The night is cold, the rain whispering against the windows, carried by a breeze that weaves an icy chill through the dimly lit room. Gu Xianer shivers, her small frame trembling slightly beneath her thin robes, yet her smile remains bright, unwavering. She looks up at Fang Yuan, eyes filled with quiet certainty.
"Brother," she says softly, her voice like a thread of warmth in the freezing air. "You don't have to worry. Tomorrow, at the awakening ceremony, we'll both awaken high talent."
Fang Yuan watches her, his brow furrowing as he catches the faint tremors in her shoulders. Without thinking, he reaches out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His fingers are warm against her cold skin.
"It's freezing tonight, isn't it?" he murmurs, his gaze lingering. "Look at you—you're shivering."
Gu Xianer straightens instantly, puffing out her chest as if sheer will alone could chase away the cold. "Who's shivering? You're the one shaking!" she huffs, her voice playfully indignant. But a slight quiver betrays her. "I'm perfectly warm!"
Fang Yuan exhales, shaking his head at her stubbornness. "Stop pretending," he says, his lips tugging into a faint smile. With an easy motion, he lifts the edge of his blanket toward her. "There's no need to act tough. Just take it."
Her cheeks flush, pride warring with embarrassment. "Who's feeling shy?" she snaps, her voice rising in mock indignation. "If I wanted it, I'd just snatch it from you. Got it?"
Fang Yuan chuckles, eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh? Like all those times you stole my entire blanket and left me shivering?" His tone is light, teasing. "Just take a part of it this time. I won't let you steal it all." His voice softens. "You'll catch a cold otherwise."
Though playful, the warmth in his voice is unmistakable.
Gu Xianer's face burns brighter, her frustration flaring. "You always say that!" she huffs, crossing her arms. "But you never keep your promise! And when I ask to sleep in your arms, you always say there's a difference between men and women! What does that even mean? What could possibly happen?"
She narrows her eyes, suddenly suspicious. "Unless… unless you're hiding something from me, Big Brother."
Fang Yuan lifts an eyebrow, amused. "Hiding something? Like what?"
She scowls, her expression fierce despite the pink tinge on her cheeks. "Maybe you don't want me to get too comfortable because then I'll never leave your side!" Her voice brims with conviction. "And I'm not a woman! I'm a girl—your little sister!"
Her glare sharpens. "If I don't get another blanket, I'll catch a cold! And if you don't let me sleep in your arms, then I won't take the blanket!"
Her words are bold, but there's something vulnerable beneath them, a quiet plea wrapped in layers of defiance.
She tilts her head, eyes shimmering with mischief. "Tonight's freezing! I might just die from this cold!" she declares dramatically, clasping her hands to her chest as if the mere thought is unbearable. "So unless you let me sleep in your arms, I won't take your blanket!"
Fang Yuan sighs, watching her with a mix of exasperation and reluctant fondness. She's always like this—so fierce, yet so fragile. He exhales slowly, his expression softening.
"Alright, my little princess," he murmurs, lifting the blanket in invitation, his voice touched with warmth and surrender. "You win again—you always do. Come here before we both freeze."
Without hesitation, Gu Xianer leaps into Fang Yuan's arms, the sudden movement making the bed shake beneath them. She clings to him with a fierce desperation, like a small creature finally finding shelter from a relentless storm. The cold seeps through the thin blankets, but wrapped in his warmth, she finally feels safe.
She buries her face against his chest, her voice soft and content. "Brother… you're so warm. I feel so comfortable like this. Why don't we sleep like this every night? It's much better than sleeping separately."
Fang Yuan raises an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? And what about when you kick me in your sleep or steal the entire blanket?"
Gu Xianer immediately sits up, her glare sharp despite the faint flush on her cheeks. "I do not! That happened only once!"
He chuckles, shaking his head. "Once? Ok! But the main thing is that you've already forgotten all my teachings."
She huffs, crossing her arms, refusing to let him tease her further. "I don't care about your teachings on men and women, husbands and wives!"
But then, something in her voice wavers. She hesitates, her confidence faltering as a thought creeps into her mind. Her fingers tighten against his sleeve.
"Brother… are you worried about what Aunt and Uncle always say? That no one will marry me if I don't learn those things?"
Fang Yuan exhales slowly. His usual teasing demeanor fades, replaced by something heavier, unreadable.
"It's not just them, Xianer." His voice is quiet, thoughtful. "Even without their words, haven't I been teaching you since we were children? Don't you remember? Back then, I never stopped you from hugging or kissing me. But as we grew older, I slowly put distance between us, little by little."
Her chest tightens, and she suddenly feels like she's sinking.
"Why?" she whispers.
His answer is silence.
Gu Xianer clenches her fists, her breathing shallow. "I don't care. I've already decided—if I ever get married, it will only be to you!"
Fang Yuan sighs, running a hand through his hair. "It looks like you've forgotten my teachings again."
Her breath stutters. This time, she hears it clearly—the rejection beneath his words.
Her lips tremble, and before she can stop them, tears begin to well in her eyes. She doesn't try to wipe them away. She lets them fall, lets him see the raw pain she can no longer hide.
"Brother… are you really not going to marry me? Are you really going to give me to another man?"
Her voice shakes, breaking at the edges, but she forces herself to continue. "I thought… I thought you would at least stop them from sending me away. Aunt and Uncle always talk about it. They don't care about me. No one does. But you, Brother… even you…"
Her sobs come quietly at first, barely audible, but then she breaks.
Fang Yuan stiffens. His heart clenches at the sight of her—so small, so fragile, looking at him as if he is the only thing left in her world.
His hands tremble slightly as he reaches for her, his fingers brushing away the tears streaking her cheeks. His voice is no longer teasing, no longer distant. It is only soft, only warm.
"Alright, alright… please, stop crying, my little angel." His tone is laced with surrender. "I will marry you. Are you happy now?"
Gu Xianer gasps, as if she hadn't dared to believe the words were real. Then, with a choked sob, she throws herself into his arms, burying her face against his chest.
She clings to him with all the strength she has left, and this time, he doesn't push her away.
The room falls into silence. The rain outside continues to fall, but in his embrace, she finally feels warm.
Then, in a small, hesitant voice, Gu Xianer breaks the quiet.
"Brother… tell me a story."
Fang Yuan exhales softly, his fingers idly brushing through her hair. "No stories tonight."
She shifts in his arms, tilting her head up to meet his gaze, her eyes shimmering with a quiet plea.
"Not even a short one?" she whispers. "Please, Brother. Just one tiny story… just to help me sleep."
He sighs, feigning exasperation, but there's no real resistance in his voice.
"Xianer, we need to wake up early for the awakening ceremony tomorrow."
But her grip tightens slightly around his robes, her voice barely above a murmur.
"Then… just a few words? Just something to keep the nightmares away?"
A flicker of something unreadable passes through Fang Yuan's eyes. He looks down at the girl in his arms—the warmth of her breath against his chest, the faint traces of tears still clinging to her lashes.
Finally, after a long silence, he speaks.
"Once upon a time, there was a little star who was afraid of the dark."
Gu Xianer's lips part slightly, surprised he actually gave in.
"Then what happened?" she whispers, voice already thick with sleep.
Fang Yuan's lips curve into a faint smile.
"She found her sun… and never had to be afraid again. That is it. No more."
Again, the room falls into silence.
Then after sometime, Softly, she reaches for his hand, her small fingers wrapping around his with quiet determination. "Brother, you're worried," she whispers, her voice gentle but sure. She squeezes his hand, as if willing her warmth to chase away whatever shadows weigh on him. "Don't be. Tomorrow, we'll awaken high talent, and one day… we'll become immortals, just like the legends."
There is no doubt in her voice, no hesitation—only that peculiar mix of childish faith and unwavering certainty, as if simply believing it hard enough could make it so.
Fang Yuan smiles softly, but the warmth doesn't quite reach his eyes. Deep inside, his heart is heavy with unspoken fears.
"I hope you awaken high talent, Xianer," he says quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "You've been through so much because people have always looked down on you as you haven't mature enough for your age. Even though you're my triplet and fifteen years old, you still act so childish, like you're only three. If you awaken high talent, no one will ever belittle you again."
He pauses, his gaze drifting to the rain-speckled window as memories of his past life flood his mind. "In my past life, I lost my parents in an accident. I was an orphan, alone in the world. Even when I married and had children in my later years, fate was cruel—they, too, were taken from me. Once again, I was left with no family, no one to call my own."
"But now… now, I have Xianer."
A faint, almost wistful smile tugs at his lips. "I've never known this warmth before—the warmth of having a little sister."
His fingers tighten slightly, as if grounding himself in the present. And he continues thinking, "Don't worry, Xianer. No matter what talent you awaken tomorrow, I will protect you. Even if the world turns against you, even if it costs me everything, I'll stand by your side."
His voice drops to a whisper, a quiet vow only the night can bear witness to. "Now, I finally understand what it means to be a big brother. This responsibility… it's heavier than I ever imagined. But I won't run from it. Even if it costs me my last breath, I will face it head-on."
His voice drops to a whisper, a quiet vow meant only for the night to hear.
Gu Xianer senses the depth of his emotions. She gazes up at him, her own heart swelling with affection. "Big Brother, what are you thinking?" she asks, her curiosity shining brightly in her eyes.
Fang Yuan's expression softens, though the weight of his responsibilities still lingers in his gaze. Yet, beneath it, something else flickers—something warm, something hopeful.
"I'm thinking," he says slowly, his voice carrying a quiet reverence, "how lucky I am to have such a resolute, adorable, angelic little sister and about how my little princess will one day become a mighty Gu Immortal. Just like the legends."
Her eyes ignite with resolve, gleaming like stars in the dimly lit room. A spark of unwavering determination flickers in their depths, casting away any trace of doubt.
"Yes," she declares, her voice steady, brimming with conviction. "We'll awaken high talent, and we'll shake the world. No one will ever dare to look down on us again."
Fang Yuan watches her, pride swelling in his chest—but beneath it, a quiet fear lingers. The path ahead won't be easy.
"Xianer," he begins, his voice softer now, hesitant. "Have you ever thought about what happens if things don't go as planned? If… we fail?"
For a fleeting moment, uncertainty flickers across her face, but she quickly pushes it aside. She meets his gaze, unwavering. "Then we try again. And again. Until we succeed. Isn't that what you've always taught me? To never give up?"
A slow nod. He hadn't realized just how deeply she had taken his words to heart. A warmth spreads through him—pride, protectiveness, and something unspoken, something fragile.
He reaches out, fingers threading through her hair as he ruffles it gently. "That's right," he murmurs. "But remember—failure isn't the end. It's just another step forward. And no matter what happens, your brother will always be here for you."
She throws her arms around Fang Yuan, hugging him tightly. Her warmth seeps through the cold air, grounding him in the moment.
"Don't worry, Brother, We'll awaken high talent." she whispers, her voice soft but firm, as if her embrace alone could shield them both from whatever lay ahead.
As the rain continues its soft rhythm against the window, the bond between brother and sister deepens—silent yet unshakable, forged in the quiet moments of trust and love. In the stillness of the night, amidst the shadows of uncertainty and fear, their connection shines like a beacon of strength. It is a promise, spoken without words: no matter what challenges lie ahead, they will face them side by side.
Suddenly, Fang Zheng enters the room, clutching a lamp in his trembling hands. His entire body shakes violently from an unseen terror, and no matter how hard he tries to steady himself, the tremors only worsen. Sweat pours from every inch of his body, even in the freezing cold, as if he's staring at death itself.