Chapter 57: When Paths Cross Again

The brother and sister found a few stones on the slope across from the house, stacking them into makeshift stools.

They sat there for a long time, just waiting in silence.

…………….

Night deepened bit by bit. The moon wore a veil of silver mist, casting a hazy beauty, and stars twinkled overhead.

Fireflies drifted gently all around.

Crickets chirped now and then from the grass nearby.

Gu Qingxiao felt herself nodding off, but in the glow of moonlight, three silhouettes gradually appeared in their line of sight.

The instant Gu Qingxiao recognized who it was, she perked up completely.

“Brother, look— isn’t that Sister Nangong?” Drowsiness vanished as she grabbed Gu Qingyi’s arm, pointing excitedly.

Following his sister’s finger, Gu Qingyi finally spotted the figure he’d searched for so long. It was Nangong Lin, along with the Nalan siblings.

In the soft moonlight, Nangong Lin’s face came into view, radiant with a gentle, happy smile. Despite her plain clothing, nothing could hide her unique charm.

Gu Qingyi reached out to stand up, eager to rush over and see her, but Gu Qingxiao yanked him back, holding on for dear life.

Looking shocked, Gu Qingxiao hissed, “Brother, what are you thinking, running over at this hour? Besides, Miss Nangong still hasn’t forgiven you. Are you just going to barge in like this?”

“No wonder Mom made me come along. You nearly messed everything up!” Gu Qingxiao sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation. “Geez, big brother, you’re so hopeless when it comes to feelings. If you jump out now, you’ll just make Nangong Lin even more upset with you— what’s the point?”

“Tomorrow, watch me work my magic! I promise, it’ll be a done deal!” She held up her fist. “Hurry, let’s find something to get through the night. It’s freezing and these blasted mosquitoes are everywhere!”

“Good thing I brought you, or I’d have stormed down there already.”

After hearing his sister’s rant, Gu Qingyi actually felt it made sense—he’d almost ruined everything.

He pulled out two blankets from his pack and fashioned a simple spot to rest.

…………….

Inside the house, the five of them shared a lively dinner together.

The food wasn’t fancy by any means, but everyone ate with real appetite.

The Nalan siblings couldn’t wait to tell their parents what happened that day.

“Mom, Dad, you won’t believe it! Sister Lin caught a huge fish in the river today, and we decided to roast it together.”

“It was amazing, juicy and delicious, super chewy too!”

“We’ve never seen a fish that big! It was this huge.” Nalan Xue held out her hands to demonstrate.

Laughter filled the whole house.

“Oh right, I almost forgot—two young folks stopped by looking for you this afternoon, all handsome and pretty. Do you know them?” Zhao Fang glanced at Nangong Lin, suddenly remembering as she tapped her own forehead.

“Aunt Zhao, I don’t know them,” Nangong Lin said, pausing with her chopsticks before shaking her head and resuming her meal.

“Silly me, forgot a detail! Those two wanted to look around, and after seeing something in your room, they were certain you were exactly who they were looking for!”

“They’re probably still outside somewhere.” Zhao Fang knocked her own head again as the memory came back.

After hearing that, Nangong Lin set down her bowl and stepped outside. The night was pitch-black apart from an occasional cricket’s song—no one was there.

She returned despondent and slumped back into her seat.

Seeing her like that, everyone started asking, “Is everything all right, dear?”

“Sister, were those two your family?” Nalan Xue peeked over, anxious. “Yeah, if they came to find you, are you leaving? We’d really miss you!”

“Maybe… Possibly. But who really knows what tomorrow’ll bring, right?” Nangong Lin managed a weak smile at the others’ worried faces.

She stood up, stealing a glance at everyone, her eyes full of mixed emotions. With a guilty shrug, she said, “I’m full, I’ll go rest. You all go ahead and enjoy.”

Back in her room, she found her things untouched on the table, but the necklace glinted with a faint light now and then.

She picked it up carefully, watching the shimmer, whispering, “Is it you? Are you here?”

Nangong Lin’s heart was a complicated swirl of feelings. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore.

Should she be happy or sad that he’d come for her? In the end, she gave up thinking about it.

Pulling the blanket over her head, she went straight to sleep.

Meanwhile, up on the mountain—

Gu Qingxiao was busy swatting at mosquitoes, fuming. “Stupid brother, look at this place you brought me—mosquitoes everywhere! How’s anyone supposed to sleep like this!”

Gu Qingyi slapped a cluster of mosquitoes flat, looking a bit sheepish. “Sorry, Xiaor, I didn’t realize there’d be so many. But don’t worry, I’ll use my spiritual power to keep them away from you!”

He formed a hand seal, and a faint shield shimmered into place around Gu Qingxiao, shutting out all the bloodthirsty pests.

Spotting the mosquitoes kept at bay, Gu Qingxiao finally relaxed, snorting, “About time! I’m going to sleep.”

To herself, she mused, “Good thing big brother knows what’s up. Otherwise, even if I had to blow my cover, I’d wipe out every last mosquito here!”

Gu Qingyi gazed at his already sleeping sister, worry written across his face as he watched the small house below.

A few mosquitoes latched onto Gu Qingyi’s hand, greedily drawing his blood like it was some rare delicacy.

Annoyed, he cast a flicker of pressure, and all the mosquitoes instantly fell lifeless. Problem solved.

Satisfied, he kept his eyes on the wooden house.

No one knew how much time had passed before Gu Qingyi closed his eyes and began meditating where he sat.

As dawn broke and the last trace of night faded, brilliant rays painted the sky. Sunlight spilled over the land.

The glare shone right on Gu Qingyi’s eyelids. His eyes fluttered, then snapped open.

“It’s morning already!”

He stood, glanced at still-sleeping Gu Qingxiao, then gently stroked her head and whispered in her ear, “If you don’t get up soon, the sun’ll burn your tail off!”

A sleepy smile curled on Gu Qingxiao’s lips, as if she was dreaming something wonderful. After Gu Qingyi’s sneak attack, though, she startled awake.

She sat bolt upright, blinking dazedly. “Brother, what time is it?”

“It’s still early, sun just came up,” Gu Qingyi replied, hands clasped behind his back as he looked into the distance.

Gu Qingxiao shot him a dirty look and grumbled, “Why’d you wake me so early? I was having the best dream and you ruined it!”

Gu Qingyi pressed a finger to his lips, cutting off his sister’s complaints and signaling her to look in a certain direction.

“Just watch, brother. Let’s see what you’re up to this time.”

Gu Qingxiao followed his gaze and saw that Nangong Lin and the other two had already left the house.

“It’s been ages, and Sister Nangong’s even more stunning now. I swear, if I were a guy, I’d marry her on the spot!” Gu Qingxiao watched as Nangong Lin walked away, clenching her fists.

Gu Qingyi shot his lovestruck sister a glance and whispered, “Stop gawking. Let’s go after them.”

Gu Qingxiao snapped out of it and nodded, “Yeah, let’s go catch up!”

Nangong Lin and the others had already reached the spot where they’d caught that big bass last time.

“Do you think there’s another giant fish in this river, like last time?” Nalan Xue asked, gazing eagerly at the water.

The giant bass, long gone, must have been rolling in its watery grave: ‘Thanks a lot, you three.’

Nangong Lin looked at the river calmly, her expression unreadable. “There’s only one way to find out.”

She rolled up her sleeves and pants, stepping into the chilly water.

………………..

Gu Qingyi and his sister stood watching from behind a tree.

Before long, Nangong Lin skillfully caught another big fish—though noticeably smaller than the last one.

She triumphantly held it overhead.

“Sister Nangong looks even prettier up close,” Gu Qingxiao mumbled, biting her sleeve. “Seriously, I can do this! Hehehe.”

“Xiaor, so what do we do now?” Gu Qingyi asked, helplessly rubbing his forehead at the sight of his hopeless sister.

“Just wait and see! Leave the rest to me!” Gu Qingxiao grinned, tapping her lips with a finger. Then, with an exaggerated stride, she charged toward Nangong Lin, still standing in the river.