bookbashuk Page 86
Page 86
The bright moonlight shone down, stretching their shadows long, sometimes intertwining, sometimes separating.
Unlike the hustle and bustle of the day, Mondstadt is exceptionally peaceful and gentle at night.
Barbara lagged slightly behind Yichen by half a step, her gaze almost greedily tracing the profile of his face outlined by the moonlight.
He was still enthusiastically discussing the details of the concert he had just attended, with great passion and sincerity.
She occasionally responded softly, asking some trivial "questions," but most of the time she just listened quietly, savoring this rare moment of solitude that belonged only to the two of them.
Barbara's heartbeat seemed exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
She subtly adjusted her pace to match Yi Chen's, and their arms would occasionally touch lightly as their steps aligned.
Every unintentional touch felt like a tiny electric current surging through Barbara's arm, reaching her heart, making her cheeks burn, yet she craved that fleeting warmth.
She could even smell the faint, clean, and pleasant scent of sunshine and grass emanating from Yichen, mixed with the cool night breeze, giving her a slightly tipsy feeling.
"Mr. Yichen..."
Barbara couldn't help but call out softly.
Yi Chen turned his head, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
Under his focused gaze, Barbara swallowed back the words she was about to say, leaving only a whispered sentence.
"...Nothing...I just think...the moonlight is really beautiful tonight."
Yi Chen nodded in deep agreement, then looked up at the bright moon in the sky.
"The moon is so big and round! Perfect for practicing martial arts!"
His thoughts, as always, veered off in a strange direction.
Barbara couldn't help but chuckle softly, which actually lessened her nervousness and shyness.
The streetlights cast a warm glow, and on a slightly dim path, Barbara quietly and carefully approached Yichen's naturally drooping hand.
I was so close I could almost feel the warmth emanating from his skin.
Her heart was pounding like a drum.
In the end, she merely touched his little finger knuckle with her fingertip, very lightly and quickly, like a butterfly skimming the water, a fleeting touch.
Yi Chen seemed to sense something, and made a puzzled "Hmm?" sound, looking down at his hands.
Barbara, however, abruptly withdrew her hand like a startled fawn and quickly took two steps forward.
"Hurry, let's go! There seems to be a late-night snack stall up ahead! I'm... I'm a little hungry!"
Yi Chen watched her retreating figure, feeling a little strange, but still smiled and followed her.
"Oh! Great! I know a place that makes really good grilled ribs!"
The moonlight continued to gently envelop them, quietly embracing the girl's shy thoughts and the boy's unsuspecting openness.
This journey, neither long nor short, felt like an eternity to Barbara, yet she wished it would never end.
A silent, bittersweet, ambiguous atmosphere filled the air, belonging only to her.
Is this... what it feels like to like someone?
It seems...not bad.
Chapter 44: A Short Story About Stomach Aches
Qin walked home alone, the night wind blowing against her thin clothes, bringing a chill.
She deliberately slowed her pace, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility undisturbed, trying to temporarily clear her mind of the chaotic thoughts.
Just as she passed a fork in the road and her gaze inadvertently swept toward another path leading to the church, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
In the distance, under the soft glow of the streetlights, two familiar figures were walking side by side.
It's Yichen and Barbara.
Yi Chen was still full of energy, gesturing wildly as he spoke, his face beaming with a bright, untroubled smile.
Barbara, walking beside him, tilted her head slightly and looked up at him, her face bearing a bright and happy smile that Jyn had never seen before. The smile was pure and shy, yet full of radiance, as if her whole being was glowing.
The gentle moonlight bathed them, creating a harmonious and even somewhat intimate scene.
Qin stood quietly in the shadows at a distance, watching this scene.
She looked at the almost overflowing joy on her sister's face, an expression that only comes from being immersed in beautiful emotions.
As the older sister, she should be happy.
She was indeed... happy.
A warm feeling, mixed with relief, welled up in my heart, dispelling the chill of the night breeze.
Qin's lips involuntarily and slowly turned upward, revealing a gentle and relieved smile.
This is the Barbara we should be.
Carefree, basking in the sunshine and praise, she enjoys the pure love and happiness that belongs to her age.
As the older sister, haven't I always wanted this?
I hope she can get rid of her burdens, I hope she can always keep her kindness and innocence, and I hope she can receive all the good things in the world.
And now, she seems to have found someone who can make her so happy.
I... take it for granted...
The best should be given to the younger sister.
As long as Barbara is happy...
Then she, as the older sister, will also feel happy.
This is the responsibility and...love that she, as the eldest daughter of the Gunnhildr family and the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, has always believed in and practiced.
Qin smiled and gazed longingly at the receding figures, as if trying to etch her sister's happy expression into her heart.
She turned around, ready to continue on her way.
But my steps became somewhat heavy?
A night breeze blew by, carrying the faint sound of laughter from afar, and also ruffled the golden hair on Qin's forehead.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at the lonely moon in the night sky, trying to open her eyes wide and force back some uncontrollable, warm and sour liquid.
The glistening tears stubbornly broke free of their restraints, silently sliding down her slightly upturned lips, following the curve of her cheeks, dripping down without a sound, disappearing into her collar, leaving a cool touch.
She quickly raised her hand and used her fingertips to wipe away the damp spot with lightning speed and without making a sound.
I took a deep breath and straightened my back.
The smile on her face remained gentle and perfect, as if the moment of vulnerability had never occurred.
But that figure, stretched out exceptionally long in the moonlight, also appeared exceptionally lonely.
She took a step forward, never looking back, and walked steadily in the opposite direction from the warm halo.
He hid the budding emotions, along with the unseen tear, in the silent night of Mondstadt.
My sister's happiness is her happiness.
She told herself so.
again and again.
Barbara and Yichen chatted along the way, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the entrance of the West Wind Cathedral.
The cool moonlight draped the solemn building in a silvery veil, and all around was silent and deserted.
Barbara's heart was still gently swaying from that brief but sweet time alone.
Looking at Yichen's profile softened by the moonlight, she felt a pang of reluctance and wished the road could be longer.
“That…Mr. Yichen,”
She mustered her courage, her voice soft and hesitant.
"Your villa... seems to be a bit further ahead? If... if you don't mind, could I... give you a ride a little further? Perfect timing... I'd like to take a walk and digest a bit..."
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and the excuse she came up with was clumsy yet full of anticipation.
She was content to spend a little more time with him on such a quiet night, even if it was just walking silently.
Yi Chen was about to readily agree with "Okay," but before he could even open his mouth—
A cool, aloof figure, like the silent moonlight itself, slowly emerged from the shadows ahead, stopping precisely between the two of them and blocking their path.
She had been waiting at the villa entrance for who knows how long, seemingly blending into the night.
Shen He was still wearing that slightly oversized nightgown, his long white hair swaying gently in the night breeze.
Before Barbara and Yichen could react, Shen He had already reached out and grabbed Yichen's wrist very naturally.
Then, she turned her head slightly and looked at Yichen.
"Junior brother, it's late."
"I'll take you home."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly in the silent night sky, each word carrying a heavy weight, as if declaring some inviolable territorial right.
Chapter 45 We must return to Liyue as soon as possible.
"Huh? Senior sister?"
Yi Chen was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Shen He to suddenly appear and even come out to "greet" him.
He subconsciously glanced at his wrist being held, then at Barbara beside him, who seemed somewhat at a loss.
“Oh…okay, we’ve come this far. Barbara, then…”
Before he could finish speaking, Shen He gently pulled his wrist, naturally drawing him a step closer and clearly widening the distance between him and Barbara.
She didn't even glance at Barbara again, all her attention was focused on Yichen, as if Barbara were just a street lamp by the roadside.
Barbara's blush and anticipation vanished instantly, replaced by a pallor and embarrassment.
She watched Shen He's matter-of-fact actions, watched Yi Chen being pulled away without resistance, and watched the invisible yet intimate connection between the two...
She seemed to have become a superfluous, excluded bystander.
"I... I should go back too."
Barbara lowered her head, her voice strained, trying to maintain her composure.
Good night, Mr. Yichen... Ms. Shenhe.
After saying that, she turned around almost as if fleeing and quickly walked towards the side door of the church. Her slender figure looked somewhat hurried and lonely in the moonlight.
Yi Chen was still a little confused as he watched Barbara suddenly leave.
"Hey? Why is Barbara walking so fast? Didn't she wait for us to finish saying goodbye...?"
Shen He didn't give him a chance to think further. He grabbed his wrist and turned to walk towards the villa.
"It's windy outside, let's go back."
Her tone left no room for argument, and she showed no sign of loosening her grip on Yi Chen's wrist.
Yi Chen was pulled along by her. He glanced back at the closed side door of the church. Although he felt a little strange, Shen He quickly diverted his attention.
"Oh, okay. Senior sister, please wear more clothes next time you go out, it's quite chilly at night..."
His voice gradually faded into the distance.
Under the moonlight, all that remained was Shen He's retreating figure, tightly holding Yi Chen's hand as they left, and the suddenly empty and desolate square in front of the church.
A faint, satisfied glint flashed in the depths of Shen He's eyes.
They went back to their "home," a place where only the two of them lived.
Shen He held Yi Chen's wrist and walked back to the villa in silence.
The night breeze ruffled her long white hair and thin nightgown, yet she seemed to feel no chill at all; only the hand holding Yichen's wrist remained firm and steady.
Shen He only let go of her hand after they entered the villa's living room, closed the door, and shut out everything from the outside world.