To Raise a Soul 19

The pill ran its course, slowly warming Yu Zhen’s body. Although he was still cold, it was no longer unbearable. 

As warmth returned to his limbs, some color returned to his face.

Resisting the cold had drained his mental strength. Under the combined effect of the medicine and the comfortable warmth around his body, he fell asleep in Yin Yan’s arms.

Yin Yan noticed as the gaze on his back shifted away. Moving Yu Zhen’s hand under the blanket, he shifted him into a more comfortable position. 

It was noisy to everyone else in the cabin, but Yin Yan only heard the rhythmic sound of Yu Zhen’s gentle breaths. His eyes were drawn to his sleeping beauty’s face. 

Yu Zhen’s eyelashes were long and lush, and the outer corners of his eyes were slanted upwards. His eyes were particularly charming, but because he often hid them behind his introverted nature, no one else took note of it.

But, that would be temporary, a mere thing of the past. Once Yu Zhen gained more experience and shook off the cowardice brought on by the loss of his soul, his eyes were bound to be so beautiful it would stop people in their tracks.

Mine.

Yin Yan bowed his head and moved closer, stopping to hover just before Yu Zhen’s peacefully closed eyes. The layers of calm gradually disappeared and his arms slowly tightened.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhen slept soundly. However, in his dreams, there was a rhythmic, drum-like sound beside his ear. Although the drumming followed a good beat and wasn’t too loud, he irritated even within his dreams. When he woke, his body felt soft and weak, as if he had just finished running a marathon.

The plane arrived in B City on time. Upon leaving it, Qiu Feiqian dragged Yin Yan along towards the baggage carousels to collect their luggage. Weng Xiping left to contact the driver who would bring their cars over and Yin Hexiang slipped away to the men’s room. The only two people left were Yin Le, who was in exceptionally high spirits, and Yu Zhen, who looked like he had not fully woken up. 

“Yu Ge, it’s amazing that you slept through the whole flight. Look at the imprints on your face,” Yin Le pointed to the crease marks on Yu Zhen’s cheeks, not letting this strange treasure of teasing material go to waste. He chuckled happily.

Yu Zhen quickly raised a hand to the side of his face and, as expected, he felt the grooves under his fingertips. Guessing it was the result of lying on Yan Yan, he rubbed at the indents sheepishly, hoping to smoothen them out a little. Just as he was about to respond, a soft female voice came from behind him.  He had heard it before, only once, but recalled it clearly.

“H-hello, can I speak with you?”

Surprised, Yu Zhen turned around. Before him stood the lady from the plane, the one who cried at Yin Yan, looking up at him with a hesitant expression.

While outwardly calm, his brain churned frantically as he tried to recall what the Yin family called her. He managed to nod and politely replied, “Hello, Miss Han.”

“You know me?”

Han Ya blinked, her expression growing even more uncomfortable. Abruptly, she bowed to him and said, “I’m sorry to have let down Yan‘s feelings. Because of me, he has suffered a lot these past few years. Although I don’t know why he suddenly gotten together with you, I hope that, as the person he chose…” she paused slightly, before continuing, “I hope that you will treat him well. I… Please tell Yan that I am sorry!”

Struggling with his groggy mind, Yu Zhen took a moment to process her words. As he was unclear about the situation, he politely replied, “I don’t really know you, Miss Han. So about what you’ve just said… Umm, Miss Han, did Yin Yan like you in the past? Were you the one he shielded in the car accident?”

From the moment Han Ya showed up, Yin Le had the feeling that things were somehow going to go south. Hearing Yu Zhen’s words, he stepped forward, positioning Yu Zhen behind him. In anger, he said, “Are you done yet? My brother is already married! Married! He has a husband, do you understand? Leave! Don’t bother Yu Ge!” 

Han Ya, with tears in her eyes, took a step back, bowed her head and said, “I’m sorry, I don’t have any other intentions. Xiao Le, don’t be angry. Yan did like me in the past, and I was involved in his car accident, so I just wanted to apologize…”

“That’s enough! You don’t have to say anything else, scram! “

Yin Le couldn’t stand this lady! Always taking this cheap damsel-in-distress route when dealing with her problems. Whenever she did something wrong, she would cry and look weak. Outsiders would think the Yin family was bullying a woman!

And it was the same thing every time! Every time! Han Ya would look weak and pitiful and then say words that made people feel disgusted. Brother has finally snatched up Yu Ge, but now Han Ya is here to spout some nonsense! What if Yu Ge hears too much of this and gets so angry he leaves?!

How many times had this happened before? Whenever Brother becomes a little more clear-headed, his day gets better, or he just starts to listen to us saner people, Han Ya has to show up and cause problems.

The pattern continued to repeat itself, over and over, for so many years. Sometimes Yin Le thought it would be better if Han Ya just up and died.  If that happened, the Yin home would be so much more peaceful.

Yin Le glared ferociously. His eyes narrowed, turning red. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, giving him the appearance of a puffed-up chick preparing to fight. Because he did not know how to vent his emotions, he ended up looking as if he would cry from his anger. 

Yu Zhen didn’t expect the sudden outburst. He hurried forward and pressed a hand on Yin Le’s shoulder. Moving in front of Yin Le, he blocked his line of sight. Yu Zhen hugged him and patted him a few times before stepping backward. Then, Yu Zhen brushed his thumb against Yin Le’s face to smoothen out his tense expression and said, “Don’t be anxious. Let me speak with her, it’s just a small matter. She’s here to apologize, after all. It’ll be fine if we just accept it. Don’t be angry, okay?”

His anger soothed, Yin Le looked at Yu Zhen. He wore a frown, looking as if he needed some comforting himself. With a sour feeling in his heart, Yin Le cried out, “Yu Ge… Don’t go. My brother really does like you. Don’t abandon him.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t leave. In the future, wherever Yin Yan goes, I’ll go. Don’t be angry. I’m here.”

Yu Zhen had guessed what Han Ya did from the reactions of the Yin family. Recalling the scene of the accident – blood everywhere and a body that was quickly losing heat, the default kindness in Yu Zhen’s heart dissipated and was replaced by disapproval and dislike. 

He turned back to Han Ya while pulling Yin Le behind him. With a frown, he looked at her and said, “Miss Han, if you’re really here to apologize, I will speak on behalf of the Yin family and say that we do not accept your apology. If you’re not here for that reason, I can only say that the Yin Yan who used to love you is no longer here. Please do not waste the sincerity that Yin Yan used to treat you with.”

Han Ya didn’t expect his words, and her mouth fell soundlessly open. Her gaze swept across the people around them who were watching the show and her tears almost began falling.  

“Big Brother!” Yin Le shouted. 

Everyone’s attention shifted. 

A short distance away, Yin Yan returned to them with a paper cup in his hand, a coffee shop logo on its side. Qiu Feiqian, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.

Hearing Yin Le’s call, the length of his strides increased as he moved closer. Placing the cup of caffeine in Yu Zhen’s hand, he looked around and asked, “What’s wrong? You all…”

Yu Zhen did not reply. He moved his hands around Yin Yan’s neck, refusing to let him see Han Ya. Turning his head, he placed a kiss on Yin Yan’s cheek. Looked at Han Ya, he gestured to the ring on his hand and said, “Don’t pester my spouse or his family. I don’t like it.” 

After he finished speaking, he rubbed Yin Yan’s arm before turning around and saying, “Let’s go. Where’s Mom? Didn’t you go with her to get our luggage?”

Yin Yan lowered his head, then raised a hand to muss the shorter man’s hair. Then, he turned towards Han Ya.

Yu Zhen: “???”

“Yan…” Han Ya called out, her voice trembling. She was crying, yet a smile brightened her face as she stepped forward to meet him.

Swish.

Yin Yan brushed past her, as if moving past nothing at all. He walked over to Qiu Feiqian and took over the cart that held their luggage. 

“Did you get the coffee for Xiao Zhen?” Qiu Feiqian asked.

Yin Yan nodded.

“You really know how to pamper others.” Qiu Feiqian looked at him with a smile. Glancing at Han Ya, who stood pale and rooted to her spot, she sneered, “Some people are always eating from their bowl, yet still eyeing what’s in the pot. They’re not afraid of eating more than they can manage. They’ll eat themselves to death.”

The mother and son passed by Han Ya, treating her like empty air as they headed to the airport’s exit. 

Han Ya glanced around at the spectators, feeling a burn on her cheeks as if she had been slapped. As she watched Yin Yan’s retreating back, she felt unwilling.

When they left the airport, Yin Yan and Yu Zhen were seated in a car separate from the rest of the family. Yin Le had wanted to squeeze in with them, but Qiu Feiqian hauled him away. 

Once they were on the road, the driver tactfully raised the partition. 

Yu Zhen glanced at Yin Yan, who was as still as a mountain. Sighing, he shuffled closer and explained, “At the airport, I was only trying to help the Yin family vent. So… Sorry. For offending you. ” 

Yin Yan did not speak, but quietly replied, “En.”

Is he angry or is he not angry?

Yu Zhen quietly shuffled away and looked out of the window. He felt his heart acting up again. Glancing back at Yin Yan, he inched closer again and said, “So… After the Ping An bead shattered, I’ve started to have more issues than just being cold. My heart beats erratically from time to time, and my emotions fluctuate weirdly. Our lives are connected, so you…”

Yin Yan looked at him with a glimmering, burning gaze. His usual calm went out the window. 

Startled by the look in his eye, Yu Zhen moved back to his original position.

“So I what?”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t finish speaking.”

Yu Zhen was unsure if it was an illusion, but he felt that Yin Yan’s voice held a sense of urgency. It was weird. 

His heart began to beat weirdly again, but the curious cat in him overwhelmed his caution.  He stopped thinking about Yin Yan’s tone of voice and continued his questions, “So do you have similar symptoms? Is this a new symptom of my lost soul condition?”

“… Yes.”

Yin Yan looked away in silence, and his expression was calm again. It was so calm that he seemed to have nothing tethering him to the mortal world, and his otherworldly aura became stronger.

“I knew it,” Yu Zhen frowned. He raised a hand to his chest and continued, “Right now, we’re talking about a topic that isn’t interesting, yet my mood started changing and now I feel resentful. It’s so strange…”

“There’s no resentment.”

Yin Yan raised his chin slightly and folded his hands over his stomach. He sat, reserved and elegant. Suddenly, his aura grew overbearing.

As a former sect master, the word ‘resentment’ didn’t exist in his dictionary. He would never feel resentful. 

Yu Zhen stared at Yin Yan. He looked at him, top to bottom, then asked, “Your… Is your throat… uncomfortable?”

Otherwise, why would you speak so vaguely? You’re even stretching your neck.

Yin Yan: “…”