Looking at Jiang Sheng's hollow and dazed appearance, Yu Nian remained silent.
In such extreme grief, consolation would only make Jiang Sheng feel worse.
Yu Nian turned around and walked out of the wing - room. She said softly to Jiang Sheng, "Someone will take you to the hospital for recuperation later. You should rest well first."
The moment she closed the door, Jiang Sheng finally couldn't hold back. Several suppressed wails escaped from his throat, filled with heart - rending pain.
Feng Chengyuan had been leaning against the door waiting for Yu Nian. When he saw her come out, he supported her and walked down the steps.
"Did Jiang Li's soul completely dissipate?"
Yu Nian shook her head. "He just went to the underworld. When he pays off his karmic debts, he can be reincarnated again. It might just take a long time."
Yu Nian glanced at the closed wing - room but didn't leave immediately.
She rummaged in her bag for a while, took out the Qiankun Bag that Jiang Li had carried with him in life, and then took out two pieces of yellow paper.
Feng Chengyuan watched as Yu Nian skillfully folded the yellow paper into the shape of a Kongming lantern. Then she lit an incense stick, and the Kongming lantern quickly burned out at a visible speed in the incense.
Yu Nian gently rubbed her fingers, and a wisp of black smoke flowed down along the incense. Finally, it gathered into a thin rope between Yu Nian's fingers.
Feng Chengyuan watched intently. He thought this should be the last trace of Jiang Li's spiritual power remaining in the mortal world.
Just like when Yu Nian turned Old Master Fu's spiritual power into a tea tree and gave it to the Spring Sprite, Yu Nian wanted to leave something for Jiang Sheng on behalf of Jiang Li.
After all, people need a thought to live on. If one's heart is dead, then the person is useless, no different from a walking corpse.
The smoke fell to the ground and slowly took shape in Yu Nian's chanting - it was actually a tiny white kitten no bigger than a palm, huddled on the ground in a furry ball.
Feng Chengyuan slightly raised his eyebrows. "Why not a black cat? Are you worried that Jiang Sheng is afraid of black cats?"
Yu Nian nodded. "Jiang Sheng had been trapped in the body of a black cat with a hidden soul for a long time. I guess he has a deep shadow about black cats."
After saying that, Yu Nian picked up the little white cat by the scruff of its neck and gently placed it in a cardboard box.
A week later, Jiang Sheng recovered and was officially discharged from the hospital and returned to his apartment.
Compared to when he had just woken up, his complexion had improved a lot, but there was still a trace of dejection in his expression.
He didn't want to go out. Every day he just curled up in a corner of the room, looking sad and listless.
One ordinary afternoon, there were suddenly two soft knocks on the door.
Jiang Sheng was stunned. He didn't have many friends in Kyoto, so there shouldn't be anyone coming to look for him, right?
Jiang Sheng dragged his tired steps to open the door, but found that there was no one around.
Perhaps having experienced too many supernatural events, Jiang Sheng instinctively felt scared.
At this time, he suddenly felt a soft touch on his ankle, and a faint meow came from under his feet.
"Meow~"
Jiang Sheng immediately froze. Looking down, he saw a pure - white kitten stagger out of the cardboard box and rub affectionately against his instep.
The kitten's fur was clean, obviously well - taken - care - of by someone.
Could it be that its original owner couldn't afford to raise it anymore, so they abandoned the kitten at his door?
Jiang Sheng was afraid of cats, but for some reason, he felt a special sense of familiarity with this kitten. He reached out and picked up the kitten. The moment he looked into its clear eyes, two lines of tears slid down from the corners of his eyes.
".....Strange. Why am I crying?"
Jiang Sheng carried the kitten into the house. He had never raised such a small animal before, and for a moment, he was at a loss.
First, he rummaged through the boxes and found a small thin quilt. After padding it in the cardboard box, he placed the kitten inside.
Then he hurriedly dialed Pei Ying's phone number. "Old Pei, have you ever raised a cat? Can a kitten no bigger than a palm only drink milk powder?"
Pei Ying responded and then said in surprise, "Why do you suddenly want to raise a cat? Did you buy it or did someone give it to you?"
Jiang Sheng scratched his head. "I picked it up."
Pei Ying: "Aren't you a little afraid of cats? Are you still going to raise it?"
Jiang Sheng: "Yes."
.........
In the backlit part of the stairwell, Yu Nian patted Feng Chengyuan on the shoulder and said softly, "Let's go."
Feng Chengyuan smiled and asked Yu Nian softly, "Where shall we go next?"
"Of course, we'll go back to the Qingxin Temple." Yu Nian said as she stretched.
It was already autumn. The warm sunlight poured down on the two of them in large patches. The gentle breeze carried a bit of coolness and a faint fragrance of osmanthus when it blew across their faces.
Yu Nian yawned and casually said, "The sun is just right, and the breeze is not too dry. This is a good season for soaking in hot springs."
In her previous life when she was the Ancestor Xuande, she especially liked to soak in the hot springs on the top of Cuiwei Mountain. It not only relieved fatigue and dryness but also soothed the mood.
It was a pity that after being reborn, the hot springs on the mountain top had long dried up. She really missed them.
..........
The next morning, Yu Nian woke up naturally. She pushed open the window of the wing - room and saw that everyone from the Qingxin Temple was already ready, standing around her wing - room door with big and small bags.
Even the Spring Sprite had surprisingly transformed into a human form, holding his little tea tree and looking at Yu Nian expectantly.
As soon as they saw Yu Nian, the old beggar and Ming Mingzhong immediately showed their standard eight - tooth smiles. "Boss, you're awake!"
Yu Nian:.......?
"Are you all going to run away collectively? The door is over there."
Hong Xi ran excitedly to the window with his small schoolbag on his back and handed a black gilded envelope to Yu Nian. "Hurry up and pack. We're just waiting for you!"
Yu Nian slightly raised her eyebrows. After taking it and looking, she found that it was actually an invitation. Before she could say anything, He Zhiping said excitedly, "This is the Yinyun Hot Spring Hotel! I heard that the people who have made reservations have been queued up until next year! But President Feng is amazing. He directly bought the hotel." He paused and looked at Feng Chengyuan who had just walked into the backyard with starry eyes. "President Feng, I love your money - making ability. Don't be too strict about gender when choosing a partner. Consider me, Pingping~"
Feng Chengyuan took a small step back, politely smiled at He Zhiping, and then looked at Yu Nian and said softly, "Did you sleep well? The weather will be nice for the next few days. It's very suitable for soaking in hot springs."
Yu Nian was stunned. She didn't expect that the thought she had casually mentioned yesterday would be remembered by Feng Chengyuan.
This feeling was very subtle. Yu Nian coughed twice and shifted her gaze. ".....Wait for me for five minutes."
The car drove smoothly and arrived at the destination in the afternoon.
The Yinyun Hot Spring Hotel was located on the hillside of Yushe Mountain. Its design was very novel and unique. Inside, it was divided into several independent rooms, and each room had a private outdoor hot spring. The warm smell of sulfur wafted in the air.
Yu Nian pushed open the door of her room. A very spacious Japanese - style room appeared in front of her.
The interior decoration of the room was very elegant. The west side led directly to the outdoors and was connected to a small enclosed courtyard.
After they had dinner, the sky had completely darkened. Several small lanterns were lit in the courtyard, and their glistening light was dreamy.
Feng Chengyuan's room was adjacent to Yu Nian's. The two changed into bathrobes and ran into each other when they walked out of their rooms.
The moment he saw Yu Nian, Feng Chengyuan was stunned for a moment. A faint blush appeared on his earlobes, and then he forced himself to look away calmly.
Yu Nian's gaze shifted to the loose belt around Feng Chengyuan's waist and couldn't help but laugh. "How did you tie this belt?"
She stepped forward and naturally removed Feng Chengyuan's belt. Then she slowly tightened both sides of the belt. Bending down, she gradually got closer to Feng Chengyuan's lean waist and carefully tied it.
The two were very close. Feng Chengyuan could smell the faint sandalwood fragrance on Yu Nian's body as soon as he lowered his head.
For a moment, Feng Chengyuan's thoughts were in a daze.
Yu Nian's fingers moved nimbly, and soon she tied a big bow.
Yu Nian looked at her work with satisfaction, but just as she was about to withdraw her hand, a pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around Yu Nian, stopping her from leaving.
The next second, Yu Nian was encircled in a warm embrace.
"Tsk, I was just joking. What are you doing?"
Feng Chengyuan seemed to let out a soft sigh and gently rested his head on top of Yu Nian's head. "Nian Nian, I have something to tell you."
Yu Nian was stunned. She felt as if she was being surrounded by Feng Chengyuan's infinite tenderness at this moment.
She coughed and immediately regained her proper attitude. For some reason, she felt a little nervous. ".....Okay."
"Nian Nian, I was a firm materialist until I was twenty - six. It wasn't until I met you that I believed in predestination. At first, I thought that as long as I could stay by your side, no matter in what capacity, I would be content. But people are always greedy. The longer I've been with you, the more I want a long - term future with you. Yu Nian, I like you, and I'll like you until you don't need me anymore... I want to accompany you as your lover. Is that okay?"
Yu Nian was stunned for a while and then looked up at Feng Chengyuan, meeting his extremely gentle peach - blossom eyes.
She could feel her heart pounding violently like a drum.
Seeing that Yu Nian didn't say anything for a long time, Feng Chengyuan lowered his eyes to hide his lonely expression. "Of course, I'll never make you feel embarrassed. You have the right to reject me at any time..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yu Nian suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the face, smiling brightly.
"Please take good care of me from now on, boyfriend."