The Whole World Wants Me To Get Divorced chapter 65

Fragments

After watching a movie, Qin You and Wen Yan sat in the garden restaurant to have dessert. Their tastes were similar, both enjoying sweets, providing them with plenty of shared topics.

However, Qin You received a call from her vampire sisters abroad halfway through, so Wen Yan didn’t disturb her and focused on his mint-flavored ice cream.

The restaurant overlooked a swan lake, with several white swans accompanied by a single black swan. Surprisingly, the black swan was not rejected; instead, it was intimately close to one of the white swans, their long necks rubbing against each other.

Finding it amusing, Wen Yan contemplated whether he should also keep two swans at home.

As Qin You chatted on the phone, she reached into her mustard seed bag, which was designed to look like a handbag but contained a space larger than a library. She pulled out one thing after another, unable to find what she was looking for. Growing frustrated, she overturned the bag, causing a cascade of items.

Luckily, they were shielded from view, and the adjacent table’s customers were unaware. However, too many things spilled out, covering the table.

Among the items, a scroll rolled onto the table. The fine rope on the painting scattered upon impact, unfolding with a swish.

Wen Yan, who was supposed to be helping Qin You intercept things, absentmindedly glanced at the painting, and his gaze got stuck.

The painting depicted a young celestial being, dressed in white like snow, with picturesque features, elegant and noble. Behind him was a bamboo forest, with thousands of branches and leaves, exuding a serene greenery.

It was a portrait of Yan Gu, and it almost mirrored Wen Yan’s face.

Wen Yan: “…………”

Before knowing Yan Gu, he led a peaceful life.

However, since he learned about Yan Gu, it seemed like Yan Gu was constantly present in his life.

What could be said about this? Could this be the so-called shadow of a former lover?

Though he complained in his heart, he couldn’t shift his gaze away from the painting.

As if being attracted, an irresistible desire surged in his heart, and his fingers slowly stroked the celestial being’s eyebrows and eyes…

Meanwhile, Qin You hadn’t noticed.

After finally obtaining the cross mentioned by her sisters, she was on the phone saying, “Oh, it’s with me. Do you need it urgently? I’ll find a way to send it back to you later.”

Once she hung up, Wen Yan had been studying the scroll for a while.

Qin You was about to ask what Wen Yan was looking at when her gaze fell on the table, and she suddenly inhaled a breath of cold air. When did she put Yan Gu’s portrait in the mustard seed bag? Even if she wanted to take it back now, it was too late.

She fumbled in the air for a while, unable to find a place to put her hands, and could only retract them dejectedly. She slapped her forehead with one hand, as if wanting to slap herself to death.

Wen Yan had thoroughly studied the scroll inside and out but refrained from touching it again. Unable to resist, he asked Qin You, “Is this a portrait of Yan Gi? Who painted it?”

Qin You, was a bit hesitant but still had to answer, “it was painted by Rong Xiao.”

Wen Yan understood.

He guessed it was Rong Xiao the moment he saw the portrait for the first time.

“When did he meet Rong Xiao?”

“It should be when he was twenty.” Qin You’s voice became smaller, like a mosquito’s hum.

The time difference between his meeting Rong Xiao and Yan Gu’s wasn’t significant. Wen Yan thought about it; he looked at the celestial being on the painting. Although they looked alike, perhaps it was because Yan Gu held a higher position of authority, making him appear more stable.

It made sense; being revered as a celestial being at such a young age meant shouldering responsibilities heavier than Mount Tai, leaving no room for carefree laughter.

Unable to help himself, Wen Yan asked again, “…When did he pass away? How old was he?”

Qin You fell silent for a moment.

After a pause, she replied, “Twenty-four.”

Only twenty-four, truly a premature departure.

Wen Yan felt a bit regretful for some reason.

If he could stay a few more years in this world, he wondered what kind of scene it would be.

Wen Yan didn’t ask any more questions.

However, he didn’t return the scroll to Qin You. Instead, he took the rare liberty to ask, “Can I borrow this painting for a while?”

Qin You: “…………”

Holding her ice cream, she couldn’t agree, but she couldn’t disagree either.

This, this, this—when the current partner actively requests the former partner’s painting, it sounds like a precursor to Rong Xiao’s impending doom.

Although she would fight with Rong Xiao every time they met, she couldn’t push Rong Xiao into the fire pit like this!

Seemingly aware of what she was thinking, Wen Yan smiled, “I won’t take it back to trouble Rong Xiao. I’m just a bit curious and want to take a look at it. I’ll return it the day after tomorrow.”

After much internal struggle, Qin You finally agreed.

It wasn’t that she didn’t cherish Yan Gu’s old belongings, but she felt that with Wen Yan’s character, he couldn’t possibly do anything bad.

After finishing their ice cream, the two of them went back home, and Qin You didn’t follow Wen Yan to Rong Xiao’s place.

Once she returned home, in a rush, she reorganized all the old belongings related to Yan Gu, afraid of missing anything again. After Rong Xiao lost his memory, she worried he wouldn’t care about Yan Gu’s things, so she took them all. As a result, the items related to Yan Gu were now the most complete collection between her and Su Meng.

However, as she continued organizing, she found herself lost in thought.

Initially, Yan Gu, as the Peak Master, left behind a rich collection of heirlooms. Along with various items such as sachets and stationery he favored, Qin You preserved them all, gradually filling an entire storage room.

Now, looking at the room filled with old items, she unconsciously began reminiscing about the past.

At that time, the mountains and rivers were peaceful, and time was tranquil. She and Su Meng had just started dating, while Rong Xiao and Yan Gu secretly paid respects to the heavens and the earth. The four of them strolled around the city’s Spring Prosperity Lake, admiring the charming girls on the shore. River lanterns floated on the water, and vendors weaved through the crowd, selling chilled fruit wines.

Everything was good; none of them had separated, and there was no life-and-death separation.

Qin You’s movements slowed unconsciously in her hands, and there was an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.

She thought it might be a good thing that Rong Xiao forgot.

If there were no memories, there would be no pain.

If there were no pain, he could wholeheartedly love Wen Yan.

She sighed gently, turned and walked out of the storage room, closing the hidden door softly, sealing away the time from three thousand years ago.

Not far away, in Rong Xiao’s residence.

Wen Yan sat alone in the study, the scroll spread out in front of him.

After dinner, he used the excuse of studying to hide in the study, adding several layers of barriers to prevent any sound from leaking out.

He had been staring at the scroll for half an hour but couldn’t bring himself to touch it.

This afternoon, while Qin You was engrossed in a conversation with her friend, at the moment he touched the painting, a faint golden mist uncontrollably surged from the painting and flowed towards his fingertips.

Shocked, he had to withdraw his hand from the contact, and the golden mist slowly disappeared, returning the portrait to its calm state.

However, in that brief moment, Wen Yan felt a familiar aura emanating from the painting, a familiarity that seemed to belong to him.

So, he reluctantly asked Qin You to lend him the portrait.

Wen Yan massaged his temples, feeling a bit troubled for the first time.

Previously, he was confident that Yan Gu had nothing to do with him, especially since Rong Xiao mentioned that Yan Gu’s soul had dissipated without reincarnation.

However, when he touched the painting, he couldn’t be so sure anymore.

Because in that moment of contact with the painting, he saw some vague memories…

He stared at the painting for a long time, following the impulse, he slowly covered it with his hand.

At the moment his fingertips touched the painting, a faint golden mist rose from the painting, converging into his body like a gentle stream.

More memories poured into Wen Yan’s mind, but they were just fragments, like scattered pearls on the ground, unable to form a complete memory.

But it was enough for him to catch a glimpse of a person and a demon falling in love three thousand years ago.

He leaned back in his chair, his neck unable to support the backward tilt, and fine veins protruded on his fair neck.

Those memories seemed to be his, yet they also seemed to be separated by a layer, flashing like a revolving lantern before his eyes.

He saw Rong Xiao.

He saw Rong Xiao kissing him in the flower bushes, dressed in fiery red, eyes brighter than the stars.

He also saw them walking along the lantern festival, releasing a river lantern together.

In the morning light, Rong Xiao used a wooden comb to help him tidy his long hair, smiling as he kissed the ends…

Every bit of it was Rong Xiao.

Rong Xiao who smiled, Rong Xiao who looked at him tenderly, Rong Xiao who shamelessly demanded his kisses.

It was Rong Xiao, the one who married him, tied the knot, and became one with him.

Wen Yan unconsciously smiled.

He thought, is Rong Xiao happy now? When he was with Yan Gu, it seemed that he wasn’t neglected and was truly cherished.

This somewhat comforted him.

But just as he was thinking this, the river of fragmented memories reached its end.

He didn’t know the year or the month.

It was in that courtyard where they had paid respects to the heavens. It was winter, the grass and trees were withering, and the starlight was dim.

Rong Xiao stood under a tree, looking at him with slightly red eyes, his expression bleak.

He heard Rong Xiao say, “Anyway, to you, the sect and the world are more important than me. What am I to you? I only have you, but you will never belong only to me.”

Wen Yan had never heard Rong Xiao’s voice so heartbroken. It was as if Rong Xiao himself didn’t know why he had ended up in this situation, being manipulated by a human.

The memories stopped abruptly.

Wen Yan fell heavily into the chair, and the portrait suddenly lost its vitality. No longer lively like before, it turned into an ordinary lifeless object.

The study was very quiet, with only the ticking sound of the clock.

Wen Yan looked up and realized that only ten minutes had passed.

But it felt like he had experienced a very long dream.

In the dream, he was Yan Gu.

He wasn’t watching a movie, and he wasn’t observing from an outsider’s perspective. He was genuinely looking at everything through Yan Gu’s eyes, feeling Rong Xiao’s arm around him.

…

Wen Yan combed through his hair, quite puzzled.

To calm his mind, he had just lit a light fragrance in the room. However, it didn’t work now; his mind was in disarray.

He remembered the first time he dual-cultivated with Rong Xiao, the dream he had.

The wedding ceremony, the dragon and phoenix candles, the bow to the heavens and earth.

At that time, both he and Rong Xiao thought he had touched Rong Xiao’s memories.

But now, recalling it again… were those really Rong Xiao’s memories?

Could it be that these were his own memories?

Remnants from his past life.

Wen Yan sighed deeply.

Even if he wanted to pretend to be blind, he couldn’t help but suspect that he might indeed be the reincarnation of Yan Gu.

Even if not, there seemed to be some connection.

Unfortunately, the memories preserved in this scroll were not complete, and he couldn’t completely confirm this speculation.

Moreover…

Wen Yan touched his chin, feeling that something was off.

Why did he seem to be the more scoundrel-like one in these memories?

What was this about Rong Xiao saying he cared more about the world than him?

Damn, if he really did wrong Rong Xiao, how could he still claim the moral high ground in their future arguments?

Wen Yan frowned deeply, feeling that this was not acceptable.

He thought deeply, trying to make sense of it.

His face twisted into a contemplative expression, and he sighed.

He may need to come to terms with the fact that these memories might reveal a version of himself that he didn’t want to acknowledge.