In the study, several senior brothers sat in silence.
Belle pressed her lips together, trembling slightly as she held her brush. By candlelight, she painstakingly restored each blurred character on the rain-damaged bamboo scroll.
Under the candlelight, her jade-green eyes shimmered like the rippling surface of a lake.
A single tear slid down her cheek.
Miles Moon froze.
What’s going on? Why would restoring a scroll...
He glanced around in panic.
Only now did he notice something was off in the study.
Ever since he entered the room, aside from the initial greetings, the senior uncles had barely spoken. Each wore a frown, some bowed their heads, some covered their faces, all seemingly trying to avoid something.
“You call this nothing? How is this nothing?” Danny Crimson hugged his arms, shrank his neck, and looked utterly helpless.
After a long silence, Elder Skyreach said softly, “Since our junior brother isn’t back yet, shall we step outside for some fresh air?”
“Good idea,” Danny Crimson said quickly.
“I was just thinking the same,” Ewan said, jumping to his feet.
In no time, all four senior uncles had left, leaving only Miles Moon and Belle in the room. The atmosphere grew even more awkward.
Watching Belle restore the scroll while tears fell, Miles Moon forgot where to put his hands.
After a moment, he forced a laugh. “Belle, maybe you should keep working. I’ll go see if Uncle Wukong is back yet?”
Belle nodded blankly, tears falling onto the bamboo scroll and slowly smudging the characters she had just restored.
Blinking, Miles Moon turned and dashed out, even forgetting to close the door.
Belle was left alone in the study.
She kept holding her brush, kept restoring the scroll, kept crying—never moving beyond that, for a very long time.
In the study, several senior brothers sat quietly.
Belle pressed her lips together, trembling slightly as she held her brush. By candlelight, she painstakingly restored each blurred character on the rain-damaged bamboo scroll.
Under the candlelight, her jade-green eyes shimmered like the rippling surface of a lake.
A single tear slid down her cheek.
Miles Moon froze.
What’s going on? Why would restoring a scroll...
He glanced around in panic.
Only now did he notice something was off in the study.
Ever since he entered the room, aside from the initial greetings, the senior uncles had barely spoken. Each wore a frown, some bowed their heads, some covered their faces, all seemingly trying to avoid something.
“You call this nothing? How is this nothing?” Danny Crimson hugged his arms, shrank his neck, and looked utterly helpless.
After a long silence, Elder Skyreach said softly, “Since our junior brother isn’t back yet, shall we step outside for some fresh air?”
“Good idea,” Danny Crimson said quickly.
“I was just thinking the same,” Ewan said, jumping to his feet.
In no time, all four senior uncles had left, leaving only Miles Moon and Belle in the room. The atmosphere grew even more awkward.
Watching Belle restore the scroll while tears fell, Miles Moon forgot where to put his hands.
After a moment, he forced a laugh. “Belle, maybe you should keep working. I’ll go see if Uncle Wukong is back yet?”
Belle nodded blankly, tears falling onto the bamboo scroll and slowly smudging the characters she had just restored.
Blinking, Miles Moon turned and dashed out, even forgetting to close the door.
Belle was left alone in the study.
She kept holding her brush, kept restoring the scroll, kept crying—never moving beyond that, for a very long time.
"If you’re not lying, why won’t you look me in the eye?"
Belle turned to face him, lifting her head to meet Simon Sun’s gaze.
But the courage in her tearful eyes lasted only a moment, and soon she turned away again, her back to Simon Sun.
Still, she kept her head down.
Simon Sun couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
This little girl, after all these years, is still just like she was in the Slanting Moon Three-Star Cave—unable to hide anything.
Simon Sun straightened up, took a deep breath, and could only say softly, "Thank you. If not for you, maybe I would have missed out forever."
Belle trembled slightly and nodded, saying, "You’ll only be happy with her."
After a pause, Belle choked out a smile: "Sister Yang Chan really is amazing. She can help you cultivate, and when you’re not around, she takes care of all of Blossom Mountain. All the demons there support her... and she loves you so much. There’s no one in the world more suitable for you."
"What about you?"
Belle’s smile suddenly froze.
She stood there, her back to Simon Sun, lost in thought.
After a long time, she whispered, "What does this have to do with me?"
"Are you really okay?"
"What could be wrong with me? I’m crying because I’m happy for you, tears of joy." She lowered her face, pointing to the desk. "That’s my wedding gift for you both."
Turning his head, Simon Sun saw the name plaque on the desk.
Simon Sun walked past Belle, picked up the name plaque, and examined it closely.
"Isn’t this the one I gave you?"
"Yes... Belle doesn’t have anything valuable, so she’s giving this back as a gift. You don’t mind, do you?"
Simon Sun handed the plaque back to Belle.
"I already gave it to you, so how could you give it back? I don’t need a wedding gift. You’ve already given me the greatest gift."
Belle pressed her lips together, shook her head fiercely, and hid her hands behind her back, refusing to take it.
With no other choice, Simon Sun sighed and said, "Alright, I’ll keep it then."
The two stood in silence, the atmosphere so heavy and somber it felt like a final farewell. Even Simon Sun found it hard to bear.
After a while, Simon Sun said softly, "The senior brothers are still outside. They came all this way to congratulate me—I should go see them."
Belle nodded quietly.
Just as Simon Sun was about to step away, Belle suddenly looked up and called out, "Simon Sun!"
"Hm?" Simon Sun quickly stopped and looked at her.
"Can I hug you?" she asked, blinking her eyes.
Looking at the tearful, pitiful Belle, with her blue eyes, Simon Sun finally nodded.
Belle awkwardly opened her arms, carefully approached Simon Sun, and at the last two steps, suddenly threw herself at him, hugging him tightly and burying her face in his chest.
Her grip was so strong, as if she never wanted to let go, even Simon Sun was surprised.
Before Simon Sun could speak, he heard Belle's faint sobbing from within his embrace.
Her arms around him tightened even more.
Simon Sun was stunned.
He could only lower his hastily raised hands and hug Belle, gently stroking her long hair.
"Don't cry, okay?"
"Simon Sun..."
"Hm?"
Belle really can't bear to part with you. Very, very much.
"What are you saying?"
"Please, just listen to me this once... I'm begging you."
A drop of wax slowly fell from the candlestick.
The dim red firelight cast their embracing shadows crookedly onto the wall.
Simon Sun stood quietly, his expression a little dazed.
...
The fleet sailed slowly, the flagship draped in red silk, festive and bright.
In the cabin, Yang Chan, already dressed in her wedding gown, gazed quietly at the stars through the porthole, while attendants busily helped her prepare.
"What is the Great Sage doing now?"
"Not sure," a court official replied, quickly taking out a jade slip. "I’ll ask right away."
...
At this moment, only Belle's faint sobbing remained in the study.
All along, Belle has been a burden, always causing trouble. I'm sorry... But from now on, I promise I won't be like that anymore. I won't drag you down again...
Sister Yang Chan is truly wonderful—the best woman in the world. You must treat her well. Even if one day Sparrow appears, you must never, ever neglect her feelings... because she loves you far more than Sparrow ever could...
If someday you find out Belle did something behind your back, please, please don't blame me... because, because...
"Why?" Simon Sun asked softly.
Just then, Ling Yunzi's urgent voice sounded from outside the door.
"Junior brother, can we come in?"
Hearing this, the two quickly separated in panic, and in the commotion, Simon Sun accidentally pulled out a strand of Belle's hair.