Chapter Sixty-Four

"Are you ever going to stop?" Zhou Yanqing was really angry.

Out of respect for Si Yanmo, he hadn't bothered with this person. How could he be so arrogant?

Si Yanmo was also helpless and could only advise both sides to compromise.

“How about this, we were going to Yunjianxuan anyway, so after the opera, we’ll take him there.” She whispered in Zhou Yanqing’s ear, “If you don’t agree, he won’t leave today, and you won’t be able to enjoy the opera properly.”

This is the best solution so far.

Zhou Yanqing had no choice but to compromise, adding with a wronged expression, "But only the two of us can watch the play."

"good."

Having achieved his goal, Zhong Zihe happily got into his car and let the two go.

Under the bright sun, two carriages, one after the other, swayed and headed towards Yunjianxuan.

Meanwhile, at Yunjianxuan, a group of men dressed in coarse cloth vests were unloading the goods delivered from the carriages and carrying them to the warehouse.

Lin Niang arrived at the head carriage, gently knocked on the window sill, and lifted the curtain with a hand covered in calluses.

The man inside smiled and looked at Lin Niang, "What instructions does Boss Lin have?"

Without wasting any words, Lin Niang handed a stack of silver notes to the man, saying, "Tonight, someone will be following your caravan. Don't ask who it is, and don't inquire."

The man understood and accepted the silver note. "Don't worry, I don't have any gossips around here."

After giving her instructions, Lin Niang silently returned to her room on the second floor via the ladder at the back door. As soon as she opened the door, she bumped into Si Yanmo and her group.

Her heart pounded, and she momentarily forgot to say anything, silently closing the door behind her.

Fortunately, they didn't find anything, but asked her to prepare a private room so they could watch today's "The Legend of Yun Ji".

She breathed a sigh of relief and immediately made arrangements for the group.

Zhong Zihe was about to bring up Qiuhe's matter when he saw Lin Niang, but Zhou Yanqing glared at him and stopped him.

"Wait until we finish watching the opera." Zhong Zihe saw the shape of his mouth and the threat in his eyes, so he could only obediently shut his mouth and slunk away to find a seat.

Just as Zhou Yanqing and Si Yanmo sat down, a clear bell sound came from the stage.

Si Yanmo couldn't help but look at the bell hanging at her waist, raising an eyebrow and asking, "This... can't be a coincidence, right?"

Seeing that she had noticed, Zhou Yanqing did not hide it, but silently held her hand and gently rubbed it.

"After you finish reading, I'll tell you a story."

"You should know that I could actually just look at it, right?" Si Yanmo naturally knew that he was talking about his own story.

"But I want to tell you..."

As the sound of strings rang out on the stage, "Yun Ji" walked to the side of the dejected and helpless boy and began to recite and sing in a soft, incoherent voice.

Below the stage, their eyes met, and Si Yanmo could almost feel the burning intensity in his gaze. She felt a little uncomfortable, yet also a little expectant—how was he going to tell the story she already knew…?

As the story unfolded on stage, Zhou Yanqing recounted her past experiences one by one.

He omitted much of the hardships he endured, focusing instead on his hopes for the future after escaping.

As Si Yanmo listened, many things that she had clearly seen in the other person's destiny became vivid in his narration.

She seemed to see a child who had suffered humiliation but remained indomitable—he never gave up on himself, he escaped, and he gave himself a new life.

"Perhaps I believed even earlier than you that there are no gods in this world, that Yun Ji doesn't exist at all, otherwise why didn't she come to save me?"

As Zhou Yanqing said this, he secretly took her hand, squeezed her fingertips, and looked at her with a childlike grievance in his eyes.

"Then why did you say 'it has always been this way'?"

Seeing the girl's reproachful look, he chuckled, "So vengeful?"

"I don't know either. Or rather, I know perfectly well, but I'm unwilling to admit it."

"Isn't it easier to admit that there is no God in this world than to admit that no one is willing to save you?"

“It’s because I was too attached to things. I always thought that if my master said that a god would come to save me, then it definitely would.”

"No, it won't happen."

With his past life's experiences vividly before his eyes, Si Yanmo decisively shattered his illusions.

"In this world, only you can save yourself. Others... even gods, will not care whether you live or die."

"And what about you?" Zhou Yanqing looked up, her hand tightening slightly as she held Zhou Yanqing's. "Do you care?"

Si Yanmo saw the burning passion in his eyes, silently withdrew her hand, and said in a cold voice, "I care, because we have a deal."

That's not what I meant.

He didn't understand why the person in front of him had suddenly become cold, and his tone was somewhat flustered.

"I know, but that's all I can say."

Si Yanmo sighed, met his gaze, and her eyes held a hint of estrangement. "Zhou Yanqing, we've all been a bit confused lately because of that Ye Shengge. I don't like this feeling, and I won't talk to you about these things under these circumstances."

"But we are awake now, aren't we?"

“No, it’s different.” She shook her head. “To be honest, after what happened that day, it’s hard for me to look at our relationship rationally. That’s why I’m scared.”

“Zhou Yanqing, I know that in your eyes, I may just be an ordinary merchant’s daughter, maybe a little clever, but you don’t know what I’ve really been through.”

In fact, Si Yanmo had been thinking about their relationship these past few days. Perhaps Zhou Yanqing was indeed different from other men to her, but she didn't know many men and didn't know how to judge her feelings for someone.

In her past life, she was too hasty, thinking that marriage meant forever.

As it turned out, this was not the case; Zhou Junsong was able to marry his sister right after her death.

She didn't resent her sister or Zhou Junsong, and even wished them well in their love. But all of this made her realize a truth: marriage doesn't necessarily mean love, nor does it mean that they will be together for life.

This is also why she was able to calmly tell Zhou Yanqing that they would divorce a year later.

Since Zhou Junsong was not trapped in their marriage in her past life, she will not be bound by a marriage in this life either.

She has the right to do whatever she wants as long as she doesn't like it, and even if she really does have an affair with Zhou Yanqing, she doesn't want to be trapped by it.

“Zhou Yanqing, marriage doesn’t mean you have to love each other. You don’t need to force yourself like this,” she advised.

Hearing this, Zhou Yanqing was at a loss for words.

His heartfelt confession these past few days has been misinterpreted by her as him forcing himself to fall in love with her.

"Amo, I think you've misunderstood me, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, the door to the private room was suddenly flung open.

As expected, it was Zhong Zihe.

He poked his head out, his face all smiles, "You two... now that the show's over, can you help me find Qiuhe?"

Only then did the two realize that the play "The Tale of Yun Ji" had already come to an end while they were talking.

"Let's go." Si Yanmo was about to get up when Zhou Yanqing grabbed her arm.

In a daze, everything seemed to return to the very beginning at He Chunlou.

Si Yanmo, Zhou Yanqing, Zhong Zihe.

He gripped her wrist; he was eager to take her away.

But this time was different; those sharp, phoenix-shaped eyes were full of pleading, like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

"Amo, please let me finish what I have to say."

"I told you we're both not thinking straight, okay next time?" she advised helplessly.

Zhou Yanqing seems to have never changed; he'll relentlessly pester you until he gets the answer he wants.

"Your Highness, this is different from destiny, and I don't think we can explain it in a short time."

Your Highness?

She called him Your Highness?

Zhou Yanqing felt as if his heart had plummeted into an ice cave, and just like before, he let go of her hand.

The difference this time was that Si Yanmo didn't leave immediately, but said softly, "Okay, let's go, let's talk when we get back?"

The puppy's eyes brightened a little more, which meant they still had a chance.

The group found Lin Niang and discussed with her their desire to see Qiu He, but Lin Niang refused no matter what.

Seeing that Zhong Zihe was about to start kneeling and throwing a tantrum again, Si Yanmo had no choice but to pull Lin Niang aside. "Master, please help me! My brother really likes Qiu He. If you don't let him see her, I'm afraid he won't be able to die in peace."

"Oh dear, it's not that Lin Niang doesn't want you to see her, it's just that Qiu He has always disliked receiving guests. Over the years, not a single guest has ever seen her true face, not even I have seen her often, let alone now that she's been ill." Lin Niang said helplessly.

Seeing that pleading and cajoling were ineffective, Si Yanmo poked Zhong Zihe, who looked utterly dejected, and said, "How about we give up? They've already said they don't receive guests."

Zhong Zihe knelt down again. "Little Mo'er, this is the only thing I've ever asked of you in my life. I really want to see her."

His kneeling left Lin Niang at a loss for what to do.

No one knows why he is so obsessed with Qiuhe. Only he knows that when he was 13 years old, he came to Qin with his father. He just passed by Yunjianxuan and heard the sound of the zither coming from the window. He could never forget it.

He came here every year after that, as if someone was waiting for him from a thousand miles away.

Zhong Zihe knew that no one would believe him if he said this, and would even think it was absurd, but that was the truth.

Over the years, he had considered talking to the owner of Yunjianxuan and buying him back to Nandu.

Lin Niang, however, stated that Qiu He had stayed at Yun Jian Xuan voluntarily and had not sold herself into servitude, and that she would not leave Qin.

This is why he never had the courage to even glance at Qiuhe.

But now, Qiuhe is leaving, which is no less significant to him than his beloved girl getting married.

Zhong Zihe's greatest belief in life was written on his fan: "Enjoy life to the fullest."

Life is too short, why not enjoy it to the fullest?

He wouldn't leave himself with any regrets, so he had to see Qiu He today, even if it meant risking his reputation.

Si Yanmo has known him for so long, she actually understands him, otherwise she wouldn't be here making a fuss with him.

The problem now is that this person won't see anyone...

The group was at a standstill for a moment.

Just then, a voice broke the awkward silence, "What are you all doing...?"

It was Wu Zi'ang.

He had heard that Qiu He was leaving tomorrow, and he wanted to see if he could hear her perform one last time.

However, the moment he appeared, Si Yanmo looked at his face and immediately felt that something was wrong.