243.1 – Bitter Wine

Xue Qilin opened the door and went in.

Qi Qiqi is the only one inside.

Laying motionlessly on the table, using her hands as a pillow, she appears to be sleeping. She emits light sleeping sounds, and her long eyelashes move up and down along with her breathing.

What a lovely sleeping face… Xue Qilin thought.

Qi Qiqi must have been tired. She doesn’t have the habit of taking a nap and doesn’t like sleeping on the table. If she wasn’t sleepy, she would never fall asleep here.

As she walked around the table, Xue Qilin tried to make as little noise as possible, so as not to wake the other party.

After walking around the room, she realized that Shui Yun’er isn’t here. Xue Qilin guessed that she should have gone out. But she still can’t help but worry.

Did she meet some trouble?

What am I thinking! Xue Qilin shook her head, aware that she is worried for reason. However, Gong Tianyang’s body is still vivid in her mind, making her imagination run wild.

The sky is a little dark, probably because clouds are blocking the sun.

Xue Qilin pulled out a cloak from the bag, planning to drape it over Qi Qiqi’s exposed suave shoulders.

As a result, the cloak was just draped over her shoulders, when Qi Qiqi woke up like a cat whose nose had been flicked and straightened herself up abruptly, scaring Xue Qilin into falling onto her buttocks.

“Ai, it’s hurts!”

Xue Qilin rubbed her buttocks and shouted in pain.

When she heard the other party’s voice, Qi Qiqi gazed at her vacantly, looking like she hasn’t fully awakened yet.

Xue Qilin suddenly felt that this kind of expression suits her. It gives off a silly, carefree feeling. Regrettably, she only shows this expression when she wakes up.

Her character, identity, and conviction doomed Qi Qiqi to bear a lot of things that make her worry throughout her life.

Because of this, Xue Qilin feels that the girl’s silly look is particularly lovable.

“Qilin…”

Qi Qiqi blinked several times in a daze.

When the reflection of Xue Qilin’s silhouette in the bright red eyes gradually became clear, her face suddenly tinged with red, and she averted her gaze.

Is Little Sever embarrassed that I saw her sleeping on the table? Xue Qilin made this guess. At the same time, the idea of causing mischief welled up inside her.

With an exaggerated expression on her face, Xue Qilin pointed at a corner of Qi Qiqi’s mouth and shouted, “Wow, Little Seven, there is drool running down your face!”

Qi Qiqi was taken aback momentarily.

“No, no, no!”

She promptly wiped her mouth with a sleeve and blushed. Seeing the other party’s display, Xue Qilin couldn’t help but let out a short laughter. Thereupon, Qi Qiqi realized that she has been fooled. She was so angry that she almost broke her pearl-white teeth as she gnashed them.

“You’re insufferable, Xue Qilin!”

As if a foregone development, Qi Qiqi naturally became angry from embarrassment and slapped Xue Qilin in the face.

Xue Qilin immediately felt a sense of weightlessness.

Sent flying, her petite body spun several times in the air, and finally fell heavily in front of the door.

“What’s with that strength…”

While clasping a big, red hand print on her cheek, Xue Qilin whispered.

Qi Qiqi, who came to her side, frowned discontentedly, put her hands on her hips, and looked at the other party from above.

“What, what, what are you smiling for! Really, can’t you be serious for a change? Don’t pick up bad habits from Older Sister Xia and play tricks on others! I don’t like it!”

Despite the criticism that entered her ears, Xue Qilin didn’t refute or yield like before. She got up unhurriedly, and then —

“Qilin!?”

— hugged Qi Qiqi.

Qi Qiqi was caught off guard by the lass’s sudden behavior. She waved her hands in a panic, not knowing what to do.

“Hey hey, what’s the matter with you! Let go of me, this is disgraceful!”

Xue Qilin didn’t speak and didn’t let Qi Qiqi go. Instead, she hugged her more tightly and buried her face in the other party’s chest.

— it’s warm.

Being able to feel the warmth of life again is Xue Qilin’s only comfort now. Gong Tianyang’s death seems to be a bigger blow to her that she expected.

Unconsciously, the corners of her eyes became a little wet.

“Qilin, you… you’re crying?”

Qi Qiqi’s bewildered voice came from above, and Xue Qilin shuddered.

“Qilin, what happened?”

Not having received an answer from Xue Qilin, Qi Qiqi gently pushed her away.

Xue Qilin subconsciously lowered her head, letting the shadow of her bangs cover her eyes. She doesn’t want the other party to see her expression — see her weak appearance.

However, Qi Qiqi didn’t give up.

Qi Qiqi squatted down in front of Xue Qilin and peered at the other party’s deliberately hidden expression from below.

A tear landed on the girl’s face.

“Qilin, you…”

Qi Qiqi’s expression became sluggish, letting the other party’s tear slid down her face.

At this time, Xue Qilin finally saw the glistening tears floating in her eyes reflected in Qi Qiqi’s limpid eyes.

Am I crying? When Little Qing died, I didn’t… didn’t shed a tear. Yet I am crying for Little Yang? Xue Qilin is at a loss.

Maybe it’s different.

Luo Qing’s death brought her more bitterness, while Gong Tianyang’s death brought her grief.

Of the two, one died smiling, the other couldn’t close their eyes in death.

With her own will, Luo Qing hoped to make the Merak Temple a better place through her death. Behind this was a pure wish — she died happily.

What about Gong Tianyang?

His fortitude, the suffering he experienced, they ultimately failed to sublimate into happiness, failed to blossom and bear fruit. He died meaninglessly, died a victim of someone else’s plot.

Gong Tianyang’s death makes Xue Qilin feel grief and indignation — makes her feel miserable, makes her cry.

However, she is aware that there are people who are more miserable than her.

— Gong Tianqing.

The lass who always thinks of others must be heart-broken at this moment. Xue Qilin mused — she must need more comfort than myself.

Thus, Xue Qilin wiped away her tears.

“Little Seven, I’m fine…”

Xue Qilin grinned, yet tears came to her eyes again.

“Can you go to the Gong Clan?”

Qi Qiqi is noncommittal.

She pursed her lips, gently raised her hand, and clumsily wiped away the tears from Xue Qilin’s eyes with her sleeve.

“Qilin… why are you crying?”

Should I tell her? Xue Qilin hesitated.

However, she knows that even if she doesn’t tell her, Qi Qiqi will sooner or later learn of this.

“Little Yang… died.”

Startled, Qi Qiqi widened her eyes.

However, as if suspecting that she heard wrong, she asked hesitantly, “Do you mean Gong Tianyang?”

Xue Qilin nodded.

“How could…”

Qi Qiqi murmured in disbelief.

Then, as if she thought of something, she promptly asked, “Qilin, didn’t you go to treat him? Could it be that…”