51

Capítulo 36

Yu Zheng rolled his eyes and said to me in a gruff voice, "My mom loves to chatter. Just pretend you didn't hear her and move on. Otherwise, you'll get calluses on your ears."

"What's wrong with you, child? You won't listen to your parents..."

I gave a wry smile.

Right now, all I want to do is rush back to the coffee shop in Shuo. Interpersonal relationships are so complicated; I really can't handle that.

It took me half a month to feel a little more at ease.

Tang Chen accompanied me everywhere, and the neighbors' stares made me feel uncomfortable, but I got used to it after a while. Tang's parents loved having friends, and we often had visitors. I only needed to come out, say hello, have a meal, and then leave, but Tang Chen had to stay and entertain the guests. I said I needed to "rest and quiet," and surprisingly, that ridiculous excuse was accepted.

"Why are you so young and need to cultivate tranquility?" some guests might ask.

"You don't know? She's Xu Bai's last disciple. Although she's young, she's already very capable," Tang's mother said with a proud smile.

"Master Xubai has taken on disciples? That's really not true!" Most of the guests would exclaim in surprise.

I chuckled dryly and quickly retreated to my room. I pressed my hand to my heart and took a deep breath. I'd rather go back to hunting monsters in the mountains than endure this kind of social life.

…Am I no longer able to return to the normal life of a normal person?

Just as I was grieving, I heard a scratching sound coming from the glass window, “…a finger, or a few drops of blood.” A dark shadow, carrying the smell of blood, was crouching outside the window.

"Can't you see I'm in a bad mood?" I looked down at the oblivious little monster. "In a hurry to be reincarnated?"

I was just in a bad mood, but who knew that the monster would be so frightened that it kept kowtowing and fell from the fourteenth floor to the ground floor, making a loud noise.

Even though I'm just a tiny spirit... the fact that I can scare away monsters with just my eyes still makes me incredibly sad.

The door opened and Tang Chen walked in, handing me two vegetable buns. "Don't like crowds, huh? I didn't see you eat much for dinner either."

I took a bite and sighed softly. "I might as well go and learn fasting from my uncle."

He sat down next to me on the edge of the bed, touched his nose, and said, "My parents are good people."

"Hmm," I replied. "It's me... I'm not used to being with people."

“…I know it hurts you,” he said softly, “but you didn’t come back with me, and I don’t know…I don’t know how to face this.”

Love is truly a destructive thing. It destroys not only the two people involved, but sometimes it can even destroy both families.

"I should thank you for inviting me to spend my summer vacation here." I ate a vegetable bun; Tang's mother's cooking was absolutely amazing. "Otherwise, I would be homeless."

He remained silent for a while. “Hengzhi, you are so considerate and kind.”

"Are you crazy?" I nudged him with my elbow. "Are we even brothers? What are you saying?"

He lowered his head, his expression revealing deep sorrow. I knew he was trying his best to suppress it, as if everything was perfectly fine. He could even greet Yu Zheng, whom he happened to run into, and remain calm in front of both sets of parents.

A person like him doesn't know how to wail and complain. But when sadness has no outlet, it can cause health problems.

I gritted my teeth and shook his hand.

This made him laugh. "Hengzhi, you have hives."

…I really have no way to deal with this kind of constitution.

After living here for a month, I've gotten a little used to it. The identity my uncle gave me is a great shield; no matter how strange I am, my parents can accept it.

I was drinking water in the kitchen when I heard Tang's father ask worriedly, "Xiao Chen, it's fine if you like Hengzhi... but can a Taoist nun get married?"

"Dad!" Tang Chen exclaimed, "Stop talking nonsense! What if Hengzhi hears this? Nothing like that happened!"

"You're such a naive child. When you and Yuzheng first broke up... sigh. There are plenty of fish in the sea. I think Hengzhi is quite well-behaved... Girls aren't judged solely on looks. But has she actually become a nun? I should ask Xubai..."

"Dad, don't panic," Tang Chen said, even more embarrassed. "Don't do this. You'll scare Hengzhi away..." He paused. "Besides Mom and Dad, she's the most important person to me. That's all, there's no love involved!"

Clutching my water bottle, I sat in the unlit kitchen, too afraid to move. Only after they finished talking and went back to their rooms did I hurriedly escape back.

The burning redness on my face wouldn't go away, and when I realized it, I was still holding that bottle of cold water.

Ask me what I think? My only thought is... I want to go back to my home in Shuo.

I finally understand why I felt so uncomfortable... It turns out that Tang's parents treated me like a future daughter-in-law.

It has to be said that the girl who marries Tang Chen in the future is truly blessed. Such gentle and kind in-laws, so understanding and considerate. They are well-off, but not the kind of poor, stingy family.

Tang's mother is a teacher, and Tang's father dotes on her, keeping the family's food and clothing simple, yet hiring a housekeeper to help manage the household. Tang's mother cooks out of interest, not out of housework. The couple has a good relationship, respecting and loving each other, without interfering with each other's social life or beliefs, and treating Tang Chen with the same attitude.

I bet Tang Chen must have burned hundreds of tons of high-quality incense in his past life to be blessed enough to be born into such a family.

His grandparents, relatives, and friends were almost all top-notch refined individuals, and they even enthusiastically formed a band. They all lived in this city, with convenient access to the subway. Tang Chen took me there once, which made me both laugh and envious.

I honestly have no idea what kind of orchestra this is; it's neither Chinese nor Western. Seeing the erhu, pipa, and butterfly lute is enough, but then someone brings a French horn and a clarinet, and even funnier, Tang Chen is holding a cello.

But Xia's father was really amazing; he could actually conduct this neither-Chinese-nor-Western orchestra and put on a respectable "recital" in the small park.

(It's really hard to call this a symphony...)

Finally, Tang Chen played a melodious solo on the cello, "Looking at the Spring Breeze," and I was so captivated by its beauty that I felt completely intoxicated.

"One can understand the refined meaning from the sound of the strings." Huang E, who had come to join in the fun at some point, shook his head and said, "Tang Chen is getting better and better at flirting."

…What is intolerable, and what is intolerable?

Enraged, I grabbed the bag Tang Chen had given me and smashed it across her face. She got angry too, slapping me so hard my hair flew everywhere. Just as I was about to retaliate, I noticed the audience staring at me, whispering among themselves, "...Is it getting windy?"

With a forced laugh, I made an excuse to go to the restroom, slipped into the public restroom, closed the door… and began a fierce battle with Huang E. My face was covered in fine scratches, and I had plucked quite a few of her feathers.

They stopped fighting when both of them were exhausted.

"You've plucked so many of my feathers!" Huang'e shouted. "Old Kui from Guanyin Mountain is going to treat me to a meal! Being dressed like this is beneath the dignity of 'Golden-Winged Roc King, Heaven-Emperor Goddess'!"

What's the point of having such a grand name? So what if he's the King of Birds? He's still just a bird.

"What do you know?" Huang E glared at me. "That's right, what's the point of knowing this? You'd be better off understanding Tang Chen's thoughts and hoping for a spring breeze!"

I got angry and was about to hit her, but she giggled and slipped out of the air vent, disappearing from sight.

I rubbed my aching cheek. That old monster didn't know his own strength; he hit my face so hard it hurt.

Stepping out of the public restroom, I stared at my aunt (or cousin's wife? Aunt? Auntie? Tang Chen has so many relatives, I had no idea) with a look of utter shock.

"Just now..." she stammered, "You... inside... was it... was it..."

Oh no. I cursed inwardly. I was so caught up in the fight with Huang E that I completely forgot to keep my voice down. But who am I? After being unlucky for twenty years, I've long since mastered the art of feigning ignorance.

"Inside?" I feigned confusion and opened the bathroom door. "I was the only one inside just now."

She glanced at the bathroom, then looked up at the small, cracked window. Still shaken, she turned and saw my face, her fear returning.

"You, your face!"

Oh no, I forgot to cover it up. That guy, Huang'e, has long claws; even a playful fight left marks. I quickly wiped my face. If Huang'e's anger backfired on me and caused any aftereffects… turning my entire body into fine scales might be the best outcome. Like memory metal, it'd be very useful.

I wiped my face. "What happened to my face?"

Her eyes almost bulged out. "Your face was covered in injuries just now."

I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "Does it? It's probably just an illusion caused by the light and shadow."

Their concerts were very interesting, but I later declined them all, citing my lack of knowledge of music theory.

I can cover it up once, but two or three times... I'm not so sure.

The city's ghost stories don't need my extensive additions.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, Tang's mother left work early. Smiling, she busied herself in the kitchen.

After living here for a while, you'll understand what it means. I looked at the kitchen and let out a soft, mournful cry, "...Another guest?"

Tang Chen chuckled, "Why are you so averse to socializing? I'm really afraid that one day you'll follow your uncle to become a monk."

"Not a bad suggestion." I groaned and slumped onto the sofa, leaning back against my arm.

But Tang Chen remained silent for a while. I looked up at him; he was staring blankly at a white piece. I studied the Go board carefully. I learned Go from Tang Chen's family; his father taught me. He often said that although I was decisive, I was too soft-hearted and reluctant to sacrifice pieces, which often led to a complete loss.

I think Mr. Tang was being subtle in his words. In fact, it's just that my chess skills are poor, and Tang Chen has to give me a 15-stone handicap so that I can barely pass the time.

It looks like I'm about to lose. He can win even if he throws the ball randomly. What's there to be stunned about?

"...If you become a monk, I'll have no choice but to become one too," he muttered, scattering the chess pieces listlessly.

"You..." I was getting angry, but looking at the picture on the wall, I laughed instead of getting angry. I thought of the part in Dream of the Red Chamber where Jia Baoyu tells Lin Daiyu that if Daiyu died, he would become a monk.

“All my sisters in the family will become nuns tomorrow. How many bodies do you have to be a monk?” I retorted, leaning against the Dream of the Red Chamber.

He didn't retort; instead, he turned his head away, somewhat angrily.

Oh dear, this person is becoming more and more like a child as they grow older. I felt a little uneasy. "What are you doing? Really... I'm carrying this evil spirit, where can I become a monk? When have you ever seen a monk training with a demon? How silly..."

His expression softened slightly, and he slowly began to collect the Go stones.

"Even if you become a monk, we... will still be close friends." I cursed myself inwardly for blushing. "What difference would there be?"

"You've become a monk while I'm still in the secular world... the difference is vast." He lowered his head to put away the chessboard. "You didn't truly want to become a monk; you're just not used to socializing. If you're not used to it, then so be it. Don't use it as an excuse to enter a monastery... monasteries have so many rules..."

I don't know whether to laugh or cry; this fool is thinking so far ahead. But thinking about it, he broke up with his childhood sweetheart, his girlfriend whom he thought would be forever. It's understandable that he feels the impermanence of life. Wanting to hold onto a stable relationship is not unreasonable.

Despite his good relationships with others, he considers himself "ill-fated" and suffers from numerous misfortunes, so he has very few true friends. The only one who can truly be called a "confidant"... is none other than the eccentric and unpredictable me.

"Don't get so worked up that you want to become a monk. I won't enter the monastery." I helped tidy up the chessboard.

He, who is usually mild-mannered and easygoing, said seriously, "A gentleman's word is his bond."

"A swift horse, a whip," I replied casually.

This guy insisted on giving me three high-fives, which made me both laugh and cry. "Alright, I've given you the high-fives, now I'm going to help your aunt."

"She doesn't need your help. She'll be rushing to finish anyway," Tang Chen laughed.

As expected, Tang's mother absolutely refused my help, telling me not to spoil her fun. I touched my nose and walked out, while Tang Chen raised an eyebrow, looking like, "How about it?"

I laughed and scolded him, then hit him twice before going to his room to make perfume candles.

This was taught to me and Tang Chen by Shuo, and it unexpectedly received great acclaim among Tang's family and friends. We brought some as small gifts and they sold out quickly, and some people even placed orders. I was afraid that the perfume candles I made would bring bad luck, so I was only helping Tang Chen with them.

Making these little crafts is really fun, much more fun than playing video games. Tang Chen taught me a few times, but then gave up. But I'm always enthusiastic about making these kinds of little things, and him…

"It's so much fun being with you," he said bluntly.

“If you keep acting like this when you get a girlfriend, she’ll dump you sooner or later,” I yelled.

"If having a girlfriend means leaving you, then you might as well not have one." This idiot is impossible to teach.

While slicing a block of wax, Tang Chen said that today's guest was a close friend of his mother's from high school. The friend had first gone to study in the United States and later settled down in California. He had even spent a summer vacation there with his mother when he was in junior high school, and the two families were very close.

"Aunt Wu and her sister came back to visit our parents." Tang Chen was quite happy. "It's been so long! My aunt stayed there the summer I went. She's so beautiful… When I told Yu Zheng, she got really angry. I've only been abroad once, and I almost had a plane crash during takeoff and landing…"