Chen Chang’an remained silent for quite a while before saying, “Yes, your Sister-in-law really likes you.”
There was no choice. This little girl had misunderstood, and he could only brace himself and go along with it.
At the same time, he glanced at Luo Yizi and gave her a look, signaling her to help conceal the matter of his impending death.
Luo Yizi understood and lazily nodded.
“Yes, my sister likes you,” Luo Yizi said expressionlessly, staring at Huang Jiaojiao.
Huang Jiaojiao felt her mind buzzing in shock.
She had often heard stories of men suddenly liking men, or women suddenly liking women.
Once, when she heard such gossip, she had even paused her money-making activities to listen in out of curiosity.
But that had only been hearsay. Now it had happened to her!
And the one who liked her was actually her Senior Brother’s wife!
Luo Yizi glanced at Chen Chang’an. Her eyes seemed to say, If you keep this up, this already not-so-bright little girl will truly believe it.
Chen Chang’an would rather Huang Jiaojiao believe something this absurd than let her know in advance that he was going to die and cling to him daily, crying her eyes out.
He was not dead yet. He feared he would be exhausted to death by her tears first.
To be honest, he had always been afraid of Huang Jiaojiao crying. It was truly noisy, and it made his heart ache.
With their silent exchange of understanding, an innocent girl was thoroughly led astray.
“How could this happen! What kind of charm do I have to make Sister-in-law like me so much? Senior Brother, I truly never meant to compete with you for a woman! Don’t treat me as a love rival!”
Huang Jiaojiao’s small brows were tightly furrowed. Like a runaway horse, she could not stand still, circling around Chen Chang’an, who was sitting by the pond enjoying fish therapy. She muttered while speaking to him.
Chen Chang’an could only continue the absurd topic and said, “Junior Sister, I don’t mind too much. Just don’t mention this matter again. Your Sister-in-law may like you, but she has already been restraining herself…”
Huang Jiaojiao nodded seriously and said, “As the saying goes, liking is indulgence, love is restraint. That means Sister-in-law truly loves me. It seems I shouldn’t visit so often in the future.”
Seeing her earnest expression, Chen Chang’an’s lips twitched.
At that moment, Luo Yizi was lying on a tree branch in the courtyard, holding a book as if reading.
She had lived here for quite a long time before.
Almost every day had been like this. Now she only held the book for appearance’s sake. In truth, her gaze kept drifting toward Chen Chang’an.
When she saw him using the Longevity Fish for a foot soak, she was stunned.
Those were the Longevity Fish her sister had given him.
In the past, she had often clamored to eat fish, and Chen Chang’an had guarded those Longevity Fish like precious treasures.
Now he was treating them like this.
It was unbelievable.
“Perhaps my sister’s refusal to return, even if she died, has chilled his heart… No, that’s not right. With how much he loves her, he wouldn’t grow cold-hearted. Could it be that these fish offended him?”
“Longevity Fish…”
She understood.
He probably felt that he would not even outlive a fish and felt displeased.
“But what exactly is causing his death?”
Luo Yizi frowned, and a trace of sorrow flashed across her face.
Looking at Chen Chang’an’s back, she could sense the loneliness surrounding him.
As if he no longer belonged to this world.
Even though Chen Chang’an was smiling at that moment, she was certain he felt deeply pained inside.
Luo Yizi remained silent for a long time. At some point, a dull heaviness began to settle in her heart.
“He must be very lonely, and he must miss my sister very much.”
…
Chen Chang’an spent almost the entire day playing with Huang Jiaojiao, deliberately keeping some distance from Luo Yizi.
At night, he even cooked a meal for the two of them.
At their level of cultivation, eating or not made no difference.
But knowing he was going to die, he did not mind spending time cooking, tasting his own craftsmanship once more before death.
Darkness had already enveloped the courtyard, while stars glittered across the sky.
At the dining table, Chen Chang’an repeatedly picked up dishes for Huang Jiaojiao.
Huang Jiaojiao smiled and ate everything.
Since childhood, whenever they ate together, Chen Chang’an would always serve her food.
Chen Chang’an glanced at Luo Yizi, hesitated, and then picked up some food for her as well.
Luo Yizi was slightly surprised but said nothing and quietly finished her meal.
Afterward, she went to the guest room and closed the door without coming out again.
Chen Chang’an, feeling bored, climbed onto the rooftop and began stargazing.
Huang Jiaojiao followed and lay beside him. She could clearly point out the names of the stars Chen Chang’an liked.
She could even recount some of the fabricated stories he had once made up about those stars.
The two of them laughed and chatted endlessly on the rooftop.
Down below, Luo Yizi could hear their conversation clearly.
She lay on her bed and listened quietly.
“Junior Sister, look. You definitely don’t know the names of those two stars.”
Chen Chang’an pointed at two relatively dim stars close together, the corners of his mouth lifting.
Huang Jiaojiao had grown up watching the stars with him. He had named almost every star, and she remembered them all. But she truly did not recognize the two he pointed at.
And those two stars were extremely close together.
Chen Chang’an smiled and said, “The one on the left is called Chen Chang’an. The one on the right is called Luo Yicheng. They didn’t originally exist. To make your Sister-in-law happy, I moved two mountains up there.”
Huang Jiaojiao’s eyes widened.
Wow!
So romantic!
“Senior Brother, move a mountain up there for me too! I want to name it after myself!”
Huang Jiaojiao shook his arm and acted coquettishly.
Their laughter echoed across the rooftop.
Below, Luo Yizi fell silent.
“He truly loves my sister deeply. And now that my sister is not here, how painful must it be for him…”
Huang Jiaojiao might not have heard the longing in Chen Chang’an’s voice, but she could.
The next day.
Chen Chang’an prepared to set off again to bid farewell to his old friends.
He looked at Luo Yizi and said, “After you reach the minor realm, live well. Find someone you like and marry him. That way, when your brother-in-law leaves, he can be at ease.”
Yesterday, Luo Yizi had said she would stay only one day.
Yet Luo Yizi calmly said, “I plan to stay one more day.”
Chen Chang’an was stunned for quite a while.
“Alright. Then help me look after the courtyard.”
“No. You have to stay with me. Otherwise, I’ll tell Huang Jiaojiao about your situation.”
Chen Chang’an frowned.
“Fine. One more day.”
He could only compromise.
And he had no choice but to keep Huang Jiaojiao here as well.
Time quietly passed.
Five days later.
Chen Chang’an looked at Luo Yizi helplessly and asked, “Is it enough now?”
Over these days, having two people by his side had indeed made him feel better.
And Luo Yizi resembled his wife so much.
It gave him the illusion that his wife was here.
Yet he always felt that Luo Yizi had ulterior motives in staying.
Luo Yizi asked, “Where are you going? What are you going to do?”
Chen Chang’an said, “You know my situation. I probably have just over 100 days left. I want to properly say goodbye to some old friends.”
Luo Yizi said, “Alright. Go. But… I’m coming with you.”
Chen Chang’an’s lips twitched.
“Why?”
“Because I like you. And I want to take my sister’s place and accompany you through this final stretch. It’s that simple.”
Luo Yizi’s expression remained calm, her eyes lazy, her tone neither warm nor cold.
After hearing her words, Chen Chang’an was silent for a long time.
“So you suddenly changed your mind and insisted on staying five more days just to keep me company and make me feel better?”
His expression was complicated.
Luo Yizi said nothing. She simply looked at him.
Everything was understood without words.