The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 21

Can she really not love?

The setting sun quickly vanished behind the mountains, and the last smear of dark red disappeared as a lone goose cried out, returning to its nest. All fell into a silent darkness.

The night sky was dotted with sparse starlight, looking like a piece of ink-stained cloth with tattered holes, held up before one’s eyes to peer down at the living beings below through the gaps.

A bone-chilling wind swept through, its coldness seeping through the thin fabric of her clothes, sinking into her bones and sending shivers through her body.

Falling leaves fluttered down, brushing past the newcomer before finally settling on the earth.

The person walked with an extremely light, almost soundless step. Her fluttering sleeves made her slender silhouette look like a banished immortal from the heavens, someone one only dared to observe from afar.

In the distance, a small courtyard was lit by a single lamp, appearing as if it were left specifically for someone.

Chi Li’s gaze landed on the distant light. Her footsteps paused, and her eyes narrowed slightly. The night made the thoughts in her eyes dark and difficult to decipher, hiding her emotions.

When she stepped forward again toward the distance, even though she knew the person there could not hear her, she subconsciously lightened her already weightless steps, as if afraid of disturbing someone in a deep sleep.

As she approached the courtyard, the familiar scent of wine lingered in the air.

The fragrance was not pungent instead, it carried a hint of floral notes, giving it a sweet, cloying quality that tempted one to taste it.

Chi Li paused again, her brow furrowing slightly. Something seemed to flash deep in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. Before it could be examined, her expression returned to its usual composure.

Having brought so much wine for Yun Xi, Chi Li naturally recognized this as one of Yun Xi’s frequent choices.

At that moment, a memory flashed through Chi Li’s mind: the jar of wine Yun Xi had tossed to Mu Zhi when leaving earlier today.

At the time, she had been in a hurry to leave. Thinking that she had never seen Mu Zhi drink in her previous life, she assumed the girl wouldn’t touch it and didn’t pay Yun Xi’s actions any mind.

But now, smelling the wine permeating the air, Chi Li suddenly realized she did not fully understand Mu Zhi.

Thinking of this, something flickered in Chi Li’s eyes. She raised a hand to rub her aching brow, and after a moment, she let out a helpless sigh.

The candlelight from the lamp cast a warm yellow glow on the person slumped over the stone table, fast asleep. Beside her sat an empty wine jar.

Chi Li’s gaze lingered on the jar for a moment before settling on the sleeping figure. Her eyes gradually softened, showing no intention of blame only endless doting and helplessness.

A cool night breeze blew past. Mu Zhi’s brow furrowed slightly, and she huddled into her clothes as if feeling the chill.

Seeing this, Chi Li did not hesitate to take off her own outer robe and drape it over Mu Zhi.

As she leaned in close, she heard Mu Zhi’s unconscious murmurs, vague sounds that didn’t form a complete sentence.

“Why sleep here? It’s cold outside,” Chi Li said.

The other person clearly couldn’t answer, but Chi Li didn’t mind.

Just as Chi Li was about to reach out and carry her into the house, she caught a specific word Mu Zhi murmured.

“Like…”

Hearing this, Chi Li’s movements froze. Her expression darkened, turning gloomy and tinged with displeasure.

Though she didn’t hear the words that followed, she subconsciously assumed that because of her recent repeated interference, “it” had once again manipulated Mu Zhi’s thoughts, planting the seed of “liking Mo Fan.”

At this thought, the chill in the depths of Chi Li’s eyes turned into a heartless killing intent, mixed with a hint of dissatisfaction she hadn’t even realized herself.

She pursed her lips and looked down at the sleeping Mu Zhi. In the end, she couldn’t bear to wake her.

Finally, Chi Li let out a helpless sigh and leaned down again, intending to pick Mu Zhi up.

Mu Zhi’s sleep outdoors had been light and uneasy. Although Chi Li’s movements were very gentle, she was still startled awake. She forced her eyes open into a slit, looking dizzily at the newcomer. It was only when she sensed the familiar aura that she felt at ease.

Chi Li felt the person in her arms instinctively hug her. She said nothing, allowing the girl to hold her as she softly comforted Mu Zhi.

“It’s cold outside. I’ll carry you back to the room.”

But Mu Zhi did not cooperate. She fussed, refusing to go inside, her mouth repeatedly uttering the word “like.” This made Chi Li frown, her eyes turning serious. She spoke earnestly, wanting to correct Mu Zhi’s thoughts.

“Mu Zhi, you cannot love.”

Mu Zhi’s face was flushed with the redness of intoxication, making her look like a piece of ripe fruit. Hearing Chi Li’s words, she stopped fussing and knitted her brows, seemingly thinking seriously about what Chi Li had said.

She tilted her head and rested it on Chi Li’s shoulder, hiding the flash of loneliness in her eyes. Then, as if unwilling to let it go, she asked:

“Why?”

Chi Li placed her hand on Mu Zhi’s head, but at that moment, she felt a patch of wet warmth on her shoulder.

She froze for a second before realizing Mu Zhi was crying.

Whether in her previous life or this one, Chi Li had only seen Mu Zhi cry when her spiritual root was being stripped. This made her feel momentarily flustered. She hurriedly tried to wipe the tears away, but Mu Zhi continued to cling to her tightly, murmuring the question over and over.

“Why can’t I love…”

Hearing the faint sob in Mu Zhi’s voice, Chi Li frowned deeply but steeled her heart to speak.

“He is not a good match for you. You deserve better.”

At Chi Li’s words, Mu Zhi cried even harder. Chi Li felt the fabric on her shoulder becoming soaked, making her heart ache with pity.

But the moment she thought about the “like” being directed at Mo Fan, Chi Li could barely restrain her murderous intent.

Mu Zhi’s grip loosened slightly, and then Chi Li heard her speak.

“But to me, this is the best.”

Hearing Mu Zhi’s persistent words, Chi Li’s voice suddenly turned cold and authoritative.

“No.”

Her tone carried a weight that allowed no room for refusal, instinctively demanding obedience.

Apparently not expecting Chi Li to suddenly be so harsh, Mu Zhi stopped crying, though her eyes remained red and heart-wrenching to look at.

Mu Zhi let go of Chi Li and stared blankly at her with glistening eyes. Her gaze was filled with loss, as if she didn’t understand why the other was so resistant to her love.

But Mu Zhi was still unwilling to give up. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask for a reason, but after a long pause, she simply asked:

“Is it because you don’t like me?”

Chi Li did not see the loneliness in Mu Zhi’s eyes. Instead, she spoke with unprecedented seriousness, like a teacher lecturing in a classroom, making the listener feel dazed.

“If love requires one’s life as the price, Mu Zhi, do you truly not cherish your own life?”

For a moment, Mu Zhi didn’t understand. Even after thinking for a long time, she found those words extremely cryptic and difficult to grasp. However, she managed to identify one simple phrase:

[Don’t like.]

Mu Zhi hung her head, her aggrieved expression making Chi Li’s heart soften instantly.

Chi Li reached out and spoke in a soft, coaxing voice.

“Be good, go back to the room to sleep.”

Mu Zhi dodged Chi Li’s reaching hand. She looked up and shot a glance at Chi Li, bit her lip, and then spoke with a hint of stubbornness.

“I’m not sleepy. I’m not going to sleep.”

Faced with Mu Zhi’s unreasonable behavior, Chi Li felt a growing headache, yet she couldn’t truly find it in her heart to get angry.

If she were facing a drunk Yun Xi, Chi Li could unhesitatingly throw the person back to Alchemy Peak. But facing Mu Zhi, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She could only patiently coax and indulge her over and over, while repeatedly reminding her that she shouldn’t be “habituated” to someone who would lead to her death.

However, the drunken Mu Zhi seemed determined to clash with Chi Li. For every word of coaxing Chi Li offered, she would fire back with a contradiction. No matter the persuasion, she wouldn’t obediently go back to her room.

Chi Li showed no sign of impatience, acting as though she were coaxing a child. Yet she had no idea that Mu Zhi hated being looked at that way.

Annoyed by the coaxing and finding Chi Li’s gentle gaze inexplicably irritating, Mu Zhi grabbed the outer robe that didn’t belong to her and threw it directly at the person in front of her.

The robe covered Chi Li’s head, making her look uncharacteristically disheveled.

By the time Chi Li pulled the robe down, the sound of Mu Zhi’s willful, loud sobbing filled the silent night air.

Chi Li watched her cry against the stone table. A flash of panic appeared in her eyes, followed by a sense of helplessness. She regretted speaking to Mu Zhi that way just now.

She wanted to say a few comforting words, but before she could speak, Mu Zhi lifted her head. Her eyes were redder than before, glaring at her like a fierce little rabbit.

Mu Zhi wanted to accuse Chi Li, but the words that came out sounded like a vent.

“I want to buy all the jewelry in the city… No, I want to buy a whole city…”

She grew more indignant as she spoke. The way she glared at Chi Li made it seem as if she expected the other to go out and do exactly as she said right this instant.

Chi Li took a deep breath and followed Mu Zhi’s lead.

“Alright, we’ll buy it. I’ll buy it all for you.”

Hearing this, Mu Zhi finally seemed somewhat satisfied. She pouted, having already forgotten exactly what had made her so sad in the first place.

Mu Zhi stared at Chi Li’s face for a long time. Just as Chi Li began to wonder if there was something on her face, she heard Mu Zhi speak.

“I really like… I liked it from the very first glance. You have no idea, back then I didn’t…”

Before she could finish, the sleepiness driven by the alcohol swept over her. Without finishing her sentence, she leaned forward and fell into Chi Li’s arms.

Holding Mu Zhi, Chi Li’s expression was complex and unreadable.

Mu Zhi’s unfinished words were like an extremely thin needle pricking her heart not fatal, but accompanied by a pain that couldn’t be ignored.

If Mu Zhi truly fell in love with Mo Fan, Chi Li couldn’t bear to imagine her becoming a tool for his “slaying the wife to prove the Dao.”

From the moment she brought Mu Zhi back, her goal had only been to make Mu Zhi strong enough to be someone no one could restrain.

To her, this junior sister she had personally taught should be an eagle soaring in the sky, not a delicately raised dodder flower.

Chi Li picked the girl up. However, she did not carry her back to the room as she had said earlier. Instead, she carried her out of the courtyard, walking toward an unknown destination.