Chapter 638: Like and Love
“Sister Jingwen, I don’t know why my brother is so nice to Sister Luo Ying, but I do know that if he’d met Sister Luo Ying before Sister Qingxue, he might not see Sister Qingxue any differently than you. It’s like… like—”
Tang Beiwei hesitated. “It’s as though they were married in a past life. Perhaps if you cultivated, you’d understand that indescribable feeling.”
“Cultivating? Beiwei, what is cultivation? Is it the meditation you do every day?” Su Jingwen asked.
Tang Beiwei knew she shouldn’t tell her, but Sister Jingwen held the same place in her heart as Sister Qingxue. She nodded. “Yes, my brother taught me. He explained it mystically and told me not to tell anyone but Sister Jingwen. I don’t see you as an outsider.”
Su Jingwen looked down, silent. Ye Mo had taught Tang Beiwei, Ning Qingxue, and Luo Ying, but not her. This showed she wasn’t as close to Ye Mo.
She realized Ye Mo’s power likely stemmed from cultivation. Tang Beiwei, too, possessed that ethereal temperament, like Ye Mo—mysterious, intimate, otherworldly.
Sensing Su Jingwen’s distress, Tang Beiwei said, “Sister Jingwen, if you want to learn, I can teach you. My brother won’t mind.”
Su Jingwen shook her head. “No need. I don’t want to learn.” Ye Mo hadn’t taught her; Beiwei teaching her would only make her feel worse.
Silence stretched between them. Finally, Tang Beiwei said, “Sister Jingwen, may I ask you something?”
Su Jingwen nodded, eyes red.
“If you liked my brother, and he liked you, but then, just before your wedding, you discovered you were his long-lost sister… what would you do?” Tang Beiwei’s eyes were also red; she wasn’t sure why she asked.
“Huh? How could that be? My parents are still alive. How could they be your brother’s—?” Su Jingwen found the question absurd.
Tang Beiwei shook her head. “Nothing is impossible. When I met my brother, I didn’t know he was my brother.”
“Beiwei, you…?” Su Jingwen stared, shocked.
Tang Beiwei shook her head. “It’s not like that. My brother will always be my brother. It’s a hypothetical.”
Su Jingwen understood and shook her head. “If that were true, you couldn’t marry.”
Tang Beiwei sighed. She remembered Luo Ying’s words from the previous night: “I know his poison is supposedly incurable, but I love him. I feel we’ve known each other for a very long time. I believe we were husband and wife long ago. So, I just want to marry him before we leave this world. Whether we’re blood-related in this life matters not. If he lives, I’ll stay with him; if he dies, I’ll accompany him.”
Fate existed subtly, just as Luo Ying said.
Sister Jingwen liked her brother, or perhaps admired him more. He was far more exceptional than others she knew. But her feelings differed from Sister Luo Ying’s. Sister Luo Ying’s was a fated love, exceeding mere “liking.” Only that could be called love.
If her brother remained his former self, ordinary and wasted, Sister Jingwen might help him, but she wouldn’t like him. Sister Qingxue might sympathize, but not like or love him. Sister Luo Ying was different. She’d love him regardless, believing him to be the one.
Seeing Tang Beiwei’s silent sigh, Su Jingwen seemed to understand. She looked up, smiling. “Beiwei, talking to you helped. By the way, I’m leaving Ning Hai. Wish me luck.”
Tang Beiwei was momentarily dazed. “Sister Jingwen, didn’t you say yesterday you’d join us at Qing Dao Beach in a few days? What about your company?”
Su Jingwen nodded. “Yes, Beiwei. I feel like I’ve been foolish. I want to pursue my own dreams for a while. My mother can handle the company.”
Seeing Tang Beiwei’s further questions, Su Jingwen waved her hand. “Don’t ask what I’ll be doing. I just want to find contentment. Perhaps I’ll enter politics.”
“Why now?” Tang Beiwei knew Su Jingwen was hurting, but she’d grown accustomed to her presence.
“At my grandfather’s birthday a few days ago in Beijing, he said I have a talent for politics. I dislike the hypocrisy, so I said ‘maybe.’ I might not go, but…” Su Jingwen said casually.
Tang Beiwei fell silent. Su Jingwen’s words meant she wouldn’t return. Staying in Ning Hai would force her to think of Ye Mo.
Perhaps this was best. Tang Beiwei produced a stack of fireball charms, giving them to Su Jingwen.
Su Jingwen knew Ye Mo had given them to his sister for protection, but before she could refuse, Tang Beiwei produced another large pile. “Sister Jingwen, you need protection. I have plenty.”
Su Jingwen nodded and took them. Then, she left without a proper goodbye.
Tang Beiwei watched her go, feeling profoundly lonely.
Long after Su Jingwen’s departure, Tang Beiwei sat dejectedly. After a while, she remembered to lock the door. As she re-entered, a knock sounded. A bad feeling washed over her. Who would seek her out? Sister Jingwen and Yun Bing had keys; they wouldn’t knock. Besides them, she knew no one in Ning Hai.