Nightfall

Bun

One would die if they didn’t drink water. Ning Que thought about this statement and asked solemnly, “If you want to eat the crab porridge that you love, you won’t be able to drink water. What would you do?”

Chen Pipi waved his hands impatiently and said, “There would not be a situation like that. Where can you not find water?”

Ning Que asked persistently, “If the water had legs and could think for itself, and it wouldn’t allow you to drink it and would run away when you get close to it. What would you do?”

Chen Pipi was stunned. He thought about the question for a long time before answering helplessly, “If this was the case, then I’d better drink the water in order to survive, even though life would be a little more bitter.”

Ning Que looked at the ripples of light on the lake’s surface and lamented sadly, “Everyone else could have concubines… Alright, to put it in a better way, everyone else could have many different relationships, why can’t I? Why did the one I have at home learn to be jealous even when she’s still a child?”

Chen Pipi looked at the shadow that the Yanming Mountain cast on the lake. He said, “Don’t ask me about things like that. I’ve never understood women. They’re weird”

Ning Que glanced at him.

Chen Pipi shook his head and said, “Do not think that you can get any help from the Senior Brothers and Sisters. There’s no one experienced in matters like this in the back of the mountain. They’re all geniuses and idiots.”

Ning Que lamented, “I had thought that happiness was the most important thing in life, but I did not expect that she was so unhappy. It has already been ten years, and I have never once won over her at anything. Why’s that so? Those in the world are all very good, and I like them very much. But she doesn’t like them, and it seems that there’s nothing that I can do. Is this fate?”

Chen Pipi comforted him, “Then you have to learn to accept fate.”

“I don’t think this counts as comforting me.”

Ning Que said, “Right, why did Senior Brother want to take me back to the Academy?”

Chen Pipi said, “Everyone wants to know if you want to choose Shanshan or Sangsang. But it seems that we don’t have to ask. I approve of your choice.”

Ning Que asked with a strange expression, “Why?”

Chen Pipi looked at him and said, “Because I know you would choose her.”

Ning Que was silent for a long while.

Chen Pipi frowned and rubbed his face. He asked concernedly, “How will you settle this?”

After a moment of silence, Ning Que said, “When Sangsang was little, she did not want to wash her clothes. I taught her something then, that you have to deal with your own things. Since this issue belongs to me, I have to settle it myself. And it must not drag on.”

Chen Pipi said worriedly, “Aren’t you worried you might hurt her?”

Ning Que said with a smile, “Aren’t I a fickle and heartless person?”

Chen Pipi looked at him and said solemnly, “Your smile is fake and cheerless.”

Ning Que smiled gloomily, not knowing what to say.

Chen Pipi said with emotion, “The matters between men and women are really the most troublesome things in the world. It looks like I’ve really got to thank Ye Hongyu, for I do not have any thoughts about women thanks to her. As such, I do not have to experience the distress that you have.”