Memories (IX)

The most active of them all was Yi Xuan. Almost every day, messages of "complaints" from the little one would pop up, filled with vivid imagery:

"Big Brother! Waking up for school is so scary, I want to sleep in (╥﹏╥)"

"The math teacher talked so fast today, my brain is about to turn into mush..."

"We ran five laps in P.E.! Yi Xuan is going to turn into a flat Yi Xuan! I need Big Brother's comfort to puff back up!" Following this was a hand-drawn emoji of a little person collapsed on the ground.

Every time, no matter what Yun Lan was doing, he would stop and patiently type out a reply with fingers that were more accustomed to gripping a sword hilt, feeling slightly cold and calloused. Sometimes it was a brief encouragement: "Hang in there, I'll have Uncle Su bring you some sweet cakes after school." Other times it was a pointer: "Look at the example problems again, circle what you don't understand, and I'll teach you on the weekend." These plain words were always enough to make the little girl on the other side of the mountain jump for joy again.

In contrast, Yi Jiang's messages were regular and silent, yet like a trickling stream, they permeated his daily life in every possible way.

Every morning, just as the sky began to brighten, a "Good morning, Young Master. It's cold in the mountains, please remember to add more layers," would arrive right on time.

In the afternoon, it might be a photo taken on a whim—new buds on the branches outside the window, or a snack from the cafeteria that looked good, accompanied by the text: "Has the Young Master eaten?"

Before going to sleep at night, there would be a simple, "Goodnight, Young Master, sweet dreams."

She didn't say much, but through this almost stubborn daily greeting, she carefully maintained a sense of presence, like a truly dutiful little maid, quietly fulfilling the obligation of "caring" from a great distance. Yun Lan usually replied even more briefly, with an "Mm" or "Got it," but he never missed one.

Besides these two little girls, there was also a report from a fixed source. Every Friday evening, a message marked "Xiao Tang" would arrive right on time, formatted rigorously and clearly, like a mission briefing:

"Weekly Summary: Yi Jiang's academic performance is excellent, her Chinese essay was selected as a model piece, but she still struggles in P.E.; Yi Xuan has improved in her math quiz, gets along well with her deskmate, and was made to stand in the corner for sneaking snacks in class (I have disciplined her). Overall, no abnormalities, safety is assured. P.S.: This is the third time this week Yi Xuan has asked her sister, 'When is Big Brother coming back?'"

When Yun Lan read these reports, his expression would always relax involuntarily. Through these calm words, he could clearly outline the vivid learning trajectories of the two "white fluff-balls" down the mountain, as well as the silent yet thorough protection provided by their "homeroom teacher."

Then, every week, he would go down from the mountain to visit Yi Jiang and Yi Xuan, comfort the two little girls, and take them out for some fun. It could be said that the year these two little girls were in school was Yun Lan's busiest year, as he had to go home on weekends to visit the two white fluff-balls.

Although busy, it was fulfilling, and this life continued until Yi Jiang and Yi Xuan graduated from elementary school.

He had originally intended for them to continue on to middle school, but Yi Jiang and Yi Xuan insisted they didn't want to go; they just wanted to follow him and apprentice at Yungui Mountain.

I suspect the "apprenticing" part is a lie, and wanting to stick by my side is the truth.

But looking at the two white fluff-balls staring at me with such pitiful expressions, I couldn't bring myself to refuse them, so I compromised and said, "If you don't let your studies slide, you can come up the mountain to apprentice."

Just like that, Yun Lan boarded the train with the two little white fluff-balls. However, before departing, I pulled Yi Jiang aside.

I said to Yi Jiang, "Yi Jiang, do you want your freedom? You and your sister."

"Young Master, what are you saying~ Yi Jiang and my sister are already so grateful for your life-saving grace~ How could we ever leave you~"

I took out that deed of sale that Yi Jiang and her mother had signed a year ago. "What about this? I'm giving it back to you. You and Yi Xuan can go apprentice as free individuals."

Yun Lan had been thinking about this for a long time. He had never liked the idea of accepting service from others with a clear conscience, but under his mother's watchful eye, he hadn't had much choice.

Now that he had naturally left home, he felt it was necessary to give Yi Jiang the right to choose; he didn't believe this deed of sale held any legal weight.

Yi Jiang fell silent, looking at the Young Master's serious face, and then a dangerous smile curled at the corners of her lips.

"I appreciate the Young Master's kindness," she said softly, though every word felt like it was soaked in night dew, carrying a chill. "But it seems like... you've always wanted me and my sister to leave?" She tilted her head slightly, her hair falling over her shoulders. "Why is that?"

Yun Lan felt a familiar sense of helplessness. He tried to explain, his voice carrying a sincerity that even he felt was pale: "It's not like that, I never thought that way. It's just... at your age, you should have a wider sky and see more of the world, rather than being a maid for me."

"Is that so?" Yi Jiang nodded slightly, thoughtful, her long lashes drooping to hide the flicker of emotion in her eyes. When she looked up again, she was all smiles, but the warmth didn't reach her eyes. "But Young Master, you are the future for me and my sister."

She leaned forward, the candlelight casting soft shadows on her face, but her tone was resolute: "A future without the Young Master is something Yi Jiang doesn't want. So, Young Master, you don't dislike me and my sister, right?" She cleverly diverted the core of the question.

"Yi Jiang, no one could dislike a girl like you."

"I'm asking about YOU!!! Not anyone else!!!" The young girl's brows arched in anger as she responded, word by word.

Seeing that Yun Lan remained silent, Yi Jiang pushed the paper back toward him.

"I will serve the Young Master for the rest of my life." Her voice returned to calm, even carrying a hint of tenderness, yet it was more irresistible than her previous questioning. "Since you became the only light in my and my sister's world, illuminating the path that was originally hopeless, you want to just let go now..."

She raised her eyes, looking straight at Yun Lan, her gaze clear to the bottom, yet bottomless.

"In this world, there is no such thing as a free lunch."

As expected.

Yun Lan looked at the young girl's incredibly firm face before him, and the vague unease in his heart finally took root, rapidly spreading like a vine of helplessness. He had originally thought that granting freedom was a gift, never imagining that for some, if that "freedom" meant leaving his side, it would be equivalent to stripping away all meaning from their world.