You know, when she used to escort Xu Changâan, she thought that someone as likable as the gentleman, even to become a concubine, would never choose her.
Therefore, she dared not look at Xu Changâan just now, forcing herself to focus her attention on Yun Qian, whom she equally admiredâ
Yes, from the beginning she kept telling herself, as long as she admired Ms. Yun, thatâs best.
How wonderful it is that there is someone beside her whom she admires, so she can temporarily transfer her affection for the gentleman onto Ms. Yun, only then can she... talk to him calmly.
Sometimes itâs not that she doesnât care, itâs just that she doesnât want to show that she cares.
Women are really so twisted.
Who would have thought that Ms. Yun seems to perceive whatâs in her heart... and insisted on asking her again, as if she could sense her repression.
Do you like the young gentleman?
"Like him..." The Rowing Maiden lowered her head, looking at Yun Qianâs slender, perfect fingers like scallions, and murmured, "Now I am also a girl from the Flower Moon Building, even though I donât need to entertain guests... Iâm not a good girl."
She seemed to be persuading herself of something, but as she spoke, she amused herself.
"Ms. Yun." The maiden took a deep breath, gently tiptoed, and again hid her hands behind her back.
The golden sunlight pierced through the misty rain, falling on her, as if coating her with a faint halo.
Her slender figure, bright eyes, somewhat rustic clothes, formed an ordinary yet lovely Boatman Maidenâs face, shining under the ray-rain.
She said word by word, "I do like the gentleman."
Just as she has always liked him.
Moreover, unlike the first time when she responded and dared not look Yun Qian in the eye, this time she boldly met Yun Qianâs gaze.
It takes courage to say such things to a woman one admires, and liking gave her the courage to make such a declaration.
Knowing she had entered Flower Moon Building and not Flower Moon Building, the weight of the word "like" in her mouth is different.
The latter is admiration, is not male-female desire, but willing to be a concubine.
Now itâs hard to say.
"..." Of course, right after the maiden finished speaking, she deflated instantly, bowing her head like a child who had done something wrong, awaiting the ladyâs judgement.
Shamelessly saying she likes someone elseâs husband, she finally did something a Flower Moon Building girl should do.
Looking at the maiden with her head bowed, Yun Qian nodded, lips gently pursed, she removed her veil.
"So, thatâs how it is."
She was very happy.
Somehow this maiden really knows how to win her favor.
"Sister..."
Looking at Yun Qianâs face, the maiden seemed pierced by an arrow through her heart, stunned for a long time before bowing her head and said, "Sister did not get angry, thatâs really good."
"Iâm very happy." Yun Qian said slowly.
The maiden responded, thinking Yun Qian had said she rarely gets angry.
Yun Qian was indeed pleased, for she found this maiden had more insight than before.
Li Zhibai likes those who âknow what they want and strive for itâ, and Li Zhibai influenced Xu Changâan, who also said based on this view that he "liked" Liu Qingluo.
Yun Qian in turn is influenced by Xu Changâan.
A girl who can make herself happy, also likely get Xu Changâan to like, and even personally lend a helping hand... Yun Qian naturally sees her in a different light.
Feeling Yun Qianâs gaze, the maiden finally came back to her senses, knowing she had said some shameful things just now, hurriedly turned around, the boat paddle in her hand urgently knocking against the bow, producing a dull thud.
"Yun... Ms. Yun, I just didnât say anything."
If the gentleman knew, or if Sister Liu knew... she would be too ashamed to live.
You know, even those in Flower Moon Building who genuinely like Xu Changâan know to restrain themselves.
Thinking it over, the maiden believes that compared to other women liking Xu Changâan, she likes Yun Qian extra, thus courage blooms within.
"Didnât say anything?" Yun Qian blinked, thinking Xu Changâan recently occasionally did similar self-deceptive things.
"Ms. Yun, East Garden is here." The maiden, blushing, docked the boat at the shore.
"Mm."
"Ms. Yun."
"Mm?"
"Veil..." She dared not look at Yun Qianâs captivating face, softly said, "There are many eyes around, itâs... better to wear it."
"Understood." Yun Qian put the veil back on, then feeling good, assisted while getting off the boat, stood on the stone bridge, pinched the sachet at her waist.
Stopping her steps, Yun Qian asked her: "Do you have anything you want?"
Yun Qian, towards girls she likes, never mind getting involved in some fate, because these are all Xu Changâanâs fates, so she is willing to touch.
Liu Qingluo is like this, Li Zhibai too.
While Ms. Yun doesnât have much ability, being a wish machine is most simple and straightforward.
"Eh?" The maiden was struck dumbfounded by Yun Qianâs sudden words.
What does this mean?
Though she doesnât understand, she understands Yun Qian expresses goodwill towards her.
"Want... anything?" She looked at Yun Qian.
"Mm, anything will do." Yun Qian said.
"Sister, I... donât really want anything." The maiden showed a hint of bewilderment.
Her life now is already good, very satisfying.
Seeing her bewildered look, Yun Qianâs veil shifted slightly, repeated: "Any wish, really."
Unlike interrupting Wen Liâs Enlightenment previously, if Wen Li ascends, then Ms. Yun when settled accounts in the future sheâll have another charge, while for this maiden before her, Yun Qian has no scruples.
Her husband doesnât care about this girl, so no matter how outrageous a wish she makes, Xu Changâan wonât know, even if he knows later, he wonât care.
Ascension, immortality, perhaps these are the highest pursuits people can think of in this mortal world?
Yun Qian wondered.
ââ
While there is a very strange thing in the world.
Someoneâs long-held wish, in othersâ eyes, is worth nothing.
This may be the most unfair, yet also commonly seen.
One can say the maiden lacks ambition, but she truly is such a person.
Yun Qianâs words seemed to have magic power, letting people ignore everything to believe her, now the Rowing Maiden has this... feeling girl can achieve anything.
Just say it out...
Just say your wish and itâs okay, she can even say embarrassing things like liking the gentleman, what cannot be said?
The voice in her heart repeatedly tells her to dig into her deepest wishes.
Wish for silver coins, she gets silver coins.
Wish for power and influence, she gets power and influence.
Wish to become an Immortal, she easily achieves.
Even wish to become a concubine to the gentleman... hmm, that is hard, Yun Qian cannot rule it, Xu Changâan would bully her.
So, Ms. Yun is not omnipotent.
But even so, the Rowing Maiden still blankly, completely cannot figure out what wish she wants.
Now relying on her own effort to make money, having Flower Moon Building as a support, also squeezing into Flower Moon Building circle, occasionally playing clever card games with the sisters there, drinking tea...
The last ten years she hasnât experienced such comfortable days.
She really canât find anything she still wants, so no wish.
"Sister, I donât want anything." The Rowing Maiden somewhat guiltily said.
She doesnât know why sheâs guilty, just has a feeling, like sheâs failed the ladyâs goodwill.
Yun Qian nodded, not surprised, just said: "Yes, girls around him are always like this."
Individually unimpressive.
Including herself.
"Sister, please donât be upset... I, Iâll wish for something." The maiden at this moment realized, knowing she shouldnât push goodwill away, because once she does it wonât come a second time.
"Iâm not upset." Yun Qian said, then looked at her, asked: "What do you wish for?"
"... Sister." The Rowing Maiden cautiously said: "Next, I have no work... may I sit with Sister at East Garden?"
This is the wish she managed to think of with all her effort.
To talk with Yun Qian for a while longer.
Mm, though lacking ambition, even surpasses Liu Qingluo.