Su Buchi didn't have much trouble retrieving the lotus lantern that Li Ying had released. He cupped it in his palm as if he were scooping up the moon's reflection from the sea.
The note hidden in the secret compartment at the bottom of the lantern was soaked through. Su Buchi carefully unfolded it, as if he were holding a rare and precious painting.
Li Ying's handwriting was not particularly neat. Each stroke was lively and unrestrained, showing her bold and unbridled spirit, just like her personality.
"If I could travel through time again, please let me go back to Lu Xunguang's childhood. I want to pat his head and tell him that he is the best and most unique boy in the world, far surpassing countless others. Don't be self - deprecating. Just wait for me to love you obediently."
Su Buchi didn't understand what "traveling through time" meant, but he could tell from Li Ying's words that her heart had already been completely given to Lu Xunguang.
During the lantern - lighting ceremony at the Martial Arts Conference, her wish was only for a smooth career. But now, she clearly included Lu Xunguang in her future.
In this silent competition, he had lost completely and miserably.
Su Buchi pushed Li Ying's lotus lantern back into the white waves. As for his own lantern, it was swept against a reef, drifted crookedly for a couple of inches, and then sank silently. He didn't care much.
On that lantern, there were only four simple words:
May Your Wish Come True.
Su Buchi took a deep breath. He stopped looking at the twinkling lights on the sea and knelt straight in front of Yan Lianzhi.
"Disciple remembers that before Senior Sister passed away, she left many notes. Disciple has always admired Senior Sister. Today, daringly, I ask Master to let disciple sort out Senior Sister's relics!"
Yan Lianzhi looked at his determined look and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
This young disciple of his seemed calm on the surface, but in fact, he was quite stubborn at heart.
He sighed, then casually took out a thin booklet from his bosom and threw it to Su Buchi.
Su Buchi caught it and saw that it clearly read "For Xun Personally" on it.
"Master, this is...?"
Seeing his puzzled look, Yan Lianzhi snorted disdainfully.
"Silly boy, do you really think your master is old and muddled and can't see your little thoughts? Don't you just want to find something from your senior sister's notes to encourage that young man from the Lu family? Take it!"
Back then, Lu Xunguang's mother knew that her days were numbered. She also knew that this child had deep - seated burdens in his heart. If she was gone, he would probably shut himself off even more. So, she propped up her sick body and managed to write this thin booklet, entrusting it to Master.
Although Yan Lianzhi had agreed to her last wish, Lu Xunguang was extremely secretive about his mother's death. He had never found a suitable opportunity and didn't dare to act rashly, so he had postponed it until today.
Now that Su Buchi had volunteered, with this "rival in love" taking action and using a goading tactic, there might really be unexpected results.
It was just a pity for his silly disciple...
Even though Yan Lianzhi was a free - spirited person, he couldn't help but feel a bit of pity at this moment.
Su Buchi had already thought things through clearly. He took the thing without hesitation and went straight to find Lu Xunguang.
"Lu Xunguang, since Miss Li has chosen you, no matter what difficulties you have that are hard to tell others, you should be a real man, stand upright, and be her support. Don't act like a petty person and make her worry about you."
He rarely had a straight face, looking like a mature young man. His words also had a bit of a "reprimanding" tone.
Lu Xunguang took the booklet. Seeing the familiar handwriting, he was struck like a thunderbolt. After a long time, he finally stroked the words and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your advice, Uncle Su. Nephew will surely take good care of A Ying."
Su Buchi didn't say more to him. He nodded slightly and then got up to leave.
This knot in Lu Xunguang's heart needed to be untied by himself. Others couldn't help.
He just hoped that with the help of this booklet, Lu Xunguang could let go of his burden sooner. In this way, Miss Li's wish would come true, right?
Li Ying was completely unaware of the undercurrent between these two men. In the past few days, dealing with Lord Lin and his wife and preparing for the Qixi Lantern Festival had exhausted her. She had a good night's sleep.
The next morning, refreshed, she pushed open the window and saw Lu Xunguang leaning stiffly under her window. The dark circles under his eyes were clearly visible even on his dark skin, indicating that he hadn't slept all night.
She was startled. Lu Xunguang quickly got up, with an undeniable look of apology on his face.
He said softly, "A Ying, did I disturb your good dream? Last night, I got the notes left by my mother. I wanted to share them with you, but thinking that you had been busy for days and must be tired, I didn't wake you up."
Li Ying was secretly delighted.
She had just made a wish yesterday that he could let go of his burden, and it came true so quickly?
She had always been quite curious about this "prospective mother - in - law" she had never met. Now that Lu Xunguang had taken the initiative to open his heart to her, she quickly wiped her face, drove away all her drowsiness, quickly washed up, and sat on the reef with him to read the booklet.
"Xun'er, Mother knows that her days are numbered. You have always been patient and have your own opinions when dealing with things. You are also the kind of person who is prone to getting stuck in a dead - end. Mother is worried, so I leave this last letter, hoping that it can console you in the future..."
The writing was in the delicate zanhua small - regular script. Every line and every page was filled with sincere affection, and a mother's love was clearly shown.
Li Ying gently placed her small hand on his shoulder.
After a long time, Lu Xunguang took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "A Ying, don't worry. I'm okay."
The writing in the booklet was neat at first. Later, perhaps because the illness had advanced and she was too weak to support herself, the handwriting became more and more chaotic. On the last page, there were only a few words.
"Xun'er, your father and I have been together for half a lifetime. He is the love of my life. I know that my end is near. The only thing I'm worried about is you and your father. He also has his own helplessness. After I die, don't blame him..."
The note ended abruptly here. There were a few drops of what seemed like blood splashed on the page. Over the years, they had turned dark, which was shocking.
Lu Xunguang's face turned cold.
Li Ying rarely saw him looking so livid. She gently tugged at his sleeve worriedly.
"A Ying, I've made you worried."
"Mother was so infatuated. Even until her death, she still missed that heartless man. A Ying, how could he... Does he have any conscience at all!"
He had thought that his mother was just too sad to care anymore, but he never expected that his affectionate mother would still be so unrepentant when she was on her last breath!
I give my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch?
Mother, why do you torture yourself like this? It's really not worth it!
Although Li Ying didn't say a word as she held his hand, she could easily read the turbulent emotions in Lu Xunguang's eyes.
"Lu Xunguang, don't be in a hurry."
Li Ying spoke softly. Looking back at the last letter, she only felt something was strange.
According to Yan Lianzhi, this female disciple he was most proud of not only had an outstanding appearance but also a clear mind and was an open - minded person.
The whole note was filled with a mother's love for Lu Xunguang, mixed with advice on business. The words were sharp and to the point.
Obviously, her "prospective mother - in - law" was a rational person.
But why, the last words she left before she passed away seemed to show that she had a deeply - rooted "love - brain"?
Was it because a dying person's words were kind? Or did someone tamper with this booklet?
Or... was there some unknown inside story about the disharmony between her parents?