Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 261 - 238 Two Shadows Two Figures
Chapter 261: Chapter 238: Two Shadows, Two Figures
Chapter 261: Chapter 238: Two Shadows, Two Figures
Chu Yu looked despondently away from the lane entrance, turned to Huan Yuan and Amman beside her, and forced a smile, “From now on, it’ll just be you two keeping me company.” Although there was another person, Hua Cuo, living at home, that fellow was obsessed with practicing swordsmanship every day, treating her place like a hotel, occasionally seeking out Guan Canghai for sparring sessions. Because Guan Canghai never struck him hard, but could guide him on the nuances of his sword technique.
Hua Cuo, for some inexplicable reason, upon learning about the relationships and the reasons for being here of Empress Dowager Feng, Guan Canghai, and Rong Zhi, was still dead set on the belief that Rong Zhi was within Luoyang City and stood his ground here, refusing to leave.
However, since Hua Cuo usually just stayed within the courtyard and didn’t go out causing trouble, Chu Yu kept him with the intention of having an extra bodyguard and thus let him stay in Chu Garden.
Huan Yuan, seeing Chu Yu’s downcast expression, felt an urge to soothe all the worries on her brow, but before he could act, his mind abruptly became alert and he restrained himself rationally from making any inappropriate moves. He lowered his gaze and said softly, “Let’s go back.” Chu Yu nodded and started to walk back first, followed by Huan Yuan after a short delay. The two of them maintained a distance that was neither too far nor too close, as they had always done silently, from past to present.
Neither too estranged, nor too intimate.
It was just right, where taking a step back meant reluctance, yet moving forward was dangerous.
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Inside the palanquin, Zhong Niannian and Liu Sang were talking in detail about what they had experienced since they had parted ways years ago. Most of the time, Liu Sang spoke and Zhong Niannian listened, occasionally agreeing softly.
After talking at length, Liu Sang suddenly remembered something and asked, “By the way, sister, how did you know that Chu Yu and I were living here?” They had gone to great lengths to escape the Southern Dynasty, and in the excitement of reuniting with Zhong Niannian, he had overlooked many things. But now, it seemed very strange to him.
Zhong Niannian was taken aback by the question, but her eyes shimmered as she broke into a smile and said, “I used to have a wide social circle; finding someone is really no trouble at all, let alone you, my only kin. Of course I always had people keep an eye on your whereabouts. It would be the same even if you had gone to some barbarous land, I would still find you.”
Her words were heartfelt, effortlessly easing Liu Sang’s concerns as he embraced her and said, “You’re so good to me, sister.”
Liu Sang snuggled up to Zhong Niannian, feeling the gentle sway of the palanquin, and couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “Sister, you said just now that if I keep being so spineless, Chu Yu will always see me as a child. If I achieve something in the future and come back, will she truly look at me differently?”
Earlier, Zhong Niannian had whispered in his ear, not really advising him, but asking, “How do you think you compare to Rong Zhi? Or to Huan Yuan? And even to the likes of Moxiang? Are you content to be a child following her forever, occasionally comforted by her pat on the head, or do you want her to look at you squarely?”
The people she mentioned were all once close to Chu Yu and had aspects that Liu Sang couldn’t match. Her final question struck at the heart of Liu Sang’s concerns. He watched Chu Yu and Guan Canghai getting closer, but could only resort to the childish tactics of tantrums and sulking. He felt sad, truly.
Therefore, he decided to change.
Even though it was unbearably hard, he would have to leave Chu Yu for a while. When he returned in the future, he would be a different Baili Liusang… No, he should take back his original family name now, to be called Zhong Liusang.
Zhong Niannian was about to casually reassure him that he could definitely achieve it, but upon seeing the hopeful look and gleaming eyes, her heart suddenly understood he was serious. Her own gaze softened involuntarily, and after a pause, she slowly said, “I can’t make absolute promises. Even if you do accomplish something, she might not pay you much attention. But I can honestly say that if you just follow her around like this, you’ll always be just a child in her eyes.”
With a worried nod, Liu Sang, who had cried his heart out that day and now felt somewhat exhausted from talking, could hardly keep his eyes open any longer. He closed his eyes and leaned against Zhong Niannian’s shoulder, quickly falling into a deep sleep. A tender glow appeared in Zhong Niannian’s eyes as she carefully cradled Liu Sang’s body in her arms, holding him quietly.
The palanquin was carried outside Luoyang City and stopped in front of a horse-drawn carriage. Zhong Niannian gently released Liu Sang and stepped out of the palanquin, bowing before the carriage and saying, “I have dutifully complied with the command and have brought Liu Sang out.”
The person inside the carriage didn’t speak, and the silence made sweat unwittingly break out on Zhong Niannian’s forehead. Anxiously, she awaited the next instructions.
Zhong Niannian indeed was Liusang’s older sister, but she had not intended to come to pick up Liusang so soon. Firstly, the siblings had been separated for so many years, and deep inside she actually feared that they had become estranged. Secondly, because the period she was obligated to serve others had not yet ended. It was only that a few days ago she had unexpectedly received a message, saying she would be set free ahead of schedule; however, she was also tasked with one more thing—to take Liusang with her, and she was taught methods to coax Liusang into leaving willingly. If she was too slow to act, she should prepare herself to receive Liusang’s corpse.
She was terrified beyond measure and had no choice but to obediently comply, although she didn’t know what Liusang had done to displease that person above. But getting him away from the place of trouble as soon as possible was definitely the right thing to do.
Finally, a light tapping sound came from inside the carriage, followed by an attendant at the side of the carriage bringing her the luggage and documents that had been prepared earlier. Zhong Niannian briefly perused them, and upon seeing a property deed among them, her heart eased. She bowed once more toward the inside of the carriage, then returned to her own sedan chair.
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
Gazing at Liusang, who lay sleeping on the seat, a tender expression emerged in Zhong Niannian’s eyes. She smoothed the hair on his forehead then slowly sat down in the limited remaining space inside the sedan chair. Although the future was uncertain, she never felt as filled with hope as she did at that moment.
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Several days after Liusang had left, although everything in her life continued as usual, Chu Yu couldn’t help feeling as if something was missing. The absence of someone clinging and pestering her all the time unexpectedly resulted in a sense of loss.
Despite the sense of loss, Chu Yu didn’t regret her decision, nor did it incite in her the desire to bring Liusang back. She merely sighed more, inadvertently torturing Guan Canghai’s ears with the sound.
“You know…” After Chu Yu sighed once again, Guan Canghai couldn’t help but speak up, “A few days ago you were troubled over how to get rid of that little devil, now that your wish has been fulfilled, what is there to be discontent about?” Her incessant sighing, wasn’t it just to torture his ears? She knew well that he ‘saw’ with his ears.
Chu Yu glanced at him and, far from restraining herself, she let out an even louder sigh before saying, “I’m just not used to it yet, endure it for a few more days.” She hesitated, then asked, “Do you think my days are too boring? Should I do something like opening a shop or something?”
Without the slightest courtesy, Guan Canghai scoffed, “You? You better stick to your highly promising profession as a freeloader.” He had only heard some of these terms from Chu Yu a few days ago, and now they were being aptly turned back on her.
“Hey, hey, is there really a need to put me down like that?”
“I’ve always been one to speak frankly.”
“Believe it or not, I’ll bite you?”
“If you’ve got the guts, then come bite me.”
…
The two bantered back and forth, the subject, as always, veered off to who-knows-where. In the end, Chu Yu herself forgot what she had wanted to say, but after this exchange, the knot in her heart had loosened considerably, and at last she laughed heartily.
After killing time in chatter and sending Chu Yu on her way, Guan Canghai slowly meandered back. His living quarters were large and spacious, with several connected rooms that usually only servants entered to clean and tidy up, and no outsiders entered.
However, when Guan Canghai entered his house and closed the door, there were two figures inside.
One of the figures said, “How much longer do you plan to stay?”
The other figure, however, remained silent.
