Chapter 25: Reunion Part 1

Because Lu Qingzhen was gossipy enough, on the way back to the Four Spirits Shop, Yu Ruoyin heard the whole story of Zhuang Ciyue and Xing Ruoyan.

Zhuang Ciyue’s great-aunt was named Zhuang Huaisu, the top painting yin master who was still alive. This time, if not for that Pinghu Mountain Boy offending Xia Yu and angering her into using a barrier to sabotage them, Zhuang Huaisu would have been one of the main forces against the jade puppet.

Zhuang Huaisu was Zhuang Ciyue’s grandfather’s youngest sister. When she was young, she had accidentally encountered a ghost, and from then on, she opened her ghost eyes. Without becoming a sorcerer, she could hardly have survived. Fortunately, she met a good ghost and became a painting yin master. She had no master and had groped her way forward on her own.

She had no intention of taking a disciple until three years ago, when Zhuang Ciyue’s mother found her. It could not really be blamed on Zhuang Ciyue’s mother for not letting Zhuang Ciyue and Yu Ruoyin be friends. At first, she had also sought out Zhuang Huaisu, hoping to find a way to change Yu Ruoyin’s fate.

Only after Zhuang Huaisu proved powerless did she resolve to keep Zhuang Ciyue away from Yu Ruoyin.

After all, as a mother, she could not bear to watch her daughter die.

It was just that Yu Ruoyin’s fate carried too much baleful aura.

Zhuang Huaisu originally had no intention of personally raising Zhuang Ciyue. She was used to being alone, and as she grew older, her temper had soured too, making her unsuitable to take a disciple. But Zhuang Ciyue was the Zhuang family’s only heir, a person blessed with great fortune. Such people had extremely bright life fires and rarely saw ghosts. To become a sorcerer, she had to take the most extreme path: directly forming a contract with a ghost. She could only learn painting yin from Zhuang Huaisu.

With Zhuang Ciyue’s talent, there were no shortage of yin messengers who owed her favors, and Xing Ruoyan was one of them.

Choosing Xing Ruoyan was not only because she was among the top ghosts among the yin messengers, but also because she was very beautiful, with gentle brows and eyes, which made her lies more believable.

Moreover, she followed the rules and was not cunning. Though her rigid, by-the-book nature could sometimes be annoying, she was extremely reliable as a contract partner. Because they did not grow together, their bond was not too deep. Many painting yin masters’ ghost partners jacked up the price when it came to repairing bone brushes, but Xing Ruoyan never did.

Zhuang Ciyue was not suited to be a witch, so her bone brush broke frequently, but Xing Ruoyan never complained about her.

And if others treated her well, she repaid it double.

Before Zhuang Ciyue discovered the deception, Xing Ruoyan always made time to help teach her, something Zhuang Huaisu had never required.

Of course, this made Zhuang Ciyue especially dependent on Xing Ruoyan, so when she learned the truth, she could not accept it. She had truly believed that she and Xing Ruoyan would get married, even though they were both women—she did not care about that at all.

Teasing Xing Ruoyan was not out of hatred; she still cared deeply.

For this, Yu Ruoyin could only express sympathy; she did not know what else to say.

Lu Qingzhen pondered the whole way. When they arrived at the Four Spirits Shop, she really came up with an idea. She said to Zhuang Ciyue, who was supporting Zhuang Huaisu, “Why don’t you bribe me? I’ll consider matchmaking you and Ruoyan. Ruoyan and I are super close! If I put in a good word for you, it’ll definitely work!”

“You?” Zhuang Ciyue did not believe her at all and disdainfully glanced at Lu Qingzhen. “Not long ago, you drove her away.”

“Little girl, you sure hold a grudge.”

Lu Qingzhen muttered a couple times and wanted to defend herself when she suddenly heard Jiang Huaining ask her, “A’Zhen, were you serious this morning about moving into the Four Spirits Shop?”

“Of course!” Lu Qingzhen set Sang Xi down on the sofa and clapped her hands. “As soon as the Nether King agrees, I’ll move right in. I don’t trust Xia Yu at all!”

“Then stay starting today. I’ll inform the Nether King for you.”

Lu Qingzhen nodded excitedly over and over. “Great, great! Who knew Boss Jiang was so eager for me to move in!”

Jiang Huaining walked around behind the counter and glanced at Yu Ruoyin, who was giving Sang Xi some water. “A’Zhen, while I’m recuperating, please take good care of A’Yin.”

“Huh?” Lu Qingzhen was a bit unwilling but quickly agreed. “Fine, though I don’t like the little girl much right now, I’ll still be good to her.”

She squeezed to Yu Ruoyin’s side and hooked an arm around her shoulder. “Little girl, be nicer to Boss Jiang. As long as you’re good to Boss Jiang, I can keep liking you. We can even be best friends! After all, we have a foundation of feelings.”

Lu Qingzhen still did not know that Jiang Huaining already knew about their conversation. Yu Ruoyin wondered if she should tell her when Zhuang Ciyue cut in. “I’m Xiao Yu’s best friend. Don’t need you.”

“Then I’ll fight for second!”

Lu Qingzhen kept coaxing Yu Ruoyin. “Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu, look how good Boss Jiang is to you. You can’t keep being an ungrateful girl. You…”

Yu Ruoyin moved Lu Qingzhen’s hand away. “Qingzhen-jie, I will.”

“Good, good, good. As long as you’re willing to treat Boss Jiang well, I’ll be your second-best friend! I’ll be good to you!”

Xia Yu looked at her disdainfully. “Lu Qingzhen, you sure flip fast.”

“What do you know!” Lu Qingzhen and Xia Yu were always at daggers drawn, especially after learning that Jiang Huaining’s spiritual energy was only half left. Whenever Lu Qingzhen ran into Xia Yu, she turned into a prickly hedgehog. “I’m not like you. Boss Jiang and I are of one heart and mind. Whoever Boss Jiang likes, I’ll like too. Whoever Boss Jiang dislikes, I’ll definitely dislike too.”

Jiang Huaining said faintly, “A’Zhen, I don’t dislike Xia Yu.”

“Huh?” Lu Qingzhen grabbed at her clothes in confusion, rubbing hard. “Boss Jiang, let’s discuss it. You should still dislike her.”

Jiang Huaining ignored her and lowered her head to continue fiddling with the bottles and jars on the counter. Lu Qingzhen’s face turned into a bitter gourd, and she kept sighing. “My life is so hard.”

She glared resentfully at Xia Yu. Xia Yu circled behind the counter and placed her palm on Jiang Huaining’s shoulder. Faint red flames flowed from her palm along Jiang Huaining’s arm, then emerged from her fingertip, which glowed red, and fell into a paper cup. They softened the ingredients poured into the cup. Jiang Huaining looked up in surprise. Xia Yu’s face was still cold as she said faintly, “With my help, can’t you rest a few fewer days?”

Jiang Huaining did not reply, but her shoulder struggled slightly.

Xia Yu refused to let go. “What? Afraid I’ll mess things up? Didn’t you say you don’t dislike me?”

“Xia Yu, I understand you even better than you imagine.” Jiang Huaining stopped struggling and slowly raised her head to look at Xia Yu. “I can tell if you’re helping me or trying to make me sleep more.”

“Xia Yu! You really are trying to harm Boss Jiang!”

Lu Qingzhen jumped anxiously and half-ran, half-bounced to the counter.

Yu Ruoyin also got a fright. She handed the frail Sang Xi to the He Meijie sisters and rushed to the counter.

She did not know what she could do, but she should not be absent at a time like this.

Xia Yu completely ignored their anger. In the silence, she confronted Jiang Huaining. The flames drifting toward Jiang Huaining gradually changed color, from faint red to orange, carrying the warmth of sunlight when close.

“Thank you.” Jiang Huaining no longer moved. She smiled at Yu Ruoyin. “A’Yin, it’s fine.”

Yu Ruoyin breathed a sigh of relief.

—

Jiang Huaining quickly prepared three cups of milk tea at top speed. She arranged for Xia Yu and Lu Qingzhen to take Zhuang Ciyue and Zhuang Huaisu to rest. Only then did she and Yu Ruoyin bring milk tea to Sang Xi and the others. Jiang Huaining pointed at the milk teas and said, “There are fragments of Tong Weixue’s consciousness in these. Drink this cup of milk tea, and you’ll see her. Of course, the time won’t be long, so I hope you cherish it.”

“Auntie, if…” Tong Sangqian’s voice emerged from that strange jade puppet. “If you give my milk tea to Mom to drink, then won’t Mom get a bit more time to see Big Aunt?”

Sang Xi’s eyes trembled slightly. “Qianqian, didn’t you always want to see your big sister?”

“I… I do want to see her, but Big Aunt doesn’t know me, so she probably doesn’t want to see me either. I want Mom to see Big Aunt more. It’s… it’s been so long since they last saw each other, right?”

She was truly very sensible.

Even though Yu Ruoyin could not see Tong Sangqian’s original appearance now, she could imagine the image of an obedient and understanding girl.

Jiang Huaining lightly tapped the table. “It’s possible, but right now, you and your sister are sharing the same body. Your souls can’t be separated. If you want to see her, you have to see her together. If only one cup is drunk, your sister’s time with Mom will shorten too.”

“That won’t do. Sister also…”

“I agree!”

He Meijie interrupted Tong Sangqian. She looked deeply at Sang Xi. “I think Little Mom… Little Aunt is the one among us who needs the most time with Mom. I’m fine just seeing Mom. Give all the time to Little Aunt.”

She should have called Sang Xi Little Mom, but suddenly felt Sang Xi might prefer Little Aunt.

This title connected her to Tong Weixue.

He Meijie was not that narcissistic. She did not think that thin blood tie would make Sang Xi willingly care for a niece she had never met for twelve years. She had heard Sang Xi’s story. She knew Sang Xi cared more about her mom than she did because she had not been filial enough. Over these years with Sang Xi’s love, she had almost forgotten her mom.

“No…” Sang Xi was moved by their filial piety but did not dare agree. “Big Sis… Big Sis might not want to see me.”

She still remembered.

She remembered the letter Tong Weixue left behind.

She remembered Tong Weixue saying she never wanted to see her again.

She pushed the paper cup farther away, her expression desolate and despairing. “I… I don’t want to see Big Sis anymore. Give this cup… this cup to you all too. Big Sis… seeing her daughters should make her happier, right?”

It was clearly not that she did not want to; she wanted it too much.

When longing went overboard, one remembered every word she said and felt fear before reuniting.

Yu Ruoyin looked at Sang Xi, not knowing how to persuade her.

Jiang Huaining showed no intention of speaking. It was He Meijie who grabbed the paper cup, pinched Sang Xi’s cheeks to force her mouth open, and quickly poured in one cup of milk tea, then the second. Sang Xi was already in ruins and could die at any moment; how could she resist a jade puppet that was still full of power with dual souls?

Sang Xi had not expected He Meijie to do this to her and could not even resist, only passively swallowing again and again.

After pouring two cups of milk tea, He Meijie finally stopped and considerately wiped Sang Xi’s mouth.

But the milk stains did not wipe clean; instead, she wiped away blood.

Sang Xi was too fragile now; even a three-year-old child could end her life.

He Meijie’s heart ached. Pretending to be relaxed, she said, “You’ve drunk it, so Little Aunt can’t spit it out now.”

Sang Xi’s complexion did not improve and added guilt and confusion. “If Big Sis knows I took her daughter’s time to see her, she’ll definitely blame me.”

“How could she! Mom must really want to see Little Aunt. Little Aunt cares about her so much; she must feel it!” He Meijie wiped the blood tears flowing from Sang Xi’s eyes and struck a haughty pose again. “Besides, whether she wants to or not doesn’t matter. Little Aunt took care of me for so many years. Even if just for the sake that her daughter has been doing really, really well these years, what’s wrong with letting you look at her more! If she blames you, I’ll blame her!”

“You…” Sang Xi’s voice had no strength, weak and soft, but her tone remained firm and stubborn. “You can’t treat Mom like that. Don’t be a bad child. Big Sis will think I didn’t teach you well.”