Fell In Love With My Older Sister’s Friend - Chapter 85

Xu Luzhi looked up, subtly observing Lin Qingyue, feeling the subtle emotions of the woman before her. Her enchanting peach blossom eyes were full of distance and loneliness, yet she also seemed to be smiling.

It had been like this from the very beginning mysterious and charming, making it impossible to figure her out. One more glance, and one would be hopelessly drawn in.

The sound of the wooden fish in the mountain temple echoed, distant and serene, washing over the soul with every strike, as if such a simple action could truly lead to detachment from all worldly concerns.

She recalled Xu Luwei’s quiet silhouette when she was offering incense in front of the Buddhist hall earlier. She picked up a bundle of incense, slowly knelt before the cushion, and in the rising smoke, her expression was calm.

After spending half a year in Weicheng, her sister had become noticeably thinner, and her demeanor even more detached and peaceful. She still wore her elegant and noble smile, but there was a loneliness in her eyes that made one’s heart ache.

Xu Luzhi wisely did not ask about the rest of the story, or its ending. However, as she walked out of the Buddhist hall, she gently asked Xu Luwei, “Sister, did you make a wish?”

Xu Luwei paused, shook her head after a long moment, and smiled faintly, “Just for my family to be healthy and safe.”

A devotee struggling in the mortal world had long since given up on all other desires and dared not ask for more.

Dawn was breaking, and the morning bell was struck forcefully, a long “Ding” that hit Xu Luzhi’s heart heavily.

And the Lin Qingyue before her seemed to have gone a step further than Xu Luwei, making her even harder to read was it sorrow or joy, or perhaps she had long stopped caring about everything in the world, simply living through laughter and scolding?

Unburdened, completely at ease.

A person to pursue, yet also someone to feel protective of, someone she selfishly wanted to shelter under her wings and confine in a golden cage.

“Sister,” Xu Luzhi called softly, her appearance obedient and pure, without a trace of distraction.

Lin Qingyue instantly snapped back to attention, flashed a brilliant smile, and subtly changed the subject: “Walk with me up the mountain for a bit.”

“Okay.” Xu Luzhi’s fingertips reached out to take Lin Qingyue’s hand, feeling the cool temperature and gently enclosing it in her palm.

She wanted to warm up this piece of stone with her body heat.

The mountain path was long and narrow, swept clean by the monks every day. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, it should have been bustling, but it was still early, and ordinary people couldn’t enter; only a few families who had paid a high price for the first incense of the year were allowed in.

If Xu Luzhi hadn’t brought her, Lin Qingyue would also have had to wait outside, unable to see the snow-covered plum blossoms she longed for.

The two ascended the steps casually, breathing in the cool mountain air, wandering aimlessly.

The temperature in the mountains was much lower than in the city. Xu Luzhi, afraid of the cold, held her fur collar up to her face, constantly exhaling white plumes of breath. Her round eyes were obscured by the mist, and her body kept pressing closer to Lin Qingyue.

She held onto Lin Qingyue’s hand tightly and refused to let go, her fingertips turning red from the cold.

A warmth welled up in Lin Qingyue’s heart. She tightened her grip on the girl’s hand in return. There were few female guests in the temple, and even fewer women dressed as lavishly as they were. Walking side-by-side, they attracted many gazes.

Lin Qingyue walked leisurely with composure, but Xu Luzhi became shy and gently tugged on Lin Qingyue’s hand: “Sister, follow me.”

She led them to a less-traveled path. Lin Qingyue didn’t mind; she simply tilted her head up in interest, looking at the steps that stretched high up, with the mountain peak shrouded in swirling mist, like a fairy realm.

Faintly, the shape of a pagoda spire could be seen. The sound of tiny bells from the top of the tower mixed with the wind, along with the chirping of birds.

Lin Qingyue asked, “What is that?”

Xu Luzhi followed her gaze and explained, “That’s the Buddha pagoda at the summit, but they don’t allow people up; we can only look from outside.”

She added, “I heard that offering incense and making a wish in front of the pagoda is very effective.”

Lin Qingyue nodded, “Then we’ll go take a look later.”

They hadn’t spoken much along the way, occasionally glancing at each other, as if understanding everything unspoken, or perhaps, in such a strictly regulated place, propriety and restraint were instinctive choices.

After winding around for a while, they encountered a large brick wall blocking their way. Lin Qingyue, sharp-eyed, spotted a hint of red faintly visible over the top of the wall and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “It’s the plum garden!”

“I heard this plum garden is the most famous, but they never open it to outsiders,” Lin Qingyue said in a light voice, looking over with envy, yet her tone was casual, “Plum blossoms in the snow are the most beautiful.”

Lin Qingyue looked at the wall, but Xu Luzhi looked at Lin Qingyue, seeing the brilliant light that spontaneously arose in her peach blossom eyes, shining brightly, her beauty astonishing with genuine joy.

“Do you want to see it, Sister?” Xu Luzhi asked softly.

She rarely saw Lin Qingyue so obsessed with something, as if injected with new vitality, her expression spirited and confident as she looked up.

Xu Luzhi felt as if she could see through time to Lin Qingyue a few years ago, carefree and traveling everywhere, dressed in fine clothes, riding a spirited horse, unrestrained and willful, her dark hair tied high at the back of her head, her words and actions following her own will.

Not like now, standing quietly under a streetlamp on New Year’s Eve, snow flakes covering her eyelashes, completely unaware of the cold.

“I do,” Lin Qingyue said without hesitation, but then curved her lips cunningly, “But it seems this place doesn’t allow entry.”

She feigned a disappointed sigh, but before Xu Luzhi could speak, she playfully smiled first and hooked a finger toward Xu Luzhi.

Xu Luzhi swallowed the words she was about to say and obediently leaned her ear closer.

Lin Qingyue whispered in her ear, with the tone of someone planning mischief, secretly asking, “Little Zhizhi, can you climb walls?”

Xu Luzhi: “…”

She looked up to confirm the expression on Lin Qingyue’s face. The smile was full, yet her look was serious; clearly, she wasn’t joking.

It was genuinely a proposed plan.

She cautiously asked, “Sister, are you good at climbing walls?”

Lin Qingyue tied up the long hair at the back of her head and said lazily, “Not particularly good, but I can manage a two or three-meter one, more or less.”

“But that was years ago; I’ve probably gotten rusty now.”

Xu Luzhi took a deep breath and laboriously suggested, “Sister, how about we try… hmm, negotiating with the gatekeeper?”

With the Xu family’s years of connection, they likely wouldn’t refuse her.

Lin Qingyue glanced at her, seeming to consider it seriously, but in the next moment, she smiled brightly and patted the girl’s head, “But that wouldn’t be as fun, Little Zhizhi.”

The woman’s lips pouted slightly, red and moist, her high ponytail looking spirited, her eyes full of eagerness, seeming even more mischievous than Xu Luzhi.

Pitiable and adorable, it made one want to fulfill all her wishes.

“Okay,” Xu Luzhi nodded involuntarily and softly instructed, “Then… if we get caught, Sister, you run first, okay?”

If she were caught, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but Lin Qingyue couldn’t get into trouble.

Lin Qingyue pouted in dissatisfaction and sighed, “Is that the kind of person I am in your heart, hmm?”

The woman looked wronged, which made Xu Luzhi both amused and heartbroken. She quickly placated her, “Sister runs out first to preserve her strength, and then comes back to save me, okay?”

Lin Qingyue thought for a moment and gave a relaxed smile, “Alright.”

The feigning-weak Xu Luzhi breathed a sigh of relief and decided to continue the act, clinging to Lin Qingyue and whining, “Sister, I don’t think I’m good at climbing walls; I’m afraid I’ll fall.”

“Is that so,” Lin Qingyue nodded thoughtfully, estimating the height of the wall before them and Xu Luzhi’s height, and concluded, “It’s fine, it’s not too high. I’ll hold you up from below, hmm?”

Xu Luzhi nodded contentedly and smiled sweetly, “I’ll listen to Sister.”

“If you’re scared, why don’t you wait for me down here?” Lin Qingyue suddenly had a pang of conscience and negotiated with the young girl.

It was fine for her to indulge her own playful mood and climb a wall, but corrupting a child and getting discovered by Xu Luwei later would be troublesome.

Xu Luzhi shook her head without hesitation, “I’m not scared.”

She was overjoyed to go on an adventure with Lin Qingyue and share a unique experience.

Even if it might not have much practical meaning, it sounded like a lot of fun.

Lin Qingyue was a woman of action. Once they decided, she excitedly circled the brick wall twice, selecting a suitable route. The red bricks were smoothly laid, free of debris, with some rough areas for climbing.

The wall was less than two meters high; she could simply leap over it.

After explaining the route to Xu Luzhi, she hesitated and looked at the girl’s delicate hands and the expensive fabric of her dress, a little worried: “Your hands and your dress…”

Xu Luzhi interrupted her, “It doesn’t matter.”

After all, she was the one who easily took first place in the 3,000-meter run at the school sports meet, and she was good at high jump and long jump, too. Climbing a wall wouldn’t stump her.

Besides, her hands were for serving Lin Qingyue; a little scraped skin was no big deal.

Xu Luzhi smiled sweetly at Lin Qingyue and volunteered, “Then I’ll go up first.”

She then leaned back in, clinging to Lin Qingyue, “Sister, can I have a hug?”

Lin Qingyue smiled knowingly and bent down to embrace the girl. Xu Luzhi rubbed against the exceptionally soft area, feeling comfortable and relaxed; her body no longer felt cold.

With a smile from her Sister, let alone climbing a wall, she could conquer the heavens.

Taking a few steps back, she ran, jumped, and soared up, firmly gripping the top of the brick wall. Her slender arms began to exert force, easily pulling herself up. Without Lin Qingyue’s help, she was already on top of the wall.

She stood stably on the brick wall, her red evening gown immaculate, looking like a solitary red plum blossom detached from the world.

Lin Qingyue gave her a victory sign and then had a sudden thought, “Can you pull me up?”

The woman leaned casually against the wall, her long legs crossed, tapping the not-so-solid brick surface with her hand, and looked up, “Zhizhi, I don’t want to work hard.”

Xu Luzhi smiled down, “Sister, why don’t you climb up first, and then I’ll lift you up? How about that?”

Lin Qingyue surveyed her from top to bottom, skeptical, “Can you lift me?”

Xu Luzhi pouted slightly, “How will we know if we don’t try?”

Her Sister was so light; not only could she lift her, she could even give her a bridal carry.

“Fine.” Lin Qingyue gave a charming smile. Her movements were astonishingly fast. In just a few swift motions, she had clung to the wall face, her high heels finding precise footholds, and her delicate hands clutching the bricks.

This highly difficult movement was executed flawlessly and fluidly, clearly something she had done countless times before.

She truly wasn’t a well-behaved girl.

With one more effort, Lin Qingyue could have smoothly sat on top of the wall, but she chose not to, maintaining the wall-holding posture that tested her arm strength. Her peach blossom eyes shimmered, and her voice carried a soft, coquettish tone: “You promised to lift me, little one?”

Xu Luzhi lowered her body, her hands unsure where to go. Finally, she could only grip the woman’s slender waist, feeling like she was pressing against a ball of fire, her palms burning hot.

Meeting Lin Qingyue’s curious and alluring gaze, she said in a husky voice, “Relax.”

It didn’t feel like secretly climbing a wall it felt more like a clandestine affair.