The days rolled by uneventfully; February seemed to have just begun, and March was already upon us.
Shopkeeper Wang stood under the eaves, looking at the light rain mixed with snow outside, and complained, "The seedlings are all dying of drought, and only now do they remember to water them? What were they doing last year? Now it's raining nonstop."
Jin Shanyao, sitting in her shop, heard him complaining, opened the window, and called out, " Old Wang... if you don't get out now, you'll be crying during spring planting."
Shopkeeper Wang leaned closer, chatting with her as he rested against the window, "I'm so anxious! It's been raining on and off all day, and not a single person has come into my shop. How's your business?"
Jin Shanyao his hands and spread his arms, "Dismal..."
Shopkeeper Wang blurted out, "A bleak situation is better... A pharmacy that's too successful isn't a good thing."
"Hey... what are you saying, old man?" Qing He heard this as soon as she entered the shop. Just as she was about to retort, she saw Shopkeeper Wang shrink his neck and slam the window shut.
She rolled her eyes at the window and placed a dish of food in front of Jin Shanyao. "Please try this, Your Highness... my newly made Hongdou cake."
Jin Shanyao picked one up and put it in her mouth, then raised an eyebrow and gave Qing He a thumbs up, "Delicious."
Hearing her mistress praise her, Qing He suppressed a smile and said proudly, "Of course, this Hongdou cake took me a lot of effort. Mistress... there's no one here, why don't you go to the study to read?"
Jin Shanyao the food in her mouth, poured herself a cup of water, and drank it all in one gulp. "Someone will be here soon."
Qing He glanced at the empty street, not even a ghost in sight. She gave a puzzled "oh" and turned to go back to the backyard.
Seeing that she was the only one left in and out of the shop, Jin Shanyao smiled slyly, then got up and went outside, striding into the rain.
She spread her arms wide, letting the rain and snow pelt her, while a strange, creaking laugh echoed in her heart... She finally drank a mouthful of rainwater. "Gods," she thought, "Do you know how I've survived all these years?"
Just as she was enjoying herself immensely with the Jin Shanyao, she heard footsteps approaching. She cautiously opened her eyes a crack and saw a boy, soaked to the bone, standing beside her, mimicking her gesture by spreading his arms above his head and raising his face to greet the rain.
Jin Shanyao and looked him up and down, then quietly took a big step to the side.
The little tree in her heart swayed wildly, creaking and groaning... Let the storm rage on! But just as she was trying to face the storm again, something strange came from beside her once more.
Jin Shanyao opened her eyes again and saw the boy standing side by side with her, still imitating her.
The book says: One can do something once, twice, but not a third time.
She stared at the boy, then deliberately took another step to the left.
The boy followed suit.
Move again, then follow.
"Oh ho... you clever imitator..." Jin Shanyao fiercely at the young man and said coldly, "Young master... did I bury gold next to me?"
Hearing her question, the boy slowly opened his eyes, looking at the Jin Shanyao in confusion, "Master... I thought we were kindred spirits?"
Jin Shanyao wiped the rain from her face and looked at the boy with a puzzled expression, "Are you also a Daoist?"
"Daoism? The Great Way leads to death," the young man gazed into the void. "Yes, I am a Daoist. I know a place where there is abundant rainfall and no one to disturb us. Would you like to come with me?"
Hearing that no one was disturbing her, Jin Shanyao became interested. "Let's go... take a look."
The boy's eyes were smiling, and he knew he was a kindred spirit; otherwise, who would be foolish enough to stand outside in this rain and snow?
Jin Shanyao followed the boy to the riverbank. Rain and snow pelted into the river, and the water vapor mixed with the earthy smell wafted towards them.
Jin Shanyao took a deep breath; it was so delicious...
The boy's voice tinged with laughter, "How about it? Pretty good spot, right?"
Jin Shanyao contentedly, spreading her arms wide and letting the river breeze fill her sleeves. "Excellent... Not only is there no one to disturb me, but I also have river water to drink. This suits me perfectly."
The boy imitated her, opening his arms wide, "Girl..."
"Um?"
"I'll go first," she said, but before she could finish speaking, there was a splash. Jin Shanyao suddenly opened her eyes and saw a head bobbing up and down in the river... bubbling and gurgling.
Oh my god... Jin Shanyao hurriedly looked around. An old man suddenly appeared out of nowhere on the deserted riverbank. Their eyes met, and the old man's eyes widened suddenly.
He pointed at the boy in the river and yelled, "Something terrible has happened! Someone come quick... Manager Anzhi Hall has pushed the Young Master of the Wu Household into the river!"
"Oh no... could this be a honey trap?" Jin Shanyao both anxious and angry. She wanted to cover the old man's mouth, but there was still someone struggling in the river.
She stamped her feet in desperation... "Young master, can you hear me? How am I supposed to explain to the authorities that you committed suicide, not murder?"
Gulugulugulu...
"Young master... how about this, you climb up first, and we can talk this out. Have I offended you in some way?"
Grurrrrrrrrrrrr...
"Oh dear... you are truly my ill-fated destiny!" Jin Shanyao suddenly drew her whip, lashed it into the river, wrapped it around the boy's arm, and pulled him out of the river.
The boy emerged from the water, his wet clothes clinging to his body, like Little White being tossed about on the withered Jin Shanyao. He clutched his chest and coughed incessantly.
Looking at Jin Shanyao with a confused expression, he asked, "Girl, why aren't you dancing?"
This question completely baffled Jin Shanyao. "Why should I jump??"
"Didn't we agree to commit suicide together?"
"No, who told you we were going to commit suicide together?" Before she could finish speaking, the old man who had just run away returned with a group of people, armed with sticks and ropes.
The crowd saw the boy sitting on the ground, soaking wet, staring hesitantly at the Jin Shanyao, and combined this with the conversation they had just overheard.
The group froze on the spot. Someone shouted, "Don't panic, everyone! This isn't a murderer, it's Manager Anzhi Hall trying to commit suicide with Young Master of the Wu Household!"
"Isn't it murder?"
"No... it looks like they're committing suicide together."
Seeing that everyone had misunderstood, Jin Shanyao hurriedly explained, "No, it's not what you heard. I don't know him at all."
A hint of grievance crossed the boy's eyes, and his eyes reddened slightly. "I saw you wanted to die but couldn't find a way, so I brought you to the riverbank. Why did you change your mind at the last minute?"
Jin Shanyao felt she couldn't explain herself, and wished she could crack open the boy's head to see what was inside. "What makes you think I'm trying to kill myself?"
She has lived for thousands of years and has always been positive and optimistic. She basks in the warm sun, drinks the dew, and welcomes the spring breeze every day. Her heart is bright and she has never had the slightest thought of suicide.
What exactly did he do wrong that caused the boy to misunderstand...?
Those around were completely confused, unable to distinguish whether it was a double suicide, a murder, or a tragic love affair. However, given Shopkeeper Jin's character, regardless of the truth, it was ultimately Young Master of the Wu Household would suffer the consequences.
The boy sat sprawled on the grass, looking up at the Jin Shanyao with a pitiful expression, the river breeze making him shiver.
"You're standing on the street, letting the rain and snow soak your clothes like an idiot. What else could it be but a death wish?"
Jin Shanyao, "I... I was just... enjoying the comfort brought by the rain."
The boy was stunned for a moment and muttered to himself, "I thought I would have someone to accompany me on the road to the underworld, but I didn't expect that I was just being delusional." After saying that, he got up and jumped into the river.
She was abruptly stopped by the Jin Shanyao, and pleaded earnestly, "Young master, listen to me... let's pretend we never met today, and you can come back to dance tomorrow, okay? You can dance however you want then, I won't stop you."
Those around gasped in shock. Shopkeeper Jin was utterly despicable; how could he encourage someone to jump into the river and commit suicide...?