Seeing my unusual expression, worry showed on his face.
“No… it’s nothing.” I collected my thoughts and looked at him. I was overthinking it; he was just a handsome gentleman. How could he have such eyes?
“May I ask your name this time?” He appeared humble, with a warm smile.
“I didn’t expect to meet you again. It seems we’re destined.” Telling him my name was no big deal. “I’m Jiang Xiao’ai. And you, sir?” I didn’t forget to ask for his name.
“My surname is Tang. Tang Yiyou.” His smile seemed strange as he said it.
“This name is… somewhat…” I looked up at him, sensing a complexity beneath his simplicity.
“Names are given by one’s parents and can’t be changed casually.” Tang Yiyou laughed, appearing truly filial.
“Oh.” I should say goodbye now. “Master Tang, I have something to do. Let’s chat another day.”
“Where does Miss Jiang live?”
“I… I’ve come to visit relatives and haven’t found them yet.” Why did he ask so many questions? How tactless.
“Then let me take Miss Jiang where you’re going! There’s no place in Silver Sun Country I don’t know,” Tang Yiyou said enthusiastically, his signature smile making it hard to refuse.
“Well… hehe…” Sigh, I can’t resist a beautiful man. “Then trouble Master Tang to send me to West City’s Falling Flower Street.”
“Does Miss Jiang’s relative live in West City?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait, Miss Jiang.” Tang Yiyou walked to a small alley and soon returned with a horse-drawn carriage. “West City is not near. We can’t possibly walk.”
“Master Tang is indeed thoughtful.” I admire him more with each interaction. Could a perfect man really exist?
A Step in the Sea of People Towards Another Long Journey
In this life turning to ashes, I give you a promise: may you return me to the original heaven and earth of our love season.
Butterflies dance gracefully in dreams. I want to continue our love tomorrow, even if tears flow without hesitation. How many seasons can be wasted in longing and hesitation? This hatred is endless. Give me a promise, even if life turns to ashes in this second; return me to the original heaven and earth of our love season. In dreams, let there be more than just butterflies dancing gracefully.
After singing, I looked at everyone with mouths wide open in shock; now they all know who I am. Surprisingly, my skills haven’t declined, just slightly worse.
“Ai’er!” Aunt Li was the first to approach, looking at me in disbelief.
“Aunt Li!” I removed my hat and smiled brightly. “I’ve come back to see you. Are you happy?”
“It’s really you!” Aunt Li’s eyes widened.
“Ai’er!” Hua Mei, looking even more voluptuous after three years, exclaimed, “How did you come back? We haven’t seen each other for three years! Are you doing well? Why are you alone…”
Before Hua Mei could finish, another interrupted, “Ai’er, do you remember me? I’m Hua Yu, the one you said is like a flower that understands language.” Hua Yu eagerly grabbed my hand, smiling happily after I nodded.
“Ai’er, I’m Hua Meng…”
“I am Hua…”
“Miss!”
A voice suddenly silenced the entire room.
“Xiao Lian!” Joyfully looking at her, I noted how three years had transformed her into a stunning beauty. “How many young masters have you captivated in this time?”
“Miss!” Xiao Lian blushed at my teasing, still as cute as before but more mature. “Miss, how did you…”
“Let’s go to your room and talk.” I took her hand and walked to my former room. Aunt Li likely guessed something and instructed the Hua family not to spread news of my arrival.
“Why did you leave the mountain without saying a word? Do you know how worried we all were?” Xiao Yao couldn’t help but scold me, her eyes filled with blame and concern.
“I…”
“If you knew you couldn’t stay put, you should have consulted us first. Don’t you know how dangerous it is to come out alone?” Leng Ao Hun scolded me, making my heart skip a beat.
“I’m wrong! I made a mistake! Please forgive me, my husbands. I’ll change! I definitely will change! Next time I’ll remember…”
“You think there’ll be a next time?” Xie Ying interrupted me angrily.
“Uh… I was wrong, wrong. No next time, this is the first and last time. I promise!” I raised my right hand to swear, but Xiao Pizi pulled it down.
“No need for your oath!” Xiao Pizi stared at me seriously. “Did you flirt with any other men?” As soon as the words were out, all eyes turned to me.
“Han!”
I glared back, dissatisfied. “I didn’t flirt with any men. I’ve only been down the mountain for a day!”
“When did you arrive in the Silver Sun Kingdom?” Xiao Pizi asked anxiously.
“I arrived last night!” I replied, noticing their expressions change. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re quite fast,” Huo Ling Yun observed, half-smiling and watching carefully for any lie.
“Of course I was fast – I rode a horse!”
“Where did you get a horse?”
“A young gentleman…” I regretted my words immediately as their eyes grew sharp. I was too careless.
“A gentleman?” Xie Ying raised an eyebrow, feigning a smile. “A suave and elegant gentleman who kindly gave you a ride and then left?”
“How did you know… hehe… he was just being kind. It would be rude to refuse…”
“Xiao Ai Ai! We knew you’d do something like this…” Xiao Pizi had an ‘I knew it’ expression, and I was perplexed by his lack of trust in me.
“Ai Ai, you don’t look well. Are you tired?” Xiao Yao observed me worriedly. “You should rest more and not run around randomly.”
“Xiao Ai, get some sleep,” Nan Gong Mo said, helping me lie down. “We’ll return to Ice Snow Mountain after you rest.”
“Mo,” I said, bouncing up from the bed, “Can we not go back so quickly? I want to play for a few more days. It’s so boring back home.”
“No!” Huo Ling Yun shouted coldly, then lowered his tone, “We’re going back.”
“We can’t stay outside.”
“Why not?” I glared defiantly. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t remain in the Silver Sun Kingdom just because I was pregnant; didn’t the kingdom have pregnant women?
Xiao Yao sighed, “The only ones who could possibly spread this news are the cult members, but the cult no longer exists… Could it be that the cult leader didn’t die?”
“Yes!” Xie Ying suddenly shouted, surprising everyone in the room.
“Ying, what do you mean?” I didn’t see Lin Cheng die, but I thought he couldn’t have survived.
“Don’t be anxious, listen to me.” Xie Ying smiled, then turned serious. “Three years ago, when we found Ai’er in the underground headquarters, Lin Cheng was in terrible condition. We were focused on Ai’s injuries and inadvertently let someone take Lin Cheng away. For three years, there has been no news of him or the cult, and we assumed he was dead. Now it seems…”
“No way!” I stared at him in disbelief. Could he still be alive?
“I don’t think Lin Cheng could be alive. Even if he is, he would just be a living dead,” the usually quiet little rascal interjected. Seeing everyone’s looks, he laughed embarrassedly, “I… I’m just speculating.”
Could it be other people from the cult? Like Xie Ying?”
“It’s him!” Xie Ying’s face darkened.
“Ying, who are you talking about?” I grew nervous.
“Xie Ying, you can’t be thinking of that person…” Cold Ao Hun seemed to have guessed.
“Who is it?” Huo Ling Yun asked anxiously.
“The least likely person – Tian Mei!” Xie Ying’s words left us confused; none of us seemed to know who Tian Mei was.
“Who is Tian Mei?” the curious little rascal asked.
“He was a cult member?” Huo Ling Yun said. “Why haven’t I heard of him?”
“He was the master of the Right Wing Hall of the Celestial Evil Cult.” Xie Ying’s revelation shocked us. Wasn’t the Right Wing Hall’s rebellion suppressed? Xie Ying continued, “None of us saw Tian Mei’s body. This was handled by Lin Cheng. I speculated he might have been kept in an unknown place. Lin Cheng seemed to want something from him, so he kept him alive.”
