207.1 – Gong Tianyang
Xue Qilin didn’t respond for a while.
Her mind is a mess.
Many emotions welled up in Xue Qilin’s heart, stirred into a paste, and stuck to her thoughts. Since the many emotions entangled in a confusing fashion, none of them could truly take hold of her, making her perplexed about how to treat the boy in front of her.
The only thing she can be certain about is that she has no affection for Gong Tianyang.
“Big Sister Xue must hate me.”
Gong Tianyang’s slightly disheartened, childish voice prompted Xue Qilin to come back to her senses.
The boy’s eyes that have been glowing with joy just a moment ago dimmed a lot. He revealed an ugly smile, and a hard to ignore color of sorrow appeared on his face.
“But that’s only natural…”
He seems to have some kind of self-awareness.
Just as Xue Qilin was about to open her mouth —
“Young Master, be careful!”
The only Earth Realm guard suddenly yelled.
As if hit by someone, Gong Tianyang shook abruptly and toppled to the side. Fortunately, the Earth Realm guard supported him in time, preventing him from falling down in an unsightly manner. But the guards still broke out in cold sweat from fright and advised Gong Tianyang to sit down.
Gong Tianyang raised his hand to signal them to stay quiet, noncommittal. Several of the guards wanted to say something, but in the end, they were all silenced by Gong Tianyang’s glare.
Then, he looked at Xue Qilin, a little troubled.
“Big Sister Xue, I’m sorry, I can’t stand for too long…”
Why did he apologize?
“It’s okay.”
Is this her voice?
At first, Xue Qilin didn’t realize that such a cold voice would come out from her throat.
“Thank you, Big Sister Xue, for showing understanding.”
Gong Tianyang cast a wry smile at Xue Qilin, and then slowly sat down with the help of the guards.
It is such a simple action, yet he has to put in so much effort to accomplish it. Has he been weakened to this degree? Xue Qilin frowned.
Gong Tianqing previously said that her brother’s condition has improved.
If this is Gong Tianyang’s improved condition, then how bad was it before?
Xue Qilin, who thought thusly to herself, couldn’t help sketching a picture in her mind.
Confined to a bad, the boy can only look at the static ceiling every day and rely on others for everything, spending his entire childhood like this.
How strong must your will be to able to support you through so many years of such torment, and then still show a smile to others? Xue Qilin doesn’t know the answer. She only knows that if it were her, she wouldn’t be able to persevere for such a long time under such torment. Maybe her mind would have collapsed already.
When she thought of this, Xue Qilin couldn’t help but admire Gong Tianyang.
“Big Sister Xue, won’t you come in?”
After she heard Gong Tianyang’s question, Xue Qilin discovered that she is still standing outside the door. Perhaps it was because of this that the maid revealed an expression of not knowing what todo and stood aside timidly, not leaving.
Xue Qilin hesitated for a while, and then finally walked into the room. The guard closed the door immediately after.
“Thank you, Xue Qilin. I was afraid that you would turn around and leave immediately after learning that I am Gong Tianyang. It’s great that you are willing to stay with me for a while.”
As if coming across something worth celebrating, Gong Tianyang smiled blissfully, and his pale face became slightly rosy.
Gong Tianyang resembles a kindhearted child who is easily satisfied.
But, Xue Qilin didn’t jump to conclusions. If he was really kindhearted, he wouldn’t have accepted Gong Tianqing’s sacrifice.
Don’t be fooled by his outward appearance — Xue Qilin gave herself a warning.
The reason she stayed is largely because she wants to observe Gong Tianyang. If he has a repulsive character, if he feels that Gong Tianqing’s sacrifice is a matter of course, then even though it would arouse Gong Tianqing’s resentment, Xue Qilin wouldn’t care to find a chance and end his life.
After all, as long as he dies, Gong Tianqing will lose her object of devotion.
Of course, even if Xue Qilin really wanted to commit such a heinous act, it would have to wait until Gong Tianqing is secured. She currently still needs the help of the Gong Clan.
“What can I do for you?”
Xue Qilin sat down opposite of Gong Tianyang and asked about his intentions in coming to find her, an expressionless look on her face.
Gong Tianyang asked a guard to serve her tea. Xue Qilin, however, didn’t drink it. She just waited silently for an answer.
Gong Tianyang stared at Xue Qilin with a resolute look in his eyes and replied in a grateful tone, “I came to thank Big Sister Xue.”
Unexpectedly, this is the reason. Xue Qilin was startled.
“Well, this, however, can only be said to be the principal reason.” Gong Tianyang scratched his face awkwardly, “The rest is just pure willfulness.”
“Willfulness?”
Xue Qilin asked subconsciously. In response, Gong Tianyang laughehed bashfully.
“In fact, I wanted to see what the beautiful “Young Ancestor” my sister has mentioned is like.”
Wanted to see me? Xue Qilin blinked her eyes in amazement. This is another reason beyond her expectation.
“Why did you want to see me?”
“Um…” Gong Tianyang tilted his head, and then answered with uncertainty, “It’s probably… curiosity…”
As if angry at himself for not being able to give a proper answer, Gong Tianyang issued a sound of vexation and shrank his shoulders sullenly.
“I don’t know… I just wanted to see Big Sister Xue.”
What a childish answer… Gong Tianyang, oh Gong Tianyang, what kind of person are you? Xue Qilin sighed heavily.
“Big Sister Xue…”
“Hmm?”
Seeing Gong Tianyang spying on her expression uneasily, Xue Qilin raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Are you angry?”
“Why should I be angry?”
Xue Qilin asked strangely.
“Because Big Sister Xue is acting cold, which is different from what I heard. So I wonder if Big Sister Xue is angry…”
“Oh, what kind of person do you think I am?”
Gong Tianyang crossed his arms in distress and contemplated for a while, all the while making an “um –” sound.
“Neglects her duties, always uses strange final particles, likes to laze about, often annoys Temple Master Qi, is unusually cheerful and lively –”
The more Xue Qilin listened, the faster her eyes twitched. Seeing that Gong Tianyang was not going to stop any time soon, she promptly interrupted the other party.
“Wait a moment!”
“Who told you this? It wouldn’t be Little Qing, would it?!”
“Yes, is was my sister.” Gong Tianyang tilted his head, “Is there a problem?”
What exactly did Little Qing instill into her brother? Xue Qilin rolled her eyes helplessly.
“Big Sister Xue, did I say anything wrong?”
“It’s all wrong!”
Xue Qilin shouted this emotionally.
Gong Tianyang gave a timid “oh” and muttered to himself, “Did sister lie to me? Don’t think so… Sister never lies to me.”
“Anyway, everything is wrong!”
Xue Qilin shamelessly denied Gong Tianqing’s words. Although they are all facts, but she got inexplicably mad when it came from Gong Tianyang.
Then, she propped her head up dissatisfiedly and tossed out a question slightly impatiently.
“So you came to me just to tell me these nonsensical things?”
Gong Tianyang was stunned for a while, and then showed a wry smile.
“Big Sister Xue really doesn’t like me very much…”
Xue Qilin glanced at him, neither denying nor confirming.
But not speaking is often equivalent to tacit approval. And in fact, Xue Qilin would rather spend her time by sitting by Qi Qiqi’s bedside than waste her time on Gong Tianyang. She still wants to search for Gong Tianqing’s whereabouts. She has no time to waste.
“As I said said, I came to thank Big Sister Xue.”
Gong Tianyang spoke while enunciating each syllable, a serious look on his face.
It’s really baffling… Xue Qilin sighed, then straightened herself.
“Thank me for what?”
Instead of giving an answer, Gong Tianyang turned his head and looked out the window.
His gaze fell beyond the horizon, probably reaching the past.
“Big Sister Xue, did you know? This is the first time I ever left the Gong Mansion.”
His pale face, as if covered by a gauze, lost its brilliance.
Xue Qilin knows what that gauze is called — sadness.
“The Gong Clan is my shelter, but at the same time, it is my prison.”
Xue Qilin didn’t understand the deeper meaning of Gong Tianyang’s words. She just took this sentence as something akin to a complaint or a lament.
Gong Tianyang retracted his gaze and looked at Xue Qilin once more.
“Big Sister Xue, if you can, would you accompany me for a walk?”
Without waiting for Xue Qilin’s response, Gong Tianyang looked out the window again as if to escape.
“For a bit is fine, for a bit is fine, for a bit… is fine…”
He muttered to who knows whom. Maybe it was to himself, maybe to Xue Qilin, or maybe to — the Heavens.
Xue Qilin wanted to refuse him.
However, for some reason — perhaps out of pity, she could not utter the words of rejection.
“Alright, just for a bit.”
When Xue Qilin snapped out of it, she had already blurted out these words.
Gong Tianyang’s pale face shone brightly and portrayed a dazzling smile.
“Thank you, Big Sister Xue.”
The thing contained in his words is not gratitude, but overflowing happiness.
