chapter 9

That night, I sat alone on the rooftop, sulking, gazing out at the endless wilderness beyond Yuni City. Under the night sky, the City Wall undulated, resembling strange, ghostly shadows.

I knew it-no Central Plains Person would ever like a place as eerie as the Western Regions.

Cheng Jia wants to return to Changan. Who wouldn’t love Changan? I do too… Just thinking of that dreamlike place, and the girl Cheng Jia likes there, made me so sad that I couldn’t hold back my tears.

But I couldn’t cry. Since dusk, the whole of Shanshan had been shrouded in dark clouds, with the wind and sand rising fiercely, as if rain was about to fall.

Grandfather sensed something was wrong with the weather and had already come to ask why I was unhappy.

If it rained, he would know I had cried.

“Ah Li, come down.”

The figure below the wall had his clothes fluttering in the wind. I didn’t even glance at him, hugging my knees and continuing to sulk.

With no other choice, Cheng Jia climbed up to the rooftop as well.

He sat beside me, smiling as he watched me sulk, reaching out to smooth my hair that had been tousled by the wind.

“Yuan Zong spoke out of turn. I’ll have him apologize to you. Don’t be angry.”

I turned my face away, ignoring him.

He leaned closer, his voice still gentle and warm with a smile: “Really not going to talk to me? Qi Mo said you like Lotus Root Powder and Osmanthus Sugar Cake from the Central Plains. Next time they go there, I’ll ask them to bring back the ingredients, and I’ll make it for you, alright?”

“Can you make it?”

“No, but I can try.”

“It takes Qi Mo and the others several months to go back and forth. The ingredients will spoil by the time they return.”

“There are ways to preserve them. For example, lotus root won’t spoil if buried in the ground.”

I turned my face toward him, still sullen: “Cheng Jia, don’t go back to the Central Plains. You can’t go back.”

“Mm, I won’t go. I’ll stay with Ah Li from now on.”

Cheng Jia’s lips curled slightly. His eyes were incredibly bright, filled with a smile and sincerity.

I tugged at his sleeve: “Forget everything about the Central Plains. Just be my Cheng Jia. I’ll protect you and treat you well.”

“Alright.”

Cheng Jia smiled, patting my head.

Then he took my hand, and together we climbed down from the rooftop.

Not far away, by the wall, stood another person-it was Yuan Zong.

I didn’t want to pay him any attention and pulled Cheng Jia to leave.

Cheng Jia sighed, “Ah Li, wait a moment.”

I turned back. Yuan Zong had already walked up with a blank expression, reaching out to hand me something-

“It was my fault today. I hope Ah Li won’t hold it against me. I’m leaving soon. This is a wedding gift for you and Cousin. Please accept it.”

He was annoying, but since he had apologized, I wasn’t going to be unreasonable. I kept a straight face and accepted the item.

It was a jade pendant he carried with him.

The Western Regions are rich in gemstones and jade, but his piece was exceptionally clear, with a hollowed-out center and a ring of swirling patterns around the edge.

It looked very precious. Since I’d accepted his gift, my anger faded, and I said to him, “Thank you, Cousin Yuan Zong.”