Ever since Gu Qingfeng agreed to impersonate Young Lord Chiyan, his days had become even more carefree and comfortable than before. To repay him, Han Dong and Ouyang Ye not only served him fine food and drink but also kept him company every few days—Ouyang Ye accompanying him in drinking, and Han Dong providing musical entertainment.
Of course, while this was said to be companionship and repayment, it was more about urging Gu Qingfeng to memorize the deeds of Young Lord Chiyan recorded in the booklet. Ouyang Ye, in particular, spared no effort to ensure Gu Qingfeng played the role well. It wasn't enough just to memorize the deeds; he also had to imitate Young Lord Chiyan's manner of speaking, his gestures, and so on.
Since Gu Qingfeng was actually impersonating himself, there was naturally no need for imitation. He just had to be himself.
Ouyang Ye, unaware of his true identity, was both incredulous and immensely excited to see Gu Qingfeng imitate so perfectly that there wasn't even a trace of imitation visible.
What left her incredulous was that she had never imagined two people could be so alike—so alike they seemed like one and the same person. She truly felt this way. Over the past few days, the more she interacted with him, the stronger this feeling became. At first, she only occasionally experienced some illusions, but as time went on, she gradually sank into these illusions. Many times, she could no longer tell whether this guy was the wandering cultivator named Lao Jiu or the Young Lord Chiyan who had died out three years ago.
On this day,
as the sun set in the west,
Ouyang Ye sat alone in a chair, taking occasional sips of wine.
Her aunt, Ouyang Feiyue, ran a manor, and Ouyang Ye had practically grown up there. She was not only familiar with wine but also had a decent tolerance for it—otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to keep him company drinking for several consecutive days.
At this moment, she stared blankly at the evening glow under the setting sun, lost in thought.
She didn't like the evening glow, nor the setting sun, and even less the dusk.
As for why she didn't like it,
Ouyang Ye didn't know. In her memory, she had detested dusk since she was very young.
Because dusk would inexplicably make her feel melancholic. Even if she had been happy all day, once dusk arrived, she would inexplicably become depressed—no, not depressed, but more like suddenly overcome with sorrow.
That wasn't even the most frustrating part. In the past, whenever dusk came, her bloodline would flare up, and she would inexplicably turn into another person, spouting a bunch of nonsensical drivel.
Ever since a mysterious pattern inexplicably appeared on her body, and ever since she discovered that her emotions could cause changes in the natural world, her bloodline had never flared up again, and that other self had never reappeared.
Although Ouyang Ye hated dusk, over the years, whenever she was alone and quiet, she would always end up staring blankly at the dusk.
At first, she couldn't understand why. Clearly she hated dusk, so why would she stare at it blankly, even looking forward to its arrival every day?
She pondered this question for a long time, and it wasn't until a year ago that she gradually understood.
Because the setting sun and dusk made her think of someone.
Someone who had died out three years ago—none other than Young Lord Chiyan, Gu Qingfeng.
She didn't know why dusk made her think of Gu Qingfeng.
To this day, she still didn't understand.
Perhaps it was because that guy lacked the vigor of youth, much like the setting sun.
Or perhaps it was because his usual gentle demeanor resembled the evening glow under the sunset, or maybe because his anger resembled the mysterious and silent night after dusk.
She didn't know.
Ouyang Ye truly didn't know.
She didn't even know why she couldn't forget someone who had died out three years ago.
Not only couldn't she forget, but the feeling was growing stronger, especially in recent days. Interacting daily with that guy impersonating Young Lord Chiyan made her feelings intensify even more. She wanted to see him as soon as she opened her eyes, couldn't focus on cultivation, and his figure would involuntarily appear in her mind every day.
"Damn it!
Why is this happening!"
Ouyang Ye furrowed her brows, closed her eyes, and pressed her fingers against her forehead, saying in distress, "That Lao Jiu guy is just a bit similar to Gu Qingfeng. How could I...
can't help but treat him as the real one?"
Ouyang Ye tried to hypnotize herself: "He's fake!
Ouyang Ye!
You need to sober up! He's fake, not real!
You must not fall for him!
Fake!
Fake!
That's right!
He's fake..." The little girl shook her head, trying to drive that guy's figure out of her mind. However, after driving it away, his figure would reappear, giving her a headache. She grabbed her hair and let out a helpless, frustrated cry.
"Even if he were the real Gu Qingfeng, there's no need for me to be like this, right?"
"Could it be that I've really fallen for that guy Gu Qingfeng?"
"That's impossible, right?"
"That guy is lazy, shameless, acts like a spoiled young master, and...
Damn it! The key is he died out three years ago!"
"How could I fall for someone who died out three years ago?"
"Heavens above!
Earth below!
I've never been in love or spoken of love before. There are so many handsome men in the world. Why did you make me fall for a dead person? At the very least, it should be a living person, right? With a dead person, who am I supposed to fall in love with? A ghost?
If it were a ghost, I'd accept it, but that Gu Qingfeng guy died out completely—he doesn't even have the chance to become a ghost..."
"Ah!
I'm going crazy!"
The more Ouyang Ye thought about it, the more chaotic her thoughts became. She stomped her feet in anger and sighed helplessly.
"Yeye."
The call snapped Ouyang Ye out of her chaotic thoughts. She looked up and saw Han Dong, who had just returned from outside.
"Yeye, you...
what happened just now?"
Perhaps noticing something off about Ouyang Ye, Han Dong asked with concern.
"Me? Nothing!"
Ouyang Ye said with a playful smile, "I was just bored alone, amusing myself."
"Huh?"
Seeing Han Dong's doubtful look, Ouyang Ye quickly changed the subject. "Han Dong, how did it go this time you went back? Did you see your master? How is she doing?"
"My master's injuries are gradually recovering, even better than I imagined. Thanks to your help."
"Hehe, that's good!"
Ouyang Ye said proudly, "I told you long ago, your master's injuries aren't physical but internal. Seeing you alone and suffering under so much pressure, her injuries naturally wouldn't heal. Ever since your master learned that you and Young Lord Chiyan have become Dao Companions, her spirit has been getting better day by day, and her injuries have naturally started to improve."
Noticing Han Dong's worried expression, Ouyang Ye thought for a moment and immediately understood. "The last few times we visited your master, we didn't bring Young Lord Chiyan. Has your master started to suspect something?"