Chapter 43

Moonlight shone over Shang Jinyue’s face. She had a pair of cool and bright eyes.

Her misty-black eyes hid the moon, gazing over in the dimness, calm and deep.

Shi Xiu was dazed.

She actually thought she saw the Shang Jinyue from her previous life.

And just now, she had had such a dream.

In the dream, she was still living in her previous life, waiting at home alone for Shang Jinyue to come back.

She did not know why she was waiting for this person. In her heart, she knew very clearly that this person would not come back.

But unfortunately, when she was half-asleep and half-awake, Shang Jinyue really came back.

This person still carried the chill of the outside world, travel-worn and dusty, not even having brushed the fallen snow off her shoulders.

Only, this kind of scene could only be realized in a dream.

Putting aside whether Shang Jinyue would truly do such a thing,

Shi Xiu was asleep at this time, so how could she have seen what unauthorized copy Shang Jinyue looked like when she came in?

Shi Xiu slept quietly. In the darkness, the two people’s breathing came one after another, without any tacit rhythm.

But after who knew how long, or perhaps only a few seconds, Shang Jinyue’s breathing rhythm actually synchronized with hers.

Shi Xiu rested on the pillow, and even with her eyes closed, she could feel a gaze before her.

She also seemed to hear Shang Jinyue’s eyes blinking lightly in time with her breathing.

“I’m back.”

This person’s breath still carried coldness, and as she spoke, it fell onto Shi Xiu’s face.

Shi Xiu was stung by the temperature, but then Shang Jinyue’s palm brushed it away.

This person’s cold hand carried a layer of warmth, unexpected.

It was also as if her pause by the bed just now had been to let her palm warm a little.

Feeling her lover’s thoughtfulness, as well as the reality of her returning home, Shi Xiu’s heart began thumping.

It was as if there was a drum band inside her body, blowing trumpets, scattering ribbons, cheering and celebrating all the way.

But this kind of happiness was very bad for the real Shi Xiu.

She did not like this joy of hers in the dream.

It was as if she could not let go of Shang Jinyue at all.

So when Shi Xiu opened her eyes and saw Shang Jinyue again, and when she, just like in the dream, had her eyes open and was looking at her, Shi Xiu reflexively asked, “How long have you been watching me like this?”

As if this way, she could blame this terrible dream of hers on Shang Jinyue secretly watching her.

And she herself had no thoughts toward this person at all.

The light from the phone was more glaring than the moonlight, and Shang Jinyue saw the hostility in Shi Xiu’s gaze.

Her heart beat with a panic unlike anything before, as if if she said one wrong word, she would be abandoned by Shi Xiu.

Shang Jinyue tightly clenched her hand hidden beneath the bedding.

Heaven knew how she steadied her expression, and how, even facing Shi Xiu’s questioning, she could still say to her calmly, “Your phone has been vibrating the whole time.”

A lie could not be rounded out, but a selective answer could.

Shang Jinyue’s words could imply that Shi Xiu’s phone messages had woken her.

At the same time, she was also betting, betting that Shi Xiu still remembered unauthorized copy that she was a light sleeper.

“…So that’s how it is.”

The unfriendliness in Shi Xiu’s eyes disappeared.

Shang Jinyue had bet correctly.

Compared to love and actual concern, habits in daily life were too subtle.

Shi Xiu had not yet noticed that she had forgotten to delete these things from her mind. In the end, this matter instead became her apologizing to Shang Jinyue. “Sorry about that.”

The pillow made a soft rustling sound. Shang Jinyue shook her head. “You don’t need to apologize to me.”

Because they were afraid of disturbing the sleeping Shang Zhishan, both their voices were very soft.

Shang Jinyue’s face was right across from Shi Xiu, her voice light, yet Shi Xiu could still feel the warm air current.

Just like that dream Shi Xiu had just had.

Shi Xiu felt she was so strange. How could she have such a dream?

Was it that meeting someone familiar in an unfamiliar environment always made people especially prone to relaxing their guard?

Looking at this seventeen-year-old Shang Jinyue, why did she have the [stolen content]familiar feeling of having been with her for a long time?

There was nowhere for Shi Xiu to find the answer to this kind of question, and the more she thought, the more confused she became.

A new message came from the other end of her phone. She hurriedly opened her phone, cutting off the messy thoughts in her head.

Only, when she saw the messages she had received,

Shi Xiu’s head hurt even more.

Shi Xiu opened her phone, and the first things to appear were the tips for a woman alone outside that Cen Anning had sent her.

Things like “How to Defend Against Perverts,” “Four Moves to Teach You How to Prevent Sneak Attacks,” and even “Shocking: A Woman Traveling Alone Actually Made These Three Huge Mistakes.”

Shi Xiu’s vision went black reading them, and she thought, what on earth was all this?

Did Cen Anning believe this kind of marketing-account nonsense used to deceive old people too?

All kinds of exaggerated headlines entered her eyes, and Shi Xiu’s head hurt from reading them.

Because of what had just happened, she even felt a little displaced anger toward these messages Cen Anning had sent. “This Cen Anning, sending these things instead of sleeping so late at night. Doesn’t she have school tomorrow?”

Listening to Shi Xiu’s quiet muttering, Shang Jinyue furrowed her brows at the name “Cen Anning.”

Only, there was also a look of as expected in her eyes.

The screen light filled Shi Xiu’s furrowed brows, and Shang Jinyue watched without revealing a trace.

This night was so quiet it seemed no sound could be hidden. Shang Jinyue could not help wondering, would Shi Xiu start chatting with Cen Anning again?

“Ming Yi! Careful!”

Before Shang Jinyue could verify it, Shang Zhishan suddenly shouted from the other side of the room.

Shi Xiu was scrolling on her phone, checking the things Cen Anning had sent her.

Before she could react to what was about to happen, she felt a force abruptly pull her in Shang Jinyue’s direction.

Electronic light threaded into the moonlight, and what was before Shi Xiu’s eyes was rapidly shifting brightness.

She had no time to react at all. After Shang Zhishan’s arm landed on the bedding where she had just been lying with a thud, her heartbeat also began pounding out of control.

“You…” Shi Xiu stared blankly at Shang Jinyue, her eyes wide and round. Panic, surprise, and her uncontrollable heartbeat were all held inside them.

“My aunt’s sleeping posture isn’t very good. There was no time today. Tomorrow, I’ll have the guesthouse prepare one more room for us,” Shang Jinyue told Shi Xiu.

In the darkness, the sound of someone’s heartbeat quietly rang.

Only, it was unclear whether Shi Xiu’s heartbeat was too loud,

or whether someone else’s heart had also begun beating wildly with lingering fear.

They were too close. When Shi Xiu lowered her eyes, she could see Shang Jinyue’s chest covered only by a layer of thin cotton.

Her breathing made it rise and fall. Shi Xiu’s gaze paused, then unnaturally dodged away.

Only, no matter where her gaze landed on Shang Jinyue, it seemed not quite appropriate.

She furrowed her brows, reason suppressing her heartbeat, and her voice sank. “So can you let go of me now?”

“Sorry.” Shang Jinyue was obedient and politely released the arm wrapped around Shi Xiu’s waist.

Only, as she did this, Shang Jinyue also took the initiative to shift back a little.

She looked at the small half of Shi Xiu’s sleeping space that had been occupied by Shang Zhishan and signaled to Shi Xiu. “Squeeze in and sleep together?”

Shi Xiu looked at Shang Jinyue, then, without the slightest hesitation, held her own quilt and got up. “No need. I’ll sleep on the living room sofa.”

What kind of joke was that?

If she squeezed together with Shang Jinyue for an entire night, she was afraid she would dream all night of Shang Jinyue suddenly coming home.

And who knew? Perhaps in the dream, she might even do something even more excessive.

She absolutely did not want that!

“Shi…” Shang Jinyue wanted to keep her, but her outstretched fingers only brushed past Shi Xiu’s bedding.

Shi Xiu left decisively, fleeing the room as if escaping.

And as if Shang Zhishan had sensed it, she stretched out her leg and simply occupied two sleeping spaces by herself, sleeping spread-eagle.

Clearly, before bed, she had said she was going to protect the two minors.

Shang Jinyue looked past Shang Zhishan’s figure toward Shi Xiu as she pushed the door open.

Her back left without the slightest reluctance. With one hand, she closed the door, cleanly cutting off the gaze Shang Jinyue had placed on her.

Loss was like wild grass with nowhere to root in the wilderness, spreading all over Shang Jinyue’s heart.

“Ming Yi, she’s gone. Stop looking…”

Against the contrast of white snow, the moonlight became even clearer and brighter.

Yet under Shang Zhishan’s domineering occupation, Shang Jinyue appeared especially slender, sitting alone and helpless at the innermost part of the room.

The light fabric made a tiny rustling sound, and the bedding slowly curled together.

Shang Jinyue carefully gathered her arm back and, holding the body that had just held Shi Xiu, closed her eyes.

She had never treasured herself like this before.

.

The next day, white snow covered the buildings, and the world was silent.

When Shang Zhishan woke up, she saw Shi Xiu sleeping on the sofa and was exceptionally shocked. “Xiao Xiu? Why did you come sleep here! I clearly didn’t hear anyone open the door yesterday!”

Listening to this, Shi Xiu laughed bitterly. “Auntie, you almost murdered me yesterday.”

Hearing this sentence, Shang Zhishan embarrassedly scratched her head. “Sorry, Xiao Xiu. Auntie hasn’t squeezed in and slept with people for many years.”

“That’s right, so you were especially domineering.” Shi Xiu was powerless as she slowly sat up from the sofa, her hair a mess.

“Good morning. Breakfast is here.”

At this moment, the service staff knocked on the door, interrupting the conversation between Shi Xiu and Shang Zhishan.

“Eh? Did I say what time breakfast should be yesterday?” Shang Zhishan was stunned.

“I contacted the front desk just now.” Shang Jinyue came out of the washroom unhurriedly.

Clearly, everyone had the same morning, but this person had already tidied herself up properly, her smooth hair meticulous and without a strand out of place.

Compared to the confused Shang Zhishan, Shang Jinyue looked more like the reliable adult in the team.

“Our Xiao Yue is really amazing.” Shang Zhishan immediately gave Shang Jinyue the affirmation of an adult, then asked her somewhat embarrassedly, “Did I disturb you yesterday? Did I talk in my sleep?”

No one knew which sentence from Shang Zhishan had caused Shang Jinyue’s eyes to change slightly.

Shi Xiu moved from the sofa to the dining table and inexplicably felt that Shang Jinyue’s expression was somewhat gloomy.

Could it be that Shang Zhishan’s words made Shang Jinyue think of the pile of messages yesterday that had disturbed her sleep?

Then today, she should keep away from Shang Jinyue.

She had no desire to coax anyone, nor did she want to press her hot face against Shang Jinyue’s cold backside.

Before coming to Japan, Shi Xiu had even done some research. Many posts said that Japan did not eat breakfast.

She was quite surprised that the guesthouse provided breakfast, and even the kind that suited her appetite very well.

Thinking of how last night’s meal had also been quite good, Shi Xiu had a rather favorable impression of this guesthouse.

So she was also looking forward ​Read on BaiLianTales​even more to going up the mountain with Shang Zhishan later to look at the snow.

After breakfast, Shi Xiu and Shang Zhishan quickly changed into light and convenient clothes.

The guide was already waiting for them outside the guesthouse. After a short rest, the group of three set out up the mountain.

After a whole night of snow yesterday, the bare trees were already completely wrapped in white snow.

Looking from afar, the mountain was covered in silver and white, so beautiful it left one speechless.

Shi Xiu stopped and walked, and the camera in her hand never stopped.

“@#%@……&……￥”

But the words the guide ahead was saying were like heavenly scripture to Shi Xiu.

Looking at the glacial scenery in the distance the guide was pointing at, she tried very hard to understand the meaning inside.

Zzt.

The sound of electricity squeezed into Shi Xiu’s ear canal, and then a warmth came into her ear.

Someone brushed past her ear and stuffed something into it. The guide’s words immediately turned into a mechanical female voice speaking Chinese. “When I was little, this waterfall was bigger than it is now…”

Shi Xiu was surprised, and there was the sound of a heartbeat in her ear.

She abruptly turned her head. Sure enough, she saw Shang Jinyue looking at her. “Simultaneous translation.”

“You don’t need it?” Shi Xiu asked.

Shang Jinyue replied faintly, “I know Japanese.”

As this person spoke, under Shi Xiu’s gaze, she continued seriously listening to the guide’s explanation.

Watching, Shi Xiu could not help pursing her lips, feeling that she had asked for nothing.

How could Miss Shang take the initiative to help others if she could not ensure her own interests would not be harmed?

Who would there be to make her care?

Thinking of the past, anger rose in Shi Xiu’s heart.

So the steps she took forward afterward were especially forceful.

This was a very dangerous way to walk, and it was easy to be tripped by the accumulated snow.

And the deep snow rose past her ankles. Her movements also made her steps in the snow somewhat unstable.

“This side is the stream in the mountain. If we follow it up along the road, we’ll see the natural waterfall. It isn’t very big, but there are many streams…”

The gurgling water mixed together with the guide’s introduction. Listening, Shi Xiu looked toward the flowing water.

All around, withered trees crisscrossed, yet curling white mist passed through them, looking like a freehand landscape painting.

Shi Xiu looked at it in a daze, seized by an impulse to depict this kind of scenery.

So she boldly took a few more steps toward the edge, wanting to study the scene before her more carefully—

“Ah!”

The edge that looked very solid was actually hollow.

Shi Xiu stepped into empty air and immediately lost her balance.

She reached out and tried hard to grab something, anything, so she would not fall.

Very quickly, in the panic, she grabbed something.

Or rather, she was grabbed by someone.

No one knew how Shang Jinyue reacted, but she was even faster than the bodyguards following behind them. She rushed over and grabbed Shi Xiu at once.

The sun swayed in Shi Xiu’s eyes, ​bailiantales.com​making her somewhat dazed as she looked at the person before her.

She blinked lightly and then felt something drip onto her face.

Warm, filled with the smell of rust.

It dripped down along Shang Jinyue’s palm.