The Celestial Maiden (Revised)

Qin Yanan's mood grew increasingly heavy. After a woman turns twenty, she generally begins to accept reality, realizing that romantic love tinged with fairy-tale colors is unlikely to appear. She even grows increasingly disdainful of the tropes in idol dramas; honestly, if those male leads were to use their standard tactics, they would likely be warned by someone—intentionally or otherwise—to stay far away from Qin Yanan the moment they tried.

Thus, Qin Yanan gradually steeled herself, beginning to ponder who her family might arrange for her. Whenever her family discussed outstanding, eye-catching, or promising young men, Qin Yanan would pay extra attention, and she had indeed noted down many names.

Although she felt no special affection for these people—feeling only reluctance and repulsion—at least she had an impression of who they were.

And this Liu Chang'an?

He popped out like a monkey, pointed at Qin Yanan's nose, and laughed heartily: "Stop picking! Your true love is me!"

Then, amidst the sound of firecrackers lit by her father and great-grandfather, he hoisted Qin Yanan onto his shoulder and happily snatched her away into the small bedroom he had converted from a storage room.

Should she try to comfort herself by thinking this tiny bedroom might hold a sense of warmth?

"Then you should be considered my cousin." Qin Yanan forced a smile. No matter what, a girl always subconsciously wants to be the younger one, even when facing Liu Chang'an.

Liu Chang'an shook his head.

"Consider me a younger cousin. I'm eighteen this year, a senior at Xiangnan Normal University Affiliated High School, taking the college entrance exam next month."

Eighteen!

Qin Yanan's originally languid posture instantly straightened.

A cool vest often worn by middle-aged men on the streets of Junsha, baggy coarse-cloth trousers large enough to hold a bottle of Erguotou, and straw-vine sandals only found in old, obscure markets—was this an eighteen-year-old boy?

The first time she saw Liu Chang'an, Qin Yanan felt he was about her age; she never imagined he could be so much younger than her.

In other words, was this entirely her own preconceived misunderstanding? No matter how much her great-grandfather cared for this distant cousin, he couldn't possibly force such a union!

Thinking of this, Qin Yanan let out a sigh of relief. The stifling frustration that had been pressing on her chest for days finally dissipated with her breath. No one knew what she had been feeling earlier while watching Liu Chang'an haggle over a yuan or two while playing cards with a group of old men and women, all through the lens of evaluating a fiancé.

If her fiancé were really like that, Qin Yanan would rather become a nun.

Only eighteen! Her little cousin!

Although this little cousin was a distant relative, judging by her great-grandfather's emotions, there was no doubt he valued this boy immensely.

After her great-grandmother passed away, following the customs and organizational arrangements of the time, a female orderly was assigned to take care of the commander, and it wasn't until ten years later that her great-grandfather remarried.

But everyone knew her great-grandfather still missed her great-grandmother dearly. A photo of the two of them always sat on his desk, whether in the Capital, their hometown, or the sanatorium.

Wait... there were three people in that photo, not just her great-grandfather and great-grandmother.

Photos from that era always exuded a sense of elegance refined by time; even the black-and-white tones couldn't hide their high spirits. Her great-grandfather was imposing and heroic, while her great-grandmother was elegant and gentle. She sat in the middle, her palm slightly raised, her wrists fair and white, her slender fingers gently holding a few fingers of the man on the right, the longing and reliance in her eyes overflowing from the frame.

This man in the photo, who seemed even closer to her great-grandmother than her great-grandfather was, had been described by her great-grandfather as her great-grandmother's brother, but no further information about him was available, and her great-grandfather was unwilling to disclose anything.

In that era, there were countless figures who should have been legendary. Driven by the will to "sacrifice for great ambitions and dare to make the sun and moon shine in a new sky," they followed one another, willingly becoming nameless cornerstones of the revolution. Even if no one knew them, even if they left no names or traces, they were building the future of a new nation and people.

That man was likely one of them.

Qin Yanan's deduction was well-founded. Her great-grandfather once believed that "only those who revolt with me are friends." He disdained not only those who betrayed the country for glory but even those who merely sought to protect themselves. When they were students, some retreated to the southwest, but her great-grandfather and great-grandmother were among those who put down their pens and picked up guns.

For her great-grandfather to specifically keep a photo of the three of them, it couldn't just be because the man was her great-grandmother's close relative.

Now that the Qin family held high positions in the halls of power and Liu Chang'an was in such reduced circumstances, her great-grandfather must have felt deeply guilty toward the comrade-in-arms who had sacrificed himself. It made sense that he would have Qin Yanan come to look after Liu Chang'an, and her great-grandfather's demand for her to be humble and respectful was likely based on the connection to Liu Chang'an's great-grandfather.

"So that's how it is." Qin Yanan's tone softened considerably. "It really makes one sigh with emotion. The friendship between the elders began over a hundred years ago. Now that we meet again, I only hope this bond and affection will not be severed. We must visit each other often in the future."

Liu Chang'an opened his mouth as if he had thought of something, scrutinized Qin Yanan seriously, and then shook his head.

Qin Yanan was puzzled by his reaction. She didn't have the familial bond cultivated since childhood for this cousin, but she was trying hard to fulfill her great-grandfather's wish. As his older cousin, she no longer felt the initial repulsion toward getting closer to this distant relative.

"I initially thought your great-grandfather had you meet me so that after he passes, I would remember the old ties and look after you a little. After all, you look so much like Ye Sijin; he knew that seeing that, I would certainly do my best." Liu Chang'an laughed in surprise. "You've reminded me—his thoughts seem to go beyond that. He wants you to become my wife."

"What did you say!"

It was like a bolt from the blue; the ups and downs of her emotions were like the turbulent waves upon her broad, expansive heart.

"This is absurd. How could I take a woman who looks almost exactly like your great-grandmother as my wife?" Images of Ye Sijin's voice and smile surfaced in Liu Chang'an's mind. "You should go back. I will explain it clearly to your great-grandfather and make him drop this idea."

Qin Yanan stared at Liu Chang'an in disbelief. "How is that possible! I am seven years your senior; how could he arrange this? And what right do you have to look down on me?"

"If a man who looked exactly like your great-grandfather came to pursue you, would he have a chance?" Liu Chang'an countered.

Qin Yanan shook her head. That feeling was just too bizarre; she definitely couldn't accept it.

"Doesn't that explain it?"

"It's different..." Qin Yanan felt that Liu Chang'an had no reason to reject her just because she looked too much like her great-grandmother; it was different from her inability to accept a boyfriend who looked like her great-grandfather.

"It's no different. Although, strictly speaking, I have no blood relation to anyone, your appearance is truly impossible for me to accept. It would immerse me in too many memories, which is not what I want... For me, time takes everyone away, and I should also restrain my past emotions and memories." Liu Chang'an had no way to explain it clearly to Qin Yanan.

"You think I want this?" Qin Yanan was incensed, turned around, and stormed off.

This angry little look was actually much cuter than her usual cold, reserved demeanor. Liu Chang'an nodded with satisfaction, then waved his cattail fan and went into the room.

Qin Yanan returned to Baolong Center, where Zhong Qing was downstairs walking the Rottweiler... Qin Yanan only learned today that the name Zhu Juntang gave the dog was Protoss High Templars. The original Chinese name was High Templar, but now it had been changed to a translation that better fit the principles of faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance: High Monk of Putuo Temple.

However, Putuo Temple was a real, sacred Buddhist site, and "High Monk" was not a title to be insulted lightly, so Zhu Juntang still called her dog High Templar.

What kind of mess was this? Qin Yanan had no interest in knowing the reason behind Zhu Juntang's naming choices and asked Zhong Qing where Zhu Juntang was.

Zhong Qing continued walking the High Templar. Public security in Junsha was already quite good, especially in the city center, and even more so when she was leading a fierce dog that reminded people of a savage hunter.

Qin Yanan found Zhu Juntang on the helipad of the main building of Baolong Center. The beautiful young girl was wearing a gorgeous and magnificent Ming Dynasty noblewoman's ceremonial dress, holding a small folding fan, and looking around at the surroundings below.

Qin Yanan truly envied her carefree appearance, even though she knew that Zhu Juntang's ambition, which didn't match her mental maturity, was actually overflowing as well.

"I suspect that one day I really might jump off from here." Zhu Juntang tested the edge with two steps before walking back, leaning into Qin Yanan's embrace while touching her forehead. "Ah... darling, I'm afraid of heights. Let me rest in your arms for a while."

Qin Yanan pushed away Zhu Juntang's soft frame and walked into the glass house filled with various flowers. Aside from the lights at the distant peak of Mount Lu, looking out horizontally from the top of the city revealed nothing but boundless darkness. Yet, the warmth radiating from this small glass house formed such a stark contrast that it finally allowed her heart to settle.

"Why do you always like climbing up here?" Qin Yanan didn't doubt that Zhu Juntang would jump off the roof; who hasn't had crazy thoughts? It was just a matter of reason keeping them in check.

If a strong wind were to blow across this rooftop, however, the possibility of Zhu Juntang being blown off wasn't entirely zero.

"Don't you feel like sitting here is like sitting above the clouds, and you yourself become a little fairy?" Zhu Juntang smiled. "I am a fairy, untainted by the mortal world."

"Fairies always end up marrying mortal men." Qin Yanan said with a hint of mockery.

"That doesn't matter." Zhu Juntang didn't care. "I'd still be a fairy... anyway, how did your inquiries go today?"

Zhu Juntang knew what Qin Yanan cared about most right now; she had gone to find her father to ask for information today.

"Do you know? My dad analyzed that in the past, my great-grandfather always turned away those who came to make introductions or marriage proposals, using the excuse that he wanted me to choose for myself. In reality, he was waiting—waiting until he found his old friend so he could save me as a bride for their family!" This analysis had left Qin Yanan feeling depressed all evening.

"Who on earth is this person? What's his name? Let me vet him for you." Zhu Juntang suppressed her overflowing schadenfreude and put on an expression of deep concern.

"Do you think I'd tell you? I don't want you getting involved." Qin Yanan shook her head without a second thought. She knew Zhu Juntang's personality all too well: she wanted to meddle in everything, make self-righteous decisions, and then slip away once the waters were muddied, leaving others to clean up the mess.

"Are we still sisters or not?" Zhu Juntang said indignantly.

Qin Yanan looked at Zhu Juntang, sizing her up from head to toe, and suddenly recalled the romantic escapades of Su Mei, the old matriarch of Zhu Juntang's family, back in her youth.