The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together - Chapter 26

Luo Mingyue never expected to hear such words. To be honest, she was stunned.

In her imagination, Miss Feng would either pass by indifferently or grow suspicious, wondering how Luo Mingyue could change her attitude so quickly.

But she never imagined that Miss Feng would turn out to be such a righteous person.

And she was also very clever.

With just a few words, she had pointed out the flaws in Lu Jia’s statements. In her past life, even if Luo Mingyue had harbored doubts, Lu Jia had easily brushed them aside with a few words.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation,” Feng Baiming said, a rare hint of embarrassment crossing her face. “At first, I just wanted to ask if you needed any help.”

“After all, you took care of me all night.”

Feng Baiming smiled. “I have to find a way to repay this kindness.”

“That was just what I should do,” Luo Mingyue pressed her lips together. “As you heard, I treat everyone this way. If someone else had fallen ill, I would have taken care of them too.”

“Is that so?” Feng Baiming was still smiling, her eyes even curving slightly, as if she had heard something amusing.

“But that doesn’t contradict my desire to thank you.”

“You may be kind to many people whether they feel grateful or not, I neither know nor care. All I know is that I can’t take the help I’ve received for granted.”

“Return kindness with kindness, and resentment with resentment,” Feng Baiming said with a dignified nod. “As for Lu Jia’s matter, perhaps I can help you. But it would be best if you clarify what exactly she’s hiding.”

The place was remote, devoid of sunlight, with only a few narrow rays streaming in through the small window of the storage room.

The girl before her stood in that dappled light. Luo Mingyue looked at her, noting how she only reached her shoulders a petite, delicate figure that nonetheless radiated a firm, unyielding strength.

Like a small, somewhat haughty noble lady Or perhaps.

A tiny queen.

For a moment, Luo Mingyue nearly shed tears perhaps the ugliness of her own wretchedness when faced with such nobility.

People in this world adore beautiful things noble virtues, righteous character, steadfast and powerful spirits. But no one loves the ugliness of baseness.

“Thank you, Miss Feng, but Jiajia and I don’t need your help.” Luo Mingyue lowered her head and let out a hollow laugh.

She strode past the petite, beautiful girl, her voice cold as she said, “This is just a matter between my sister and me. Please don’t speak of it to anyone else.”

Feng Baiming frowned. “I have some acquaintance with Qin Yan. He’s not an unreasonable man.”

“Please don’t interfere without permission.”

The departing alpha girl didn’t look back, leaving only her tall silhouette and emotionless words behind.

Feng Baiming wasn’t without anger. Offering help only to be met with ingratitude and a warning, she took a deep breath and quickened her pace to catch up.

This led to her grabbing the other girl’s wrist, startling her so much that her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the spot where Feng Baiming’s hand held hers.

Such a small patch of skin, yet Luo Mingyue felt as if the heat of it burned straight to her heart.

She knew she should pull away, yet she lingered, reluctant to break free. Just for a little while, just this brief warmth, Luo Mingyue thought. Surely fate wouldn’t begrudge me such fleeting comfort.

“I recalled something from the past. Did you visit the Fate Temple on North Mountain with your family when you were young?”

Feng Baiming looked directly at Luo Mingyue: “Then perhaps we did indeed cross paths several years ago.”

It was shortly after Qingming Festival five years ago, when the mountain air was still moist with lingering spring rains. Many families chose this season to visit temples for blessings.

Feng Baiming had been recuperating at the temple with the senior monk. One morning when she went to the main hall, she saw two adults leading several children in prayer.

The temple novices said one could make wishes to Buddha if sincere, even the distant deities in the vast heavens would hear.

The children chattered about their wishes:

“I want to grow up to be a great beauty.”

“I’ll become a superstar with tons of fans.”

“Hmph, I just want to skip school and sleep at home all day.”

The boy who didn’t want to study got a light smack from his guardian.

Amid the clamor, one girl stood out in her quietness perhaps because of her striking beauty, with snow-white skin and serene eyes gazing silently at the solemn Buddha statue.

Feng Baiming approached as if casually asking: What wish did you make to Buddha?

Another girl had already run over calling, “Sister Mingyue, did you make a wish?”

Feng Baiming initially thought the girl’s name meant “Bright Moon”, she wondered if the name was too common, though that depended on its bearer.

Indeed, she was as beautiful as the radiant moon in the sky.

This moon child said: “There are too many wishes to choose from. If I made them all, Buddha might think me greedy then none would come true.”

“Then think carefully,” Feng Baiming remarked nearby. “Sincerity moves heaven. Making wishes for your family is good too.”

The beautiful child glanced at her in surprise. When Feng Baiming smiled, the girl turned back, pressed her palms together, and closed her eyes solemnly before Buddha.

Soon the adults hurried the children away. Feng Baiming wanted to ask: What wish did you make?

Again the other girl spoke first: “Sister Mingyue, what did you wish for?”

Feng Baiming then heard the twelve-or-thirteen-year-old say: “Buddha must grow weary hearing so many wishes every day.”

“Big sister, you’re right maybe Buddha doesn’t even hear our wishes.”

“So I wished for Buddha to be healthy and happy, free from worries every day.”

Feng Baiming stood stunned, profoundly moved. In that moment, she suddenly understood the meaning of pure-hearted innocence.

If the deities in heaven have awareness, Feng Baiming thought, they would surely bless this child with safety, health, and smooth sailing through life.

“The Fate Temple on North Mountain is famous near the capital. It’s not unusual to have visited.”

Luo Mingyue struggled to tear her gaze from Miss Feng’s hand, her cheeks growing warm. She tried to cover her fluster: “Could you let go of my hand. If someone sees.”

If the servants saw this, they would surely report it to grandmother, and that would only reignite the ambitions of the Lu family’s matriarch.

“So it seems we did meet long ago, and I even spoke a word to you.”

Feng Baiming released her grip, rubbing her palms together. This time, the young alpha’s body temperature was no longer icy cold but carried the warmth and softness of human skin.

“You’re a very kind person,” Feng Baiming said earnestly. “You didn’t accept my friend request before. Thinking back now, I was the one who made presumptions about you initially. So could you tell me why you’ve been avoiding me?”

Direct, frank, without concealment confronting the issue head-on.

Luo Mingyue had never imagined Miss Feng would be so straightforward. She had assumed today’s events would unfold exactly as in her previous life, remaining firmly within her control.

Now discovering fate had derailed, she found herself speechless before this polite inquiry. Should she say it’s because I’m afraid you’ll fall for me? Just like last time, when you somehow developed feelings for me that I only realized upon my death?

Telling the truth would probably just make her seem like a narcissistic fool.

Seeing the girl remain silent, Feng Baiming simply prompted: “At least accept my friend request first.”

“It’s not like I’ll eat you alive. I really don’t understand you youngsters.”

Muttering this complaint, Feng Baiming watched as the girl’s face turned completely red.

“Are you blushing?” Feng Baiming couldn’t help but laugh.

“N-no! I’m just ashamed.” Luo Mingyue wanted to flee. Why was the restrained, aloof Miss Feng she remembered now wearing such a teasing, mocking expression?

She must look like a complete fool, limbs awkward and out of place, while the queen who tormented her found supreme amusement in it.

“Alright, perhaps I was indeed too abrupt.” Miss Feng reached out to smooth down a section of the girl’s curled-up hem.

Luo Mingyue flushed crimson and stepped back as if electrocuted. Feng Baiming looked at her fingers: “Uh,  do I have static or something?”

“N-no, it’s my problem!” she hurriedly clarified. “It has nothing to do with Miss Feng!”

The proud little queen looked up at her from below, suddenly intrigued. Slowly advancing step by step, Luo Mingyue instinctively wanted to retreat again but forced herself to stay put through sheer willpower.

When only a hand’s breadth remained between them, her tormentor finally stopped. The queen sighed and concluded: “You’re afraid of me.”

“That’s not true!” Luo Mingyue immediately denied. While she did want to keep her distance from Miss Feng, she didn’t want her to misunderstand.

But racking her brains, Luo Mingyue couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation. What could she say?

I’m not afraid of you because you’re the bright, warm flame, and I’m just the gray moth. My only instinct is to seek your light and warmth.

If someday I could repay you, I wouldn’t hesitate to be smashed to pieces.

“Perhaps keeping distance is its own form of cherishing,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I don’t know how to interact with you properly.”

Support The Reborn Scummy A and the Sickly O Got Together