Waiting for Someone to Return

Laughter died away quickly, leaving only the glimmer of those eyes shining in the darkness. “Nanyu, has he been treating you well?” It had been some time since he’d addressed Duan Nanyu in this way.

When had that changed? Perhaps it was from the moment he’d met the person before him.

“He’s been very good to me. We… we are both well.” The lightness and joy from before faded; whenever she spoke of Duan Nanyu, she felt a lingering unease.

Duan Nanyu’s affection was too heavy, suffocating her, even making her a little afraid. It was as if she clung desperately to a lone straw in a vast sea, fearful it might sink or drift away. What troubled her more was that she didn’t even know if Duan Nanyu was truly that lifesaving straw.

She was often left wandering, lost and helpless.

Sensing the disquiet in Yun Xueyan’s words, Feng Xilou did not expose her feelings. Instead, he reached out, smoothing his sleeve and offered a gentle smile. “I’ll try to return as soon as I can.”

“Alright.” She nodded, unsure what more to say.

A hush fell over the room. Feng Xilou gazed at the moonlight outside the window for a while before reluctantly rising from the bed.

“Yan’er, I must go now. Isn’t there anything you want to say before I leave?”

“Ah?” Yun Xueyan looked up in a daze at the elegant figure before her. After a long moment, she finally managed to utter, “Safe travels.”

“Mm, wait for me to return.” Satisfied, Feng Xilou looked at her with lingering reluctance, wanting to reach out and touch her face once more, but, in the end, refrained.

He turned and left.

The room, plunged into darkness, felt even emptier after Feng Xilou’s departure.

Wait for me to return—those words were the same, but spoken by a different person. Yet the one who would come was always Duan Nanyu, never Feng Xilou.

Between them, the distance was simply too great.

The warmth beside her was still there—the spot where Feng Xilou had just been. She reached out, placing her hand there, and the sorrow in her heart surged up again.

Now, she was alone once more.

It all felt like a fleeting dream, something she’d imagined too much.

She sat dazed for a moment, then lay back down and drifted into sleep once again.

Morning came. Yun Xueyan was awakened by the commotion outside. Rising and glancing out, she realized it was nearly noon.

Had she truly slept so long? She’d always been an early riser, but these past few days, she had slept until midday.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t slept well in Duan Nanyu’s arms in previous nights, leaving her especially lethargic these days.

“Ziyu, Ziyu.” She called several times, getting out of bed to dress. When Ziyu entered, Yun Xueyan stepped forward. “What’s happening outside?”

“It’s the princess. She said she wants to renovate Xuan Yue Pavilion, claiming it’s too shabby here,” Ziyu answered as she straightened Yun Xueyan’s clothes.

Yun Xueyan stood stunned, her thoughts in disarray. What was Yun Xiyin up to now?

“I’ll do it myself.” She stopped Ziyu and adjusted her clothing. The noisy clamor outside irritated her, her head throbbing. “Ziyu, tell them all to leave. I want to rest. Xuan Yue Pavilion is perfectly fine; it doesn’t need any renovation.”

“Yes,” Ziyu replied, while Yun Xueyan finished dressing.

Before long, the courtyard quieted. Yun Xueyan stepped outside; the servants were tidying up, and suddenly, the usually silent courtyard was bustling with activity.