Gu Jianli hooked her arms around his neck, her soft waist bending backward as she obediently looked at Ji Wujing with curved eyes, once again calling him “Uncle” in a soft, joyful voice.
Ji Wujing felt as if a small cat’s paw had scratched at his heart, tickling him to the point of pain.
After a moment, Ji Wujing suddenly thought that being good to someone wasn’t so difficult. Buy her things, help her fulfill some small wishes, and she would be as happy as a little fool, even willingly coming over to give fragrant kisses.
So he leisurely said, “I also bought you some other little trinkets. They should be delivered this afternoon.”
“What kind of things?” Gu Jianli asked curiously.
Kiss me and I’ll tell you—Ji Wujing said this in his heart. He suddenly didn’t want to say it out loud. He looked a bit displeased and only said, “Too lazy to tell.”
Gu Jianli didn’t understand why Ji Wujing suddenly looked so listless. She let out an “oh,” not daring to provoke him, and let go of Ji Wujing’s hand, picking up a cotton cloth nearby. She tilted her head, gathering her wet hair to one side, and repeatedly rubbed it with the cloth.
Ji Wujing’s gaze fell on Gu Jianli’s exposed white neck, fine and white. He withdrew his gaze and got up to walk out.
“Where are you going?” Gu Jianli asked.
“To kill someone to relieve boredom.”
Gu Jianli paused in her hair-rubbing. In the time it took her to be slightly dazed, Ji Wujing’s figure had already walked out. Gu Jianli slowly continued drying her hair, her brows slightly furrowed. The phrase “kill someone to relieve boredom” sounded odd to her, making her feel uncomfortable. Just as she was thinking about it, Jixia came in to report that the Second Master had brought Ji Yuezhen over.
Gu Jianli acknowledged with a sound, first letting them wait a moment. She dried her hair and tidied up her clothes before allowing Ji Yuezhen to enter. As for the Second Master, she naturally did not see him.
When Ji Yuezhen came in, her face was swollen, the slap marks heavy. Her face, already horrifying with pustules, was even more pitiable after a beating.
“Father asked me to come and apologize to you and bring you ginger tea. I’m very sorry for pushing you into the water.” Ji Yuezhen spoke with no expression, reciting the words taught to her. As for sincerity, it was naturally not visible.
Gu Jianli looked at her, remembering how she used to follow behind her, calling her “Sister Jianli” when they were young. Hearing Ji Yuezhen’s words, she casually responded, stood up, walked to the side of the wall, and sat on a cushion, sorting through various scar-removal medicines in a box.
Ji Yuezhen looked at her, hesitated, then said, “I know what kind of person you are.”
“What kind of person?” Gu Jianli asked casually. She didn’t look up, organizing the bottles and jars of medicine, picking some from the big box and arranging them into another sandalwood box.
“People say you are kind-hearted, but you’re not. You just disdain to argue with others because you feel it would be undignified. You are very stubborn and won’t change your attitude towards me just because I came to apologize, whether you originally wanted to take revenge on me or let me off, you already made up your mind long ago.”
Gu Jianli smiled and asked, “Do you think I will take revenge on you?”
“I don’t know. But I’m not afraid. Even if you take revenge, it will be done openly. And however you want to take revenge on me, I’ll accept it.”
The thirteen-year-old girl’s voice still had a childlike quality, speaking with a hint of naivety.
Gu Jianli stood up, holding a small booklet detailing the precautions for various scar-removal medicines. She sat by the window, taking paper and pen, and began writing something.
Ji Yuezhen, uncertain of Gu Jianli’s attitude, waited for a long time. But Gu Jianli just kept writing, completely ignoring her. She looked suspiciously at Gu Jianli and muttered, “Gu Jianli, say something.”
“It’s still nicer to hear you call me Sister Jianli.” Gu Jianli picked up the transcribed paper, blew on it to dry the ink, folded it, and put it into the sandalwood box.
Ji Yuezhen frowned and called out irritably, “Auntie!”
“These medicines are ones I found from various places. I’ve given you some, and I wrote out the usage and precautions for you. I don’t know if they’ll be effective, but if you persist, they should have some effect. I didn’t include the jar your brother brought; I think your brother will get you more next time, so I didn’t repeat it.” Gu Jianli handed the box to Ji Yuezhen.
Ji Yuezhen’s eyes widened in shock and she asked, “You’re not going to have Jixia slap me in the face? Like turning Sister Yueming into a pig head? And you’re giving me medicine?”
Gu Jianli lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the box, hesitating for a moment before saying, “Your brother is a very stubborn person. Using this method won’t make him suddenly realize. It will only embarrass everyone and make him even more stubborn.”
Ji Yuezhen asked uncertainly, “Do you know what I want to do?”
Gu Jianli didn’t explain, only saying, “If you really care about your brother, then be more considerate in other ways in daily life. He loves reading, so find books for him. There are many things that can captivate a person—polo, pitch-pot, cockfighting, drinking games, and tea brewing.”
Ji Yuezhen stared blankly at Gu Jianli, then looked down at the box in her hands, asking somewhat bewilderedly, “Mother has always been arranging marriages for him, but he doesn’t look at any of them…”
Unconsciously, she was seeking advice from Gu Jianli.
“If you had a terrible fall in one place, and someone kept dragging you down that same path to make you overcome it, wouldn’t it be better to take a different path? Life isn’t just about marriage. There are many things to distract the mind, and many more important things. Your brother is talented; it’s better for him to focus his mind on great ambitions.”
Ji Yuezhen looked at Gu Jianli with a complex expression and asked, “Why are you telling me this? Why are you so nice to me, giving me these medicines? Is it because of my brother? Gu Jianli, do you still have feelings for my brother?”
“Didn’t you say you understand what kind of person I am?” Gu Jianli smiled but then changed the subject, “Yuezhen, these medicines I’m giving you are for the sake of our childhood friendship. But that’s all.”
Ji Yuezhen sensed the warning in Gu Jianli’s words. The box in her hands suddenly felt heavy. She suddenly understood that there would be no next time. If there were a next time, Gu Jianli would no longer smile and speak to her so gently.
Ji Yuezhen frowned, “Gu Jianli, you are really annoying. In the end, you use your high-handed kindness to block me, making me both angry and unable to get angry. It would be better to slap me.”
Gu Jianli paid no attention to the young girl and sat at her dressing table, combing her half-dry long hair.
Ji Yuezhen walked to the door, then turned back to look at Gu Jianli. After hesitating for a long time, she finally asked, “Gu Jianli, after Fifth Uncle dies, will you be with my brother?”
“Mind your words.” Gu Jianli said.
“I’m not talking nonsense! Brother is clearly waiting for you! You must not know, he stays in the mansion now just to see you. He doesn’t want me or mother anymore. When Fifth Uncle dies, he’ll take you away from here!”
Gu Jianli’s combing of her long hair slowed down.
“Say something! Gu Jianli.” Ji Yuezhen asked anxiously.
“No.”
“Are you lying?” Ji Yuezhen took two steps closer to Gu Jianli, pressing her, “There’s no one else here, and I won’t tell anyone what you say. Tell me the truth, will you or won’t you? There is no one in this world who loves you more deeply than my brother! There are many things you don’t know. Do you know how he broke his finger? It was just to pick up that jade button!”
“No.” Gu Jianli met Ji Yuezhen’s eyes through the bronze mirror.
“I don’t believe you.” Ji Yuezhen shook her head, “I don’t believe your words unless you give me a reason. Have you fallen in love with my Fifth Uncle? Will you stay a widow for him after he dies? Or are you afraid of what people will say?”
Gu Jianli sighed softly and said, “Yuezhen, why don’t you understand? The so-called pledging one’s life and eternal vows are not that important. Remarrying does not mean forgetting or betraying a deceased spouse, nor does staying single signify a deeper love. The future is unpredictable. If one day your Fifth Uncle is gone, I dare not promise that I will never remarry. But I can say that even if I do remarry, it will never be to your brother.”
“Why?”
“Because there are many men in this world.”
“You… you are talking nonsense!” Ji Yuezhen turned to leave. As she stepped out, she ran into Ji Wujing. She screamed, and the box in her hands fell to the ground, hitting her foot hard.
Gu Jianli’s heart skipped a beat. She stood up and walked to Ji Wujing, carefully studying his expression. She took his arm and softened her voice, “Why are you back again?”
Hearing Gu Jianli’s suddenly soft voice, Ji Yuezhen glanced at her in surprise. She picked up the box from the ground and softly called, “Fifth Uncle.”
Ji Wujing glanced at Ji Yuezhen, but before he could speak, Gu Jianli said, “Since you’ve taken what you came for, hurry up and leave.”
Ji Yuezhen hugged the box tightly and quickly walked out with her head down.
Ji Wujing entered the room, opened the wardrobe, and started rummaging through it.
Gu Jianli had a bad feeling. She didn’t know how long Ji Wujing had been standing outside the door or how much he had heard. She walked over to him and sincerely asked, “How much did you hear? Maybe you only heard part of it and have questions? I can explain everything to you.”
Ji Wujing glanced at her and threw two sets of clothes into her arms, saying, “Just take these two sets; the rest aren’t necessary.”
“What?” Gu Jianli looked at him in confusion.
“We’re moving. Hurry up, the carriage is waiting outside.”
“You’re lying. You weren’t out killing someone to relieve boredom?” Gu Jianli’s eyes widened in shock. Ji Wujing had gone out for a while and arranged such a complicated thing as moving?
Ji Wujing laughed and said, “Gu Jianli, killing someone is very expensive.”
“Are you serious? We’re leaving now? Right now?” Gu Jianli was both surprised and delighted. If they could move, even to a small farmhouse, it would be better.
Ji Wujing grasped her shoulders, bent down, and lightly bumped his forehead against hers, causing Gu Jianli to let out a small cry and rub her forehead.
“Quick, pack up.”
“Okay!” Gu Jianli immediately started packing without even asking where they were moving to. Although Ji Wujing had only told her to take two pieces of clothing, she ended up packing quite a few things. Gu Jianli was also surprised by how much she had accumulated.
She had thought she was just passing the time, waiting for Ji Wujing to pass away, but unknowingly, she had accumulated so many things over the past six months.
Once they were on the carriage, Gu Jianli belatedly asked, “Didn’t we inform anyone in the mansion?”
“Why bother with them?” Ji Wujing asked, surprised.
