Chapter 20

In the morning, after Yu Tao and Zhu Mingyu went to the Library Pavilion, Hua Lian, no longer having any injured people to tend to, yawned and made his way to the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion. As soon as he arrived, he spotted a figure inside the pavilion.

The young man had his eyelashes slightly lowered, lazily leaning against the pavilion pillar. His pair of pale golden eyes gazed emotionlessly at the quiet lake surface.

Hua Lian plopped down carelessly across from him, smiling as he teased, “What’s this? Your little junior sister just left for a while, and you’re already staring out like this?”

Yu Li remained indifferent, not even raising his eyelids.

Hua Lian didn’t feel awkward at all. He leaned forward with interest, “Tell me the truth, are you interested in little junior sister?”

Just then, a fish in the lake suddenly swam in a circle, swishing its tail and causing two or three bubbles to surface, which popped in an instant, rippling across the water.

Yu Li watched the fish, his tone as cold and indifferent as usual: “Didn’t you recently get your medical practitioner license? Why don’t you first treat your delusions?”

Tsk, his words really could sting.

But Hua Lian had known him for so long that he was used to it. He shamelessly replied, “A doctor can’t treat themselves, you know?”

Hua Lian smiled brightly, “So, does that mean you’re not interested in little junior sister?”

“Of course not.”

Yu Li’s voice remained calm, “It was just a brief encounter two years ago. I’ve only been taking care of her a little because we’re in the same sect.”

Hua Lian was momentarily speechless.

“Same sect?” he said, but a few years ago, that Junior Sister Su, wasn’t she also from the same sect? He never showed any kindness to her.

Su… her name was Su Liuli, wasn’t it? Hua Lian thought back to when Su Liuli had followed him, hoping to come sit with him at the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion, only for him to ruthlessly shut the door in her face.

But with Yu Tao, he let her live in his house, and now he has the nerve to say it’s just ‘taking care of her a little’? Double standards much?

A faint, dark gleam passed through Hua Lian’s eyes as he smiled and hooked the corner of his lips. “It’s good that you don’t have any feelings for little junior sister.”

He stretched lazily, his tone relaxed. “I actually think little junior sister is sweet and lovely, quite fond of her.”

“Coincidentally, the master mentioned last year that I’ve been alone for too long and should find someone to settle down with. Looking at little junior sister, she seems perfect—smart, considerate, and thoughtful.”

As he spoke, he stole a glance at the young man, watching for his reaction. But instead of the expected black face or anger, the young man remained unusually calm, merely looking down at the Liuli Mirror.

Hua Lian’s heart stirred with slight surprise. He didn’t react at all?

Unwilling to let it go, Hua Lian pressed on with his teasing. “How about it? The weather’s nice today, and we’re not doing anything in particular. Why don’t we go to the library and look for a book? Who knows, maybe you’ll have a delightful, unexpected encounter with little junior sister.”

“Isn’t this how stories are written? When you accidentally brush hands while reaching for a book, exchange a casual glance, and suddenly, ‘boom’, hearts race…”

The young man put down the Liuli Mirror, nodded in agreement, his tone neither fast nor slow. “Well said.”

“However, Second Senior Brother might not have the chance to experience this today.”

Hua Lian: ?

Before he could ask, a series of jingling sounds came from the Liuli Mirror in his arms. He picked it up to take a look.

Shishu Song: 【Hua Lian, it’s really great that you’re willing to help. It’s the busy season with spring turning to summer, and the medical hall is swamped.】

Shishu Song: 【I didn’t expect you to be so kindhearted, helping out without asking for anything in return. I’ll have to praise you to Xuan Yunzi when I get the chance. You’ve really grown up—remember a few years ago when you fought with my medicine boy over a single carrot? Now, look at you, all mature. Men really do change when they grow older.】

Shishu Song: 【Ah, I’m about to lose track of time with how busy it is here. There are a few urgent patients I need to attend to. I’ll have my medicine boy come pick you up. Don’t worry about it.】

Hua Lian: ?

For a moment, Hua Lian was confused, but then he quickly realized what was going on. He looked up to meet the young man’s indifferent, pale golden eyes.

Hua Lian ground his teeth in annoyance. “You sure are ruthless.”

He was only joking around, teasing a little, and yet here comes the retaliation. His mind was as sharp as a needle.

He still said he wasn’t interested in his little junior sister. What a stubborn, hard-headed guy.

The medicine boy arrived in a flash, riding on a cloud, and Hua Lian, before leaving the bamboo pavilion, huffed and muttered a few words with irritation.

“Chasing a girl isn’t done like this. If you keep acting like this, without knowing how to flatter her, little junior sister is going to be snatched away by someone else. By then, you won’t even have a place to cry.”

The surroundings fell silent once again, with only the wind rustling the trees. The young man, still staring at the fish swimming in the lake, furrowed his brow after a long while, his expression becoming more impatient.

…It’s always her who keeps bothering him.

From the very beginning, it’s been that way.

He pursed his lips, thinking about what Hua Lian had said. It made him feel more frustrated. Without thinking further, he stood up and left the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion, heading toward the mountain.

The mountain wind howled, the pine trees swayed, and he found a stone, wiped it clean, and sat down, letting the wind blow over him. His restless mood eased a little.

The exhaustion from his time in Mohe still hadn’t fully healed, so he turned into his animal form and curled up to rest, recovering his strength.

As the evening glow faded and the sky darkened, he checked the time and realized it was about time to head back. Suddenly, he noticed the girl approaching, and before he knew it, she had sat beside him without realizing.

At first, he thought she was just coming to watch the sunset, but even when the sky darkened, she still hadn’t left. Instead, she curled up, her nose a little red, her eyes moist, as though she were about to cry.

Yu Li couldn’t help but think of certain scenes.

In the darkness, the girl’s eyes were veiled with mist, her gaze unfocused. After noticing him, she tightly grasped his arm, her voice trembling.

“Lili, I’m so scared.”

“…”

Yu Li had originally planned to leave, but for some reason, he stayed.

Suddenly, Yu Tao heard an awkward meow, followed by a soft cat paw pressing against her arm. She froze for a moment, and then looked up to meet a pair of light golden cat eyes.

“Kitty? What are you doing here?”

The cat paused, seemingly just realizing what had happened, and quickly retracted its paw, turning its head away.

If it was just an accidental brush, it would’ve been fine, but this behavior was too obvious, almost like it was guilty. Yu Tao, quick to catch on, smiled and said, “Are you worried about me?”

The cat said nothing and ignored her.

Having spent so many days with it, Yu Tao understood the cat’s proud and aloof nature. She smiled and continued, “It’s okay, I just remembered some things from the past, but it’s all behind me now.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been dealing with some other things these past few days and didn’t go to Training platform to keep you company. I’ll go tomorrow though.”

The cat, still gazing at her face, observed the pale color with a hint of unnatural redness—seeming almost sickly.

After a moment, the black cat lightly jumped onto her lap, extending one paw to rest on the side of her face.

So hot.

It was obvious she’s sick, but it seemed oblivious, even sitting in the cold breeze.

…So careless.

Yu Tao was startled when the cat suddenly touched her face, blinking her eyes in surprise.

Huh?

The cat had come so close to her. Did that mean it was now willing to let her get closer and pet it?

Perhaps due to the fever clouding its awareness, Yu Tao thought this and impulsively reached out, pulling the cat into her arms, snuggling it close. The cat’s head rested on her shoulder.

She murmured softly, her voice thick with a nasal tone. “Wuwu, kitty, you finally let me hug you.”

Caught off guard by the sudden tight embrace, the black cat’s light golden eyes widened in shock. It was enveloped in warmth, and its ears instantly turned red, its usually relaxed tail stiffening.

The cat paws pushed restlessly, trying to escape, but Yu Tao didn’t give it the chance. She hummed playfully, “How could a little kitty that’s fallen into my hands escape?”

“This time, even if you scratch me, I won’t let go!”

“…” What a troublemaker.

Fortunately, the girl was only holding the cat and didn’t do anything else strange. The black cat shook its ears, grudgingly enduring the situation.

Well, considering she was sick, it was fine this time.

Yu Tao, feeling that the cat had stopped resisting the embrace, thought to herself that what Zhu Mingyu had said was indeed true—the cat must have some affection for her, which was why it had always stayed by her side.

The cat hadn’t allowed her to hug it before, maybe because it was just shy.

She held the cat for a little longer, then shook her slightly dizzy head, carefully asking, “Kitty, I’ll make a lot of spirit stones to buy fish for you. I’ll treat you really well. Will you be my cat and come home with me?”

She placed the cat back on the stone, extending one hand. “If you’re willing, stretch out a paw. If you’re not willing…”

The black cat’s ears, still flushed with heat, glanced coldly at her but remained unmoving.

Yu Tao smiled brightly, “If you’re not willing, just stretch out a paw anyway.”

“Alright, you didn’t stretch it out, so that means you’re willing now. Hehe, from now on, you’re my cat!”

“…” What a thief’s logic.

The black cat stared at her, its eyes unfocused and hazy, clearly muddled by the fever.

It usually had a sharp tongue, but when it was dizzy, it seemed to become unusually sharp-witted.

“It’s said that spirit masters should give names to their spirit pets, so I’ll give you a name.”

The girl blinked her blurry eyes, biting her pale lip as she thought, “I still don’t know if you’re a boy or a girl.”

After a moment of thought, she clapped her hands and decisively said, “I’ll call you Lili!”

The black cat froze for a moment, lifting its eyes to look at her in surprise.

…Has it been recognized?

Yu Tao, feeling dizzy, smiled weakly, “It’s not the ‘^[1]Li (离) means “to leave” or “departure.” It is often associated with separation or distance in ChineseLi’ from ‘leave.’ Someone else is already using that. It’s a… hmm, a very special person to me. Yours is from the ‘^[2]Li (梨) means pear. To create a playful and affectionate name for the black cat, “Li Li” (梨梨), which sounds like “pear pear.”pear’ in ‘Lili.'”

“Mm… now I kind of want to eat a pear. Lili, do you like this name?”

“…” So she just felt like having pears.

But… a very special person?

The black cat was still pondering, but the girl had already jumped down from the stone. She had difficulty balancing, swaying for a while before finally steadying herself by holding onto the mountain rock, then smiling at the cat.

“It’s getting late, Lili. Let’s go home now.”

Idiot.

The black cat sighed softly, deciding to follow her and keep an eye on her, just in case she fell down the mountain while walking.

To its surprise, after walking only a few steps, the girl suddenly gasped in pain and crouched down, holding her stomach.

Yu Tao’s small face twisted in pain as she weakly leaned against the stone, curling up.

It hurt.

The cold mountain wind blew, and the calm voice of a young man, tinged with concern, suddenly rang out above her head.

“What’s wrong?”

Yu Tao blinked in confusion, raising her head in the dim moonlight, “Eh?”

… Little Senior Brother?

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Word Count: 2,167