Chapter 96: Do You Want To Hold My Hand?

Translator: CTCTRANS Editor: CTCTRANS

There usually weren’t many people in Central Park, but today was a public holiday. As soon as they stepped into the park, Qi Wu realized that the park was brighter than before with more people standing around.

“Jin Si, what’s that?”

Qi Wu looked in the direction of the lake in the park. There seemed to be countless candles burning there, and it was also the place where the crowd was the most concentrated.

“If you want to know, let’s go take a look.”

“Alright then.”

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Thus, the two of them walked to the lakeside together.

People gathered by the lake in twos and threes. They seemed to be holding flower-shaped lanterns lit up by the candles within them.

They would crouch down by the lake with sad expressions and close their eyes to pray. Then, they placed the river lantern into the lake where it would float downstream with the other river lanterns.

The entire process was done in silence. Occasionally, people would speak softly in a way that did not disrupt the tranquility at all.

Qi Wu quietly watched.

Even though she was no longer a priestess, she could still feel the sadness in the air as people prayed and reminisced.

Jin Si softly said into her ear, “Every year around this time, the people of the city gather here to mourn the dead. We light up the river with our lanterns as they float away from us.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted his head and looked at Qi Wu, who seemed enthralled by what she was looking at. “Do you have someone you want to mourn?”

“Yes.

Qi Wu answered without hesitation.

It did not take long before Jin Si handed her a flower lantern. He did not say anything except, “Go on.”

Qi Wu held the flower lantern and smiled gently at Jin Si.

Then, she walked toward the lake.

The people who had not left the lakeside watched as a beautiful couple calmly walked over to join them.

The young woman squatted down by the lake with the river lantern in her hand while the man stood a step behind her as the umbrella in his hand subconsciously moved with the woman’s actions.

Although their faces could not be seen, they were beautiful enough to attract a lot of attention.

When the man suddenly turned to look at the onlookers with cold eyes, they suddenly realized their stares had disturbed the couple.

After that, no one stared at them.

Qi Wu lit the candle on the base of the river lantern.

Bright flames danced within the river lantern, warming up Qi Wu’s palm.

Her eyes were gentle and calm as she stared at the river lantern in her hand. As if she sensed something, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Then, she gently placed the river lantern into the lake and watched it float into the distance with the other river lanterns. It was no longer alone.

Did she have anyone to mourn for?

She did.

She was mourning the innocent girl who was the original owner of this body. She could have had a brilliant life, but her life was cut short.

She was mourning the countless people who suffered due to the war. In war, it was always the civilians who suffered.

She was mourning the soldiers who sacrificed their lives as the world changed. They could have chosen not to participate in that war.

At that moment, Qi Wu’s entire being radiated with a compassion that came from within. She was a priestess through and through, and just like a goddess of mercy, she loved all living beings.

“Time to go.”

Jin Si suddenly said, snapping her out of her daze.

He did it on purpose.

He didn’t like the look on her face just now. He wanted to make it disappear.

Qi Wu quietly stood up. The emotions she allowed herself to feel and show swiftly disappeared behind a calm facade.

“Thank you, Jin Si,” she gently said, turning around.

Just then, the rain stopped. The beads of moisture hanging in the air drifted with the evening breeze.

Jin Si put down the umbrella and lowered Qi Wu’s cap once more.

She widened her eyes in confusion in a somewhat accusatory look as she muttered, “It can’t go any lower.”

Jin Si snorted and calmly pulled away. “Do you really want to thank me?” he asked.

“Yes.

Although she was still confused, Qi Wu had already made a promise. She would not change her mind. She quietly waited for what he would say next.

Jin Si stood beside her. It just so happened that it was where the wind was blowing from.

He calmly shielded Qi Wu from the wind and said, “Don’t ever look like that again. ”

“Huh?”

Qi Wu tilted her head as she stared.

“I know you know what I mean,” said Jin Si as he straightened out her messy shawl and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Qi Wu exhaled. Her bright eyes shimmered.

She nodded. “I promise.”

The two of them didn’t say anything else and silently walked along the path by the lake.

This was a path often taken by those who came to the park for a walk. At that time, there were many couples on the path, and there were also parents taking their children out for a walk.

Everyone was holding hands.

Qi Wu curiously observed everything around her. She then recalled the conversation between the child and his parent at the candy shop.

She lowered her head in thought.

Jin Si’s hand hung by his side. His fingers were long and slender, and his knuckles were cold and hard. His broad palm seemed so wide that it could hold onto anything and everything.

Jin Si lazily walked alongside her. After all, he was not really in the habit of taking walks to help with his digestion.

The only two times he had done so was for the woman walking beside him.

His thoughts wandered aimlessly, but he was soon snapped back to his senses by a delicate touch on his hand.

Jin Si could not hide his shock as he lowered his eyes and watched Qi Wu’s fair and soft hand loosely holding his two fingers. It was a hold that he could easily break free from.

However, Jin Si did not do so.

The back of her hand seemed to have turned dull and discolored from the icy wind and malnourishment.

The corners of his mouth twitched silently as something in him sent taut.

“Why are you holding my hand?”

Despite the question, Jin Si subconsciously tightened his grip around her cold hand, warming her hand up.

“They are all doing it,” Qi Wu said softly.

Upon hearing that, Jin Si turned to look at the people around them. His heart sank.

He tightened his grip on Qi Wu’s hand. “What do you think?”

For a long time, Qi Wu did not answer him.

His eyes slowly darkened.

Then, a faint sigh came from beside him, “I probably want to do it.”

She seemed to be confused as there was a trace of uncertainty in her voice.

Still, she voiced her thoughts out loud.

She was rarely confused.

Every word spoken by the high priestess was a prophecy. Every other word was a promise. She would not be confused because confusion never existed to those who possessed the Eyes of Clarity.

However, this was not a problem those eyes could solve for her..