‘So, why the heck did it end up with just me and this woman shopping alone?!’
On the brightly lit, bustling night market street, Hua Yan turned to look at Yun Xuechang.
The other woman also quietly turned her face toward her, blinked, and tilted her head in confusion.
How did things end up like this? It all started from the beginning.
……
“Ahem. Now that the evil in Great Chu has been suppressed and the matters here are settled, it’s time for me to take Yun Xuechang back.”
The group had returned to Yunjing. During lunch, Hua Yan cleared her throat and said, “It has been a pleasure spending time with Daoist Friend Qu and Daoist Friend Lin these past few days. Unfortunately, it is finally time to say goodbye…”
“But Mother, I don’t want to leave yet.”
A small hand reached out from the side, tugging at her hem and interrupting her.
“What? Don’t you want to go back to the Valley early to take your mother to see your Great-grandmother and play with your Gold-winged Magpie?”
Hua Yan raised an eyebrow and looked down at Hua Xiangrong, who was sitting beside her.
“It’s not that. I really want to go back too.”
Hua Xiangrong shook her head and spoke in a sweet, soft voice, “But Uncle Li from Hunyuan Hall said the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming in a few days, and the city will be very lively. Can’t we stay for a few more days? Please?”
Seeing the little girl looking up with her big eyes flickering, Hua Yan couldn’t help but feel her heart waver.
‘Uh… actually, it’s not out of the question. I’m not mentally prepared to bring Yun Xuechang back yet anyway, so staying a few more days is fine…’
“She’s right, Daoist Friend Hua. It would be wonderful for you and Daoist Friend Yun to take Rongrong for a stroll around the city when the time comes,” Qu Linglong added from the side.
“Ahem… Fine. Since you all put it that way, we’ll wait until after the Mid-Autumn Festival to head back.”
Hua Yan cleared her throat and crossed her arms, acting as if she were agreeing with great reluctance.
“Yay! Mother is the best!”
The pink-haired girl immediately cheered. Then, she asked curiously, “By the way, Mother, why did you just call Mommy by her full name? Weren’t you two using nicknames for each other the past few days?”
As soon as those words were spoken, Hua Yan felt two pairs of gossipy eyes lock onto her simultaneously.
Qu Linglong and Lin Qianqian both wore identical expressions of “curiously eating popcorn.”
“It’s not like that! We only did that to hide our identities! We had to pretend to be a close pair of Dao Companions, so we used nicknames! We aren’t—we aren’t that close!”
Hua Yan’s face instantly flushed crimson as she hurriedly tried to explain herself to the two women.
“Ohhh…. So you were ‘forced’ to pretend to be a couple”
“Just acting with your Senior Sister, I see~~”
The two of them dragged out their words in unison, nodding with “I get it, I get it” expressions that made it clear they didn’t believe a word of it.
‘No! What exactly do you get?! Why is my explanation not working at all?!’
The shame on Hua Yan’s face deepened.
Little did she know, it was precisely her beet-red face and her flustered, embarrassed appearance—looking like a young girl in the throes of first love—that made the two of them completely misunderstand her words.
However, there was actually one person at the table who took her explanation seriously.
“Waaa… So, Mother and Mommy aren’t actually that close? Have you been lying to Rongrong this whole time?”
Hua Xiangrong’s big eyes immediately filled with tears, and the tip of her nose turned red.
“Are you going to fight… and then Rongrong won’t be able to stay with Mother and Mommy at the same time? Waaa…”
“Uh…”
Hua Yan’s body stiffened. She immediately grew flustered and pulled the girl into her arms to comfort her.
“No, no! Mother was just joking! Your mommy and I have a great relationship! Right, Yun Xuechang?!”
She hurriedly shot Yun Xuechang a look that screamed “play along with me.”
“Yes, we are very close.”
Yun Xuechang leaned in as well, gently stroking the head of the pink-haired little girl in Hua Yan’s arms.
“Then I want to see you call each other by your nicknames all the time! Otherwise, you’re still lying to me!”
Hua Xiangrong sniffled and made a childish demand through her sobs.
“…Fine!”
Hua Yan bit her lip.
‘It’s just a nickname. It’s not like it’ll kill me! If I have to say it, I’ll say it! It’s better than this little girl crying non-stop.’
“Xue… Xuechang…”
Her cheeks were burning hot as her gaze drifted to the side. She spoke the name in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Yes, Yan’er.”
Yun Xuechang’s eyes softened slightly, her response incredibly natural.
Hua Yan lowered her head slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Yun Xuechang’s profile, which looked calm yet held a hint of tenderness.
For some reason, Hua Yan suddenly felt a wave of thirst.
……
The night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
“Wow! Mommy, Mother, come quick! It’s so beautiful out here!”
“I hear you, I hear you. Don’t run off, girl. Come here and hold my hand.”
Hua Yan stepped forward with a helpless expression and caught Hua Xiangrong just as she was about to dive into the crowd.
A moment later, she turned back to look at Yun Xuechang, who was trailing behind in a daze.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and follow us,” she called out.
“Oh, okay.”
Yun Xuechang nodded blankly. Just now, seeing the lanterns reflecting off the figures of Hua Yan and Hua Xiangrong as they merged into the bustling crowd, she had momentarily lost herself.
Hearing the call, she quickly stepped forward and took the pink-haired girl’s other hand.
“Daoist Friend Qu and Daoist Friend Lin said they were going to explore on their own first. Let’s go.”
Thus, the family of three joined the flowing river of lights. Countless lanterns were spread out along eaves, treetops, and stalls—crimson, bright yellow, shimmering white… the various lights and shadows blurred into warm halos, making every face appear hazy and joyful.
The air was filled with a complex and enticing aroma: here was the sweet scent of freshly baked mooncakes, and there wafted the clear fragrance of sweet osmanthus wine, making both the pink-haired girl and the white-haired Fairy look around uncontrollably.
The surroundings were exceptionally lively—the energetic sound of gongs and drums, the shouts of street vendors, the laughter of children, and the melodious sound of silk and bamboo instruments all blended together in a warm, festive clamor.
It was a truly vibrant scene of the mortal world.
“I heard it used to be even more lively in previous years. This year, because Zhao Mingyuan passed away, the people’s desire to celebrate has dimmed a bit,” Hua Yan said as she walked, glancing at the large and small figures beside her.
After a while, she looked at Yun Xuechang, who was peeking around with Hua Xiangrong, completely losing her usual cold and detached aura.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “I say, have you really never participated in a mortal festival like this before?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Yun Xuechang turned her face toward her and explained softly, “I’ve been practicing at the sect with Master since I was a child and rarely went down the mountain. During my travels ten years ago, I only moved between various immortal sects and never stayed in the mortal world for long.”
“I see…”
Hua Yan nodded, finally understanding.
No wonder both of them looked so curious. It turned out this woman had never actually brought a child to a large mortal city to play.
She stole another glance at them.
“In that case, today I will lead you—”
“Oh! Daoist Friend Hua! Daoist Friend Yun! And little Rongrong! What a coincidence, I was just looking for you!”
Before she could finish her sentence, Qu Linglong, carrying a large wooden box on her back, suddenly lunged out from the crowd.
This was quite a feat—even though she was petite, that large wooden box on her back should have been very eye-catching, yet she had managed to appear silently.
“There’s a shop up ahead holding an event specifically for Qi Refining Stage children to face trials and challenges. You can win a lot of good stuff! I was just looking for little Rongrong, and what luck to run into you right here!”
“Wow! Master, is what you said true? I want to go, I want to go!”
Upon hearing this, Hua Xiangrong’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Of course it’s true! Would your master lie to you?”
Qu Linglong smiled as she picked up the lunging Hua Xiangrong. Master and disciple quickly exchanged a glance.
“Then I’ll take Rongrong to participate in the event first. It might take some time. You two… just go on ahead and explore on your own!”
She held Hua Xiangrong and waved with a grin, vanishing into the bustling crowd in the blink of an eye.
Only a drifting voice remained: “I’ll make sure Rongrong gets back safe tonight!”
“Rongrong is going to play with Master! Mother, Mommy, have fun too!”
And so, almost before Hua Yan could react, only she and Yun Xuechang were left on the bustling long street.
Hua Yan: “…”