Chapter 25: I Love You
AN: Emotionally triggering warning! Read author’s note for more details.
Did she enjoy studying? It wasn’t a question Anji ever thought about. To her, studying was merely something she did when she wanted more information. Was studying something to be enjoyed? She knew her second brother enjoyed reciting poems and reading books. However, reading books was not the only way to find more information.
"Anji doesn’t know," she replied honestly. "I read books because they are interesting. But I don’t enjoy poetry like Brother Mingshen does."
Hmm? It wasn’t quite what Mingfeng was expecting. He thought Anji’s curiosity was similar to Mingshen’s. However, she had a more practical approach to things. Why was she so interested in reading, and what was she reading? Lizi mentioned the genres Anji read were very wide. However, they were all non-fiction.
"What kind of information are you looking for?"
For a while, Anji did not answer. She debated on telling the truth.
Mingfeng studied her. Although he was her father and did not always understand Anji’s train of thought, he could still read her expressions and emotions like the back of his hand. Her troubled expression was one that everyone knew best. Anji often wore a frown on her face more than a smile. It was why everyone in the sect did their best to make her laugh. Children her age should be smiling and laughing carefreely instead of looking as if the weight of the world rested on their shoulders.
"It’s alright," he smiled, pinching her little nose lightly. "I won’t berate you or be upset. Unlike your siblings, who know what they like and dislike, you’ve never openly expressed them to us. We’re just worried, especially when you’ve decided to follow a different teacher."
Ah, so that was what her father meant. Of course. Anji decided to study under Yan Ping because she wanted to live longer. However, to her parents, they might think she was abandoning them because they had no cure for her.
"That’s not it, father. Anji has merely been studying ways to live a little longer. I hope the Gods will forgive me for being a little greedier. But if I can’t live longer than what was written in my book of destiny, then I suppose I could learn to live a little happier and healthier and share that knowledge with others similar to me."