Chapter 118: A Troubling Proposition and a Comforting Melody

“That’s a very irritating thing to say, you know?”

Upon hearing Qin Yuqian’s words, Ye Qing’s delicate brows knitted into a frown. She glared fixedly at Qin Yuqian, yet the latter seemed utterly oblivious to the reason for her anger.

“At least it can help you fulfill one wish. Perhaps it won’t be perfectly realized, but it’s certainly better than having nothing at all.”

Ye Qing gritted her teeth, as questions cascaded one after another. They were precisely the kind that gave her a splitting headache, leaving her utterly unable to decide.

She loathed indecision, yet such matters seemed to relentlessly hound her.

“Surely such a wish would be twisted, wouldn’t it?”

“Whether it’s twisted or not primarily depends on the true intentions of the wish-maker. Regardless, this wish will not betray your original intent.”

At this, Ye Qing froze, unable to utter a word for a long moment.

‘Does that mean Gu Xuanyu’s wish didn’t actually deviate from her own thoughts? Or is Silver Moon deceiving me again…’

‘What in the world is going on?’

Ye Qing felt nothing but vexation, yet she didn’t know who to seek for answers, or even who to trust.

She desperately wished to escape this feeling, but a suffocating frustration seemed to clog her chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Qin Yuqian, are you trying to make me a Magical Girl?”

When asked so directly, the black-haired girl did not flinch. She answered without hesitation.

“Yes, that might actually be a good thing.”

“What do you mean ‘might’… Never mind. I can’t give you an answer right now, and I don’t want to see you for a while.”

Qin Yuqian shrugged indifferently.

“Understood, but you don’t have much time left. Don’t miss this opportunity.”

Ye Qing’s face was as cold as ice. She ignored Qin Yuqian and simply turned back in the direction she had come from.

At a time like this, some questions were better confirmed in person.

***

Ye Qing wondered whom she would seek out.

‘Ye Qing, I knew you’d come back to me.’

Those beautiful, wine-red eyes, brimming with delight, were so comforting that Ye Qing couldn’t help but sigh in relief. Without a trace of guardedness, she wrapped her arms around the girl’s slender waist.

Even Gu Xuanyu was taken aback. Feeling the petite, soft body pressed tightly against her, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Ye Qing. Her initial disbelief was quickly followed by an inexplicable unease.

“What’s wrong?”

Ye Qing closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the embrace for a moment, gradually untangling her jumbled thoughts. Then, she released her hold and looked steadily at Gu Xuanyu.

“Nothing, I just suddenly thought of you. I simply couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

Ye Qing had spoken the truth, though perhaps not in the way Gu Xuanyu understood it.

Indeed, upon hearing her words, the silver-haired girl’s brows instantly relaxed, and the corners of her lips curved upwards. Her joy was almost palpable.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

Despite her words, Gu Xuanyu naturally took Ye Qing’s hand, looking utterly reluctant to part.

Feeling the warmth enveloping her hand, Ye Qing inwardly sighed. She decided to humor the girl for now.

“Mhm, that’s good. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen you play the piano since that last time…”

“Because every time I think of the piano, I recall the sight of you getting hurt, Ye Qing,” Gu Xuanyu said softly, a fleeting image of the black-haired girl collapsing to the ground flashing before her eyes, causing another pang in her heart.

“If you like it, you don’t have to worry about me…” Ye Qing hesitated, then added, “Besides, I really like your piano playing. It’s truly beautiful.”

‘Is that so?’

The sadness in the silver-haired girl’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a gradually brightening glow. She tightly clasped Ye Qing’s hand, so tightly that it almost hurt Ye Qing.

However, the black-haired girl expertly masked the sting of pain. She always disliked spoiling the mood.

“There’s a piano in the academy I used to play. It should still be there. If Ye Qing wants to hear it, shall we go take a look together?”

Ye Qing slowly nodded, unconsciously swayed by the silver-haired girl’s excitement.

‘Only for me to hear?’

Moments later, Gu Xuanyu led Ye Qing to a dusty classroom. With a swift movement, she pulled back the thick cloth draped over the piano, instantly stirring up a flurry of dancing dust.

After a few light coughs, Ye Qing opened her eyes and took in the full appearance of the piano.

Its surface was a pure, unadorned black, yet it wasn’t devoid of luster. Instead, under the lingering orange-red glow of the setting sun, it reflected a breathtaking sheen.

Gu Xuanyu gently lifted the piano lid. The hinges creaked, emitting a slight scraping sound, suggesting a lack of maintenance. Yet, the eighty-eight alternating black and white keys lay perfectly intact, awaiting the elegant silver-haired pianist’s nimble fingers to grace them.

“Ye Qing, are you interested in this piano?”

Gu Xuanyu settled familiarly before the piano, her fingertips gliding across the keys. As a melodious scale ascended, it seemed to carry a sense of long-awaited reunion.

“Mhm.”

Just as she had once accompanied the girl, Ye Qing finally rediscovered their old way of interacting. She quietly responded, without any superfluous words.

‘Yes, this is how it should be,’ she thought. ‘She speaks, I listen.’

‘It’s just that at some point, Gu Xuanyu’s focus shifted entirely to me. This fiery, possessive love made me feel a little overwhelmed, even causing me to confuse my own feelings for her.’

‘Yes, from the very beginning until now, the deepest part of my heart has always held this tranquil and beautiful affection for her. Perhaps it is a form of love, but it is certainly not a desire for physical intimacy.’

‘However, with time, a more intimate emotion naturally blossomed, much like that night not long ago, or every time she held my left hand.’

“This piano is called , and it’s said to be quite valuable. It’s a bit of a waste to leave it here. I really like its sound—it’s very crisp. Even the heavy notes are clear and distinct.”

“Mhm.”

Gu Xuanyu began to play casually. The moving melody was not unfamiliar; it was ‘Nocturne.’ Although the piano notes, struck by the girl’s slender fingers, resonated throughout the entire room, they brought only a faint tranquility, gradually calming Ye Qing’s restless heart.

But as the girl’s performance reached its peak, the piano music unconsciously grew a little hurried. Perhaps only the sole listener in the room perceived this urgency, like a ribbon wrapped around her, gradually tightening with Gu Xuanyu’s every touch.

It slowly constricted her restless body, little by little depriving her of the ability to make a sound, like a carefully wrapped Christmas gift, finished with an exquisite bow.

As the final note fell, Ye Qing’s body remained somewhat stiff. Gu Xuanyu, however, let out a long breath, feeling an unprecedented sense of liberation.

“Whew, I’m a bit out of practice, but it should still be pretty good, right? I still have that much confidence.”

Under the silver-haired girl’s expectant gaze, Ye Qing finally snapped back to reality. She quickly blinked, then nodded.

She knew the girl hoped for praise, and she deserved it.

“Mhm.”

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