I Was Clearly Trying to Coax You

The night enveloped the quiet courtyard.

The cold moon hung alone, its clear light flooding the ground.

The surroundings were clearly visible, with a faint mist lingering at the edge of the distant sky. A few lonely stars dotted the mist's edge, twinkling and dazzling the eye.

Qiqi was playing alone in the yard, while Yang Zhi and Sister Lin sat at a stone table, watching her with gentle eyes.

Sister Lin gave a bitter smile as she watched, saying helplessly, "It's really wonderful. Children are so carefree."

Yang Zhi sat with dignified elegance, her eyes curving into a tender smile upon hearing this.

"Why do you say that all of a sudden?"

"I was thinking about when I was a child, so lonely and without a single relative. I never knew when my next meal would come, I had no pretty clothes, no house to live in, nothing..."

She spoke with great gravity, yet her face showed no excessive emotion, her features cold.

Yang Zhi tilted her head and glanced at her, seemingly accustomed to her perpetually pessimistic and gloomy demeanor.

Sister Lin: "My world was entirely black and white."

Nothing could truly make her happy.

The childhood trauma was too great... it would probably take a lifetime to heal.

She used to always say her life was bitter, but recently, after reading some books, she had found a new way to express it.

"Sister Lin," Yang Zhi suddenly called her name.

Sister Lin lazily turned her head to look at her. "What is it?"

Yang Zhi's face was still delicate and pure, and just looking at her made one feel comfortable.

"I don't think that's quite right."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't be so pessimistic."

"You're still young. You haven't experienced much. You don't understand people like us."

Sister Lin turned her head back, looking at Qiqi in the distance.

Yang Zhi sighed and said slowly, "Sister Lin, I truly believe this."

Sister Lin: "..."

Yang Zhi: "A black and white world... Hmm, I remember that all colors of light gathered together become white, and all pigments mixed together become black."

Hearing this, Sister Lin showed a flicker of interest, looking at Yang Zhi from the corner of her eye.

Yang Zhi smiled sweetly and said to her, "See, aren't there many colors? Your world is clearly full of color."

Sister Lin's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Yang Zhi. "Full of color?"

Yang Zhi's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes curving as she smiled.

"Perhaps it wasn't before, but now, maybe it's because Qiqi is here."

"..."

"Right?"

The last two words were spoken in a cute tone, unlike her mature personality, with even a hint of playfulness.

She was actually trying to cheer Sister Lin up a little.

"Yang Zhi."

"Yes? What is it, Sister Lin?"

"How can you be so good with words, so good at comforting people?"

"I don't think I'm comforting you, I'm clearly coaxing you~"

After saying that, Yang Zhi winked mischievously.

Sister Lin helplessly exclaimed, "And you say you're not good with words?!"

Though her face showed annoyance, she was inwardly overjoyed.

Someone like her, who had experienced such a tragic past, truly cherished gentle people who could express love and tenderness, people radiating a benevolent aura.

She wondered why Nuwa hadn't created more such people when she made humankind. People who grew up in love, nourished by it, and then emerged from the light into the darkness to redeem people like herself.

Yang Zhi: "..."

Sister Lin: "You know, you're even like this when you reject someone's confession."

Yang Zhi: "Rejecting a confession?"

Why did this suddenly come up...

"Uh-huh. That's right. I find it really interesting how you reject people. I've seen so many people reject confessions, directly saying things like 'You're too ugly, I don't like you, we're not compatible, you have no talent, I don't want to date you.'"

"..."

"They always list out criticisms with barbs, putting the person down to the lowest point. But you... what... uh... oh right. 'Your kindness is a thousand pieces of gold, yet I lack the beauty to match.'"

Sister Lin paused and continued, "A cultured person, a cultured person."

Yang Zhi gave a dry laugh, "That was all a long time ago. I didn't expect you to remember it more clearly than I do, Sister Lin."

"Because it was too memorable," Sister Lin said, stretching and propping her chin with her hand.

Yang Zhi straightened up, placed her hands on her legs, and said gently, "Sister Lin, I think it's a sad thing when the person you like doesn't like you back, so you have to firmly refuse while still being respectful."

Sister Lin: "..."

A gentle yet firm refusal, it really suits your personality.

Yang Zhi took a deep breath, turned around, and looked up at the stars in the sky, "If I were to date someone, I would only be with someone I really like."

"I know," Sister Lin said, taking a sip of plain water and patting Yang Zhi's arm, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be single your whole life. What do they call you? A golden single dog? Pfft..."

Yang Zhi gazed at the starry sky, a pure smile as bright as moonlight appearing on her face, "What's the rush?" As she said this, her gaze softened slightly, and she blurted out in English, "Always believe that something good is about to happen."

Sister Lin was completely confused by the English.

"What the heck? Speak Chinese!"

"Always believe that something good is about to happen."

"Is... that so?"

"Yes. I believe heaven has saved the best for me, waiting in the future. You should believe it too."

Yang Zhi turned back and smiled, her gentle smile leaving a deep impression. The smile in the corners of her eyes lingered for a long time, exuding an otherworldly purity, like a delicate orchid blooming in a valley, fragrant and melancholic, refreshing the heart.

Sister Lin was mesmerized.

Amazing, truly amazing.

This young girl is simply incredible. Looking at her, one really wants to exclaim, "Welcome to Earth, fairy!"

With her around, I can rest assured about Qiqi.

"Alright, alright, I'm not chatting anymore, I'm going to be late."

"Hey, Yang Zhi!"

As Sister Lin watched, she reached out and grabbed Yang Zhi's slender, delicate arm.

"Hm?" Yang Zhi looked down at her, confused.

"You're in such a hurry, are you going to see that brat?"

"What brat?"

"That kid from the Ding family."

"Oh, little Ding Yebai."

Sister Lin narrowed her eyes and patted Yang Zhi's hand, "I heard he has a strange temper and is cold. Can you two even get along?"

Hearing this, Yang Zhi frowned slightly and looked at Sister Lin earnestly, "Who told you that? He's actually a very good person."

The sudden seriousness stunned Sister Lin, and she involuntarily let go.

"Oh... Haha, a high evaluation. Alright then, you should hurry."

"Okay. I'm going."

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