In the small courtyard.
Beneath a large tree.
Ruan Xi leaned against it, downing wine after wine.
He appeared somewhat listless.
From morning until now, he hadn't eaten breakfast, and it looked like he wouldn't have lunch either. Empty wine jars lay scattered around him.
Qin Yiqing and Ji Rong had never seen him in such a self-abandoning state.
Qin Yiqing, who usually couldn't wait to belittle Ruan Xi with a few words, fell silent for the first time that morning after seeing him drunkenly drowning his sorrows. She instinctively reined in her sharp tongue.
This was mainly because Ruan Xi had retreated entirely into his own world.
Qin Yiqing whispered to Ji Rong, "Should we go find Yun Shu? What's wrong with Ruan Xi? He was fine just two days ago. Why is he acting like he wants to die today? If he keeps drinking, he'll be ruined. I wonder who has the ability to make him drink himself to death."
When they had knocked on the door earlier that morning, she and Ji Rong were still nestled in bed.
Then Ruan Xi had walked in and simply said he needed a place to drink.
And then he proceeded to drink under the tree.
Ji Rong shook his head. "Yun Shu and the others have too much on their plate right now; they can't be distracted."
"So we'll just let him keep drinking here? Do you think he's been stimulated by something? Isn't he the one who usually plays with people's hearts? I've seen many women pine away for him, but I've never seen him like this. Why don't you go and ask him?" Although Qin Yiqing always complained about Ruan Xi, she cared about him at critical moments.
After all, if something happened to Ruan Xi, she would lose her sparring partner, which wouldn't be good for her.
Ji Rong looked at her with soft, dark eyes and said gently, "He was bound to go through this ordeal sooner or later. He'll figure it out when he's entangled by love."
Qin Yiqing, dazed by his gentle gaze, initially nodded to everything he said. But after she nodded, she suddenly felt something was off and her eyes widened, "You... you... you haven't... regained it, have you?"
She didn't finish her sentence, afraid of hurting his feelings.
After all, he had once been a celestial being, able to foresee everyone's fate, and people would have worshipped him if they sought his help.
Therefore, she could only imagine the emotional turmoil and pain he must have endured after losing all of that.
Seeing Qin Yiqing's cautious demeanor, Ji Rong's gaze softened further. "I recovered after that night."
Even he was somewhat surprised.
However, he had experienced a great deal during this period, which had helped him come to terms with many things.
Even with his abilities restored, he wanted to live a different kind of life.
Qin Yiqing was shocked and overjoyed. "What? You recovered after that night? That's wonderful! Ji Rong, that's truly wonderful! I'm so happy!"
"Don't tell anyone yet," Ji Rong said.
Qin Yiqing was taken aback. "Why? Shouldn't everyone know? Especially your family. They were so disappointed when they learned you had lost all your abilities. Now that you've recovered, if you tell them, you can be like you were before. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
"Silly girl, that's not what I want. What I want is to grow old with you." Ji Rong looked at Qin Yiqing, who was worried about his situation, and suddenly felt that if he had to choose between his ability to divine all fortunes and Qin Yiqing, he would not hesitate to choose Qin Yiqing.
What could those external possessions compare to her?
Qin Yiqing listened to Ji Rong's words, feeling dizzy, as if she had drunk the finest wine in the world. Her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. "I... I want that too. I want to grow old with you. Didn't we agree? I'm going to have a bunch of children for you."
Just thinking about a group of children surrounding them and calling them "Daddy" and "Mommy" made her heart burn with warmth.
"One child is enough," Ji Rong said softly.
Giving birth was painful, and he didn't want her to experience so much suffering.
Just then, an inappropriate voice chimed in, "Damn it! Don't you two see I'm in pain? And you're deliberately being affectionate in front of me. Isn't that the same as stabbing me in the heart with a knife? It's too heartbreaking!"
"Don't you always like to have beauties on each arm? If you're envious of us, why don't you go find two beauties to hug? But speaking of which, you seem heartbroken. Did you genuinely fall for someone? Tsk tsk, who's the unlucky one you've set your sights on? You're drinking to numb yourself now. Could it be that the person you've fallen for has a discerning eye and knows you can't commit?" Qin Yiqing's guesses, one after another, suddenly made her feel like she could also divine fortunes.
She was very close to the truth.
Ruan Xi, whose heart had been exposed, twitched his lips violently and said to Ji Rong, "What do you even like about Qin Yiqing? There's no one more venomous than her!"
"I'm not as venomous as you. After all, Ji Rong dotes on me. You're still being scorned and now you're drinking yourself into a stupor. Tsk tsk, look at all these wine jars. Don't tell me you're drinking yourself foolish," Qin Yiqing continued her sharp tongue.
Ji Rong indulged Qin Yiqing with a fond look.
He liked her spirited nature.
Ruan Xi thumped his chest twice, looking like he was about to spit blood. "Qin Yiqing, are you trying to anger me to death? I at least did something good by bringing Ji Rong all the way to you. Can't you just shut up for now?"
Qin Yiqing did acknowledge this good deed of Ruan Xi's. She nodded. "You did well on this matter. Alright, then tell me, who is this unlucky woman you've fallen for? Since you've done one good deed, perhaps Ji Rong and I can help you?"
Ruan Xi almost blurted it out, but then he thought that if Yun Shu found out, she would definitely scold him.
Seeing Ruan Xi hesitate.
Qin Yiqing's clever little head lit up. She winked at Ji Rong and then said, "Ji Rong and I definitely won't tell anyone. This matter of you having a crush, heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, Ji Rong knows, and no one else will know. We won't even tell Yun Shu."
"You really won't tell Yun Shu?" Ruan Xi asked.
Qin Yiqing rolled her eyes. "Stop dawdling and hurry up and say it. I'm not very patient. Yun Shu and King Ye are facing many troubles right now, dealing with the old emperor of Xixia and that cunning Li De. They don't have time to worry about your affairs. Just tell me quickly."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Xi stood up, but he had drunk too much, and his body swayed uncontrollably as he stood, looking truly dejected.
"Fine, I'll tell you."