Chapter 101 Life is unpredictable; just be happy. ...
"Do you want to celebrate your birthday properly?" Meng Chiwan asked Meng Ting'er, lowering her head.
Meng Ting'er was stunned. After a long while, she lowered her head and asked, "How did you know it was my birthday today?"
Meng Chiwan smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you? I'm the god who came to save you. How could I not know?"
Meng Ting'er looked at her with a hint of doubt, then pointed to the boatman: "What about him? Did he also come to save me?"
Meng Chiwan: "Of course not. He's just a troublemaker who follows the gods around."
Meng Ting'er nodded, then looked past her and landed outside the window, before asking, "And what about him?"
Meng Chiwan was puzzled. Where were there any other people?
Then she turned around and saw someone quietly watching her from another window, as if they were also waiting for her answer.
The atmosphere became even quieter, somewhat like a peaceful afternoon with sunlight streaming in through the window, filling the air with a soft golden hue.
Yun Xianqing had been standing outside the window for who knows how long, without making a sound. His refined features appeared even more distinct under the moonlight.
He gazed at her like that, even though they had only been apart for a short time, his eyes were already filled with longing.
“It’s another little follower who never listens to the gods,” Meng Chiwan said casually, putting aside all her thoughts.
Upon hearing the answer, Yun Xianqing showed no reaction, only displaying her usual lukewarm smile, leaving it unclear whether she was satisfied or dissatisfied with the response.
The boatman finally found an opportunity to speak, saying to Yun Xianqing, "You've finally arrived! Quickly, persuade the young lady..."
Meng Chiwan gave a sneer and ignored her.
Yun Xianqing only needed to look at the boatman with her dark eyes, and the boatman immediately swallowed all the words that were about to come out of his throat.
Fortunately, Yun Xianqing spoke up: "Say one more word, and you will stay here forever."
Boatman: I'm wronged!
He was clearly thinking of the bigger picture, so why doesn't anyone appreciate it?
Meng Chiwan was quite satisfied with Yun Xianqing's words, and her voice even seemed to soften a bit: "Why are you only showing up now?"
Yun Xianqing: "I took care of some things."
Ambiguous statements.
Meng Chiwan was unhappy again, but she didn't want to ask any more questions, so she ignored him and turned to Meng Ting'er to speak: "You still haven't said whether you want to celebrate this birthday?"
Meng Ting'er turned her head to look out the window, and a few cheers suddenly came from afar, breaking the silence of the place.
Meng Chiwan clearly sensed that Meng Ting'er had made her feel down, like a sugar figurine with a broken corner.
"What do you think constitutes celebrating a birthday?" Meng Ting'er suddenly asked her.
Meng Chiwan replied, "Celebrating your birthday in the way you like is called celebrating your birthday. Do you like a large gathering of friends?"
“I don’t like it.” Meng Ting’er imagined it for a moment. Her sister’s way of celebrating her birthday was nice, but it didn’t seem to be what she wanted.
"So what do you like?" Meng Chiwan asked.
"I don't know what I like." Meng Ting'er's voice was low and soft, like willow catkins in spring.
Upon hearing this, Meng Chiwan stopped asking questions, remained silent for a moment, and then smiled again: "Then wait for me, let me help you think of what you like."
Then, she took out a veil from her storage bag and covered Meng Ting'er's face and eyes.
Meng Ting'er was stunned, completely manipulated by her, silently waiting for her next move.
The shimmering light on her veil made her eyes dizzy.
Then, in the next instant, the veil was lifted, and the first thing she saw was a flower blooming before her.
The slender flower stem, like solidified frost and jade, is about a foot tall, its entire body shimmering with a pale moon-white hue, without a single blemish, so translucent it surpasses even the brightest moon. It has seven petals, each as thin as a cicada's wing, each possessing its own unique elegance.
It is a moonflower.
The flowers that Meng Chiwan remembered her mother liked. When her mother was still alive, she would put a few branches in front of the window every day, adding a touch of fragrance and color to that simple little house.
After her mother passed away, Meng Chiwan never saw Zhaoyuehua again.
It wasn't until later, when I went to the Immortal Alliance, that I finally caught a glimpse of the Moonflower again and asked for some seeds from my fellow disciples who cultivated spiritual plants.
Now it has finally come in handy, but I wonder if my mother likes the Moonflower at this time.
Meng Ting'er looked at the moonflower with a hint of joy in her eyes, indicating that she liked it.
But she just stared at the moonflower and didn't reach out to take it.
Meng Chiwan wondered to herself, "Could it be that he doesn't like it?"
She pursed her lips, about to put it away and get something else, when she heard Meng Ting'er cautiously ask, "Is this for me?"
Meng Chiwan paused, then said, "Of course it's for you, and it's for you alone. Also, look outside."
She turned her gaze to the window.
Meng Ting'er followed her gaze and looked over.
Under the cover of night, countless translucent flowers slowly bloom, transforming the once spring-less Chun Shentai into a beautiful and elegant sea of flowers.
Should we cater to their preferences?
Excuse me, this is her mother, of course she knows her best.
Of course, it's a piece of cake!
Seeing Meng Ting'er's delighted expression, Meng Chiwan continued, "And your room..."
Meng Chiwan swiftly made a series of major alterations.
Bring up everything that Mother used to like!
The final result is this: upon entering, one is no longer greeted by an empty, desolate space. Instead, a low couch covered with a soft, moon-white rug greets the eye. Beside the couch stands a small pearwood table, upon which rests a celadon cup containing two fresh moonflowers, their pale light casting a soft glow. The walls are no longer mottled; instead, a layer of fine gauze curtains hangs there. When the wind passes through the curtains, they sway gently, casting shimmering light and shadow throughout the room—not glaring, but bright enough nonetheless.
On the carved dressing table beside her were several pieces of jewelry she had carefully selected. Next to the dressing table stood a light-colored wooden bookshelf, with just the right amount of books on cultivation, a few herbal illustrations, and a glass bottle containing spirit fireflies, which emitted a soft green light at night, replacing the usual darkness.
Several pieces of warm jade were piled up beside the bed, their smooth and delicate texture dispelling the slight chill of the spring terrace.
The best part is by the window, where there's a small bamboo chair where he can sit and watch the clouds and bask in the sun, instead of facing the empty wall alone.
This was the best room Meng Chiwan could think of for a girl her age. Her mother had designed a similar room for her when she was young.
She felt that her mother might also like it at that age.
She asked softly, "Do you like it? If you don't, I can change it."
Giving a gift to someone blindly always makes me a little uneasy.
Fortunately, Meng Ting'er didn't show the slightest dislike. Her eyes were full of smiles as she said, "Springtime in Chun Shen Tai really feels like spring has arrived. It's beautiful, and I like it very much. Thank you, Your Majesty."
When Meng Chiwan heard that she was satisfied, she felt as if she had been lit up, wishing she could transform into a firefly on her desk and forever illuminate this small room.
This place is no longer desolate; it is clear, full, peaceful, and warm.
Meng Ting'er felt that this was the only birthday gift she had received in all these years, and it already made her extremely happy.
Before she could even say thank you, she saw Meng Chiwan rummaging through her already bulging storage bag.
Finally, she pulled out a seemingly ordinary stone.
Then the stone was handed to Meng Ting'er, along with the words: "Happy birthday."
It's just four simple words, nothing superfluous, no strong emotions, just sincere blessings.
It's just four words.
But this was the first time Meng Ting'er had heard it.
"Happy birthday, Meng Ting'er! Remember to stay away from Mu Qi."
In fact, Meng Chiwan didn't know whether Meng Ting'er would listen to what she was saying, or whether it would have any impact on the real world.
This is just a false illusion.
But Meng Chiwan just wanted to say, to tell her mother, that happiness is all that matters.
It's hard to say what all this was for. Perhaps it was to make it easier to kill the little girl in this illusion, or perhaps it was to make up for some of the shortcomings of this fake mother.
Life is full of disappointments. Since you've met her, and you have the ability, why not try to make amends for her?
Even if this is just an illusion, once she leaves, everything associated with it will vanish.
Meng Ting'er opened her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering gently like the wings of a firefly. She asked softly, "What is this?"
Meng Chiwan said, "Listen Stone. Place it next to your ear."
Meng Ting'er had no doubts and immediately put the ear to his ear.
In an instant, the sounds of wind, insects chirping, grass growing, and trees sprouting filled my ears. Although the sounds were chaotic, they were not noisy at all.
That was a sound she couldn't hear in the quiet world.
Meng Chiwan thought for a moment and said, "If one day you can cultivate and reach a certain level, then all the voices in the world can enter your ears, and you can choose to filter them yourself. The initiative will always be in your own hands."
Meng Ting'er was immersed in those sounds. Upon hearing this, she nodded and then put down the Listening Stone.
"Actually, you don't need to advise me to stay away from Mu Qi. Although I am his fiancée, I guess the engagement will be canceled soon."
Meng Ting'er's voice was inscrutable; she seemed to be merely stating a fact.
Meng Chiwan was a little confused and asked, "Why?"
Meng Ting'er said, "Because I was born unworthy of him."
It wasn't until this point in the story that Meng Chiwan detected a hint of resentment. But it seemed to be not resentment towards the marriage itself, but rather resentment that she was not good enough for him.
Meng Chiwan asked almost impatiently, "Why do you say that?"
Meng Ting'er said, word by word, "In the cultivation world, no one would want a person without the talent for cultivation as a wife."
Meng Chiwan was taken aback.
Meng Ting'er chuckled, as if mocking herself: "I've spent ten years trying to draw qi into my body, and I still haven't succeeded. So, I'm locked up in Chun Shen Tai, and no one takes this marriage seriously. Mu Qi won't have any interaction with me, so you can rest assured. In short, no one cares about me, and no one will like me."
This is a different mother. At least, completely different from the mother Meng Chiwan remembers.
In my memory, my mother was extremely talented in Taoist cultivation. She could learn anything quickly and never looked down on herself, as if there was nothing in the world that could stump her.
But why was her mother like this when she was young? She looked so much like... Meng Chiwan back then.
In this world, some girls' girlish thoughts might be about whether their boyfriend likes them today, but for others, it's about whether they've learned what their mother taught them today.
It took a very long time for someone to understand Meng Ting'er's innermost thoughts.
Meng Chiwan suddenly had a strong urge to know what Meng Ting'er had gone through to become the mother she remembered.
And why did she end up with Mu Qi, the fiancé she said looked down on? And then there was Meng Chiwan.
If the person standing before Meng Chiwan now were her future mother, she would surely have countless questions to ask. However, reality is different. Despite having a thousand words to say, she could only say, "How could no one like you? I like you very much."
Meng Ting'er pondered these words repeatedly, but she couldn't detect the slightest hint of insincerity. The girl who spoke had eyes like morning dew, focused and pure, and a smile on her lips spread across her entire face, radiating warmth from within.
Suddenly, as if struck by a sudden thought, Meng Ting'er asked her, "Do you know me?"
Meng Chiwan was stunned. She was about to deny it, but then she thought about it and swallowed her words. When she spoke again, she used a different tone: "Actually, I am from the future. I came here to tell you that you in the future will no longer be trapped in Chun Shen Tai and will have your own world."
Meng Ting'er listened attentively to every word she said, her expression focused. It was unclear whether she believed her or not, but she nodded to indicate that she understood.
Meng Chiwan felt that she didn't believe her. But whether she believed her or not didn't matter, as long as it had the right effect.
“I believe you,” Meng Ting’er said softly.
Meng Chiwan smiled with satisfaction. For some reason, she really wanted to say something more, so she said, "Actually, it doesn't matter whether you're good or not. The most important thing in life is to live freely and happily."
Life is unpredictable, so just be happy.
Meng Ting'er nodded even more emphatically this time.
Then she suddenly said, "You've given me so many things, so I should give you something in return. But at Chun Shen Tai, apart from myself and this empty little room of mine, nothing belongs to me."
Meng Chiwan was about to say no, but then she heard her continue, "But it's alright, I have something else I can give you."
As she spoke, she took out something.
Meng Chiwan looked down.
Author's note: I really want to ask myself, how long will it take to finish this? Hahahaha [crying emoji]
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