Aunt Jing’s treasure
Half her face buried in the pillow, the other half revealed, she slept with slightly rosy cheeks, her calm eyebrows faintly visible. Looking at Jing Dan sleeping so soundly, she found herself unable to wake her up at that moment.
With no other choice, she pulled the blanket over Jing Dan, then went to fetch another blanket for herself. After getting into bed and turning off the light, she stared blankly ahead, her eyes meeting only darkness.
As everything quieted down, the soft breathing sounds of the person sleeping next to her became distinctly audible. She pursed her lips and smiled faintly, turning to face in Jing Dan’s direction and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
Half-asleep and half-awake, Jing Dan felt as if she were in soft water, with the waves gently lifting her up and down. She was somewhat curious; this sensation felt so familiar.
Opening her eyes, all she saw was darkness, even this dark feeling had a hint of familiarity.
What was it that was moving her up and down? She was stunned for a moment, and then quickly realized, freezing again.
If she wasn’t mistaken, she had once again ended up sleeping on He Ying’s stomach?!
Slowly lifting her head, she carefully listened to the sounds outside the blanket; there was nothing unusual.
Why had she turned back into her panda form again and ended up sleeping on He Ying’s body?!
Carefully climbing off He Ying’s stomach and crawling out from under the blanket, she found herself under another blanket. She was momentarily confused; why were there two blankets on her bed?!
After emerging from the second blanket, she cautiously looked towards He Ying and saw her sleeping peacefully on her back, seemingly unaware of anything. Jing Dan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was good that she hadn’t been discovered.
She crawled back under the blanket, and then carefully transformed back into her human form. Cautiously, she put her pajamas back on and then clutched tightly the jade stone Hu Tu’s father had given her, afraid that she might turn back into a panda again while asleep!
Holding onto that bit of unease, Jing Dan fell back into a drowsy sleep.
When she woke up the next day, the first thing she did was to look to the side, only to see He Ying still asleep with her eyes closed. Jing Dan felt a flicker of surprise. Had He Ying been very tired recently? Usually, she would wake up early, but today, she woke up even later than Jing Dan.
But this was a good thing!
Jing Dan felt a deep sense of relief.
“Mmm—” A light sound came from He Ying.
Jing Dan looked over, seeing He Ying’s eyelids twitch, then slowly open, her lips curved in a soft smile, as if she had just woken up from a wonderful dream.
“Good morning.” He Ying said with a smile to Jing Dan.
“Ah, morning, morning…” Jing Dan sounded a bit awkward, her gaze falling on He Ying’s lips, which looked so charmingly rosy and moist early in the morning, flashing a trace of confusion in her eyes. How could someone like He Ying have such beautiful lips first thing in the morning?
He Ying’s gaze lightly shifted, landing on Jing Dan’s exposed shoulder and the pajamas she obviously had on, her eyes twinkling as she asked, “Are you not getting up because you want to sleep in?”
Jing Dan shrunk into the blanket, revealing only the upper half of her face, and said with innocent eyes: “Winter is the best time for sleeping in!”
It’s the best excuse to sleep all day!
He Ying: “…” It’s just you who loves to sleep, making up such excuses.
She was somewhat helpless, sitting up and saying, “Then you continue sleeping, I’ll get up first.”
She lifted the blanket off the bed, lowered her head to straighten the wrinkled clothes from sleeping, and as her hand brushed past the hem in front of her belly, she slightly made a fist, then turned her head to look at Jing Dan, asking, “What would you like to eat this morning?”
Since He Ying got up, Jing Dan’s gaze had been fixed on her. Hearing the question, Jing Dan said, “Wontons.”
He Ying nodded, then went to wash up.
Watching He Ying leave, Jing Dan buried herself back under the covers, thinking to herself that He Ying was actually quite nice, truly kind to her.
Lost in her thoughts, on the other side, He Ying, after tidying up, casually took one of Jing Dan’s pens to use as a hairpin, gathering all her curly hair up.
After He Ying left, Jing Dan, lying in bed and originally planning to go back to sleep, found herself unable to fall asleep alone in bed. Eventually, she sat up, feeling helpless, and got out of bed too.
While washing up, Jing Dan’s aunt sent a message inquiring about her situation. Jing Dan truthfully shared with her, which reassured Jing Shiyue on the other end.
It seems this child has grown up; the incident that night didn’t have too much of an impact on her.
When Jing Dan came out, He Ying was still busy in the kitchen.
Hmm, always having her cook for me, is that not too good? But as soon as this thought arose, Jing Dan dared not offer to cook a meal for He Ying, afraid of once again burning down the kitchen.
But they all say girls like clothes, jewelry, bags, and such, right? If I gave those to He Ying, would she be happy?
Pondering this in her mind by the time she was eating wontons, she was already considering what brands to give. Isn’t it said that there are many, many brands for these things? Can I give them all?
“What are you so lost in thought about?” He Ying looked at her curiously, this person had once again zoned out while eating her cooking.
“Ah?” Jing Dan came back to her senses, then looking at He Ying’s expression, she finally shook her head and said: “Nothing.”
The TV said, giving a gift should be a surprise! If I tell He Ying now, will there still be a surprise?
Seeing Jing Dan who obviously wasn’t telling the truth, He Ying slightly narrowed her eyes but didn’t pursue it too much, everyone has their little secrets.
After breakfast, He Ying didn’t show any signs of leaving, spending the little time left before work with Jing Dan.
“Play a sequence,” He Ying said.
“Oh.” Jing Dan obediently played a sequence right away.
“He Ying! You two are openly cheating, ha!” Hu Tu from the other side got angry, accusing them of collaboratively deciding their moves to bully her alone – what was this about!
He Ying coughed lightly, her ears a bit warm, ignoring Hu Tu’s comment.
In the next round, Jing Dan announced, “I’ll bomb you.”
Hu Tu: “…”
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How many good cards did this Jing Xiaodan have in her hand!
The three of them gathered early in the morning to play several rounds of Fighting the Landlord1, finally spending time till 9:30.
“Hm? You’re also going to follow me to the office?” Jing Dan was puzzled, not understanding the specific reason she was being followed.
“Well, I’m free lately anyway, so I’ll go with you to see what you look like at work,” He Ying chuckled softly, her gaze gently looking towards her.
Jing Dan: “…”
Feeling that she had already seen through her thoughts, Jing Dan snorted softly in her heart. It was clear that she just wanted to spend more time with her, yet she stubbornly refused to admit it.
However, in the end, He Ying still followed Jing Dan into the company’s entrance, a behavior that was captured and magnified infinitely online.
Now, netizens have tacitly agreed that they are together. After all, the two of them went home together after strolling through the night market last night, and then they left for work together this morning. What kind of signal is this? It’s a signal that the two are living together!
The two of them had no idea about how things were being spun online. When they entered the company, the employees were slightly surprised to see them coming in together, and the looks they gave them had a bit deeper meaning, even to the point of treating He Ying with the attitude you’d show towards a boss’s wife.
Hu Tu saw this and thought: “…”
Was it really necessary? Was it necessary to follow her to the company? Hu Tu felt that He Ying had been a bit too cautious since the incident the night before last.
However, He Ying’s visit wasn’t just to follow Jing Dan. She also went to the artist training room, having been invited by Qiu Shuhuai to help artists train their manners. After all, to make it in the entertainment industry, good manners is essential, and He Ying, as an outstanding dancer, naturally takes the lead in this area.
Knowing the truth, Jing Dan: “…” She had thought He Ying was just doing it to spend more time with her!
After He Ying left, Hu Tu looked at Jing Dan, who was still oblivious, and seemed hesitant to speak.
“What is it? What do you want to say?” Jing Dan could see the serious expression on Hu Tu’s face, wondering what could be so serious.
Biting her teeth and steeling her heart, Hu Tu decided, no matter what, she would be the one in the wrong towards He Ying!
“Do you know some secrets about He Ying that others don’t?” Hu Tu lowered her voice to say.
“Secrets not known to others?” Jing Dan’s eyes widened, her mind flashing back to the softness of the abdomen beneath her in a semi-conscious state last night.
“Do you know about her soft stomach?” Jing Dan was a bit puzzled. How did Hu Tu know about that?
Hearing this, Hu Tu was stunned.
Wait? What do you mean by her soft stomach? You know about her soft stomach? What the f*ck did you do without me knowing?
Seeing Hu Tu’s face looking even worse, Jing Dan’s voice took on a more careful tone, “Isn’t it this matter?”
She breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, thinking it over, how could Hu Tu possibly know about such a thing? She hadn’t slept on top of He Ying, after all.
Hu Tu took a deep breath, casting a sinister look at Jing Dan. You’re really something, aren’t you? It hasn’t been long, and you already know about her soft spot. Indeed, appearances can be deceiving.
“It’s not about that!” But that wasn’t the most important thing right now!
“What I mean is, have you noticed anything different about her compared to humans?” she explained gently.
Jing Dan’s expression stiffened. Different from humans? Did Hu Tu know?
“Why would you say that?”
“Heh,” Hu Tu scoffed, “Do you know who was behind the incidents with those who forced you to drink?”
Jingdan shook her head, as no one had told her about this before.
Hu Tu smiled, looking at Jing Dan, “It was He Ying.”
“To make something happen to all those people in such a short time isn’t something a human can do.”
Jing Dan fell silent. She hadn’t expected He Ying to go after those people for her.
“So, you still think she could be human?” Hu Tu said in a deep voice.
Jing Dan whispered, “You don’t have to say it; I’ve known it from the start.”
“What? You’ve known it all along?!” Hu Tu couldn’t believe it.
“Mhm.” Jing Dan nodded, “Before you introduced us, I already knew she was a spirit.”
After all, no human would talk endlessly to her, a panda, in the middle of the night, and help her dig bamboo shoots to eat for half the night.
Now it was Hu Tu’s turn to be stunned. They had known each other before?
Jing Dan recounted her first encounter with He Ying, and then Hu Tu fell silent, not expecting that Jing Xiaodan would keep things so secret, hiding this matter so well that she had no idea!
“Why didn’t you tell me she was a spirit!”
Jing Dan blinked innocently, “How could I casually say something like that.”
Hu Tu, who came to tell Jing Dan that He Ying was a spirit: “…”
“If you know she is a spirit, does she know what you are?” Hu Tu asked.
At this, Jing Dan confidently said, “She doesn’t know!” Her concealment is so good, He Ying could not possibly know!
Seeing the little proud look on her face, Hu Tu suddenly felt at a loss for words. Are you really sure He Ying doesn’t know anything? After all, in front of He Ying, Jing Dan feels just like a piece of white paper, transparent through and through.
“Since you know she is a spirit, why haven’t you told her you’re also one?” Hu Tu asked somewhat puzzled.
Jing Dan: “…”
She lowered her head, fiddling with the tassels on her sweater, and said in a low voice, “My aunt said before, one must not casually reveal they’re a spirit.”
She left something unsaid; after transforming into her panda form, she was taken care of by her for a month like a cub. How could she tell He Ying? She still cares about her dignity!
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Hu Tu: “…” Truly Aunt Jing’s treasure.
“Do you plan to keep hiding this forever?” Hu Tu frowned. If the two are to be together, surely this must be clarified eventually, right?
It’s not like they can keep secrets from each other forever, and then Jing Dan uses her spiritual power to make herself age slowly like a human, and He Ying does the same, then both these spirit end up looking like they’re eighty years old and halfway into the grave?
Jing Dan lowered her head, not knowing how to reply for a moment. She also didn’t know what to do now.
For her to tell He Ying that she is a panda, she just couldn’t bring herself to say it. But if she doesn’t tell her, and they are going to be together for so many more years, do they have to keep it a secret the whole time?
Seeing her like this, Hu Tu couldn’t bear to press her and said, “Forget it, if you want to keep it a secret for now, then keep it a secret. When the time comes that you can’t hide it anymore, we’ll talk about it then.”
After all, given Jing Xiaodan’s current inability to control reverting back to her original form, although it’s been somewhat alleviated by that jade piece, who knows if she might turn into a panda in front of He Ying at any moment? By then, you won’t need to think about how to broach the subject; your form will explain everything for you.
“Oh.” Jing Dan replied in a tiny voice, feeling a little panicked inside, because she was lying to someone now!
On the other side, He Ying was unaware of what the two above were discussing. Right now, she was in the training room, instructing the artists on their manners, while Qiu Shuhuai was waiting on the other side.
After class, Qiu Shuhuai came over with a bottle of water and handed it to her with a smile.
He Ying returned the smile and asked, “Why did you have time to come over?”
“I was worried you might not adapt well on your first day, but clearly, I was overthinking.” She looked very at ease just now.
He Ying chuckled softly and sighed, “What’s there to not adapt to? After all, I’ve been here who knows how many times.” Most of those times were to feed someone.
Qiu Shuhuai couldn’t help but laugh, obviously thinking of earlier times, and shook her head, sighing, “Xiaojing is now so picky with food because of you; she even makes her little aunt angry.”
Hearing this, He Ying blinked innocently, “My fault?”
Qiu Shuhuai gave her a reproachful look; she didn’t believe she didn’t do it on purpose!
The two found a quiet corner to sit down and chat casually.
“Xiaojing is very naive, she’s been protected too well by her little aunt and the others, so now that she’s facing society on her own, we’re quite worried about her being deceived.”
Because of her simplicity and being a food lover, her aunt has often worried about this matter, especially seeing that Jing Dan could be lured away by just a little bit of food, it almost drove her crazy with worry. Such a gullible nature, how will she manage in the future!
Hearing Qiu Shuhuai’s words, He Ying faintly guessed why she had come to her and smiled softly, saying, “Jing Dan’s nature is quite nice, simple and pure. The simpler one is, the happier they live.”
She hoped Jing Dan could live a happy and joyful life. If possible, she even wanted to stand in front of her, blocking all the bad things from coming her way.
“We also hope she can live happily,” Qiu Shuhuai’s tone became lighter, “But people, living in this world, have to grow up eventually.”
He Ying fell silent, she understood this logic, but sometimes, she just couldn’t bear to see Jing Dan upset because of those bad things.
“With more experiences, she will naturally grow up.” Just hoping, after going through so many things, she could still retain such an innocent heart.
Qiu Shuhuai looked at He Ying with a gentle gaze, the woman in front of her had top-notch image and temperament, and her character was ranked among the best. If Jing Dan could be with someone like her, she thought Jing Shiyue could rest assured.
After their conversation, He Ying went back to teaching her class, and Qiu Shuhuai returned to her office.
Upon entering, she saw Jing Shiyue sitting in her office chair, her demeanor cold and authoritative, embodying a strong and resolute businesswoman.
Qiu Shuhuai chuckled softly, closing the door before approaching her, hugging her from the side, and gently said, “He Ying is a very good person, and she is totally sincere with Xiaojing. If you’re still not at ease, shall we observe her a bit longer?”
Jing Shiyue lifted her gaze, kissed Qiu Shuhuai’s chin, and relaxed completely, leaning into Qiu Shuhuai’s embrace with a lazy voice, “I trust your judgment.”
Qiu Shuhuai’s ability to judge people had never been wrong.
Qiu Shuhuai chuckled softly, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, “Can I hold you, is that okay?”
Jing Shiyue looked up, “Aren’t you already holding me?”
The smile on Qiu Shuhuai’s face deepened, her hand moving up to pinch her ear, saying, “You know what I mean.”
Jing Shiyue: “…”
Her ears began to turn red and feel warm, but when faced with Qiu Shuhuai’s request, she didn’t want to refuse.
“Yueyue~” Qiu Shuhuai’s voice became even softer.
“Don’t call me that!” Jing Shiyue’s face turned redder.
Seeing her love look so shy and embarrassed, Qiu Shuhuai obviously became even happier, “So, may I?”
Facing Qiu Shuhuai’s repeated inquiries, Jing Shiyue couldn’t hold back anymore. With a strained expression and showing no emotion, she transformed back into her panda form. Even to make it convenient for Qiu Shuhuai to hold her, she turned herself into a size similar to the little cub Jing Dan, snuggling on Qiu Shuhuai’s lap.
Holding the panda, who is a national treasure, again, Qiu Shuhuai’s laughter almost spilled out, lifting Jing Shiyue and burying her face in her belly to muffle her laughter.
Feeling the trembling in her belly, Jing Shiyue thought, “…Is this person silly with happiness?”
“Suddenly, I’m kinda curious about what it would be like if you and Xiaojing are next to each other.”
Jing Shiyue’s face was expressionless. It wouldn’t be anything special. If you can’t recognize me, that would probably be the end of our marriage!
“When do you plan to talk to He Ying about your suspicions before?” After enough laughter, Qiu Shuhuai pulled her back into her embrace, lovingly stroking her over and over, unable to let go.
Jing Shiyue, now cozily nestled, half-closed her eyes and said, “I’ll observe a little longer, waiting for the right moment.”
At this point, Qiu Shuhuai’s movements slowed down a bit, and her eyes filled with a bit of sorrow, “Do you think she could really be from the White Crane Clan?”
Her movements slowing down, Jing Shiyue, who was initially enjoying the affection, showed some displeasure by wriggling a bit, signalling her to continue, then said, “If she really is a spirit, and her surname happens to be He, it inevitably makes me suspect the White Crane Clan.”
Although Hu Tu didn’t directly link the incidents to He Ying, with Jing Shiyue’s shrewdness, it was unlikely she couldn’t guess that person was He Ying.
“If that’s the case, then it’s truly a good thing.” They had been searching for the White Crane Clan for so many years, so how could they not be happy to discover that they had been right by their side all along?
“However, why did the White Crane Clan suddenly all go into hiding?” Qiu Shuhuai asked curiously. After all, clans like the Panda Clan, although also hidden, still maintain some contact with other clans. But the White Crane Clan, they have really cut off all ties, not a whisper to be heard.
Speaking of this, even Jing Shiyue sighed, “Hundreds of years ago, something shocking happened in the White Crane Clan that startled the entire spirit realm.”
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“Back then, a member of the White Crane Clan practiced his cultivation to the brink of madness. In order to achieve higher cultivation levels, he almost slaughtered his entire bloodline. After absorbing and refining the cultivation of those clan members, he, having tasted the sweetness, began a frenzied search for the traces of his clansmen. Any found by him faced a tragic annihilation of their entire household.”
Hearing Jing Shiyue say this, Qiu Shuhuai was stunned, incredulously asking, “You’re saying a member of the White Crane Clan slaughtered his own clansmen?!” And even refined them, what kind of heartless monster would do such a thing!
Jing Shiyue nodded, “Yes. Afterwards, to avoid him, the White Crane Clan had no choice but to scatter and blend in among the populace, no longer maintaining any contact with other clan members.”
As long as there was no contact, they were safe.
Qiu Shuhuai was shocked into silence. After a while, she regained her composure and asked, “What happened to that person in the end? Was he brought to justice?”
Jing Shiyue recalled what she knew of the time, “After many years of searching for his kin to no avail, he began extending his hand towards other clans, and it was this behavior that exposed his previous deeds. Various clans sent out their strongest members, who surrounded and killed him at Lianchi Lake.”
The aftermath was simple. Although the calamity’s instigator was dead, the dispersed White Crane Clan members would not reunite but continue living their separate lives. After all, who could say when the next madman might appear if they gathered again?
Qiu Shuhuai fell silent upon hearing this. Although she was human, having a spirit lover meant she was quite familiar with spirit affairs. Suddenly hearing about such a tragedy, she felt a profound sadness as if it were her own.
“If He Ying truly is from the White Crane Clan, would she be willing to help…” She stopped mid-sentence, thinking about He Ying’s attitude towards Jing Dan. She wasn’t sure about others, but somehow, she felt certain that if it concerned Jing Dan, He Ying would definitely help!
Idle and having nothing better to do, Jing Dan went down to the training room. However, she didn’t enter; she just stood outside, watching He Ying teaching someone inside.
But as she watched, her expression grew colder and colder, and she felt increasingly annoyed, as though someone had lit a small flame in her heart.
Teaching was one thing, but was it necessary to be that close?
Seeing He Ying’s hand placed on someone’s waist, then leading them by walking together, Jing Dan felt uncomfortable just watching those hands.
Placing hands on the waist, pulling arms, pinching shoulders, one action after another, touching here and then there, completely oblivious to her standing outside!
Witnessing this, the small flame in Jing Dan’s chest burned fiercer.
She said she liked her, is this how she showed her liking?
The author has something to say:
Jing Dan: How can you still touch other people!!!
Footnotes
- Dou dizhu or Fighting the Landlord is played among three people with one pack of cards, including the two differentiated jokers. The game starts with players bidding for the “landlord” (地主) position. Those who lose the bid or do not bid enter the game as the “peasants” (农民) team competing against the landlord. The objective of the game is to be the first player to have no cards left. The landlord wins by removing all their cards first. The peasants win if one of them removes all their cards first.