CHAPTER 358: 0227 THE GIRL’S METHODS (TWO-IN-ONE)_2

What exactly is wrong with him.

As soon as he closes his eyes, what flashes in his mind is not a memory but the fragrant breeze from earlier when Yun Qian was with him.

It’s the girl’s long hair, messy yet smooth, and her eyes, clear like the ripple of a lake.

It’s the faint blush on Yun Qian’s cheek.

Xu Chang’an, with his mind completely astray, sat in the hot spring with a dazed look, until some unpleasant images of the girl started to float in his mind, instantly making him sober up. His palm slammed into the water, sending splashes onto his face to clear his mind a bit.

Just a bit.

"I... really have some sort of illness."

Why is it that when the girl was still around, he kept resisting, and it was quite effective?

Why did his thoughts become unstoppable as soon as Yun Qian left?

It can’t be that we only cherish things after losing them, right?

Or is it...

Xu Chang’an covered his face with one hand, realizing that he was far from being as firm and strong as he appeared.

His refusal to eat the fruit directly from the girl’s hand made Yun Qian feel uneasy and abandoned.

Then.

Yun Qian left him alone to soak in the cold spring.

The one feeling uneasy now was himself.

They really are like a young couple, having the same weaknesses, with very fragile hearts.

"Is this... the girl’s tit for tat?" Xu Chang’an sighed longingly.

At this moment, he truly couldn’t regard all this as a dream anymore; everything felt so real.

Xu Chang’an stood up, wanting to go behind and find Yun Qian, but after pausing for a few breaths, his body stiffly sat back down.

He tried to calm his breathing.

Since Yun Qian made such an effort to let him enjoy the hot spring alone, he shouldn’t ruin her good intentions.

However, Xu Chang’an hadn’t expected that with Yun Qian not by his side, he was feeling anything but enjoyment, but rather—torment.

Great torment.

Where was the mood he had upon arriving at the hot spring when he left the girl behind?

Xu Chang’an gazed at the blurred reflection on the water’s surface, suddenly stunned.

In the rising steam, he couldn’t clearly see his own face.

It’s said that in dreams, the people you meet never have clear faces.

Yet Yun Qian’s face was very clear.

Was she the one meeting him, or was it him meeting her?

Could he himself be the dreamer?

Xu Chang’an clutched his fists together, starting to ponder a very serious matter: what was the meaning of the girl appearing in his dreams, and constantly "tempting" him?

He’s a young man, but no matter who it was, even his most revered teacher, would always say he behaved too mature for his age.

Li Zhibai indeed wanted to see what Xu Chang’an would be like if he revealed his sharpness, as that was what a young man should possess.

But... undeniably, from the very start, his nature was prudent, courteous.

The so-called Li Zhibai, Xu Zhili, indeed a master and disciple pair.

Xu Chang’an found that he rarely made mistakes, and what is called youth seems inherently erroneous, like acting without considering the consequences, or speaking at the wrong time, causing trouble for his teacher and lady.

During the youthful period, such errors could be considered correct or understood.

Just like the only mistake he thought he made—being overly indulged when first encountering the mortal world with Yun Qian, indulging without restraint, constantly bothering her.

Although he soon corrected it, the mistake was still made.

This was firmly defined as a mistake in Xu Chang’an’s mind.

But clearly it was a mistake, yet she liked it... At that time, Xu Chang’an would always tell himself, Yun Qian didn’t understand things, he couldn’t afford not to understand.

But... what does it mean to understand things?

As Yun Qian voluntarily left, stirring Xu Chang’an’s unease, he finally realized that his so-called "correctness" was meaningless; only the girl’s happiness mattered.

The young man’s once-prudent mind started to subtly waver.

What does Chang’an mean.

Is it the peace and stability of the world, or...

He can only be at ease with the girl by his side.

——

Dark clouds like ink, the wind began to stir, distant leaves rustled incessantly, strands of rain fell from the sky, higher than the sky, subtly hinting at a disquieting prelude.

Xu Chang’an, who is Yun Qian’s "controller," if even he were to fall, then everything would be truly beyond rescue.

Well, fortunately, he was always prudent and courteous.

Xu Chang’an relaxed as he sat in the water, exhaling a turbid breath slowly.

Overthinking.

This matter, he felt he wasn’t wrong not because he couldn’t indulge, but just that Yun Qian was weak, and he shouldn’t bully her.

If this isn’t wrong, then what is wrong?

The values he developed over many years weren’t so easily collapsed, unless...

Unless Yun Qian really left him.

Just now, when he told Yun Qian "there are some things I can’t figure out," he finally understood.

The reason for refusing closeness in the dream with Yun Qian had nothing to do with "right" or "wrong."

As the dream’s master, he could entirely say Yun Qian’s illness was cured now, even that her cultivation had succeeded, no longer feeling tired.

The reason he avoided it was simple.

He couldn’t betray Yun Qian.

Otherwise, there would always be a sense of... not getting affection from the girl in reality and then seeking a mistress in the dream.

Yun Qian becomes her own mistress...

Who knows what the girl would think.

"I feel like listening to some music."

Amidst Xu Chang’an’s chaotic thoughts, he suddenly remembered the music Zhu Pingniang had played when he was in Beisang City. He couldn’t recall the vibrant scene or Zhu Pingniang’s seductive demeanor, only the flowing music that imprinted itself in his heart.

He’s been bathing for so long and has learned some music theory, he... can actually play the zither.

If there’s a chance, he’ll play it for the girl to hear.

Without drinking tea, with a mind not cleared, Xu Chang’an began to use the sound of the zither as a shield, attempting to calm himself down.

He had forgotten.

The tea clears the mind, but the zither doesn’t necessarily.

This is what the girls in the brothel are skilled at, the patrons’ minds cleared, what will the girls have to eat.

——

On the other side.

Yun Qian’s thoughts were simple, she wouldn’t, like Xu Chang’an, mindlessly think of all these trivialities.

The girl’s purpose for enduring her reluctance to leave amounted to only two things.

The first, she was tired but didn’t want to spoil his mood, this was true.

And the other...

——

Yun Qian arrived at the rear spring, the scenery was excellent, the spring water gathered into a small pool, with clear levels; on both sides, it rushed like flying pearls and scattered jade, while calmly flowing like silver lakes shedding waves, arranged beautifully, vying to make noise.

It sounded like the sound of a zither.

"Zither..." Yun Qian gently lifted her towel, looking back at Xu Chang’an’s direction with eyes showing a little anticipation.

She wanted to hear his zither music.

Thinking this, Yun Qian slowly closed her eyes, feeling as if she was surrounded by the continuous sound of the cold spring, listening closely to the patter, approaching the endless "splashing" sound.

Yun Qian gradually calmed down, then she stepped into the shallow spring, step by step.

Underfoot were all smooth rocks, so she had to be careful.

In the past, she would hold Xu Chang’an’s arm, but now...

Perhaps she could hold onto these stones.

Yun Qian proceeded, cautiously trying to grasp the stones, finding them not as firm as her husband’s arm.

Cautiously holding onto the stones, Yun Qian slowly sat down in the cold spring.

Though she thought falling and being cared for by Xu Chang’an wouldn’t be bad, Yun Qian knew discretion well.

Now that her husband wasn’t by her side, it’s better not to do such things, otherwise... he would surely think it was because of his absence that she got hurt, feeling guilty, rather than smilingly calling her a silly girl as before.

Feeling covered by the cool water flow, Yun Qian leaned against the smooth boulders, closing her eyes, yet feeling no relaxation at all.

The gentle water, the dripping sound like music, the dim environment, should give a sense of security and comfort.

Yet she only felt torment.

Because this world had only herself alone.

But for her other purpose, the girl endured well too, also anticipating something.

What does "absence makes the heart grow fonder" mean?

It is exactly what she’s doing at the moment.