"Forget it, you can go see him when you have time," Mu Anxiao said, remembering the old friend's worry about Zhang Yan's reclusiveness.
"Okay," Ma Yan nodded.
Ma Yan also said, "Although I don't know your grandfather well, since your grandfather is a good friend of my grandfather, I will go see him too."
"Thank you," Mu Anxiao smiled faintly.
"Then," Ma Yan pursed her lips and said, "can you tell me what my grandfather said?"
Mu Anxiao glanced at Ma Yan and Ma Yan, organized her memories, and said, "Your grandfather's exact words were, 'My two granddaughters, one is gentle, the other is stubborn; they always give me a headache, but...' " She paused, then changed her words, "I see the kindness in their hearts. I just hope the two of them get along. In my eyes, they are my proudest granddaughters, both Ma Yan and Ma Yan."
The moment Mu Anxiao spoke these words, tears welled up in the eyes of Ma Yan and Ma Yan.
Ma Yan looked at the back of Ma Yan's head, thinking about what Ma Yan had just said, and lost the courage to speak.
Ma Yan looked at Mu Anxiao's serious expression and asked, "Did your grandfather tell you?"
"Yes," Mu Anxiao confirmed firmly.
"I see," Ma Yan said, turning to Ma Yan, who was looking up at her. "Although you are very annoying, we are still related by blood. Also, tell me the truth, did you hire someone to beat me?"
"I..."
"I hope you tell the truth," Ma Yan interrupted.
Ma Yan hesitated and then said, "You always don't smile at school, and they say you are aloof. But I know you just don't like to smile. Although I have wanted to deal with you a few times, when I think of when we were young, and of Grandpa, I can't bring myself to do it."
"It wasn't you, was it?" Ma Yan said.
Ma Yan took a breath. "It wasn't me. It was a few girls in our class who are academically comparable to you. They did it, but they were afraid you would confront them, so they begged me to take the blame."
"Why are you so foolish?" Ma Yan said, angered.
"It's not foolish. I thought if I couldn't do it myself," Ma Yan said weakly, "then let outsiders bully you. At worst, it would be like they did it for me."
Mu Anxiao looked at Ma Yan's face, thinking about the incident where the needle was pulled. She asked, "You didn't want to bully Hu Yuan either, did you?"
"How did you know?" Ma Yan asked, surprised.
"The day you pulled out the needle, you ran out crying. It shows your heart isn't bad," Mu Anxiao said. She hadn't intended to get involved, but seeing Ma Yan's attitude, she felt it was necessary to try and resolve their misunderstanding.
"I don't like lies. Hu Yuan's mother often cried to Grandpa about her own faults. Grandpa told her to tell Hu Yuan the truth, as it would be good for Hu Yuan, because lying doesn't solve problems. But," Ma Yan bit her lip, "Hu Yuan's mother refused and argued with Grandpa. That day, I saw Grandpa fall ill, so I had this idea of revenge."
"Hu Yuan's mother unintentionally angered your grandfather, but you," Mu Anxiao's expression turned serious, "did it intentionally."
Ma Yan lowered her head and said, "Afterward, I always wanted to apologize to Hu Yuan's mother and Hu Yuan. But after that, Hu Yuan really started to ignore me. To get him to pay attention to me, I always sought him out, but no matter what he said, he ignored me. So, I could only treat him that way. As for treating my sister like that, it was purely because Hu Yuan would rather pay attention to her than me. Over time, I started to get jealous of my sister. Honestly," she looked up at Mu Anxiao, "I really hate that version of myself."
"You're finally willing to say it," Ma Yan said calmly.
Ma Yan blinked and turned to look at Ma Yan, asking, "What do you mean by that?"
"Both of us grew up with Hu Yuan. But you, from the day you met Hu Yuan, always called him sickly, wherever you went. Do you know how much damage that caused him?" Ma Yan asked.
Ma Yan shook her head.
"You're really quite stupid," Mu Anxiao muttered.
Ma Yan glanced at Mu Anxiao, not daring to speak.
"In the eyes of your classmates, Hu Yuan and you are friends. Although you haven't spoken much at school, your sarcastic remarks about Hu Yuan have been heard by everyone. The more you say, the more prejudice classmates will have towards Hu Yuan. Hu Yuan is bullied, and no one helps him, all because of you. Can't you see that?" Ma Yan asked.
"I..." Ma Yan was speechless.
"Have you ever considered how much your words affect Hu Yuan?" Ma Yan asked again.
Ma Yan hadn't thought that far ahead. After hearing Ma Yan's words, she realized her mistake.
"I was wrong," she said.
"What's the use of you telling me you're wrong? Although, after all these years," Ma Yan sighed, "I don't think Hu Yuan will ever forgive you. You've caused him so many indelible shadows."
"Where is Hu Yuan?" Ma Yan asked, looking at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao shook her head.
"Wasn't he with us?" Ma Yan asked, having lost the memory of Hu Yuan disappearing by sorcery.
"After you fainted, he left," Mu Anxiao said, a sense of unease stirring within her.
Anger flashed in Ma Yan's eyes. "He pushed me down. If it weren't for Feng Qishi, I would probably be dead by now."
Ma Yan, unaware of the truth, said, "Don't say that again. If anyone asks, just say what she said. If you let this out, everything will have to be re-evaluated, do you understand?"
Ma Yan looked at Ma Yan's expression, realizing she didn't know the truth but was still interrupting. She hesitated and said, "I understand. I was just talking. Why are you so anxious?"
Mu Anxiao sighed. "Alright, that's how it is. I need to go see Feng Qishi."
"I'll go with you," Ma Yan stepped forward.
"No need. I'll go alone," Mu Anxiao glanced at Ma Yan. "Who knows what might happen there again. It wouldn't be good if you got caught up in it."
"Then, alright. We'll wait here for your news," Ma Yan conceded.
"Okay," Mu Anxiao agreed, then turned and walked out of the ward, her eyes falling on the big-headed, fat demon and the short demon who had been waiting for her for a long time. "Shouldn't you two be looking for your destined masters now?"
"Let's talk outside," said the big-headed, fat demon.
Mu Anxiao frowned slightly but remembered the thousand taels and nodded in agreement.
The small demon smiled at Mu Anxiao and then turned to lead the way.
Mu Anxiao followed their pace.
In a short while, they arrived at a pavilion.
Mu Anxiao sat in the pavilion and looked up at the big-headed, fat demon and the small demon, who were looking at each other. "There's no one here, what do you want to do?"