With the bowl of wine balanced on her head, Luo Qiaoqiao stood at the front of the line of won, her captivating gaze fixed on Chen Yin.
He was silent.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked, her lips curving into a seductive smile.
The other won watched nervously, unsure what this wealthy and beautiful woman was up to.
Chen Yin walked over to her,
Took the bowl of wine from her head,
And drank it in one gulp.
Luo Qiaoqiao’s eyes followed his every move, a playful glint in them.
“…That’s it?”
“What do you want to do?” Chen Yin shrugged helplessly. “All these won are yours. Do whatever you want with them.”
“You’re telling you don’t find any of them appealing?” Luo Qiaoqiao rolled her eyes playfully.
“I don’t.”
“…Not even ?”
Chen Yin didn’t answer.
Luo Qiaoqiao’s beauty and ethereal aura eclipsed all the other won in the room. No man would even notice them when she was present.
He sighed and drank the wine from the other won’s bowls, then gestured for them to leave.
Luo Qiaoqiao pouted. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like them?”
“Why would I?”
“n like these things.”
She added, “At least, my father does.”
…And your mother hasn’t killed him yet? He’s a lucky man. Chen Yin thought to himself.
“Sister Qiaoqiao, I’m here to drink.”
He sat down at the table. “You don’t have to do this.”
“You dislike these won that much?”
“They’re not as beautiful as you.”
“But you haven’t even looked at .” Luo Qiaoqiao’s eyes were slightly red-rimd. “If I’m so beautiful, why won’t you look at ?”
Why won’t you look at ?
Why do you only care about the others?
If you don’t like , what’s the difference between and these won?
Chen Yin understood. She was still upset.
Luo Qiaoqiao grabbed a jar of wine and drained it, her cheeks flushing slightly, her eyes unfocused as she leaned against him.
“I don’t know how many more tis I’ll be able to drink like this.”
“I don’t know if I’ll have enough ti for you to fall for .”
“But you know what? I’ve never been nice to a man before.”
“I don’t know how to please a man, how to make him happy.”
“I don’t know how to be different from the other won around you, how to make you rember .”
She choked back a sob, her head lowered. “I’m… so stupid.”
“I don’t want to be like them. I want to leave a mark on your heart.”
“But I don’t know how.”
“So I can only try my best to please you, to do everything that might make you happy.”
n liked money, so she had taken him to the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion and let him choose whatever he wanted.
n liked won, so she had allowed him to indulge in the brothel, even in her presence.
“I feel so pathetic.”
She bit her lip, her eyes blurry with tears. “Who am I? I’m Luo Qiaoqiao!”
“The renowned Silk-Robe Fairy! The daughter of the Heavenly Net Sect’s Vice Sect Master!”
“I’ve never bowed down to anyone before.” She looked at him sadly.
…Except for you.
She had t him by chance, fallen for him for no reason,
And thrown herself at his feet, like a lovesick puppy.
“Chen Yin, I’ve never been in love before. Tell ,”
She asked, her eyes filled with tears, “does loving soone really an becoming so humble and insignificant?”
So insignificant that you abandon all your principles and pride, even your own life,
Just for a single glance from him?
“I know I’m being unreasonable, throwing a tantrum.”
“My mother told that love isn’t a transaction, that you can’t expect soone to love you back just because you’re nice to them.”
She wiped away a tear and whispered,
“I know, I’ve always known.”
“I just… can’t let go.”
“I just want you to… look at . Just once.”
Not like at the Fairy Conference, when his eyes had been fixed on Yin ngwan, not even noticing her standing there, her heart aching.
Not like when they fell from the cliff, when he had only seen Shen Shuanglian, not realizing that she had also jumped, shielding him with her body.
Not like when he stord the Mist Spirit Sect, his eyes only on Yu Xiang, not seeing her begging her parents to help him.
She knew there were many people in his heart.
She would probably always be the one standing in the shadows, unnoticed and forgotten.
…But just once,
Look at her.
See the girl standing before you,
The girl who had spent a fortune for him,
Who had shared countless drinks with him under the moonlight,
Who was willing to risk her life to help him.
“Just once,” she whispered, her voice choked with tears, “please?”
She seed drunk, leaning against him, her tears soaking his shoulder.
It was like a confession, but it sounded more like she was talking to herself.
Chen Yin looked at her silently, his eyes downcast.
He knew he should say sothing.
Sothing comforting, sothing sweet, sothing he was so good at.
But he didn’t.
He knew that wasn’t what she needed.
This girl, the once proud and flamboyant Silk-Robe Fairy, was now like a lost and heartbroken child, clinging to him,
Begging for a scrap of his affection.
…But he had nothing to offer her.
He suddenly rembered a line from a Wong Kar-wai movie he had disliked in his previous life:
“In the minute before 3pm on April 16th, 1960, you were with . Because of you, I’ll rember this minute.”
He had found it pretentious and aningless back then.
He hadn’t understood its appeal.
But today, he finally did.
For so people, a single mont with soone could be the most precious and cherished thing in their life.
He gently stroked her hair.
“What ti is it?”
Luo Qiaoqiao, her eyes red and swollen, looked up at him timidly. “Almost… the Hour of the Tiger.”
“I’ve spent countless Hours of the Tiger lost in sleep or drunken stupor.”
“But from now on, whenever the Hour of the Tiger arrives, whether I’m awake or asleep, or just staring at the pre-dawn sky…”
“…I’ll rember you.” He gently kissed her lips.
The sweet and slightly tart taste of bayberry wine.
Luo Qiaoqiao’s blurry eyes cleared slightly, then closed again as she kissed him back, her tongue tracing his lips.
“…What does it taste like?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I want to know which one is better.”
Chen Yin thought for a mont, then said seriously, “I forgot.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. Right now, I only rember the taste of Sister Qiaoqiao.”
“I’ve forgotten everyone else.”
Luo Qiaoqiao stared at him for a long ti, then suddenly smiled.
A genuine, heartfelt smile.
“Thank you,” she kissed him again, “that’s all I wanted.”
…Even if it’s a lie.
I know I’ve left my mark on your heart.
That’s enough.
I don’t need much. Just this.
Under the red silk canopy, Luo Qiaoqiao’s eyes fluttered closed, but she still clung to his robe.
“Go to sleep if you’re tired.”
“…I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid I’ll wake up and realize it was all a dream.”
“I’m not leaving,” Chen Yin whispered. “I’ll be here all night.”
But Luo Qiaoqiao pouted. “You said that last ti too.”
And then he had left her alone in the tavern.
She had searched for him everywhere, but he was gone.
Chen Yin chuckled awkwardly. “I really an it this ti.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She suddenly bit his earlobe, hard enough to leave a mark.
“If I can’t find you tomorrow, I’ll bite you to death.” She said fiercely.
Chen Yin felt a pleasant tingling sensation on his ear.
He suddenly thought that if this was the punishnt, then perhaps running away wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Of course, he wouldn’t do that.
The night was fading, the room filled with the warm glow of the red canopy and the scent of incense.
Chen Yin carefully carried Luo Qiaoqiao, who was now fast asleep, to the bed.
He wanted to change her clothes, but she clung to him like an octopus, even in her sleep.
He sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking her hair.
Luo Qiaoqiao, as if sensing his touch, nuzzled her cheek against his hand, her expression peaceful, a faint smile on her lips.
Chen Yin gently caressed her face, his eyes filled with tenderness, until she was sound asleep.
Then, his gaze hardened slightly.
“…Luo Qiaoqiao’s System.”
“I know you can hear .” He spoke into the empty air.
“I’m giving you a choice.”
“Enter my scroll. That way, Qiaoqiao won’t have to suffer anymore.”
The room was silent, only the faint crackling of the incense disturbing the stillness.
After a long pause, a soft sigh echoed through the room.
“…Thank you for saving her.”
“Be good to her. I don’t understand humans,”
“But she… is a good girl.”
A faint light flickered, then disappeared into Chen Yin’s chest.
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