if she had a headache or was exhausted. Xiaoman was familiar with that posture and expression.
A thought struck her, and she suddenly called out softly, "Mr. Xue."
He froze, his eyes widening in surprise as he stared at her blankly, as if he hadn't heard her call out. Xiao Man, mustering her courage, called out again, "Mr. Xue?"
He shuddered, then a look of pain crossed his face. He clutched his head, gritted his teeth, and let out a low groan as he trembled like a leaf.
Xiao Man thought he was going crazy and took several steps back in fright. Unexpectedly, he suddenly stood up, tapped himself on the head twice, then looked around. When he saw Xiao Man, he was stunned and whispered, "Little Xiao Man..."
The Scroll of Splendor, Chapter Thirteen: Twins (Part One)
Updated: 2008-11-01 15:48:38 Word Count: 3758
First update.
He ran his hand through his long hair, looked around, and asked with some confusion, "Where am I?"
Xiao Man coughed lightly, quietly slipped the red paper with writing on it into her sleeve, and smiled slightly: "It's Hangzhou. Mr. Xue, don't you remember anything?"
Mr. Xue's expression was very complicated, a mixture of doubt, confusion, and a hint of embarrassment, as if he was trying to cover up some truth he was close to but refused to admit. However, only for a moment, he immediately regained his usual composure and even smiled, saying softly, "Yes, look at my memory. I clearly brought Xiao Xiaoman out to play, but I must have drunk too much, because I couldn't remember for a moment."
He walked to the door, looked at the dense rain outside, and sighed: "I don't know when this rain will stop, and I don't know when Zexiu and Tuanshanzi will be found."
Xiaoman was on tenterhooks, wondering if he would suddenly turn on her. She had been standing by the door, and the drizzle had soaked half of her shoulder. Now she felt a chill, her nose itched, and she sneezed loudly.
Mr. Xue took off his coat and draped it over her, saying softly, "Don't catch a cold, or your uncle won't be able to explain it to Zexiu."
Xiao Man felt uneasy and silently nodded. Looking down, she saw that his outer garment was also covered in water droplets, making the light purple color appear as a darker purple. Mr. Xue frowned and said, "What an ugly outfit! Who prepared such an ugly coat for me! Was it Duan Hui?"
She sat down in the chair and whispered, "Duanhui... um..."
She remembered that when they were at Mr. Xue's residence, he hadn't been home for a long time. At the time, she thought he had something to do, but now she understood. He had come to Hangzhou out of necessity. So, in Mr. Xue's memory, he didn't know that Duan Hui was an undercover agent? Wow, what a strange relationship! He played two roles: one as Wu He, the other as Mr. Xue. Duan Hui served only him from beginning to end. Duan Hui must have known this herself, right? Yet she managed to silently play along with him.
Xiao Man looked up and quietly looked at Mr. Xue. The fierceness on him was gone, and he was still the peaceful and charming Mr. Xue. Was he sick or something else?
As if noticing her gaze, Mr. Xue didn't turn around. He stood by the door for a long time before whispering, "I... sometimes I can't remember what happened. But I don't want to know what happened during that time, so don't tell me. Little Man, you have to be good, very good..."
Xiaoman felt a chill creep into her heart. When she saw him turn around and stare intently at her, she quickly nodded and gave him a reassuring smile.
Mr. Xue smiled slightly. "This seems to be a private residence. Is there anything to eat? I'm hungry."
Xiao Man quickly went to the kitchen and reheated the leftovers from yesterday. She brought it out to him, and Mr. Xue gave it a critical look. He snorted, a typical whimper: "Leftovers. They look terrible."
Xiao Man sighed, "This one will do. When we're out and about, Mr. Xue, please don't be so picky."
He forced a few bites, but couldn't eat anymore. He paced restlessly around the room, and seeing that the rain showed no sign of stopping, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black firecracker. He hesitated, as if he didn't quite recognize it, but finally tried to light it. The firecracker was slightly wet from the rain; after lighting it and tossing it out, it went out with a whoosh, without any further reaction.
He let out a long sigh, whether from relief or regret, it was hard to tell.
"Let's sit a little longer. If they still haven't arrived, we'll leave now," he said softly.
Xiao Man didn't know how to get along with him. As a simple Mr. Xue or out of helplessness, she could speak freely without any restraint. But now, she only felt a chill in her heart, a very strange feeling gripping her. Along the way, she had also encountered many perverted people, as fierce as Yelü Wenjue and as vicious as the five from Buguishan, but none of them made her feel such a strange coldness.
The person before her was like a flower on one side and a sharp blade on the other; she would never know whether it was a flower or a knife facing her. The flower was beautiful, the knife was swift. Most importantly, this person was Ze Xiudi's third uncle.
Xiao Man suddenly took out a piece of white silk from her bosom and said with a smile, "Mr. Xue, I have something good to show you."
He immediately leaned closer and saw the white silk unfolded, revealing a portrait of Zexiu as a young boy. His eyes lit up, and he snatched it as if he had found a treasure, exclaiming, "Did you embroider this? It's so well embroidered!"
Xiao Man said softly, "This is my treasure. You can only look at it, you can't take it away."
Mr. Xue smiled and said, "You've already gotten the person, yet you're so stingy with a painting."
Her face flushed instantly, a look of both reproach and delight. Mr. Xue held the embroidery in his hands, stroking it, momentarily forgetting what had just happened. He said softly, "This happened when he came to my house when he was fifteen. He seemed depressed because of his mother's situation, and he didn't smile once from beginning to end. He didn't ask me for anything, but I understood from his eyes, so I promised to help him. But later I got busy, and by the time I wanted to intervene, his mother had already died. I haven't seen him for a long time since then."
He was somewhat emotional.
Xiao Man whispered, "What...what did you promise to help him with?"
Mr. Xue smiled and said, "I promised to bring his mother out of the mansion, but unfortunately I was a step too late."
Xiao Man stared at him intently, her voice soft: "But Duan Hui told me that Ze Xiu had approached you before, but you and Tuan Shanzi were busy with your own things, and no one had time to care about him."
Mr. Xue was taken aback: "No way, what could the second brother be busy with? He's always busy with his round fans. I'm mostly busy with the shop. How could I ignore Zexiu when he came to me?"
Xiao Man didn't respond, but suddenly changed the subject: "Mr. Xue, Duan Hui told me one day that twins are an unlucky omen in your family. Is that true?"
His expression darkened slightly, and he turned his head away, saying calmly, "Nonsense."
She was about to speak when she heard footsteps at the door, followed by a person slowly walking in with an umbrella. Rain dripped down the edge of the umbrella, revealing a handsome face—it was Duan Hui. He carefully closed the umbrella and said softly, "Sir, I've found you."
Mr. Xue waved his hand: "Oh, it's Duanhui. Come and sit down. Did you come with Zexiu and the others?"
Duan Hui walked over gently, her face somewhat pale. Suddenly, she smiled and said softly, "No, I came alone. My husband has been missing, and I've been looking for him everywhere."
Mr. Xue didn't speak, but gently stroked the embroidery with his hand, one stroke at a time, very lightly and carefully.
Duan Hui glanced at it and said, "Isn't this the portrait you painted for Young Master Zexiu? I still remember the time he came to our mansion, it's like it just happened yesterday."
Mr. Xue said calmly, "Indeed, time flies."
Duan Hui said softly, "The promise the master made startled both Young Master Zexiu and Second Master Tuan Shanzi, don't you remember?"
Mr. Xue quietly raised his head and looked at him silently, his eyes deep and unfathomable.