A year later, Qi was still alone, but in order to help Huo Jingsha and Shu Yao reunite, he had a son and also adopted Shu Yao as his sworn sister. At this point, he completely let go of all his love and feelings for her.
But in recent months, he has developed a new hobby: listening to music at the Flower Garden.
Qi, dressed in white, sat leisurely with fine wine, his phoenix eyes, which were unfathomable, fixed on a woman playing the zither opposite him.
She was a very charming and amorous woman, with willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and small, rosy lips—possessing enough allure to captivate men. She was also adept at using this, always casually casting a mesmerizing glance that left men defenseless. But only towards him, the renowned assassin of the martial world—Qi—she felt only genuine respect and gratitude, never treating him as just another man seeking pleasure.
Suddenly, the music stopped abruptly, but Qi didn't react at all; his eyes were still fixed on the woman's face, showing that he hadn't really come to listen to the music.
Lian Chun met Qi's unabashed gaze with a slightly shy expression. She always felt that this seemingly cold man exuded a unique masculine charm that made her irresistibly attracted to him. She knew that if Qi asked to have her all to himself, she would definitely agree without hesitation, and even go with him. But for the past few months, every time he came, he would just look at her like this, doing nothing and saying nothing, unlike other men who would try every means to get her drunk and flirt with her, just to take advantage of her.
"Young Master Qi, I invited you here today because I have something I would like to ask for your opinion on." Lian Chun gracefully stood up and sat down in the chair next to Qi. She had been troubled by Qi's lack of progress, and yesterday she suddenly came up with a plan to use this opportunity to test his true feelings.
"Speak!" Qi lowered his head, took a sip of wine, and replied briefly.
He didn't know what possessed him that day, but he actually rescued her from the thugs. In the past few months, he had also frequented brothels due to her repeated invitations. Why? Was it just because of her eyes and demeanor, which resembled someone else's?
"This humble servant..." Lianchun hesitated, then continued after a moment's thought, "Yesterday, the young master of the Wang family came to see Madam, saying... he wants to redeem this servant and marry me as his principal wife. Madam came to ask for my opinion, but this humble servant doesn't know whether I should agree to his proposal. So I'd like to ask the young master for his advice. If the young master says it's not good, this humble servant... this humble servant will immediately reject him." After she finished speaking, she turned her face away shyly. Her words had made her intentions perfectly clear; it was just a matter of whether Qi understood her feelings.
No! Absolutely not! That person has always been willful and capricious, doing whatever he wants. How could we possibly argue with him? It's not her after all; no one can replace her!
Qi sighed, lowering his eyes in disappointment. Over the past year, the loneliness that had been constantly weighing on his heart had grown increasingly intense. Only after she completely disappeared did he realize that he had never been lonely during the days she was by his side.
But... no matter how similar this woman is to her, she can't replace her. If she's not her, then what does her marriage have to do with her?
During the brief silence between the two, the sound of orchestral music from the next room became exceptionally clear, accompanied by melodious and moving singing.
Qi frowned, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair, his mind filled with the image of the beautiful woman in yellow. Why couldn't he forget her after all this time? It hadn't taken him this long to forget Shu Yao. But if she hadn't appeared for so long, she must have forgotten him already. So why couldn't he... why couldn't he...?
“Young Master Qi…” His reaction puzzled Lian Chun, who was quite anxious to hear him say what she wanted to hear.
Qi, however, seemed not to hear it, because his mind was entirely focused on the tune drifting from next door. It was so familiar; he had heard it more than once before, right beside the bonfire in the gloomy rain…
He was jolted awake, his eyes widening in shock. It was her, the very tune she used to hum repeatedly!
“Young Master Qi…” His unusual behavior made Lian Chun slightly uneasy, but before she could finish speaking, she saw Qi stand up and rush out like the wind.
Lian Chun was startled and quickly followed him, only to find that he had gone next door and was questioning a woman...
"Was that song you sang just now?"
"yes."
"Who taught you?"
“We didn’t learn it from anyone, we…we Yan ethnic women can all sing it.”
Everyone can sing it... Everyone can sing it...
Qi closed his eyes in pain. His heart, which had been pounding with joy, plummeted at her answer. He took a deep breath, forcing down the overwhelming sense of loss within him, and then forced himself to become numb and indifferent. He turned around abruptly and saw Lian Chun behind him. He said only one sentence and left without looking back.
Lian Chun leaned against the doorframe, looking utterly lost. All her beautiful fantasies had vanished, because he said, "You've asked the wrong person. Your marriage is none of my business."
Only at this moment did she realize that for the past few months, he hadn't seen her, but rather used her to search for the shadow of another woman. Ha...ha...how ironic! She had been so presumptuous as to test him, so incredibly presumptuous!
After Qi left, he leaped onto the highest rooftop in the city. Looking down at the streets, pedestrians, and carriages, he felt an unprecedented sorrow. In this vast sea of people, where could he find her? Why could she always find him so easily, but he couldn't? Now he finally understood. There was only one reason: he might never have truly wanted to get rid of her, or even... he might have been waiting for her, hoping for her.
If someone truly wanted to hide, how could they be found so easily? Just like her now! But no, he couldn't let her hide any longer. He had to find her and ask her one question, "Do you... still want to be my woman? This time, I'm with you willingly."
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