Fortune Across the World

Chapter 163: Hidden Currents on the Lantern Festival Night (Part 2)

The more Le Zhuyi thought about it, the more disappointed she felt. Pouting unhappily, she lay back on her bed and picked up a short, stout wooden spike, imagining it as the promise-breaking carpenter. She vented her frustration, "You said you'd come, you foolish carpenter, you lousy carpenter!"

Just as she was about to throw the wooden spike onto the bed in a huff, there was a knock on the door, followed by the voice of the person she was mad at: "Zhuyi, are you there?"

Le Zhuyi froze, her disappointment and frustration dissolving into surprise. She sat up quickly, smoothing her hair and dress before getting up to open the door. With a sideways glance at the person outside, she asked awkwardly, "Why are you here?"

Ding Qiyu, having avoided her for days, felt a familiar nervousness rise at Zhuyi's adorably awkward demeanor. "Tonight is Moonwatcher night. I promised to come and be with you, so here I am."

Zhuyi didn't refuse, nodding lightly. "Thank you." She stepped aside to let Ding Qiyu in and closed the door behind her.

Once inside, Ding Qiyu took a few steps in, unsure of what to do next. Last time, they'd been thrust into a crisis, but now, they'd arrived early, and everything felt strange. Images of Zhuyi's mesmerizing ribbon dance and the alluring figure in the pool flashed in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel her nervousness intensify.

Watching Ding Qiyu hesitate, Zhuyi felt a twinge of nervousness herself. Taking a deep breath, she walked over and sat on the bed.

Ding Qiyu's eyes followed her to the bed, noticing the various wooden spikes arranged by its side. Remembering how Zhuyi had used them to harm herself during the last Moonwatcher night, she forgot her earlier tension and quickly gathered them up, including the "stout little one," intending to place them on the dresser across the room.

Zhuyi quickly caught her sleeve, "No, these are prepared for a reason."

Ding Qiyu, determined to prevent her from self-harm, insisted, "I'm here with you today. You don't need these!"

Zhuyi met her earnest gaze and, despite her initial resistance, released Ding Qiyu's sleeve, conceding that perhaps with her company, she wouldn't need to hurt herself to endure.

Ding Qiyu placed the wooden spikes out of reach and returned to the bed, her brow furrowed. Seeing that dusk had fallen, she gently urged, "Zhuyi, it's almost dark. Lie down and rest for a bit."

After a moment's hesitation, Zhuyi nodded, removing her shoes and getting into bed. Ding Qiyu looked around, asking, "Zhuyi, where do you keep the blankets?"

Knowing Ding Qiyu's intentions, Zhuyi felt a warmth at her kindness. She pointed to the bamboo cabinet, appreciating the care without dampening the mood.

Following her direction, Ding Qiyu retrieved a thick blanket from the cabinet, carefully tucking it over Zhuyi. After a brief hesitation, she removed her shoes and lay down beside her.

The room fell into a rare silence, with neither speaking, each attuned to the pounding of their own hearts. This delicate atmosphere didn't last long; as the moonlight broke through the clouds, Zhuyi's heart clenched painfully, her breathing hitching as weakness overwhelmed her. Knowing the familiar agony was near, she clenched the fabric of her clothes, tightly shutting her eyes.