Cold Spring.
Yun Qian sat upright in the clear water, a towel wrapped tightly around her body, feeling the water flow over her like silk. She lowered her eyes.
For her, temporarily hindering her relationship with Xu Changâan wasnât an unbearable thing, as long as the final result was good.
She couldnât comprehend the concept of "hindrance."
Itâs as if she never considered Liu Qingluo or Li Zhibai as obstacles in the past, even telling Xu Changâan in a previous dream that she would be happy if he could be a bit more fickle.
It was the truth.
But that was before; now, Yun Qian also needed to rethink.
It seems every name, every identity of hers needs to learn how to be jealous.
Thus, the girl named Yun Qian was truly unique. In future encounters, whether she will remain as she is now... no one knows.
In the past.
The Chaoyun Sect and cultivation took Xu Changâan away from her side, and she had to spend months alone in an empty room... but she never made the Chaoyun Sect and cultivation disappear from this world.
As long as this matter could bring her husband even a bit of joy, happiness... even if it means going through some unhappy times in between, it didnât matter.
Yun Qian was not so resistant to the idea of waiting a while before meeting Xu Changâan, as long as he thought he was doing the right thing.
And as the saying goes, adversity lies beneath good fortune, and fortune lies beneath adversity. After a few months of separation, when they met again... her husbandâs passion made Yun Qian understand the beauty of "small separations enhance new marriages."
Thus, she reminisced a bit.
However, past separations were initiated by Xu Changâan, with her passively accepting them.
If she were to create conditions for separation herself, the result would be like nowâunable to bear leaving.
Even when taking a bath and separating for a short while... she had tried her best.
This was the girlâs limit.
She hoped, he wouldnât let her efforts go to waste and wouldnât daze there, but let Yun Qian see the fiery emotion she longed for after separation soon.
Yun Qian believed he wouldnât disappoint her.
She gently patted the waterâs surface, realizing that... she wasnât indifferent to separation, just more tolerant.
"Then..."
Yun Qian opened her palm and observed closely as the jade-like fingernails sparkled with a chilling gleam under the faint light.
Is she a jealous girl?
Yun Qian looked out into the dim surroundings, the cold wind was rising, bringing the scent of rain.
She wouldnât fear the lonely environment.
But didnât like the bustle either.
Yet she enjoyed hearing people praise Xu Changâan, say he was handsome, or that his calligraphy was good. If it were always just her and Xu Changâan, she wouldnât hear such things.
Two might be too few, so... how about three, or even more people?
Thus, having people who liked Xu Changâan around was the best thing for Yun Qian.
Yun Qian sat in the water, calmly gazing southward toward the horizon.
A layer of seven-colored light arose at the edge of the sky, dividing the world in two, like a bridge connecting an island and some place in the Chaoyun Sect, at this moment, both time and space were but the path beneath the girlâs feet.
Ripples appeared in the clean sky, resembling a mirrorâs surface, and as the mirror twisted and realigned, subtle changes emerged in the entire world.
Specks of light gathered, forming a nebulous figure of a woman beside Yun Qian.
With long hair cascading down, she was intellectual and gentle, her long, slightly curled eyelashes fluttered slightly, a lovable tear mole marked the corner of her eye, but on closer inspection, her face bore a delicate resolve.
At this moment, gazing at the unfamiliar place before her, Liu Qingluoâs light-colored eyes reflected confusion and bewilderment.
Wasnât she with Gu Qiancheng?
She remembered she was supposed to be asleep... here...
"You here?" Yun Qian tilted her head to look at the girl in front of her, someone she quite liked.
A breeze blew past, rustling Yun Qianâs long hair, brushing over Liu Qingluoâs eyes, the chill stung her face, shocking her into wide-eyed incredulity, her fingers trembling slightly, her eyes filled with disbelief and a trace of bewilderment.
Liu Qingluo gazed at Yun Qian, who leaned lazily by the cold spring with a towel perfectly wrapped around her body, utterly bewildered.
"Donât recognize me?" Yun Qian asked.
Liu Qingluo finally gathered herself, stepping back three steps: "Ms. Yun?!"
Yun Qian thought for a moment and said, "This is a dream."
Her voice was cool, yet as if imbued with magic power, and as she spoke, Liu Qingluo instantly believed her.
"A dream..." Liu Qingluo murmured.
Indeed.
It could only be a dream.
Liu Qingluo fell silent.
Why?
The gentleman had visited her dreams more than once, but this was the first time for Miss Yun... was it because she had just met Yun Qian?
Liu Qingluo felt this was a dangerous scene, as someone like her should stay far from Yun Qian, even in dreams... and minimize contact.
If she got used to it in dreams and lost her sense of propriety in reality, it wouldnât be good.
So Liu Qingluo tried hard to wake herself up.
But after a while, she stared blankly with wide eyes, the tear mole at the corner of her eye trembled sharply.
Couldnât wake up...?
Yun Qian blinked as she looked at the frantic girl before her, who seemed like a little rabbit.