Chapter 157 Day 21 of Transmigrating into an Imperial Examination Novel

Chapter 157: Day 21 in the Imperial Exam Novel

Just then, from deep in the alley came the sound of a child crying and a woman's sharp scolding.

Drawing closer, they saw a boy of about five or six, who, out of mischief, had stepped on and broken his mother's newly bought clay bowl. The woman, pale with anger, was twisting his ear and yelling at him.

The woman was simply dressed, her face haggard—clearly life had been hard on her. Now she was both upset about the bowl and furious at her child's mischief.

"Waa... Mother, I'm sorry, I won't do it again!!" The boy cried, his face covered in tears and snot, his small body heaving with sobs.

"Not again? How many times have you said that? This bowl... this bowl was..."

The more she spoke, the angrier she grew. She raised her hand as if to strike, but in the end, she let it drop weakly, her eyes reddening.

An Yi paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the mother and son.

He sighed, flicked his finger, and a small silver coin quietly landed on the woman's belt, unnoticed by anyone.

With that, An Yi turned and walked away.

But Qin Cang, following behind, seemed rooted to the spot.

He stared fixedly at the crying boy, at the woman's expression of both anger and pain. His tall frame stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Deep within those eyes, usually calm and even cold, something seemed to be violently stirred, churning with intense and dark turmoil.

His breathing grew heavier, and the knuckles of his clenched fists went white.

Those deliberately forgotten, deeply buried memories of a distant past began to resurface.

Yes, he too had been that age, crying helplessly, but no one had ever twisted his ear and scolded him with such a mix of anger and worry when he broke something or did wrong.

What awaited him was only deeper disgust, cold indifference, and the curse of being a jinx.

Why... why could others have something—even just this kind of scolding, trivial concern—that he could never have?

A thick, almost devouring resentment and bitterness, mixed with years of grievance and loneliness, at this moment, triggered by this ordinary scene in the alley, completely shattered the facade of calm he had struggled so hard to maintain.

An Yi walked a few steps, then, sensing that the person behind him hadn't followed, turned around with some surprise.

He saw Qin Cang standing still, his back to him, the muscles in his shoulders and back taut.

"Qin Cang?" An Yi called softly, a questioning tone in his voice.

Qin Cang whirled around abruptly.

His face looked somewhat pale under the dim light of the alley lantern, making the scar at the end of his left brow even more striking.

"Master..." Qin Cang began, his voice hoarse. "Look... at them."

He raised his hand, pointing at the mother and son who were still tugging at each other.

An Yi followed his gaze: "Everything in this world has its own fate."

"Fate?" Qin Cang repeated in a low voice, then suddenly curled the corner of his mouth and laughed: "Then what about my fate, Master?"

He took a step forward, closing in on An Yi, his tall figure looming over him, his eyes fixed on An Yi's face.

"I lost my parents young, the label of 'jinx' followed me like a shadow. Everyone treated me like a venomous snake or evil spirit! No one ever taught me right from wrong, no one ever gave me warmth or care! I struggled to survive like a wild dog. What kept me alive was this knife!"

His voice grew louder, carrying a barely contained excitement and accusation, yet at the brink, he forcibly suppressed it, turning it into a more heart-shaking low growl.

"I thought... this was how my life would be. Rotting in the mud, dying in some forgotten corner, and that would be fine..."

His eyes were frighteningly red, tears glistening fiercely at the edges, but stubbornly refusing to fall: "But... but then I met you!"

"Only you! Only you, An Yi, never looked at me with those disgusting eyes, never despised me for being dirty and lowly! You taught me to read, taught me right from wrong, gave me a drink of water, let me sit in your clean courtyard!"

His voice trembled: "You pulled me out of the mud!"

He suddenly reached out, tightly grabbing An Yi's slightly cool hand, his grip astonishingly strong, as if he wanted to crush their bones into each other.

"But... but you left." He stared intently at An Yi. "Three years ago, and now... now you're still the same! Smiling gently, yet crueler than anyone!"

"Tell me... tell me, what exactly is my fate?"

His voice choked: "Is it... is it that no matter how hard I pursue, how much I strive, how strong I become, I can never truly touch you? Can never make you stay for me, even for a moment?"

The alley was silent, only the distant sound of a night watchman's clapper and Qin Cang's heavy breathing could be heard.

The mother and son had left at some point. Under the dim halo of light, only the two of them remained, locked in a standoff.

An Yi, his hand tightly held, could clearly feel the scorching heat of that palm and the uncontrollable trembling.

He looked at the young man whose emotions had completely gotten out of control, at the surging tide of love, pain, resentment, and longing that seemed about to overflow from his eyes.

He had seen many people infatuated with him; Qin Cang was no different.

Seeing An Yi still silent, the light in those deep eyes gradually faded.

As if all strength had been drained from him, his tall frame slightly hunched, the hand holding An Yi's lost its force, yet it still stubbornly refused to let go.

He lowered his head, his forehead almost touching An Yi's shoulder, his voice as low as a whisper:

"Master... An Yi..."

"I looked for you... for so long..."

"Don't leave me alone again... okay?"

"I..."

He took a deep breath, raised his eyes, and looked straight into An Yi's seemingly all-seeing eyes, saying each word deliberately:

"I love you."

He suddenly smiled: "You know that. You're so smart, you've known it for three years, right?"

The evening wind after the rain blew cool through the alley, stirring the fallen leaves on the ground.

An Yi stood there quietly, letting him hold his hand, feeling the heat from the young man that nearly scorched him.

He sighed softly. "Yes, I know."

An Yi gently pushed him away and took a good look at Qin Cang.

His face was pitiful, like a puppy drenched in the rain.

He had thought before that a solitary life was certainly peaceful and carefree, but a life with someone to accompany, share, and be connected to him was equally full of a different kind of richness.

An Yi's eyes curved into crescents. "Qin Cang."

Qin Cang looked up at him, and An Yi smiled. "I've made up my mind. I'm going to the capital next."

He met Qin Cang's eyes directly. "I know you need to report back to the military camp now. Go ahead."

"I'll be waiting for you in the capital." He smiled and said, "Do your best. If you can win my heart, I'll stay with you for life."

He paused, recalling what it felt like to love someone with all his heart, and said earnestly, "I'm looking forward to it."