“It’s not that I don’t like it, but because of you,”
“You’re very precious.”
Three parts intoxicated, seven parts sleepy.
That night, Xie Tao felt like he had experienced a dream that was within reach yet elusive, his voice echoing like the distant waves of the sea, always remote, leaving one unsure whether it was real or an illusion.
He never easily spoke those stirring words.
But that didn’t mean he had never been moved.
He was just accustomed to burying all his emotions deep inside.
As someone who was always reticent and not good at expressing himself, he seemed somewhat unlike his former self that night.
It was only because she wanted an answer.
And so, under her persistent gaze, he gave her one.
The wax from the candle dripped down, instantly solidifying. The flickering flame nearly went out, and that night, the girl ultimately couldn’t wait for the dawn with him.
His kiss came suddenly, making her feel as if she had drunk several glasses of wine, her whole being light and as if floating amongst the clouds.
Her fingers tightly clutched the collar of his shirt, and the last button at the collar suddenly popped off and fell to the ground, making a noise.
His shirt was slightly open, revealing part of his collarbone. A strand of his black hair fell in front of him, its cool, satin-like touch brushing across her cheek.
Until her figure gradually became enveloped in his arms by the pale golden light, the smoke blurring her flushed cheeks and her clear, lake-like eyes.
That night, it was ultimately he who sat up until dawn.
And when Xie Tao woke up, she was already in her own small rented room.
The “Happy New Year” message she sent to Zhou Xinyue the day before received a reply in the early morning of that day.
The moment the video call connected, Xie Tao saw Zhou Xinyue’s face on her phone screen.
Compared to her pale-as-paper appearance several months ago, her complexion now had finally gained a bit of rosiness, and those eyes no longer looked dull.
“Tao Tao, Happy New Year!” Zhou Xinyue said with a smile to Xie Tao through the screen.
Xie Tao smiled back, her eyes curving up, “Happy New Year, Xinyue.”
The two talked for a while, and Xie Tao could clearly feel that Zhou Xinyue seemed to have gotten much better. Although compared to before, she now seemed too quiet, at least she was no longer resisting other people’s care.
And towards Xie Tao, she even spoke more than to others.
The raw wounds in her heart had begun to scab over, which, for Zhou Xinyue, was a good start.
“Tao Tao, thank you for coming back to Nan City for me,”
Finally, Zhou Xinyue, with her eyes slightly red, earnestly said while looking at Xie Tao through the phone screen, “Wait for me, I will come back soon too.”
It wasn’t the first time she had said this.
And every time Xie Tao heard it, she would gently smile with her lips curled up.
Nan City was once Xie Tao’s nightmare, and then it became Zhou Xinyue’s nightmare.
Xie Tao chose to return to Nan City for her, to face all the bad memories that had taken root deep in her heart…
It was not an easy thing to do, but Xie Tao did it.
And Zhou Xinyue thought she should do the same.
Because her friend was there, because Xie Tao was still alone.
All the courage Zhou Xinyue had to face life again, to confront the past, was given to her by Xie Tao.
She would never forget that day in the hospital, Xie Tao, injured all over, holding her face and choking up repeating that sentence, “You are… the most beautiful.”
Zhou Xinyue once despised herself so much.
But she believed in Xie Tao.
In this lifetime, she would always be grateful to this girl who had put in so much effort to let her live.
After hanging up the video call, Xie Tao got up to wash up, then cooked porridge for herself as a simple breakfast.
Then she sat down at the table to do her winter vacation homework. While working on her Chinese homework, she naturally ran out of words on the little composition at the back of the workbook.
At six in the afternoon, she walked out of her community. Just as she stood by the roadside, everything around her began to blur and fade, merging into the dim background.
When Xie Tao entered the tavern, she happened to see Xie Lan carrying an unconscious middle-aged man out.
“This is…”
Xie Tao was baffled.
“A murderer,” Xie Lan said casually, “hiding out during the New Year’s, ended up hiding here.”
“I need to take him to the police station.”
Xie Tao nodded dumbly, “…Oh.”
“You go inside, it’s quite cold out here.” Xie Lan told her, then carried the middle-aged man down the steps, turned into a streak of light, and instantly disappeared into the boundless darkness.
Xie Tao watched the place where Xie Lan disappeared with a bit of envy.
When could she be like him?
Entering the tavern, Old Xi was sitting by the octagonal table drinking. Seeing her come in, he greeted her with a smile, “Tao Tao is here, come sit.”
Xie Tao walked over and sat opposite him.
“Uncle Xi, why are you drinking again?” Xie Tao asked as she saw him bring the cup to his lips and take another drink.
Old Xi put down his cup and laughed again, “I can’t do without wine for a day.”
He said, then stared at Xie Tao for a while before saying, “It seems you had a very happy New Year’s Eve yesterday.”
Xie Tao smiled shyly, a bit embarrassed, and nodded, responding softly, “Yes, happy.”
“It seems your boyfriend treats you very well.” Old Xi, holding his wine cup, suddenly said with a teasing smile in his eyes.
Xie Tao’s face turned slightly red.
After a while, she earnestly replied, “Yes… he’s very good.”
Old Xi’s smile became even more gentle, then he reached into his pocket, fumbling around for a while before pulling out a red envelope embossed with “Happy New Year” in gold, and handed it to Xie Tao, “Happy New Year, Tao Tao.”
“This is a red packet from an elder, you can’t refuse it during the New Year.” He added.
Xie Tao was stunned for a moment before reaching out to take it.
“Thank you, Uncle Xi…” she held the red envelope and sincerely thanked him.
Xie Tao prepared a lavish dinner for Old Xi and Xie Lan as usual. The three of them ate while chatting and laughing. Xie Tao even took out a video of Xie Lan drunkenly hugging a stool and crying from that day, laughing so hard she could hardly catch her breath.
Xie Lan was so angry that he pulled her ponytail and then snatched Xie Tao’s phone to delete the video that jeopardized his handsome guy persona, considering the matter settled only after that.
After finishing the meal, Xie Tao washed the dishes and was then taken home by Xie Lan.
While watching TV at night, Xie Tao unexpectedly saw a replay of an esports competition on TV. The player, wearing a black mask and his hair tied up with a black elastic band after taking down his small braids, looked exactly like Sheng Yueqi, whom Xie Tao had seen that day.
She was not originally interested in watching such competitions, but she watched it because she spotted Sheng Yueqi.
While watching, she also sent a message to Wei Yun:
“Wei Yun, Wei Yun, I saw Sheng Yueqi on TV!”
The reply from the other side was somewhat slow, taking about ten minutes before she received his message:
“Uh.”
Just one word, revealing his lack of interest.
Xie Tao simply made a video call to him.
Upon seeing Wei Yun on the phone screen, she immediately noticed the brocade pouch he was holding in his hand. She frowned and quickly asked, “Wei Yun, what are you planning to do?”
Wei Yun paused for a moment, then calmly placed the brocade pouch filled with gold powder into the box, “Nothing.”
“You’re lying!”
Xie Tao glared at him with her almond-shaped eyes, “I’m not coming over today, don’t burn any incense.”
“Be economical with it…”
She always nagged him like this.
“Alright.” Wei Yun could only respond.
“But, but I’m coming over tomorrow…” Her voice became a little softer.
A faint smile appeared in Wei Yun’s eyes as he nodded, “Uh.”
At that moment, silence fell between them.
It was as if they were reminded of certain scenes from the previous night. The girl’s cheeks turned slightly red in the light of the screen, and the young man’s ears outside the screen were also a bit warm.
After a while, he coughed lightly and said, “Go to sleep earlier.”
Xie Tao silently nodded.
As the stars on the copper talisman disappeared and the light screen dispersed, Wei Yun sat at the desk, took the teapot off the stove, and poured himself a cup of hot tea.
He took a sip and then picked up a piece of crispy sugar from the box to eat.
His brows were always soft.
Until suddenly, Wei Jing’s somewhat anxious voice came from outside, “My lord.”
“Come in.” Wei Yun picked up a brocade handkerchief next to him to wipe his hands and said lightly.
Wei Jing complied, entered, bowed to Wei Yun, and then said, “Wu Fuqing is dead.”
Upon hearing the news, Wei Yun looked up at Wei Jing, “Wu Fuqing?”
“Yes, there was a lantern festival tonight, and the city did not impose a curfew. According to the message from the night patrol army, Wu Fuqing ran out of his mansion and died in the busiest crowd.”
Wei Yun pondered for a moment, then asked, “Has the cause of death been determined?”
“The coroner has not yet examined the body, but it is said that he died bleeding from all seven orifices, likely poisoned to death.” Wei Jing replied with his head bowed.
Poisoned to death?
Wei Yun’s brows furrowed slightly, his expression turning grave in an instant.
This matter came suddenly, enveloped in a thick fog of mystery.
While Wei Yun was lost in thought with his head bowed, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door. Following closely was Wei Bo appearing at the doorway, wearing the woolen hat given to him by Xie Tao the day before, bowing and saying, “My lord, someone from the palace has arrived, saying that His Majesty requests your presence at the palace.”
Upon hearing this, Wei Yun’s expression grew even more solemn.
After changing into a crimson gauze robe and hastily taking a carriage to the palace, Wei Yun met Emperor Qi He in the Qianlong Hall. The emperor, looking pallid and aged, was dressed in a bright yellow robe, sitting on the dragon throne with a cushion, having been coughing for a while.
Wei Yun stood in the center of the great hall, eyes lowered, quietly waiting for Emperor Qi He to speak.
The hot tea presented by Eunuch De Yu served to alleviate the emperor’s coughing somewhat. Clearing his throat, he spoke slowly, “Have you heard about the death of Minister Wu?”
“I am aware,” replied Wei Yun calmly.
“Then, who do you think is responsible for this?” Emperor Qi He, holding his tea cup, glanced at the young Imperial Advisor standing in the center of the hall with half-open eyes.
He was indeed a legend in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Yet, even the emperor himself had never fully understood this Imperial Advisor.
Emperor Qi He inadvertently tugged at his somewhat dry lips, followed by a series of violent coughs.
“I do not know,” was Wei Yun’s simple reply.
“Not know?”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Qi He gave an inexplicable snort of laughter, followed by another bout of coughing, shaking his chest with some disordered sounds, like the last resentful cries of a dying animal.
“Is the Imperial Advisor truly unaware, or pretending not to know?” Emperor Qi He waved away De Yu’s hand, which was about to serve him more tea, his voice carrying a hint of imperial anger.
This frightened Eunuch De Yu, who immediately bowed his head lower.
Yet, Wei Yun did not show any fear in the face of this sudden display of “dragon’s might”. Instead, he calmly looked up at Emperor Qi He, sitting on the dragon throne, looking desiccated, his voice unwaveringly calm, “It seems Your Majesty suspects me?”
