Ada was overjoyed when I agreed, and immediately let go of Ali.
He lay between us, his smile radiant.
"I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep now."
With that, he drifted off into a deep sleep.
I turned my head, slowly propped myself up on my arm, and stealthily looked at Ali.
Ali also slowly turned his body and raised his hand slightly, saying,
"Sleep, I'm sleepy too."
Hearing him speak, I gradually felt relieved.
I lay flat on the ground and also closed my eyes slightly.
Tonight, a cold wind howled outside, and I didn't know what month it was.
Perhaps, inexplicably, winter passed by, or perhaps not.
The next morning, a small pink bird flew in through the window.
In its beak, it carried a small envelope, the size of a fingernail.
It flew cautiously to my face, suddenly dropped the letter, which landed on my face.
It instantly returned to its normal size, and then, it leisurely flew back.
I was so overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of the letter that I couldn't breathe.
Suddenly, I saw the letter that had fallen on my face.
Hearing the sound, I looked curiously and saw it was a letter.
When I opened it, I saw that it was from Celestial Master Zhang.
It read:
Muye, I will naturally fulfill my promise to you.
However, I have some personal matters to attend to. Once these are handled,
I will take you to someone who knows how you can return home.
This trip will require three to four days of waiting. Wait for my return.
Celestial Master Zhang.
"Home, what home?"
Suddenly, a sound came from behind me. I jumped in fright, and the letter in my hand trembled.
Turning around in terror, I saw Ada stretching his neck with a look of confusion.
He was intently reading the contents of my letter.
"You, you you you, when did you wake up?"
Ada, in some ways, had a familiar shadow about him.
Ada chuckled and said,
"I woke up when you did. Seeing you looking at something, I couldn't help but be curious.
I took a couple of glances. Do you want to go home too?"
His previously happy face suddenly darkened.
Ali also woke up slowly. Hearing our conversation, he understood.
He took the initiative to explain for me,
"Muye wants to go home. When Muye met me,
she forgot many things and how to get home.
So she asked Celestial Master to help her find her way back."
In one sentence, he told the truth and also spun a kind lie.
Ada let out an "Oh," still a bit disappointed.
I patted his shoulder and said,
"Don't worry, we will meet again.
Even if we don't, this friendship is deeply etched in my memory.
I will never, ever forget you."
"Really?"
He became happy again.
"Really, let's pinky promise."
"Okay."
He extended his hand, and I extended mine.
Our little fingers hooked together, sealing the promise.
The gloom on his face gradually disappeared like a gentle breeze.
A smile appeared on his face unconsciously.
Because of our contributions, we were allowed to stay at the Thousand Maidens Hall for these few days.
Fortunately, we didn't have to pay.
I stood by the window, gazing into the distance, feeling heavy-hearted.
I hadn't expected to leave this strange place so soon.
Yet, I felt a sense of reluctance, and sighed.
Thinking that once I left here, I would never see Ali, Liu Shinian, or Ada again.
A wave of loneliness washed over me, but I had to go back. Alas, it was truly difficult.
Turning around slowly, I caught sight of Ada and Ali playing chess, with nothing else to do.
Recalling all our experiences, we had an unspoken understanding.
The meticulous care and trust we had for each other
made me even more reluctant to leave the people I cared about.
If I were to voice my thoughts, would they think I was like a nag?
While I was lost in these thoughts, I suddenly heard a "whoosh" from the door.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and a familiar figure peeked in.
Looking at the people inside, he chuckled softly,
"Everyone's here, playing chess, what a refined hobby."
The person who arrived was Jin Yulan.
He walked in, talking to himself, completely unceremoniously.
He walked up and looked at the black and white pieces of their game.
Unable to resist, he reached out and took Ada's piece.
Smiling, he placed his piece and said,
"This is the right move, see, I've captured a piece."
Ada said a little embarrassed,
"I'm not very good, just playing for fun."
"It's okay, you'll get better with more practice."
He stood up and saw me. He covered the lower half of his face with his fan, leaned closer,
and said leisurely,
"Are you getting used to staying here?"
"I'm quite used to it."
"I heard from Celestial Master that you're going home?"
"Yes."
"To the human world?"
I nodded.
"Why don't you stay? Stay and be my maid."
He suddenly joked.
I gave an awkward smile and refused,
"No, no, no, I don't really like being a maid."
He smiled faintly, like blooming peach blossoms, and closed his fan.
He then offered it to me again, lifted my chin, and asked softly,
"Then what do you want to be?"
His words seemed to carry an unspeakable hint of teasing.
My face immediately flushed, and I hurriedly turned my face away.
Seeing my shy demeanor, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
I quietly got up and walked to Ali's side, sitting down silently.
I thought that perhaps then he wouldn't say anything more.
Who knew he would follow me like sticky candy, and unceremoniously sit next to me.
If this were the me who had just arrived in this world,
I probably would have pounced on him before he even got close.
But now, I had other thoughts in my mind, and my gaze drifted back to Ali.
He followed my gaze and seemed to understand something.
He patted Ali's shoulder with his fan and asked,
"Young Master Ali, are you married?"
This sudden question made Ali extremely awkward.
He looked back, not understanding, and honestly replied to Jin Yulan,
"I, I haven't yet."
"How about I play matchmaker and betroth Muye to you?"
"Ah!!!"
He exclaimed in surprise, his face instantly flushed, and he stammered,
"I, Muye, we, aren't, that..."
I hadn't expected Jin Yulan to be so direct.
Ada, hearing this, quickly objected,
"Boss Jin, I object.
Muye is my eldest brother's. If she marries Ali, what will my eldest brother do?
Won't he be very pitiful?"
Jin Yulan laughed heartily and looked at him, saying,
"What good deed has Liu Shinian done to make Young Master Ada so fond of him?
Young Master Ada may not know this, but Liu Shinian has no shortage of admirers.
Xue Ji is one, the women of Qingfang Tower are another, countless others.
Therefore, it doesn't matter to him who Muye marries."
Ada still didn't quite believe him.
"But eldest brother, he seems to like Muye a lot."
"He likes everyone a lot, but in terms of importance,
I guess Xue Ji is more important."
Ada was convinced, thinking it made sense. Eldest Brother Liu liked Xue Ji the most.
Even without Muye, he wouldn't be very lonely.
Therefore, he abandoned his previous insistence and supported the idea.
"Alright then, I agree to Ali marrying Muye."
Ali and I blushed, not knowing how to respond.
We exchanged glances silently, suddenly feeling our hearts race.
Pink bubbles seemed to appear out of nowhere.
If I didn't go back, I might marry him.
Seeing our silence, Jin Yulan understood the situation.
He slowly said,
"If you two have made up your minds, you can come to me.
I can provide the venue for free to hold your wedding."
Ali had never thought about marriage.
Now that it was casually mentioned,
he had no defense and felt flustered and at a loss.
Jin Yulan just kept laughing. The joy of these past few days was all due to Ali and me.
Seeing that Ali was no longer playing chess, he turned to Ada and said,
"What kind of game is this, to be left halfway?
Young Master Ada, I'll play a few rounds with you."
Facing Jin Yulan, Ada was not afraid, but rather full of fighting spirit, and declared,
"Okay, then I'll have to take this seriously."
"That's the spirit."
Then, they ignored us and started playing chess on their own.
In the near future, I would leave this place.
Return to the human world, and never see these good friends again.
So, was there anything I could do for them, or for Liu Shinian?
I looked at Jin Yulan and said,
"Can I see Xue Ji?"
"For Liu Shinian?"
He guessed calmly.
"Not entirely for him, but for myself too. Some things, only girls understand girls.
Can I see her?"
He hesitated for a moment and replied,
"Alright, I'll take you."
Saying that, he moved his chess piece forward and suddenly laughed.
"Young Master Ada, you lost."
Ada cupped his face in his hands, looking grief-stricken and sad, saying,
"Ah! I still lost."
Jin Yulan comforted him,
"Young Master Ada, you did very well. When you have time,
I'll teach you the way of chess properly."
"Really? Then I must learn well."
"Indeed, I guarantee you'll become an unparalleled master in my Thousand Maidens Hall."
"Okay."
He slowly stood up and said to me,
"Muye, come with me."
I patted Ali's back and said to him,
"I'll be back soon."
Ali patted my hand in return and nodded.
So, I followed Jin Yulan out of the building and headed west, passing through a winding, snake-like corridor.
We arrived at the semi-circular gate that Liu Shinian had brought us to before.
A maid in a green dress stood at the courtyard gate, not one of the previous two.
Jin Yulan stepped forward and whispered a few instructions to her.
The maid then came over and called me,
"Follow me."
Jin Yulan said,
"Muye, I'm going back."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome."
He smiled faintly, turned, and left the courtyard.
I followed the woman in front of me into the semi-circular courtyard.
Inside, the courtyard was lush and green, with uniquely arranged greenery all around.
Passing through a rockery, I saw not far away a place that looked like a scene from a painting.
It was a pavilion surrounded by flowers.
Outside the pavilion, there was only a narrow pebble path leading inside.
The guide led me into the pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, a light blue curtain hung, dividing the space in two.
I waited on this side of the curtain.
Before I could sit down, I suddenly heard a voice from the other side say,
"Why are you looking for me, Miss?"
It was Xue Ji's voice. It seemed she was here.
I spoke directly,
"I am not from this异界 (yì jiè - otherworld). I used to wish to leave quickly.
Now that the time has come, I feel a sense of reluctance.
I don't know whether to go back or stay, it's hard to decide."
"If you want to stay, stay. If you want to go, go."
These words seemed to say something, yet also nothing.
I then asked,
"Sister Xue Ji, can you answer one question honestly?"
"If I know, I will tell you the truth."
"Do you like Liu Shinian?"
"If you have come for him, please go back."
"I have come for him, and also for myself.
I just want to know your answer."
"I have already made things clear with him, and if he still has attachments, it has nothing to do with me."
So direct, so resolute. The word "nothing to do with me" said it all.
At this moment, I actually felt a bit sorry for Liu Shinian.
I had thought that before leaving, I could find a good marriage for him,
so that in the future, he wouldn't be so lonely through the endless years.
However, it seemed that wouldn't be possible.
I lowered my head slightly and thanked her,
"Thank you, Sister Xue Ji. I'm leaving."
As I slowly got up to leave, she spoke again,
"Forgive my meddling, but I would like to offer a piece of advice, Miss Liu. You are indeed not suited to stay in this异界 (yì jiè - otherworld).
It is far more dangerous here than it appears."
I turned back, wanting to ask more questions.
But then I saw the curtain being lifted, and the maid who had led me out emerged.
It seemed Xue Ji had already left.
The maid urged me,
"Miss Liu, please follow me out of the courtyard."
I nodded slightly and left the courtyard with her.
After I left, Xue Ji returned to the solitary pavilion where she had met Liu Shinian, blowing in the gentle breeze.
Dressed in white, she looked out at the courtyard.
Beside her was a woman in green. She asked the woman,
"How is Liu Shinian?"
"Reporting to Madam, he has returned to Cangshan. He's no longer as mischievous as before."
"Indeed, he needs some time."
She suddenly asked again,
"Do you think I will see him again?"
"Yes."
"Indeed, we will see him eventually."
She sighed softly in her heart and slowly turned around, saying,
"Let's go back."
"Yes."
I left Xue Ji's courtyard and was about to head back.
But then I suddenly saw a familiar figure under a nearby tree.
He wore a blue veil hat and a dark blue long robe, holding a sword.
This, isn't this Brother Yue, Yue Jiuceng?
Why is he here?
I ran towards him, calling out,
"Brother Yue!"
Yue Jiuceng slowly turned around. Seeing a familiar figure, he was not surprised.
He asked me,
"Muye, why are you here alone?"
"Oh, I had something to do just now. I finished and was about to go back when I saw you.
Why did you come? Are you going to my room?"
He laughed heartily and said,
"What man would casually enter a woman's room?"
"Alas, I don't mind, and besides, you wouldn't do anything to me."
"Is that so? Then perhaps I should do something."
Saying that, he slowly approached, getting closer and closer.
I became a little flustered and could only retreat, but then I suddenly stopped and smiled,
"I know Brother Yue isn't that kind of person, you won't do anything to me."
"Is that so?"
Saying that, he suddenly leaned his face towards me, almost touching mine.
Startled by this sudden move, I almost fell backward.
He caught me in time.
He laughed at me and said,
"See, I can be very dangerous."
I gave an awkward smile and asked him,
"Then why aren't you going back with me? What are you doing here alone?"
"Waiting for someone."
"Waiting for someone?"
Who could it be? It couldn't be a woman, could it? Thinking about it again, it seemed impossible.