Chapter 489: The Person You Want to See Is Right in Front of You

"Please come forward and close your eyes to pray."

Up ahead, the Divine Servant standing on a raised platform looked at the red-haired youth. He beckoned him over, his voice gentle as he gave his instructions.

Que Feiling walked forward and stood before the Divine Servant, his hands clasped in prayer.

As he closed his eyes, he felt the Divine Servant’s fingertips trace a totem on his forehead through the air. An image of the person he’d been yearning for day and night appeared in Que Feiling’s mind.

Since they last parted, he had only been able to see Jiang Qingli in his dreams.

He’d heard a couple of days ago that Jiang Qingli and her group were setting off tomorrow. Que Feiling had rushed here as fast as he could, finally arriving in the Ninth District.

But even though he was here, he didn’t dare go look for Jiang Qingli.

During a mission a few days prior, Que Feiling had captured a monster from the labs. While protecting a teammate, he was struck across the face, leaving a bloody gash deep enough to reveal bone.

It had healed now, but a scar remained.

When the appearance-conscious young man looked in the mirror, he was so horrified by the ugly scar that he couldn’t even stand to look at his reflection.

’If even I think it’s ugly, how could I possibly dare to show my face to Jiang Qingli?’

Que Qingqiong had mocked him mercilessly, "You’re nobody to her. Why would she even look at you?"

Que Feiling trembled with anger but couldn’t come up with a retort. After a long pause, he just mumbled, "...Even so, I’m afraid I’d be an eyesore."

With them leaving tomorrow and nothing to do today, Que Feiling recalled reading on a forum that the temple in the Ninth District was known for answering prayers, especially those concerning romance and marriage.

So, Que Feiling had climbed out of bed before dawn and walked all the way from his residence to the temple.

"Now, please recite your wish in your heart."

The Divine Servant’s voice was ethereal and kind amidst the otherworldly music. In his mind, all the thoughts that had been swirling on his way here came pouring out—

’I want to marry Miss Jiang—ah, no, it doesn’t have to be marriage. To be her male would be the highest honor. I’d even be her secret lover! But isn’t it a bit early to be thinking about all this...? Actually, I don’t have to be with her. As long as Miss Jiang is happy, I can just watch from the sidelines... but I wouldn’t be satisfied with that. Sigh, I really just want to be with her, properly and openly. This isn’t just me being delusional, is it? Miss Jiang did compliment my looks before. My face must be her type, right? Speaking of which, when will this scar on my face finally heal...?’

Perhaps he had been praying for too long, because the Divine Servant gently reminded him, "At this moment, recite the one wish your heart desires most."

’The wish my heart desires most...’

The crisp sound of a bell rang out, as if someone in the courtyard was shaking a wishing bell.

It was as if ripples spread across the lake of his heart.

The chaotic storm of thoughts in Que Feiling’s mind instantly vanished.

At this very moment, his mind was left with a single thought—

’I want to see her.’

"It seems you know what you want," the Divine Servant said with a smile. "Go on. The Beast God will bless you."

Que Feiling opened his eyes. After thanking the Divine Servant, he turned to leave, his expression filled with a newfound determination.

’No matter what, I have to see her.’

’Just seeing her from a distance will be enough...’

’Just a single glance... that wouldn’t be considered spying, would it?’

As Que Feiling mulled this over and turned to leave, he was bumped into. He stumbled back a step, but an arm shot out to steady him.

"Thank you."

Que Feiling looked at the person, but he froze when his eyes met the girl’s clear, dark gaze.

"J-Jiang..."

"Don’t you recognize me?" Jiang Qingli waved a hand in front of his face and asked with a smile, "How long has it been? Do birds also have a seven-second memory?"

"Of course not!" Que Feiling retorted, the tips of his ears flushing red. "I-I was just a little surprised..."

"I’m pretty surprised, too. When did you get here?" Jiang Qingli fiddled with her terminal. "You didn’t even tell me. I thought you were still in the Twelve Cities."

They chatted often.

For something this big, Que Feiling hadn’t even told her.

There was a hint of reproach in the girl’s eyes. Que Feiling’s heart stirred, and he told the truth. "I know you’re busy... I didn’t want to bother you."

"It’s not a bother," Jiang Qingli corrected him. "I really like talking with you, you know."

Que Feiling was always so enthusiastic and polite with her. He never wasted time on nonsense, and their conversations were always about interesting topics.

Worshippers thronged around them, so Jiang Qingli tugged on his wrist. "Want to go chat somewhere else?"

She looked around, then pointed. "How about we talk over there?"

Que Feiling followed her gaze.

It was a large, ancient tree, its trunk so thick it would take five or six people to encircle it. Thin red silk ribbons hung from its lush branches, creating a beautiful atmosphere in the rain.

Que Feiling’s heart skipped a beat.

’Th-This is the wishing tree they talked about on the forums!’

Every red ribbon was inscribed with a wish to be with one’s lover; it was one of the Ninth District’s famous sights.

Jiang Qingli had no idea this tree was some famous attraction.

She just thought it was too crowded inside the main hall, that there were fewer people outside, and that the tree would offer some shelter from the rain.

Once they were under the tree, the two of them sat side-by-side on a stone bench. Only then did Jiang Qingli notice that Que Feiling’s face also seemed a bit red and that his eyes were darting all over the place.

"What’s wrong?" Jiang Qingli asked.

"It’s nothing..."

Que Feiling answered timidly, but he could feel his heart hammering faster and faster. He couldn’t calm down at all.

His mind felt like it was about to burst from all his rambling thoughts.

’Someone on the forums said that confessing your love under this tree has a very high success rate.’

’A very high rate...’

Que Feiling turned those words over and over in his mind, his breathing growing short.

Just then, Jiang Qingli suddenly took a step forward and reached a hand toward him.

Que Feiling jumped, his pupils dilating. His wings nearly burst out.

He closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling.

But it wasn’t what he was imagining.

The girl’s cool, slightly damp fingers rested on his face, stroking it gently.

"What happened here? Are you hurt?"

She was closer than usual.

Her breath ghosted across his face, carrying the same sweet scent he’d savored again and again in his dreams.

Que Feiling suppressed the urge to take a deep, lung-filling breath, his eyelashes fluttering.

He opened his eyes and saw the concern in hers.

The bells were still ringing in the distance, but he couldn’t hear a thing. The only sound left in his entire world was the thunderous pounding of his own heart.

The person he’d been praying to see just a second ago was now right in front of him, touching his wound and worrying about him.

’Is this heaven?’

’How can I be this happy?’

Que Feiling felt dizzy with happiness.

He stared at her blankly for a moment before he suddenly remembered the scar on his face. He hurriedly covered his cheek and turned away. "Don’t look. It’s too ugly."

Que Feiling felt so embarrassed.

But as he turned away, he realized something—

He had turned so quickly that his hand had closed over Jiang Qingli’s.

Now, his hand was completely covering Jiang Qingli’s fingers.

Unlike that time at the containment facility, when they were separated by a protective suit, his hand was now touching hers directly, with nothing in between.

This was the very first time.