In Wu Tan City's West Street marketplace, inside Jade Flower Hall—
At a table in the corner, Little Fairy Doctor slowly savored her breakfast, her eyes drifting to the door from time to time.
The way she gripped her chopsticks betrayed her true feelings. She wasn't nearly as calm as she looked.
Just as she bit into a piece of cake, she suddenly felt the light before her dim.
Looking up slightly, she saw a slender young girl standing across from her: clad in a purple gown, with delicate features, skin like jade, and an ethereal aura that made her seem like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.
At the very first glance, a flash of understanding crossed Little Fairy Doctor's mind—she'd guessed this girl's identity. Her thoughts tangled.
Until the purple-robed girl smiled and spoke,
"It's crowded and noisy down here on the first floor. Would big sister be interested in coming to a private room on the third floor with me?"
"With such a warm invitation from little sister, of course I'd be happy to."
A guess flared in Little Fairy Doctor's heart, and she agreed without hesitation.
Xun Er led her up to a private room on the third floor and had the staff bring up another set of all her usual favorite breakfast dishes.
After all the food arrived, Xun Er spoke lightly,
"Seal off the space. Don't let anyone hear what's said in this room."
"Yes, Miss."
A woman's voice answered.
A ripple of space power spread silently, enveloping the private room.
"Hello."
Xun Er extended her hand toward her.
"Little Fairy Doctor… Big Sister."
"Hello."
Little Fairy Doctor reflexively reached out to shake it, forcing a smile.
"Gu… no… Xiao Xun Er, little sister."
Facing someone so dazzling in every respect, Little Fairy Doctor couldn't help but feel inferior.
She was a girl with no father or mother, and possibly the murderer of her own mother, whereas Xun Er's father was a nine-star Dou Saint.
That difference alone made them as far apart as stars in the sky and mud on the ground.
"Just call me Xun Er."
Pulling her hand back, Xun Er confirmed her guess completely.
Little Fairy Doctor also had an observation copy of the Journal, and had come to Wu Tan City for Xiao Ting.
"Big Sister Little Fairy Doctor, do you want to meet Brother Xiao Ting?"
Xun Er came straight to the point.
"Yes."
Little Fairy Doctor didn't hide it, her gaze burning.
"I want to confirm some things, verify the guesses I've always had. I want to know my future."
Xun Er nodded slightly and began eating her breakfast with practiced grace.
"Then tomorrow, I'll bring Brother Xiao Ting here to 'bump into' you accidentally—so he doesn't get suspicious."
"You're willing to help me?"
Surprise flickered in Little Fairy Doctor's eyes.
She'd thought Xun Er had come to warn her off, to drive her away from Xiao Ting—the storybooks were always written that way.
As if reading her mind, Xun Er said,
"If possible, I wouldn't want you and Brother Xiao Ting to get close. My intuition tells me that in his heart—or rather, in the hearts of his readers—you occupy a very special place."
"White moonlight, cinnabar mole, the one regret never resolved… You're Brother Xiao Ting's 'forever regret.'"
Little Fairy Doctor had the vague feeling there was some sourness in Xun Er's tone.
"Then why…"
She wanted to ask, "Then why are you helping me now?"
But as the words reached her lips, she more or less understood.
Xun Er didn't want to expose the existence of the observation copy.
If she moved against Little Fairy Doctor, sooner or later Xiao Ting would suspect something.
Blocking was worse than channeling; by helping Little Fairy Doctor, Xun Er could keep things within her expectations and control.
"I don't have the extra energy for anything else."
Little Fairy Doctor's thoughts raced, and she hurried to clarify:
"I just want to confirm whether the contents of the jour—of that thing are true, and to verify one thing I care most about. If possible, I'd like to know a bit about my future."
"I believe you."
Xun Er reassured her,
"But you don't have to be so absolute. No one can be certain of the future."
"Brother Xiao Ting is outstanding. Even I like him—if, after meeting him, you end up with other feelings, that would be perfectly normal."
"If you have the ability to become one of his confidantes, I won't object."
"Ah!?"
Little Fairy Doctor's eyes flew wide. She wondered if she'd misheard.
"Hard to understand?"
Xun Er set down her chopsticks and let out a light sigh.
"Brother Xiao Ting and I grew up together, and our feelings are solid."
"Under normal circumstances, I'll return to the Ancient Clan in a few years. My growth rate will definitely surpass Brother Xiao Ting's."
"I'll always be stronger than him, always able to help him, always feeding him soft rice."
At that, Xun Er chuckled softly, then continued,
"Beauty's grace is heavy. Knowing Brother Xiao Ting as I do, he wouldn't do anything to betray me, and I'd never be willing to share him with others."
"But things are different now. He's awakened his past-life memories, and he… has that Journal."
"Xun Er!"
Little Fairy Doctor shot to her feet, looking at her in alarm.
"What is it?"
Xun Er took a sip of tea, perfectly calm.
"It's not that you can't say it, but how can you…"
Little Fairy Doctor frowned in confusion.
"I haven't violated any restrictions."
Xun Er poured her some tea and smiled easily.
"I'm not telling anyone who doesn't already know. Do you need me to 'tell' you?"
Little Fairy Doctor instantly understood. She also had an observation copy and knew of its existence and contents.
She and Xun Er were both in on the secret. Sharing that information wouldn't be judged as "leaking."
"But you're still too bold, saying those two words out loud."
She still felt a lingering fear.
"If our conversation so far counted as a violation, we would've been warned long ago."
Xun Er remained unruffled, gesturing for her to sit as she went on,
"Brother Xiao Ting has that… thing."
"Don't say those words again."
Just hearing it made Little Fairy Doctor's heart pound. Her tone grew solemn.
"Sometimes a careless slip of the tongue can destroy you."
"I know your identity is special and you have many experts protecting you, so you're not afraid of eavesdroppers."
"But if you get used to saying it and accidentally bring it up in front of someone else, it'll hurt you."
Xun Er could feel the sincerity and warmth in her tone. The faint wariness at the bottom of her heart quietly dissolved, and she nodded with a smile.
"Big Sister Little Fairy Doctor is right. One can't be too careful about this. Let's just keep it unspoken, then?"
"Mm."
Little Fairy Doctor nodded and took a sip of tea to steady herself.
"Back to what we were saying before."
Xun Er propped her chin on one hand.
"Brother Xiao Ting knows too much. Even if I don't help him, he can still grow rapidly. Reaching Dou God is only a matter of time."
"In that situation, I have no right to demand that he forever remain with just me. For a powerhouse, having multiple confidantes is standard. If he finds a few women he cherishes, I may not like it, but I won't resist it—and I certainly won't break up with him over it."
Before, she'd only loved Xiao Ting as a boy, and had even wanted him to live off her soft rice forever.
Now, knowing his future was boundless, that he was destined for Dou God from the start, even from the standpoint of an Ancient Clan's young lady, she couldn't possibly let go.
Emotionally and practically, she couldn't give him up. So she could only convince herself to accept it.
Little Fairy Doctor more or less understood, but one question remained:
"Even if you can accept that, you still don't have to tell me, do you?"
From a purely realistic perspective, she may have had no intentions at first, or may have been constrained by Xun Er's background and strength.
But after this conversation, she might start to think differently—and she wouldn't have to keep it hidden.
"Of course I have to tell you."
Xun Er peered straight through her thoughts, not even bothering to be polite.
"Because now, you and I are the same kind of person—the same in truth."
"Have you not realized that from the moment you gained observation rights, you were no longer the same as before?"