Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 162

A Story About Happiness (9)

“As long as you get better, anything is fine.”

Xu Jiao spent several months thoroughly digesting and absorbing [mastering] the content of her new major, and also picked up those obscure knowledge she originally had in the cultivation world.

            

She even caught the attention of that formidable professor with two interesting research topics, and during her spare time went to his private clinic to learn some acupuncture techniques.

Because she wasn’t the professor’s formal disciple, and had no plans to pursue graduate studies under him, naturally she couldn’t learn the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles , but Xu Jiao didn’t mind, she already had a rough plan to deal with it.

Meanwhile—

            

Shen Yelan received another call from Dong Qing.

“Master,” her voice sounded a bit more excited than previous times, though not very obvious, but Dong Qing has human essence [extremely shrewd person] and immediately detected the meaning within.

Smiling, Dong Qing didn’t rush to the main point, but instead said in a teasing tone: “Sounds like you’re in a good mood? What, has the wait until the clouds part to see the bright moon finally paid off?” [meaning: good things come to those who wait]

            

In Dong Qing’s impression, Shen Yelan rarely had such an obviously light tone, most of the time this disciple of hers seemed rather bitter and resentful, as if the world owed her a great debt. The only possible reason for her change would be that her long-standing heart ailment might have a chance of being cured.

Shen Yelan was speechless for two seconds, before asking: “Is it that obvious?”

Dong Qing threw the question back at her: “What do you think?”

            

Shen Yelan carefully thought for a few seconds, without result, and didn’t want to dwell on this question anymore. Even though she had seen changes in Xu Jiao during this time, she still lacked confidence, not knowing how things would be between them after her illness was cured. Not wanting to show her weakness to Dong Qing, she changed the topic:

“Master, this time you called me for…?”

Dong Qing casually said, in a tone as if just finished lunch: “Oh, remember that grandson [used here as an insult] I told you about last time? I heard he had people staking you out, apparently waited for half a month without finding an opportunity, then gave up and left. Just wanted to ask if anything happened?”

            

Shen Yelan, who was already somewhat alert, heard this and carefully thought about her recent travel patterns, hesitated for a few seconds before saying: “No… I don’t think so.”

But she quickly thought of Xu Jiao.

She had been spending all this time with Xu Jiao, could they have caught the attention of those with ill intentions? She hadn’t encountered any danger, but what about Xu Jiao? During those brief fragments of time when they were separated, could Xu Jiao have been in danger?

            

Just thinking about this made it difficult for Shen Yelan to sit or stand still [restless], even though she had already tried hard to recall Xu Jiao’s behavior during this time and repeatedly confirmed she was safe and sound.

Dong Qing didn’t know what kind of anxiety was mixed in her breathing changes. After not hearing anything more from Shen Yelan for a while, thinking she might be busy with something, Dong Qing didn’t ask further, only said:

“You—”

            

“Take good care of yourself.”

Dong Qing wanted to give more advice, but thinking of Shen Yelan’s always worried appearance, knowing there were things she didn’t want to talk about and no one could force her, and having already agreed to her previous request to withdraw, there wasn’t much more she could say to this disciple.

A thousand words were condensed into just this one sentence.

            

Shen Yelan’s eyes curved slightly, she could feel the care in Dong Qing’s brief words, softly responded, then after thinking, added: “I…”

“I might get results after some time.”

Her words were very vague, and someone slightly slow might find it difficult to understand what she actually meant.

            

Fortunately, Dong Qing catches on quickly, and from Shen Yelan’s tone, figured out that she was hopeful about the outcome, so naturally responded: “I hope the results will be as you wish.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Shen Yelan hung up the phone and stood there for a while, until those unwanted voices from the past emerged again, saying things like “You don’t really believe Xu Jiao can cure you, do you?” and “If I were you, I wouldn’t want to be cured. At least now you can depend on her. When she becomes your lifesaver again, how will you have the nerve to repay kindness with enmity,” and other such persuasive words.

            

She listened carefully for a while, and after realizing there wasn’t a single good word in these thoughts, she smiled lightly, ignoring these bewitching illusions, and headed single-mindedly toward where Xu Jiao was.

As Xu Jiao had said before—

Those negative words were all false.

            

Now, she couldn’t wait to see Xu Jiao.

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“You really want to let me try?”

“…Mm.”

            

In the study room.

Xu Jiao stacked those heavy books together and picked them up. Shen Yelan reached out to help her carry two of them. After hearing her eager plan, she unexpectedly nodded in agreement without any hesitation.

Xu Jiao suspected that even if she said she had less than ten percent confidence and just wanted to use Shen Yelan as a little white mouse [test subject] for acupuncture, this person would still nod in agreement.

            

She sighed, not mentioning that she had already made thorough preparations and had over eighty percent confidence. While following Shen Yelan outside, she couldn’t help but ask again: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll hurt you with the needles?”

Shen Yelan answered without hesitation: “Not afraid.”

After thinking for a moment, she added softly: “That would be better actually.”

            

Xu Jiao: ?

She was confused and instinctively doubted her hearing: “What?”

Shen Yelan turned to look at her, her eyes full of seriousness, and at the same time, laid bare her true inner thoughts: “I said, it would be better if you hurt me with the needles, best if I become half-paralyzed, so I can depend on you to take care of me for the rest of my life.”

            

Xu Jiao was speechless for two seconds. She wanted to pinch Shen Yelan’s face to make her think more normally, but her hands were full of books and couldn’t free them up, so she could only say to Shen Yelan:

“Stop for a moment.”

Shen Yelan obediently stood still.

            

Xu Jiao took two steps closer, and gently bumped her forehead against Shen Yelan’s forehead. Under Shen Yelan’s confused gaze, she said slowly: “Spit out those words you just said.”

She continued: “When we can walk hand in hand together, why would you curse yourself to be half-paralyzed? Is it that you don’t trust my skills, or you don’t trust my feelings, hm?”

Shen Yelan didn’t know how to respond to her questions.

            

Her gaze drifted left and right, before she said awkwardly: “No… I- I… don’t distrust you.”

Xu Jiao raised her eyebrows.

Shen Yelan’s throat moved, she hesitated, avoiding her burning gaze, then lowered her eyes and said: “I just don’t trust myself… I always think I don’t seem to have anything worth you liking, my family background isn’t good, I’m… not good either, and when I was pursuing you before, I performed even more terribly…”

            

Xu Jiao’s heart stirred.

Shen Yelan’s self-deprecation, to her ears, sounded more like an accusation against herself.

Xu Jiao first put the troublesome books down on the corridor floor, and also moved Shen Yelan’s books aside. Then, under the other’s surprised gaze, she raised her arms to embrace the person’s neck, and in the nearly empty long corridor, brought her lips close to Shen Yelan’s ear and slowly said:

            

“Listen.”

“Family isn’t something you can choose, if there’s blame it can only be on those who created you; you performed badly when pursuing me because it was your first time liking someone, so you had no experience, besides you never hurt me, I know all this; as for personal charm, Shen Yelan, if I don’t like you, it definitely wouldn’t be your fault, you are good enough, excellent enough. If I didn’t like you, it would be because I’m blind, because I don’t know how to cherish, understand?”

Shen Yelan nodded, then shook her head.

            

She tugged at Xu Jiao’s clothing hem: “Then… will you stop liking me?”

Xu Jiao: “…”

Well, all that talking was wasted.

            

She pinched Shen Yelan’s ear, then thinking it wasn’t enough to vent her feelings, seeing no one around, she lowered her head and bit her earlobe. Shen Yelan winced in pain, drawing in a sharp breath, then heard Xu Jiao answer with a mix of anger and laughter:

“Never!”

“I’ll always like you, remember that?”

            

Shen Yelan nodded contentedly.

Then after thinking, she nuzzled Xu Jiao’s hand with her cheek, and asked with full expectation: “Then when I’m better, can we…”

Xu Jiao was almost tempted by her manner, froze for a few seconds, and asked back: “Can what?”

            

Shen Yelan moved close to her ear and whispered the key words.

Xu Jiao: “…!”

She hadn’t expected that someone who was critically ill would still be thinking about such coloredmatters [adult/suggestive content]. After a helpless moment, she nodded: “Mm, once you’re better, you can do whatever you want, is that okay?”

            

Upon hearing this, Shen Yelan’s eyes bloomed with bright light.

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The author has something to say:

Tomorrow will feature Feng Qingyu!

            

If you want to read AO literature [Adult-Only content], please leave a comment! And please bookmark my new story pit as well!!!!

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