Chapter 35: Only the Laughter of the New, Never the Tears of the Old

Li Feng teased his beautiful sister Li Youran a few times, but the thought of her truly being with another man was something he simply couldn’t accept. In his eyes, ordinary men were unworthy of his goddess-like sister.

"You brat, if you weren’t my brother, I wouldn’t have let you come here," Li Youran smiled at her mischievous sibling. She had spoiled him since childhood and could hardly help it.

Li Youran had prepared a simple meal—three dishes and a soup, enough for two. Li Feng ate heartily. He had intended to ask Li Youran about Ling Tian during the meal, but seeing how calm and graceful she was as she ate, he couldn’t imagine her having any entanglement with someone like Ling Tian, so he held his tongue for the moment.

As they sipped tea after dinner, Li Feng finally spoke, "Sister, do you know Ling Tian? He’s a new student in the finance department."

"Ling Tian? Yes, I know him. He’s even been here before. Why? You know him too?" Li Youran’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ling Tian’s name, but she kept her tone even.

Just yesterday morning, they had parted ways, yet last night, as she lay alone on her newly bought bed, she’d suffered a bout of insomnia, thinking of Ling Tian. He was the first man she had ever slept beside, and though nothing had happened between them, the feeling of being held close was intoxicating. The union of the Nine Yang and Nine Yin bodies was a match made in heaven.

Of course, after those ghosts had been banished for good, Li Youran had slept soundly through the second half of the night. She awoke with a sweet smile on her lips, her thoughts drifting once more to Ling Tian.

She didn’t know that while she slept, Ling Tian had taken certain liberties, nor was she aware of the intimate contact they’d shared when she was possessed by the female ghost—so close to crossing a line, with Ling Tian’s hands almost everywhere. If she knew, who could guess what thoughts would stir within her?

"Hmph! He even attacked my bodyguard this morning. Sister, are you telling me he really came here?" Li Feng was suddenly agitated. He couldn’t believe his sister would let a man into her home so easily. Had Ling Tian truly won her over?

"Yes, that’s right. Feng, don’t clash with Ling Tian. He helped me out in class, so I invited him for a meal. Later, he treated my illness and helped me drive away the evil spirits that had been disturbing my sleep at night."

Li Youran explained everything. Ling Tian was important to her, and Li Feng was her cherished younger brother. She didn’t want any conflict between them.

"What? Are you saying he could treat your illness? And he exorcised ghosts? Sister, is he deceiving you?" Li Feng was shocked. He knew about Li Youran’s illness and the nightly hauntings. He’d even hired a Taoist priest, but the ghosts were too powerful for him. He couldn’t believe Ling Tian could accomplish what others couldn’t—it was incredible.

"He didn’t deceive me. He’s remarkably skilled in medicine, and I am truly feeling much better. The evil spirits have not appeared since. You have no idea, Feng—a particularly powerful ghost was the concubine of a prince from the Qianlong era, with several centuries of cultivation. Ling Tian destroyed her, dispersing her soul completely. That ghost had been residing in my antique bed. I won’t be buying antiques so casually ever again."

Li Youran still shuddered at the memory; it had been terrifying. The female ghost had tried to possess her body, but thankfully, Ling Tian subdued her.

"Sister, so Ling Tian spent the night here?" Li Feng was astounded by Ling Tian’s abilities: to heal and exorcise. Clearly, Ling Tian was no ordinary man, and he had underestimated him. Still, that alone wasn’t enough to qualify him as a suitor for his sister—Ling Tian was far too fickle.

"Yes, that night he performed acupuncture and drove out the ghosts." Li Youran blushed slightly as she spoke. Though nothing truly intimate had occurred, they had shared physical closeness.

Seeing his sister’s cheeks flush, Li Feng felt his heart sink. Ling Tian had clearly found a place in her heart. Damn it! When had he ever seen his sister blush for a man?

"Sister, nothing happened between you two, right? You must tell me the truth." Li Feng needed confirmation. If Ling Tian had laid hands on his sister and continued to pursue other women, Li Feng would use the power of their family to teach him a lesson.

"No, he only helped me with acupuncture and exorcism. Don’t let your imagination run wild." Li Youran’s words betrayed a slight guilty conscience. After all, they had slept in each other’s arms.

"Good, that’s a relief. Sister, listen to me—Ling Tian is not a good person. Don’t get involved with him. He’s telling people you’re his woman, and he’s openly pursuing Lin Youya. Every student in the school knows about it. Just now, he went shopping with Lin Youya. A man who plays both sides doesn’t deserve you!"

Li Feng angrily recited Ling Tian’s misdeeds, hoping to dampen Li Youran’s affection for him, though he conveniently forgot his own outrageous behavior with women. Compared to him, Ling Tian was far more restrained.

"He really said I’m his woman? And went shopping with Lin Youya?"

Li Youran’s face paled instantly. She recalled the last time she and Ling Tian had bumped into Lin Youya together. Ling Tian had called that proud, beautiful girl his girlfriend, then said she was someone he was pursuing but hadn’t yet won over. Now, today, he was out shopping with her. So what did she mean to him?

He’d called her his woman—not his girlfriend.

Yesterday morning, he’d held her in his arms, and today he was out with another girl—the one he was openly courting. What was she, then? A lover kept in the shadows? Just his woman.

Indeed, he had once said he was of the Nine Yang body and needed several women. She had foolishly agreed to give him a chance, so long as he never abandoned her. But he hadn’t truly cherished her; he was busy courting others while she sat here thinking about him. The feeling was so bitter.

He hadn’t sent her a single call or message. She had thought he was busy—busy with another girl!

The more Li Youran thought about it, the more convinced she became that Ling Tian cared nothing for her, seeing her only as a plaything. How could she have been so casual, so willing to share a bed with him? No man would cherish a woman so easily won. He would surely forget her.

New lovers laugh; who hears the old lover’s tears? Li Youran fought to keep herself from crying.

"Yes, Sister, Ling Tian is nothing but trouble. Don’t ever speak to him again." Li Feng, seeing his sister’s pale face, felt deeply distressed but believed a clean break was better for her.

"Feng, I’m tired. I want to rest. Entertain yourself," Li Youran said, unable to bear the pain, and retreated to her room.

Tasting the flavor of love for the first time, after a fleeting sweetness, came such bitterness. Most frustrating of all, even now she hoped Ling Tian would reach out or come to her. Li Youran lay weakly on her bed, her mind a tangled mess.

It wasn’t that Ling Tian was unfeeling, but rather that his mind lacked subtlety. Li Youran’s place in his heart was irreplaceable; as a Nine Yin body, she was his destined match. But he’d never courted a woman in his past life, and in this one acted only on male instinct, persistently pursuing those he hadn’t won. To him, Li Youran’s heart was already his, while the other girls were still unattained, so his attention shifted to them, inadvertently neglecting Li Youran. He wasn’t accustomed to calling or texting girls—when he wanted to see someone, he simply went to find them.

Li Feng, seeing Li Youran retreat to her bedroom, didn’t disturb her. He quietly left, intent on checking how Li Da was progressing. Ling Tian—how dare he make his sister so sad? Unforgivable.

...

After eating dinner at Lin Youya’s home, Ling Tian didn’t leave. Partly, it was due to the warm hospitality of Lin Youya’s parents, partly to ensure Lin Youya’s safety, and most importantly, because Ling Tian had decided to accompany the family the next day to visit Lin Youya’s grandfather.

Ling Tian had volunteered for this, being skilled in medicine and wanting to assess the grandfather’s condition. With mastery of the Yin-Yang Method, Ling Tian was more capable than ordinary doctors; in his previous life, he’d earned a reputation as a miracle physician. Although his current mastery wasn’t yet at its peak, it was more than sufficient for common illnesses.

Lin Youya’s parents warmly welcomed Ling Tian’s offer. Even Lin Youya herself grew more hopeful—if Ling Tian could help her grandfather, perhaps she’d agree to be his girlfriend. After all, it was only a girlfriend, not marriage. Of course, she didn’t say this to Ling Tian.

That night, Lin Youya’s parents went to bed, and Lin Youya and Ling Tian each returned to their own rooms. Yet neither of the young people could sleep, each lost in their own thoughts.

Lin Youya reflected on the day’s events, amazed at how quickly her relationship with Ling Tian had progressed. Someone she’d disliked had become a welcomed guest and her savior. She hoped Ling Tian could truly help her grandfather tomorrow.

Ling Tian felt a small thrill. Lin Youya was just next door, and their rooms were on a different floor from her parents’—a rather suggestive arrangement. His senses were sharp, especially his hearing, so he could clearly catch the sounds from Lin Youya’s room: bathing, getting into bed, tossing and turning...

Hmm, the girl was still awake—could she be longing for romance? He chuckled. In TV dramas and novels, the male lead would usually pay a visit to the heroine’s room to discuss life and dreams. Should he do the same and knock on her door?