Chapter 633: A Heartfelt Exchange Between Two Girls
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was in the name of taking care of Yun Yang and that kind of thing – It wasn't entirely a baseless statement, but the situation was not far away from being one.
However, the two girls remained seated silently. Shangguan Lingxiu focused her attention upon Yun Yang, and after confirming that he was unharmed, she could not help but to shift her focus onto Ji Lingxi instead. She was a little shocked at what she found – through the course of time, Ji Lingxi's appearance had changed a lot. Her whole aura had been completely replaced with a totally unfamiliar one. If it were not for her being certain that the person before her was her best friend from the past, it was hard to imagine how the same person could have such a unique aura!
"You have experienced some degree of shock, Sister Lingxiu," Ji Lingxi smiled warmly. "I've neglected you as I was busy just now – let me get you some tea, Sister Lingxiu."
Shangguan Lingxiu smiled faintly in return. "No worries, Yun Yang is here today to protect me, so I was safely out of harm's way. Perhaps you will not believe me, younger sister, but I was not worried about today's incident from the very start!"
Ji Lingxi replied, "You're well composed, Sister Lingxiu – the poor dummy here has fought so hard instead."
"This is another thing to be discussed. Today's battle was an easy matter of living and dying together; I've seen past it. Yun Yang, though, is still preoccupied with too many worries – and naturally, he's trying his best to defend himself accordingly."
"You are very insightful about life and death, Sister Lingxiu – very open-minded. This idiot here and I, however, are quite the contrary. We're always thinking about how great it is to be able to live if we get to continue living – I mean, plans can only get into motion when you're alive, after all."
The expression on Shangguan Lingxiu's face shifted slightly, but it returned to its previous placidity immediately. "Young Sister Lingxi, you are not wrong about wanting to live – no one is willing to die meaninglessly; however, if there is a need to make a choice between life and death, eventually a decision has to be made, however tough it may be – that is just the way it is. Truly inevitable."
"Inevitable? Do consider whether it's worth it before making that choice!" cried Ji Lingxi, followed by a resigned sigh.
Shangguan Lingxiu did not attempt to justify herself further. She was, instead, preoccupied with a bizarre feeling in her heart – not only did Ji Lingxi exude a unique aura today, her gestures and mannerisms seemed to have transformed into that of another person. Her tongue was sharp and quick to respond, to the point where Shangguan Lingxiu found it hard to refute.
Even when Yue Rulan was still here, Shangguan Lingxiu did not think that both of them were a chore to handle. Today, as she faced Ji Lingxi's words that were brimming with implied intention, Shangguan Lingxiu felt tongue-tied and had no reasonable retort.
She lapsed into silence. Before her, Ji Lingxi was ravaged by a heart filled with discomfort and unease.
It did not matter if she did not have the upper hand in this conversation. The reality of that situation was that Yun Yang was sharing life and death with Shangguan Lingxiu and did not even mind sacrificing his life for her, being grievously hurt in the process. Even if it was nothing serious, it was still an injury. In addition, anyone could see the peril of the battle. Other than the heartache, Ji Lingxi felt a lingering fear as well – naturally, her animosity towards Shangguan Lingxiu stemmed from this fact.
Shifting her train of thoughts, she sighed once more and said, "I... I-I was just a little anxious, and I did not guard my tongue... I hope Sister Lingxiu will not be mad at me."
This was a genuine apology. Hypothetically, even if it were not Yun Yang but her who was caught in a similar situation, would she simply walk away? The only option, of course, was to fight like Yun Yang until the very end!
To live and to die together! There was simply no other choice.
Similarly, if Shangguan Lingxiu was in a similar situation, she would definitely not choose to abandon everything at hand in order to save herself either.
After thinking this through, Ji Lingxi suddenly realized that her statement earlier was uncalled for. Feeling ashamed, the maiden apologized profusely.
Shangguan Lingxiu only smiled, waving off her apology instead, unoffended. "I believe you only said what you said impulsively because you were worried about Young Master Yun's safety – how could I not know this, and how could I be mad at you for such a trivial thing?"
"Actually, I'm not that open-minded. I said that I can look past life and death, but how can I actually do that? If I'm indeed as insightful about life and death, what I should've done when the enemies just formed the siege was to end my own life. To live and to die together – that was nothing but a romantic concept to justify an early, unfulfilling death!"
Shangguan Lingxiu understood how Ji Lingxi felt, so she offered some form of solace, instead.
They looked at one another and laughed, the awkward and hostile atmosphere between them diminishing.
Ji Lingxi stole a glance at Yun Yang who was on the bed. She pouted slightly before letting out a sigh.
"This fellow here, perhaps you could say that he is quite an oblivious person, for he can be quite— you know what I mean! Nonetheless, they say he's quite the playboy... Sometimes he can be such a log that he totally deserves a smack so hard that if he didn't die from it, it would be too much of a waste – so where is that so-called flair of Yutang's top popinjay?"
She did not speak the last words that were on her mind – 'He might be an oblivious log, but he still managed to invite so much flirtation and so many undesirable distractions—'
This girl before her was the perfect example. She was the best of the best – the archetypal heroine – yet, she was also irrevocably infatuated with him.
Shangguan Lingxiu blushed slightly upon hearing her words. "Well, it's not exactly a bad trait – it's quite reassuring that he's like this, in fact."
Ji Lingxi sighed. She gave a quick glance at Shangguan Lingxiu and lapsed into a moment's hesitation, as though she was picking her words carefully by churning them repeatedly within her lips. Finally, she could not hold it in any longer and blurted out, "Sister Lingxiu, I heard that many had paid the Shangguan Residence a visit recently to propose marriage... but yet, so far, I have not heard of Sister Lingxiu's...plan regarding this?"
The color on Shangguan Lingxiu's face paled and her expression dimmed at the mention of that topic.
"A good question, young sister! You do really care about your Big Sis, don't you?" She smiled forcefully, feeling helpless.
Ji Lingxi chuckled bitterly in response. "You can't evade this question forever – you'll have to face it someday, eventually."
"Even you know that it's an unavoidable question that has to be resolved. I do wonder – what would you, Lingxi, Little Sister, do if you were in my position? How would you face it?" Shangguan Lingxiu implored.
Ji Ling Xi inhaled deeply and started to speak. "Sister Lingxiu, since there is nobody around us, shall we seize this moment to have a heart-to-heart chat - as sisters?"
Shangguan Lingxiu glanced at Yun Yang – who was still motionless – on the bed momentarily, and replied with a lowered voice, "Very well."
"Honestly speaking, I understand your predicament. All your thoughts – I feel the same, and I empathize deeply with you..." said Ji Lingxi softly.
Shangguan Lingxiu uttered another sigh, feeling even more dejected by the moment.
"Well, I have to say this – you are carrying too much weight upon your shoulders, Sister Lingxiu... It's too much for you to bear..."
"Switching perspectives, if I were to be in your shoes..." Ji Lingxi bit her lip as she pondered. "If I don't have someone in mind, I would... Maybe I would just pick someone who'd bring benefit to my family, someone I wouldn't really mind getting married to. Our time is short in this world. So what if there isn't someone in one's heart?"
"However... if there is truly someone I desire in my heart, how can I be at peace with being aloof? I think... I think my decision would be—" A pained expression flitted pass Ji Lingxi's eyes as she struggled to find her words. "....perhaps... I would rather carry this burden and move forward with it... I'll carry this for however long it might take..."
Shangguan Lingxiu lowered her head and nodded pensively.
Ji Lingxi's answer was totally expected. Word-for-word – it was exactly the same as her own.
The heartstrings in her quivered slightly, and she found it distressingly hard to hold it in. At that very moment, she wanted to bawl to soothe her feelings, feelings which she had repressed for far too long.
The strength to pretend, to hold up till this day, was shattered entirely by these simple words, without a single trace of her initial resilience left.
"Hence, I would imagine – and I'm afraid – that you, Sister Lingxiu, have already decided to stay single for life," Ji Lingxi sighed softly, a poignant and sorrowful expression etched deeply in her eyes.