goodnovel Chapter 1152 - 631: Public Displays of Affection for the Sake of Atmosphere (Double-Length)
Chapter 1152 - 631: Public Displays of Affection for the Sake of Atmosphere (Double-Length)
Thus, Li Zhibai took in Xu Chang’an not out of kindness, but as a part of the rules... Even if it hadn’t been Chang’an, but someone else, the result would have been the same.
This was the essence of the woman known as ’Li Zhibai’ before she encountered Yun Qian and underwent change.
So...
Is she a good person?
"..." Li Zhibai chuckled slightly.
Look.
Even Chang’an considers her a good person, so whether Chang’an himself is a good person, what does it matter?
Li Zhibai quietly watched the dazed-looking young man in front of her... recalling Xu Chang’an, who used to come regularly to the Sword Hall to clean before Yun Qian moved to the mountain.
At that time, he visited the Sword Hall daily, yet he couldn’t even see her face.
Back then, in her mind, Xu Chang’an was on par with Wen Li — although he was her student, just like Wen Li, he was merely a product of her role as Mr. Sword Hall... and according to the rules, the Sword Hall’s teacher is only responsible for students up to the Open Source Realm.
Beyond the Open Source Realm, they would have their own masters, and she would no longer be involved.
That was how she thought of it.
Originally, under normal circumstances... Xu Chang’an would have his own master just like Wen Li...
But how did things turn out like this?
Sometimes Li Zhibai couldn’t understand why. She hadn’t seen his face for so many days; she even thought him foolish when he came to clean by himself...
How did things fall to this state?
The rules, maybe.
Or the heartbeat of not interfering in others’ lives.
When Xu Chang’an found her with hesitant eyes and said tremulously that Yun Qian might not be able to cultivate, it seemed at that moment, all her bottom lines shattered.
Thus, Li Zhibai wondered if her gradual change of opinion toward Xu Chang’an was partly influenced by Yun Qian.
After all, it was after spending some time alone with Yun Qian, having her spirit kindled, that she first had the urge to want to be close to her at all costs...
Yun Qian seemed to possess a magical beauty that could make the cold, unfeeling Hidden Immortal happily call her ’Ms. Yun’ over and over.
"No, it’s not that." In Xu Chang’an’s confused eyes, Li Zhibai gently patted his shoulder.
It wasn’t her fondness for Yun Qian that altered her view of Chang’an.
Rather, she liked Chang’an from the start, which made her willing to patiently interact with Yun Qian, so it couldn’t be the other way around.
"Teacher... You should just say something." Xu Chang’an was quite helpless.
When Li Zhibai asked him if he considered her a good person, she fell into silence, leaving only body language; how was he supposed to understand?
"What’s there to say?" Li Zhibai blinked.
Was she supposed to tell Chang’an that she’s not actually a responsible teacher and that her previous kindness was just because of the rules?
Such words, even Li Zhibai found it hard to speak, for she hadn’t been like that in personality for quite some time. Now... no loving mother would willingly bad-mouth herself in front of a child hoping for her affection, would they?
There’s no such logic.
Teacher...?
Xu Chang’an didn’t understand what Li Zhibai meant, yet he sensed that she didn’t think of herself as a good person... Still, he hesitated and didn’t ask further.
He didn’t know Li Zhibai’s past, so he wasn’t in a position to comment on it.
In this lifetime, he likely couldn’t repay her kindness.
By then, having repeatedly affirmed his position in the teacher’s mind, Xu Chang’an understood well that a bad person like him... would certainly maximize all benefits.
Facing the teacher’s favoritism, he would eventually act presumptuously, certainly gaining more from her.
So, he’s definitely not yet in the clear.
He sighed.
Speaking of repaying, he couldn’t even fully repay Zhu Pingniang’s kindness, let alone the teacher’s. Xu Chang’an could faintly sense that Zhu Pingniang’s tolerance for him was truly without limits.
"Have you thought it through?" Seeing Xu Chang’an sigh, Li Zhibai asked.
"I’ve thought it through." Xu Chang’an nodded.
After Li Zhibai said that, in her heart, ’Xu Chang’an’ was not defined as a good person at all; he was simply himself, after which Xu Chang’an saw no need to struggle with being good or bad.
Frankly, he was just worried that in the future, he might do ’bad things’ for Yun Qian, perform some out-of-line actions... Such actions might disappoint Li Zhibai and result in losing the teacher’s support... This thought was very utilitarian, yet unavoidable.
Hence, he took this opportunity to speak frankly with Li Zhibai, to gauge the teacher’s thoughts. But at this moment, Xu Chang’an knew contemplating good or evil was meaningless, for Li Zhibai liked him far more than he had imagined... This kind of affection, this bias... magnified his dark inner thoughts.
"Teacher, with you saying such things, in the future... I might really exploit your trust, acting fearlessly, doing as I please... What then?" Xu Chang’an said helplessly.
"What does it matter?" Li Zhibai gently waved it off with a smile, "That’s why, for someone like you to say such things... means you’re still a child."
"... C-child..." Xu Chang’an’s eye twitched.
"Teacher, I’ve been married for quite some time now."
"That doesn’t change the fact that you’re an ungrown child." Li Zhibai leaned against the window sill, thinking that only kids have such thoughts of exploitation... He indeed was naive.