Yingyue gnawed absentmindedly on the edge of her brush. This was probably ill-mannered, but it was either this or get lulled to sleep by the able teacher who honestly seemed determined to put the juniors into a demon-king's-pet level slumber.
And at the same time he had a whip to use on anyone who dared to doze off.
For the millionth time that day, her eyes strayed to the seat nearest to the window on the last row, and something twisted within her.
"A-Ling will be fine"she whispered to herself.
She had been repeating the words like a charm,ever since Ling passed out earlier in the morning and was carried off to the sick bay. She wanted to throw her brush and books at the teacher, and maybe her shoes too.
How dare he?!
He had not even allowed her to take Ling to the sick bay, because "you must never be provided with an opportunity to make trouble",and now he was being a most inconsiderate jerk. Why couldn't he just get the hell out of here?! She was nearing her limit. She might fall asleep soon, and even if she didn't, the longer he stayed here, the longer she had to wait before she could go to Ling's side.
Finally, the bell rang, signalling the end of the lesson. Yingyue breathed an audible sigh of relief, conveniently ignoring the teacher's pointed glower. How could she not, when she had ample experience receiving worse from a certain Pan Yuchen, Frowner extraordinaire.
Nothing mattered right now. She could finally see her precious friend, and stay as long as she wanted by his side.
*
*
*
Ling was asleep when she arrived. The healers said he had been awake not too long ago, which put Yingyue at ease.
She sat by his bedside, running her fingers tenderly through his side bangs. Ling always looked like a flower that had come to life, but now,in his sleep, he looked so lovely that Yingyue thought it would not be a surprise if he ascended to heaven right this instant, simply for his sheer beauty.
With his childlike features so relaxed, Yingyue almost forgot he was her age mate and not her little brother.
"A-Yue?".
Yingyue was startled out of her wandering thoughts by his soft voice.
"A-Ling. You're awake".
"When did you get here?"he asked, sitting up.
"Careful,"Yingyue reached out to help him "does it hurt anywhere?".
"It's always hurting somewhere half the time. Don't worry about it. More importantly, you didn't miss your lessons to come here, right?".
"I absolutely didn't".
"Good".
"You believed me so easily"Yingyue noted.
"Why? Are you lying?".
"Well, no, but...".
"Exactly. A-Yue is a bit of a handful, but she never lies".
For some reason, Yingyue's chest felt really warm at that. Oblivious, Ling pressed a palm to his aching forehead.
"Does it hurt?".
"Nothing I'm not used to".
"If it hurts just say it does. I hope you're not being hard on yourself. It was really scary, you know. The way you just slumped without warning".
Hearing this, Ling turned to look at her.
"Did I make you worry? I'm sorry".
"Don't apologize. It's not like you chose to be sickly. But does it still hurt? I need to know".
"I...".
Ling wanted to say it didn't. Yingyue was too empathetic, she might develop a headache of her own if she knew how his head felt as if a mallet was continuously ramming into it. But he had never been any good at lying either, so he ended up replying meekly.
"It does hurt...".
"Allow me to make it feel better".
"How will you do that?".
"With this"she replied gleefully, taking a harp out of her sleeve.
"Oh".
He had actually forgotten. The Meng clan specialized in working wonders through music.
"I'll play you a song. It's a very special one, the first one I learnt, and it was Jiejie who taught me, the day we became friends. Jiejie plays it for me whenever I'm ill or injured".
Yingyue drew the harp to her chest as she began to play. It was a very soft tune, it made Ling think of gentle sun rays, of spring, of healing.
Indeed, he felt the pain in his head begin to subside until it was just a dull throb, and then it was gone. Only then did the song end.
"Well?"she asked expectantly.
"I do feel better. Thank you, A-Yue".
"No problem!".
She said that, but Ling knew that she had definitely spent spiritual energy just to heal him.
"Are you okay, A-Yue?".
"Huh? Of course. You're the one who's on a sick bed".
"I didn't...".
He didn't mean that at all, but he would be insulting her if he pressed on, wouldn't he?
"... nevermind. Of course you're fine".
Yingyue blinked, staring at him with large question marks in her eyes.
"Oh, did you hear?"she eventually said.
"Hear what?".
"A trip has been organized for us juniors".
"Oh. The annual field trip. It's about time".
"You know about it?".
"It takes place every year, so of course I do. My sister took part last year, after all. It's a week long event involving a wide range of activities, and our individual performances are recorded. For those who care, it's a good opportunity to bring honor to their respective clans".
"Sounds great. I'm looking forward to it. Are you, A-Ling?".
"I couldn't care less".
"Oh".
Yingyue had actually forgotten. Her beloved friend was a fellow of zero enthusiasm.
*
*
*
Yingyue looked worriedly at Ling,who was poking at his rice with his chopsticks, not even eating a single grain.
"A-Ling, you don't have an appetite?".
"Sort of".
"Do you want me to feed you?".
"Wha..."Ling's face was already turning red as he looked up"I'm not your little brother!".
"Sorry. I keep forgetting you're not".
He pouted as he returned his gaze to the food, looking cuter than anything Yingyue had ever set her eyes on.
"It's just..."he began to mumble, but the quiet cafeteria suddenly exploded with noise, drowning out his voice.
Both of them looked at the door, where many people were gathering.
"What's going on?"Yingyue asked.
As if in answer, the center of attention came into view. Guangchang Meilian was back.
She wore a stately expression,as if the fawning crowd that had gathered to welcome her were about as much her business as a random wasp three cities away.
"Ling, it's your sister".
Ling's half lidded expression did not change in the slightest as he replied drily.
"I can see that".
"Did you know she was returning today?".
"I did".
Yingyue looked at him curiously.
"Is that why you look so glum? Why you aren't eating?".
"What?"he turned sharply"when did I say... where did you get that idea?".
Yingyue sighed.
If he didn't want her to know that things weren't very amicable between him and his sister, he could at least try not to be so obvious.
"Nevermind,"she said"let's talk about the poem we learnt today".
That instantly put Ling in a better mood.
"Yes. Let's do that".
*
*
*
Meilian was waiting when the juniors arrived at the gates, from where they were to set off.
At the sight of her,all the excited chatters died a sudden death. They had been informed that a senior disciple would accompany them, but no one had expected the successor of the Guangchang clan,a member of the A-list.
After a good, silent while, someone finally spoke up.
"Shijie".
Wow, Yingyue thought, A-Ling's big sis sure is quite the big deal.
Meilian still wore that unapproachable air as she surveyed the juniors before her with zero interest.
"Mount your swords. We depart immediately".
The junior disciples hurried to obey her instructions. Yingyue looked at Ling, only to see that he was not making any attempt to follow suit.
"A-Ling, aren't you..."Yingyue suddenly paused, her eyes roving from his face to his shoes.
Then she nodded in understanding.
"Oh".
Ling was properly dressed in his uniform,a bow and a filled quiver at his back. But unlike everyone else, he did not have a sword.
Now that she thought of it, she had never seen Ling with a sword, which was very weird, for a cultivator.
"Shijie"she called, raising her hand"someone doesn't have a sword here".
Meilian looked at Ling, and Yingyue nearly recoiled. Her eyes were colder than shards of ice.
"Guangchang Ling, I see your foolishness endures".
"What?"Yingyue sparked at that"how could you...".
"Here"Meilian unstrapped a sturdy sword from her hip and tossed it to him"you left this behind at the Phoenix Retreat, how disgraceful. A cultivator's sword is basically his identity".
Ling did not move. He let the sword fall to the ground at his feet, and clearly had no intention of picking it up.
"Your sword, A-Ling"Yingyue picked it and extended it to him, but Ling stepped back,as if he was avoiding a plague.
By now, the other juniors were giving their full attention to this drama.
"Listen,we don't have time for your immaturity right now"Meilian said.
"Then go on without me. I'm not touching that thing"Ling retorted, surprising Yingyue.
Meilian's mask developed a slight crack.
"You..."
"Shijie"Chao interrupted, putting himself in front of Ling, shielding the other boy from her gaze"please, don't be mad. I'll take A-Ling on my sword".
Haoran rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Why is it you who has to rescue him?"he said.
Within this time, the little dent in Meilian's bearing had been completely fixed, returning her back to the dignified Shijie they all knew.
"Suit yourself"she said curtly, already turning her back to them.
Without another word, she unsheathed her own sword and was soon vanishing from their sight.