Chapter 41 - We're Just Friends

“As the woman who is called the Bright Moon of the Empire, she is really not an ordinary woman.” Yan Xiangma sighed in his heart.

After only a few minutes since Cui Xiaoxin entered the yard, she had already understood the ins and outs of the matter. Even though Yan Xiangma wanted to help Li Muyang hide the truth, Cui Xiaoxin saw through him at a glance.

Cui Xiaoxin knew who killed Crow, and she also knew Yan Xiangma’s good intention of snatching the credit from Li Muyang.

He wanted to protect Li Muyang, so he insisted that he had killed Crow.

Cui Xiaoxin also wanted to protect Li Muyang, so she agreed that Yan Xiangma had killed Crow.

When Yan Xiangma told people that he killed Crow, he felt he was selfless, but when his sister talked about it… Why did he feel a little uncomfortable?

However, since Cui Xiaoxin mentioned this in such a serious tone, he had no choice but to cooperate.

Because Cui Xiaoxin was not only his cousin but also the daughter of the Cui Family—the Yan Family was the Cui Family’s relatives by marriage as well as a subsidiary. Of course, Yan Xiangma’s status was not as important as Cui Xiaoxin’s.

Even if Cui Xiaoxin married someone in the future, the man she married would have to be someone from a decent family who would be of great help to the Cui Family. For example, the talented young man of the Song Family.

As for Yan Xiangma, he was just the son of the Governor of Jiangnan City. Those rich and powerful families would not take him seriously.

If it weren’t for the fact that his mother was from the Cui Family, how could he be qualified to live in one house and have an equal conversation with his cousin?

Yan Xiangma patted his chest and said, “Cousin, don’t worry. I am a reasonable person. If it’s my credit, no one can take it away from me; if it’s not, no one dares to complain when I want to take it. I’ll go to report it to the City Lord Mansion. I will tell them that I made a plan and killed Crow. And I’ll take the reward of 3,000 gold coins by the way. Li Muyang, you lured the enemy this time, thank you. I’ll ask someone to give you 1,500 gold coins later. We’ll each take half of the money.”

Li Muyang repeatedly waved his hand and said, “No, no. That’s your reward. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Why? You look down on me?” Yan Xiangma said with a gloomy face.

“I don’t. I just feel there are no gains without pains.”

“All right, all right.” Yan Xiangma said impatiently, “If I give it to you, you can keep it. In our world, you are looking down on people if you don’t accept their gifts—If someone doesn’t respect me, I will slap him in the face. A person like me, who comes from a rich family, can do anything.”

Yan Xiangma lowered his voice and asked in a quiet voice, “Can I go up and see Sinian?”

“No.”

“I’ll give you 2,000 gold coins.”

“No.”

“2,500 coins.”

“No.”

“I’ll give you all 3,000 coins. Is that okay?”

“No way.”

Yan Xiangma pointed at Li Muyang’s chest with his finger and said, “Boy, don’t you think we should work together to create a bright future?”

“What do you mean?”

“You like my cousin while I also think Li Sinian is very cute. You help me hook up with your sister, and I can help you chase my cousin. Let’s exchange information and create opportunities for each other. What do you think?”

Li Muyang rolled his eyes and said, “Go to hell.”

Yan Xiangma pulled Cui Xiaoxin’s sleeves and said, “Cousin, he is asking you to go to hell. Let’s go…”

“Yan Xiangma—” Li Muyang really wanted to beat him up. He didn’t mean to kick Cui Xiaoxin out by saying “go to hell”. Instead, he would like to keep her here.

Cui Xiaoxin pushed Yan Xiangma away, looked at Li Muyang, and said, “I know that you have experienced a lot of things, and you and your family have also suffered great dangers, but I hope that these things will not affect your examination tomorrow. If there is anything that we can help you with, please tell me. Don’t be too polite.”

“Huh?” Li Muyang looked at Cui Xiaoxin and found that the girl suddenly became a little strange. Just like before the tour around the lake, she kept a certain distance from everyone in the class.

“Well then, my cousin and I will take our leave.” Cui Xiaoxin bowed slightly, making a standard royal etiquette of the empire. “Please take care.”

“Cui Xiaoxin!” Li Muyang shouted.

He felt that Cui Xiaoxin had changed. She became estranged.

However, for him, this kind of feeling was elusive since Cui Xiaoxin had never been too close to him—she just did not avoid him when he took the initiative to get close to her.

Cui Xiaoxin turned around, looked at Li Muyang with an indifferent expression, and asked softly, “What else can I do for you, Li Muyang?”

“I want to ask you…” Li Muyang grinned, revealing two rows of neat white teeth. The side of his face was shining with a faint yellow glow under the afternoon sun. He narrowed his eyes slightly, and his long eyelashes looked like a delicate fan. He was young, and it was a good time to look for love. “We have a date to go to watch the sunset together at Sunset Lake of Xifeng University. Do I still have your word?”

The sadness in Cui Xiaoxin’s eyes flashed away, and she gently stroked her long hair in front of her forehead. With no expression on her face, she said, “Li Muyang, this is a matter for the future. At least, it will only happen after you are admitted to Xifeng University. So, work hard.”

Cui Xiaoxin left.

She wouldn’t come tomorrow.

Li Muyang’s heart was empty.

“Why does it suddenly become like this?” Li Muyang’s mood was a little depressed. The teenager felt unspeakable sadness.

“Why did it suddenly become like this?” In the carriage, Yan Xiangma looked at Cui Xiaoxin and asked such a question.

“The person that Crow wanted to kill was Li Muyang, wasn’t it?” Cui Xiaoxin asked.

“Yes.” Yan Xiangma knew that he could not hide it from his cousin, so he said frankly, “The situation is extremely dangerous. When I came here, Li Muyang’s parents and sister were in a coma. Li Muyang was covered in blood and stood in the yard with a murderous look, like a demon emerging from hell. There were so many Blood Crows’ bodies on the ground, but Crow’s corpse had disappeared. According to Li Muyang, he was eaten by the Blood Crows.

“The reason why the Blood Crows eat their masters is that they have no other flesh and blood to eat. That is to say, before I arrived, Li Muyang had already defeated Crow. What do you think of this matter? Don’t you think that Li Muyang… There is a monster hiding in his body?”

“Did you find the person behind Crow?” Cui Xiaoxin crossed her fingers, gently rubbing them. This was a habitual action she had when she was deep in thought.

“Not yet.” Yan Xiangma shook his head. Cui Xiaoxin did not want to comment on Li Muyang’s physical condition, which was within his expectations. “My father has already sent a letter to Capital Heaven, telling them about you being attacked, but there is still no response back. They just asked us to ensure your safety no matter what. Crow was just a killer, and he is dead. What kind of information can we find out?”

“So, do you think there’s anything wrong with what I did?” Cui Xiaoxin asked in return.

“I know you’re here to protect Li Muyang, but we haven’t found the person behind this. I don’t know if there will be another batch of killers… Li Muyang ruined their plan this time. They’ll naturally turn to target Li Muyang. He’s just an ordinary… no, he’s not ordinary in fact. This guy is hiding something so deep that I can’t see through him.”

“He is not ordinary, but his heart is,” Cui Xiaoxin said in a low voice.

“Yes. He’s a good man…” Yan Xiangma sighed softly. “So, I feel… Isn’t it a bit cruel to treat him like this?”

“Death is the cruelest thing,” Cui Xiaoxin said, “We have to be separated. Whether it’s sooner or later, what’s the difference?”

“You’re right.” Yan Xiangma looked out of the window at the fiery red and beautifully blooming prunus campanulata and said, “Cousin, you are the one who has thought it through.”

Cui Xiaoxin lowered her head and said nothing. Then after a long time, she said, “Cousin, you stand up to take the responsibility and risk. Please don’t be angry!”

Yan Xiangma patted Cui Xiaoxin’s shoulder gently. He knew that the girl was feeling upset.

“Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be?” Yan Xiangma smiled gently. He had the wisdom to see through the truth. “If an irrelevant person took this responsibility and danger, I would really mind it. After all, I am your cousin. We are family.”

After a pause, Yan Xiangma looked at Cui Xiaoxin and couldn’t help asking, “Do you really not have any feelings for Li Muyang?”

“Cousin doesn’t need to ask such a question. We are just friends.”

“Alas.” Yan Xiangma was very regretful as he said, “He also has a good sister.”