“Honestly, that Yun Xuechang. She went off to teach sword practice early this morning, and then who knows where she went this afternoon. She hasn’t even returned to Mianyun Peak, leaving me all alone to pick up Rongrong from school.”
‘I really have no idea what she’s up to.’
On the small path outside the school, Hua Yan stood with her arms crossed, dressed in her fine silk robes and ornate skirt, her heart feeling heavy.
She had hardly seen a glimpse of Yun Xuechang all day.
While meditating and cultivating, the spot beside her had been empty.
When she added new decorations to the courtyard, she wanted someone to praise her excellent taste, but she couldn’t find anyone.
When she got some novel snacks from the Dining Hall and wanted to share them, that white-clad figure was nowhere to be found…
Throughout the vast Mianyun Peak, Yun Xuechang was nowhere to be found.
Tsk, it makes it look like I miss her so much.
Hua Yan let out a “Hmph” and unconsciously turned her face away.
‘I… I’m just bored because I have no one to talk to! It’s not like I miss that blockhead!’
Yet, for some reason, Yun Xuechang’s image kept drifting into her mind:
When she got distracted during meditation, the face she would steal a glance at was that nearly perfect, cold countenance.
If she were around, she would surely nod seriously upon seeing the new courtyard decorations and agree with her choices.
When sharing snacks, she should have shown a faint, gentle smile and thanked her softly…
But today, these scenes were nothing but fantasies.
She was left alone on the deserted Mianyun Peak, watching the sun rise and set, listening to the wind rustling the leaves, and staring blankly at the autumn colors reflected on the lake.
A void suddenly opened in her heart.
“Hey, Daoist Friend Hua, hello! Are you here to pick up Rongrong?”
A passing female cultivator with long hair spotted that eye-catching red hair. She immediately pulled her companion along and descended gracefully from the air, stopping in front of Hua Yan.
“Yes.”
Hua Yan felt the woman looked familiar, but she couldn’t remember who she was for a moment, so she simply gave a polite nod.
The other woman didn’t mind her attitude at all. Instead, she enthusiastically shoved a large bundle into her hands.
“Daoist Friend Hua, please thank your Rongrong for me! Thanks to her acting as a bridge, I finally reached an understanding with Little Lian — it turns out she likes me too!”
As she spoke, she raised her hand, fingers intertwined with the short-haired female cultivator beside her, and gave it a little shake. The cultivator named Li Lian blushed and smiled with pursed lips.
“Li Lian and I still have a sect mission to attend to, so we won’t wait for Rongrong to finish school! Here is a small gift; please make sure to thank her for me! When we hold our Bonding Ceremony in the future, we’ll definitely invite you for a celebratory drink!”
Before she could finish, the pair had already departed on a single sword — one in front controlling the sword, the other behind gently hugging her waist. Their figures leaned into each other, looking sweet and happy.
“Ah… Oh, okay…”
Hua Yan held the bundle, feeling a bit dazed.
‘That little girl, Rongrong… she can actually play matchmaker???’
Not long after, the school bell rang. Clang — Clang — One by one, little rascals of all shapes and sizes swarmed out from the open gates.
Wait, that wasn’t right. The group of little ones rushed out in a swarm first, but then they immediately crowded around two girls in the center of the throng, shouting in unison:
“Big Sister Head! See you tomorrow!”
Hua Xiangrong, who was surrounded in the middle, tilted her little head up and waved her hand with a reserved air. Only then did the group of children scatter.
“Rongrong, what’s going on?”
Hua Yan looked at her daughter, who was walking out hand-in-hand with Ning Shiliu, skipping as they went. She couldn’t help but ask.
“Are you asking why they call me Big Sister Head, Mother?”
Hua Xiangrong looked up and said in a crisp voice, “I shared my toys with them, and I often bring snacks and picture books for everyone. Slowly, everyone became willing to listen to me!”
Uh… was it really that simple?
Hua Yan was stunned for a moment, but then another thought occurred to her.
Perhaps besides these things, the parents knew Rongrong’s mother was Yun Xuechang and had privately instructed their children to get along with her?
In any case, being so impressive at such a young age really did show a bit of her own style.
“You did well. As expected of my daughter.”
Hua Yan’s lips curled into a smile, and she reached out to rub the little pink-haired head.
Hua Xiangrong squinted her eyes comfortably and rubbed against her palm. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she waved to the side.
“Elder Ji, hello!”
Dressed in black robes, Ji Ling glanced at the overly familiar little pink-haired girl. She gave a faint nod and then gestured to Ning Shiliu beside her.
“Shiliu, let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Ning Shiliu waved at Hua Xiangrong and jogged to Ji Ling’s side.
Ever since the incident at the school, Ji Ling often came to pick her up in person instead of letting disciples handle it. Ning Shiliu felt warm and content.
However, seeing Hua Xiangrong holding Hua Yan’s hand, talking and laughing, she still couldn’t help but feel a hint of envy in her heart.
“What are you looking at them for? Worried I won’t let that girl form her own gang?”
Ji Ling glanced at the rabbit-eared girl beside her, her tone flat.
“I’m not so bored that I’d meddle in children’s play. As long as you don’t bully others or collect protection fees, you can call whoever you want your boss.”
She paused, then added, “It’s also good to spend more time with that girl Rongrong, to save someone from bullying you again next time.”
“Let’s head back.” She said, reaching out her hand to Ning Shiliu.
“Yes!” Ning Shiliu nodded vigorously and placed her small hand in hers.
……
“By the way, child, I haven’t asked you yet — two female cultivators came by earlier and asked me to thank you. They said you played matchmaker for them. What’s that about?”
On the way back to Mianyun Peak, Hua Yan flew on her sword and looked down to ask Hua Xiangrong in her arms.
“Which lady did Mother mean?”
Hua Xiangrong was nestled in her arms, her small hands busy unwrapping the oil-paper bundle.
Her little head rested against Hua Yan’s soft chest — which felt completely different from the hard feeling of Yun Xuechang’s embrace. She replied casually while unwrapping.
‘Judging by her tone, she’s set up more than one pair?’
“The one called ‘Little Lian’.”
“Oh, Mother is talking about Big Sister Zhang Li and Big Sister Li Lian!”
Hua Xiangrong opened the oil paper. Seeing it was filled with candy, her eyes lit up. She let out a “Wow” before explaining:
“It was during the school break last week. Little Pomegranate and I went fishing by the lake and happened to hear Big Sister Zhang Li muttering to herself while plucking a flower. She was saying things like ‘she likes me’ and ‘she doesn’t like me.’ I ran over and asked her what was wrong. She told me she liked Big Sister Li Lian but was afraid the other didn’t like her back.”
“Big Sister Li Lian is a disciple from Little Pomegranate’s Danxia Peak. I asked Big Sister Zhang Li to watch my fishing rod, and then Little Pomegranate and I went to Danxia Peak together to ask Big Sister Li Lian directly who she liked. She said she liked Big Sister Zhang Li too, so we brought that news back to Big Sister Zhang Li. Just like that, they ended up together.”
Hua Yan was stunned by the child’s rambling. She never expected that in just a single day off, Hua Xiangrong and the little one, Ning Shiliu, would actually accomplish such a “beautiful thing” together.
“The teacher said, ‘It’s better to destroy ten temples than to break up one marriage.’ I thought that since breaking people up is bad, then bringing two people who like each other together must be a great deed that earns lots of Merit! So, I’m doing a good thing!”
Seeing her mother remain silent, Hua Xiangrong looked up with a proud face.
“You’re such a little thing, what do you know about liking each other?”
Hearing her daughter’s childish words, Hua Yan couldn’t help but laugh.
“Of course I know!”
Hua Xiangrong looked up, speaking with full confidence.
“Liking each other means thinking about the other person every day, remembering their good points, and wanting to share good food or fun toys with them first! Just like Mother and Mama!”
Eh?
Hua Yan was slightly taken aback.
‘Xuechang and I… in Rongrong’s eyes, we actually like each other?’
She shook her head and didn’t think too deeply about it, but those words somehow quietly settled into her heart.
“Mother, you should try this candy too. It’s really sweet!”
Hua Xiangrong peeled a soft candy and stuffed it into her mouth. The milky fragrance immediately melted on her tongue, sweet as can be.
And at that moment, the familiar little courtyard on Mianyun Peak was finally within sight.