Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 161

by Little Panda

A Story About Happiness (8)

“Wishing you both a long and lasting relationship/happiness.”

“What…?”

“Why do you want to change majors?”

The next morning.

Shen Yelan had just woken up from Xu Jiao’s embrace when she heard Xu Jiao, using a consultative tone with her, bring up the matter of applying to change majors. Shen Yelan was stunned for quite a while before her brain regained the ability to think.

She tried hard to recall Xu Jiao’s recent behavior during classes, but found that the other person had basically kept a very full schedule, audited many classes, and had good grades in her major courses. It was really impossible to tell what she liked or didn’t like.

Just as she wanted to sit up and seriously ask the person behind her, Shen Yelan felt her thighs becoming slightly sore. Because she wasn’t sitting steadily, her palm instinctively pressed against Xu Jiao’s body for support. The next moment she became a bit nervous:

“Did I put too much pressure on you?”

Xu Jiao blinked, answering her gently: “No, not at all.”

As she spoke, she raised her hand to help fix Shen Yelan’s slightly messy long hair that had fallen forward, brushing all the strands back, then asked Shen Yelan: “Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

Although she felt her technique should be decent, it was very possible that the previous experiencer Xia Jingzhe had such humble feelings toward her that just being close to her was already satisfying enough, and wouldn’t be picky about anything, so she quite wanted to get feedback from Shen Yelan.

Hearing Xu Jiao’s words, Shen Yelan’s ears reddened slightly, though it didn’t show much on her face. She just unconsciously glanced aside before saying:

“No.”

After holding back for two seconds, afraid that Xu Jiao might think she wasn’t satisfied, she added: “It’s… it’s quite good.”

Xu Jiao took two seconds to react, then belatedly nodded, her face showing some thoughtfulness, as if judging whether Shen Yelan was telling the truth.

But she didn’t show much of this, quickly patting Shen Yelan’s shoulder lightly, and said: “Don’t you have class later? Let’s go, we’ll get breakfast before heading there.”

Shen Yelan instinctively responded: “Are you going to attend my class?”

Xu Jiao originally had her own plans to arrange, but hearing this, she answered with a smile: “Would you like me to go? If you want, I can accompany you to class.”

Shen Yelan: “!”

She actually just thought Xu Jiao was curious about her courses.

She hadn’t meant it as an invitation.

But hearing these words from Sister Xu Jiao, it still made her heart flutter with excitement.

Just as Shen Yelan was about to agree, suddenly another figure appeared before her, another “Xu Jiao” with the same smiling face, but instead of gentle smiles, her eyes held obvious mockery:

“Really? Shen Yelan, you don’t actually believe everything I said yesterday was true, do you?”

“I saw that you were sick, that’s why I pitied you and was willing to continue this relationship—haven’t you realized? The major I want to transfer to is Traditional Chinese Medicine, and once I cure your illness, I can rightfully leave, understand?”

The smile that was about to appear on Shen Yelan’s face disappeared just like that.

She moved her lips, wanting to ask something, but a sense of understanding rose in her heart.

Xu Jiao keenly noticed that her expression wasn’t quite right and frowned: “What’s wrong?”

Shen Yelan’s eyes moved slightly, looking at two identical Xu Jiaos, unable to tell for a moment which one was real—

But Xu Jiao had already judged what had just happened from the movement of her eyeballs.

Shen Yelan was having hallucinations again.

The matter of treating her illness couldn’t be delayed any longer.

She stepped forward, raised her arms to hug Shen Yelan, sighed, and said seriously by her ear: “From now on, only listen to words that praise you. Only praising words are real, everything else is fake, understand?”

Shen Yelan, embraced by her warm body temperature, instantly knew who was real and who was fake. She unconsciously nodded but added: “I’m sorry…”

I’m sorry.

My hallucinations made you say such terrible things.

Xu Jiao strangely understood, tilted her head, and kissed her neck: “It’s okay.”

“Everything will get better, Shen Yelan. We have a long time, you can get to know me little by little.”

Shen Yelan couldn’t help but nod.

As she was nodding, those disturbing voices appeared again:

“Haven’t you noticed? Since yesterday, Xu Jiao has become very strange. Don’t you want to know why?”

“Hehe, Shen Yelan, maybe the person you like has been possessed [中邪 – traditional belief of being affected by evil spirits], that’s why she’s being so nice to you. This is all fake. Think carefully, when has Xu Jiao ever properly looked at you?”

“She’s fake, Shen Yelan, she’s fake.”

Shen Yelan’s whole body stiffened for a moment, but…

In the end, she still nodded again and again.

Her eyes became slightly moist, but she didn’t let anyone see. She buried her face in Xu Jiao’s neck, remembering what Xu Jiao said about “only praising words are real, everything else is fake,” and suddenly felt all the fears hidden in her heart disappear.

It turned out she wasn’t afraid of standing in darkness.

Nor was she afraid of being surrounded by wolves or being surrounded by words of contempt.

As long as sunlight was willing to fall into her world, even if just a ray, she could still persist in facing toward the light.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine program where Xu Jiao planned to go had a national-level professor.

This person seemed to be born into a traditional Chinese medicine family and was especially skilled in a needle technique—Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles. Xu Jiao, having seen medical cultivation techniques in that world of immortal cultivation, naturally knew how particular acupuncture and body meridians were.

This Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles was exactly right for treating mental illnesses.

It was invented by Bian Que [famous ancient Chinese physician], and once cured, the illness never returns.

It sounds like exaggerated marketing [pyramid scheme/MLM-style promotion].

But only those who have seen it with their own eyes know how powerful it is.

Xu Jiao actually knew a bit about medical knowledge, after all, immortal cultivation includes not just mental techniques and cultivation, but naturally also requires understanding some prescriptions to promote one’s cultivation, whether through food or supplements. Having a stronger physique can support longevity, thus better continuing on the path of cultivation.

But now she no longer had her cultivation methods, and she wasn’t previously a professional medical cultivator. She didn’t want to take risks, so she planned to seriously study Traditional Chinese Medicine for a while, hopefully getting to know this national-level professor. Then whether it would be asking them to treat Shen Yelan’s illness or doing it herself, at least there would be backup plans to try.

While she was busy changing majors, she also adjusted her schedule and class timetable to match Shen Yelan’s—

She hadn’t forgotten about Shen Yelan’s previous death.

This time, to prevent the other person from encountering danger again, Xu Jiao stayed like form and shadow [inseparable] from Shen Yelan. She even rarely met with her old friend Su Xi. Every time, it was Su Xi who, seeing how busy she was, would take initiative to find them both for meals. Of course, they usually didn’t eat much food, but got full on dog food.

Shen Yelan was quite friendly toward Su Xi.

Because when that person was present, she could help her distinguish where the real Xu Jiao was, and also…

Could help her keep believing.

That Xu Jiao had indeed fallen in love with her.

Shen Yelan watched Su Xi secretly pulling Xu Jiao aside to talk in the corner. Xu Jiao politely maintained her distance from her, and although they had walked so far away, her gaze still remained on herself.

Over there.

“Sister Jiaojiao, do you-you-you really like her?”

“Mm.”

“Eh? Ah? I… then I wish you both lasting happiness!”

“Okay.”

Shen Yelan understood Su Xi’s lip movements, lowered her head to pick up the lemon water the server had brought, and smiled very lightly and slowly.

The author has something to say:

Shen Yelan can also find happiness! Mm!