The Nightmare Experience of a Useless Person

"However, you are the same, forever someone I can never pursue, like a star, like the moon. I shouldn't taint you with possessive and jealous thoughts..."

A gentle breeze stirred, and at that moment, Qingjun's heart, like a lantern hanging high in the window, swayed precariously, flickering between light and shadow, solely due to his single tear. Perhaps she could tell the poor child before her that he was different from the masses, and that besides pity, she felt something more for him…

The door opened, and a gust of night wind swept up, extinguishing the flickering candlelight and silencing Qingjun's voice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in the room, Qingjun." Jiang Shuo held a wooden basin, the white steam rising from it, blurring his vision.

"I was going to give Zhiyang a bath, but I was busy packing up the New Year's goods you brought back and forgot about him here." Jiang Shuo placed the basin on the stool by the bed and quickly lit the candles in the room.

The candles were lit, casting a dim, yellowish light. Only then did Qingjun realize that Jiang Zhiyang was naked under the covers, his pale shadow falling on his well-defined shoulders and neck, making him appear even thinner.

"It's my fault, you wipe him down." She hurriedly looked away, her steps tinged with panic.

"I'm sorry." Jiang Zhiyang made a sound with all his might, which even made Jiang Shuo pause.

The handkerchiefs in his hands were folded together, and a few clear splashes of water were heard. Seeing that no one answered, Jiang Shuo tightened his grip and deliberately amplified the sound. "I'm sorry, what's there to be sorry about? We're all family. What friction, what conflict, just talk it out. What can't be overcome?"

Qingjun hurriedly left, her limp knuckles pressing against her chest, trying to calm the violent heaving in her chest. However, the thought of Jiang Zhiyang being naked in the same room with her just now made her heart break, and her whole being break. It was just a mortal man's body, yet it made her so nervous.

"Sister Qingjun, what are you doing here?" Xiulian waved and came running through the narrow corridor, her eyes crinkling with joy, even her steps exuding a sense of ease and happiness. "Come on, let's go see Xiaotao and the others wearing their new clothes!"

Inside the room, three little girls, dressed in matching red jackets and skirts, with red shawls adorned with white fur draped over their shoulders, looked like koi fish dolls from a painting come to life. Holding hands, they skipped and jumped excitedly, and when they saw Qingjun enter, they swarmed around her.

Ali was the first to respond, "Thank you, Sister Qingjun, this color is so beautiful!"

Xuanxuan followed closely behind, "Thank you, Sister Qingjun! This dress is so warm!"

"Thank you, Sister Qingjun. Can I...can I wear this outfit to sleep?" Xiaotao couldn't keep up with the rhythm, her mouth sticky and sticky, so she could only wave her hands to express her excitement.

Xiulian laughed so hard she almost fell over, reaching out to rub Xiaotao's chubby cheeks. "You like it so much! You don't want to take it off."

"No, you can't sleep in thick clothes, Xiaotao will kick off the blankets." Qingjun gently rubbed Xiaotao's hand to comfort her.

"Then, then, then can I put it next to my pillow?" Xiaotao suppressed her excitement and asked tentatively again.

"Of course!" Xiulian knelt down and held Xiaotao tightly in her arms. Perhaps it was the tickling effect of her hair on her neck, but Xiaotao kept quacking like a little duck, her body wriggling wildly in Xiulian's arms like an eel.

"Hahahaha!" The room was filled with laughter and joy, like a fire in the winter snow, driving away the slight unease in Qingjun's heart.

"How wonderful," Qingjun exclaimed sincerely, as if such days could last forever as long as they were together and as long as there was laughter.

The day after Qingjun returned was New Year's Eve. As the dawn broke through the darkness and cast the first rays of light into the quiet courtyard, the chickens in the yard crowed the most exhilaratingly of the year!

The deafening sound was like a pebble thrown into still water, causing ripples to spread across the surface and the fish in the pond to leap up joyfully.

Thanks to the New Year's goods that Qingjun brought back, everyone at Leshantang is very busy.

Jiang Shuo set up a long ladder, climbed up, and hung lanterns resembling red persimmons all over the eaves. When the wind blew, the swaying red lanterns blurred his vision and wafted into his heart.

Three or four older children were picking vegetables with Aunt Dong. From time to time, a few hearty laughs came from the kitchen, along with the crackling of chopping firewood, the rustling of burning fireworks, and the clattering of knives and slabs, creating the most festive music under the high walls.

Since the weather turned cold, Old Jiang's health had been deteriorating, and he hadn't left his room for a long time. But today, he looked radiant and energetic, sitting in the courtyard, leaning on a long cane, listening to Xiulian tell him the latest trendy stories.

As always, Ali, Xiaotao, and Xuanxuan stayed close together, sitting around a long table, cutting red cloth into thin strips, and writing down their New Year's wishes with brushes.

Xiao Tao turned her head to look at Ali's pen, "What did you wish for?"

"We'll always be together!" Ah Li raised the prayer ribbon towards the azure sky, and the bright sunlight shone through, casting a festive red glow.

"My wish is for peace, joy, and all things to go well!"

"Brother Zhiyang, how do you write the character for 'health'? I don't know." Xuanxuan picked up the brush, but didn't notice that black ink smeared on her fair skin, drawing a black and white kitten.

"Come on, let me teach you. First, a left-falling stroke, then a right-falling stroke..." The large hand held the small hand, making the man's hand appear even wider and the knuckles more distinct. When he exerted a little force, the pink color at the knuckles became even more obvious.

Today, Jiang Zhiyang was dressed in an elegant deep blue, with the collar cut to his collarbone, revealing a section of his fair and delicate neck. When he spoke, his Adam's apple swayed up and down, making it appear even more prominent.

The fabric on his chest was pressed neatly, outlining the curves of his body. As he moved slightly, the shimmering brocade revealed subtle orchid-shaped patterns, adding a touch of gentle elegance to his every move.

The leather belt around his waist was the one Qingjun had chosen after walking all over the street. It was made of sturdy material, adorned with gold and jade, and when worn, it made him look like a young master from a noble family. Most importantly, with the belt fastened, Jiang Zhiyang's waist appeared incredibly slender from both the front and the side.

Qingjun nodded in satisfaction.

"Brother Zhiyang, could you help us hang the red ribbon on the tree?"

Jiang Zhiyang did not take the blessing ribbon, but instead lifted Xiao Tao high and let her tie it herself.

Xiao Tao wasn't short; she sat steadily on Jiang Zhiyang's arm. "Not bad, not bad," Qingjun thought to herself, "slender yet strong." Just then, the man bent over and let out two weak coughs.

"So pitiful." If he had to lift and put those children down one by one, all the medicine he had taken would have been wasted. Qingjun was kind-hearted, and with a flick of his finger, a gentle breeze swept through the small courtyard in the suburbs.

In an instant, red ribbons rose in the wind, fluttering and tightly wrapped around the high branches, scattering these beautiful wishes to the people on the ground.

"My wish, my wish hangs at the very top!" Ali exclaimed. "We, we will, we will, we will be together forever!"