He gazed ahead at the shining phone in the grass, and walked over to it.
The flickering screen showed an incoming call, with the contact labeled "Sister."
Cang Ling's eyelids twitched, his mind went blank. This phone undoubtedly belonged to Luoluo, and it still carried her scent.
Luoluo's sister...
How is that possible? How could it be her...
There are so many ways to address someone in the human world, not even mentioning aunts or cousins, even those without blood relation or strangers can be called "sister."
How could it be her...
The Wolf Clan do not awaken after death, let alone humans. Moreover, he had tried so many times, sought out so many so-called masters...
Cang Ling shook his head, lips twisting in self-mockery. He didn't plan to answer the call, but as the ringtone kept ringing, about to be cut off, it was as if his heart was being grasped by an invisible hand...
He had seen it so many times before, that little girl Luoluo holding her phone, calling this contact, back when he didn't understand phones, only knowing that by accessing it he could hear that familiar, gentle voice.
No...
Whether he answers once, or a thousand times, it couldn't possibly be her.
He had long since accepted reality, his heart like dead ashes.
Finally, Cang Ling took a deep breath, gripping a small pine tree nearby with one hand. The pine was about the width of a small bowl, and he held it tightly, swallowing hard. In that moment of heart-wrenching pain, he pressed to answer the call.
At that instant, Cang Ling felt his world go silent.
How could he... have come to Judgment Day again?
He didn't dare believe it, yet couldn't control his body, had to believe it, even though it had been seven years. He still didn't want to abandon that last shred of hope, so he answered the call.
"Ah, you answered?" A middle-aged woman's voice came through.
Cang Ling closed his eyes, his heart sinking to the depths, as if enveloped by the deepest, coldest darkness, despair, pain, self-deception, like a pathetic clown.
So, I said it wasn't her...
I said not to answer, didn't I? What hope was I clinging to?
Cang Ling's lips twisted bitterly, his eyes like dead ashes.
"Third Miss?"
Cang Ling didn't speak, prepared to hang up.
Just as his thumb was about to touch that red button, another young, gentle voice came through the phone: "Auntie, did Luoluo answer?"
The voice grew nearer.
Cang Ling opened his eyes wide in disbelief, his body completely frozen.
"Luoluo, are you back home? Your friend's wedding should be over by now, right?" The voice was very close now, as if taking the phone. "Or... is it not over yet? Don't laugh at me, I don't really understand these things."
Silence.
"Luoluo, can you hear me? Why aren't you saying anything?"
A loud "crack" sounded.
The small pine tree that Cang Ling had been gripping finally couldn't withstand it any longer, crushed and broken by the Wolf Clan's bare hands, groaning as it fell.
"What was that noise, Luoluo?"
Cang Ling's voice cracked hoarsely, "Yuan Jing, am I dreaming again?"
By now, even if someone told him he was dead, he would believe it.
On the other end, in a beautifully decorated, cozy room under soft lighting, Dao Yuan Jing held the phone, pursing her delicate, moist lips: "Is this one of Luoluo's friends? I'm her sister."
She seemed rarely to converse with anyone outside her familiar family, gripping the phone nervously, yet with a hint of curiosity.
"Which sister of hers?"
"Her second elder sister, I'm her only blood-related sister." Listen to that tone, even a hint of pride.
"What's your name?"
"I'm called Dao Yuan Jing. Could you please pass the phone to my younger sister? You're her friend, right? You're welcome to visit our home."
Cang Ling almost laughed out loud at the absurdity, he didn't even know what mindset he was in when he replied: "Sure, I'll come right now."
"Ah, right now?"
Of course right now!
Cang Ling felt that if he didn't go to the Dao family immediately, he would die.
She's not dead...
She's still alive!
The Dao family deceived him!
Cang Ling leapt across the rooftops of human dwellings, buffeted by the cold wind, tears streaming down his face.
The Dao family residence, a place he could find with his eyes closed.
Dao Yuan Jing pondered for a moment, then changed into clothes suitable for receiving guests and went downstairs. The person on the phone said he would come, after all.
Since childhood, her health had always been poor. Seven years ago, she had a near-death experience at the hands of evildoers, leaving her family frightened and forbidding her from going out again. They had even specially renovated a wing of the old Dao residence into a residence for her, with a lake, lawn and garden, so she would never be bored staying inside every day.
Having invited someone over the phone, how could she refuse them entry?
As soon as she stepped outside, servants came to attend to her in the hallway.
"Second Miss, how may we assist you?"
"Second Miss, where are you going? It's time for you to rest."
"Second Miss, if you don't rest now, the Master and Madam will be upset when they find out."
Dao Yuan Jing's voice was soft and gentle as she replied, "It's alright, please keep this a secret for me."
If her younger sister could explore such a vast world out there, surely she could receive a guest?
More importantly, that voice on the phone sounded so familiar, familiar enough to make her heart tremble, fill her with inexplicable joy. No matter what, she had to go see for herself.
As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw a tall, broad figure in a suit with brown hair, mature and handsome, though his gaze seemed a bit weathered.
She blinked, dazed.
"Who are you?" Though her words questioned him, her eyes reddened as if she wanted to cry, without knowing why she felt so aggrieved despite not recognizing this person.
Yet Cang Ling only gave a faint smile, staring at her unblinkingly, his eyes brimming with light.
He said softly, "The road ahead is perilous, yet heights have been attained. Mountains remain treacherous, yet the level heart makes the path smooth." ["The Cang Ridge" by Du Shiran of the Song Dynasty]
"Whether the mountains are perilous or not, with an even heart, the path is smooth."
"From 'The Cang Ridge,' my name is Cang Ling."
[Note: "The Cang Ridge" by the Song Dynasty poet Du Shiran]
After learning he could take human form, she had given him this name.
Just as the original author expressed, she hoped he could maintain composure and balance no matter what difficulties he faced.
Tears had already welled up in Dao Yuan Jing's eyes, as if her missing memories from the past seven years were being replayed like a film, scene by scene.
How she had found and insisted on rescuing an injured large wolf despite her family's opposition, demanding to keep and care for it herself, falling ill in the process until her family relented.
The Wolf seemed to understand her words and could accompany her, effortlessly carrying her as they ran on the grass, basking in the sun, and feeling the warm breeze. How interesting and delightful it was.
At eighteen, it was a year filled with warmth and companionship.
The Wolf surprisingly transformed into a human.
How... handsome...
He was so capable, able to climb and leap, sneakily carrying her over walls to explore the outside world.
Eating forbidden snacks, hot pot, and barbecue...
She had fallen for him.
And he felt the same way.
They had to conceal their true identities and feelings from others, but they could not hide them forever.
Everything was exposed.
Dark clouds gathered.
Her family beat up Cang, calling him a monster.
Cang, hurry and run away, don't come back.
But... how could he bear to leave her?
Since her family did not accept them, they decided to live their own life together.
They ran away secretly.
Cang worked hard every day, doing physical labor to earn money.
We got a house, and Cang began buying furniture, overjoyed with childlike glee.
Cang was not a monster; he was just different in appearance.
He was gentle, not only good to her but also kind to her sister, and accepting of her family.
Unfortunately, her health was not great, and she could not conceive. But Cang did not mind, saying that as long as he had her, it was enough.
Every day was blissful.
...Until her family found them again.
Cang drove the car and took me away, not wanting to clash with her family, not wanting to leave me.
There was a car accident. When I woke up, I had forgotten everything, as if... I had forgotten something very important.
What did I forget?
Dao Yuan Jing's tears flowed endlessly, as she had forgotten... forgotten her Cang.
"How did you become like this, so old?"
Cang Ling sighed: "I've grown old."
"I forgot you," Dao Yuan Jing walked out the door.
Cang Ling followed her: "It's okay."
"I forgot you for seven years..." she cried aloud.
"It's okay." Cang Ling embraced her, not daring to hold her too tightly, gently comforting her: "Yuan Jing, it's okay, just seven years."
"Look at what you've become? And you say it's okay, Cang, Cang, you're so silly. All these years, hasn't it been painful?"
That... of course it was painful.
A heart-wrenching pain, but it was worth it.
On the other side, at the hospital.
Dao Luo lay in the hospital bed, unable to hold back her words.
"When I was semi-conscious, I think I heard... I heard Cang's voice."
"What?!" Everyone's faces changed abruptly.
Especially Dao's father, through his glasses, his eyes showed shock, mixed with an indescribable emotion: "Really... then... is he still in Qingcheng?"
Perhaps due to her injury, her pale face lacked the usual dashing demeanor that Luoluo had admired. She lowered her gaze: "Father, do you regret it?"
Dao's father's lips trembled a few times, but he did not speak.
Back then, that creature that was neither human nor beast, allowed him to beat it until it was covered in wounds and bleeding, without resistance, repeating the same words: "I love her" "I love her."
He believed it was love, and perhaps his daughter could not find another partner who loved her as much, but how could he let his daughter marry that monster?
"I don't want to kill it, it's still a life. I'll just trick it."
A funeral was staged, deceiving many people, including that creature.
During the burial, he was worried that the creature would rush in and cause a disturbance, but instead, it remained calm, its eyes lifeless, as if it had died.
All these years, his daughter had forgotten, but sometimes she would cry uncontrollably, turning the house upside down, saying she had lost something very important and had to find it at all costs.
If she couldn't find it, she would become dejected and silent for a long time.
He did not think he had done anything wrong, but he was starting to waver.
"...Father, why did you deceive me back then?"
Dao Luo's emotions suddenly became hard to control.
"Sister's car accident was because you were chasing them... yet you said he bit her..."
And she believed it.
...
"I hate you! You said it was for my sister's good, that you loved her! You're not even human, you monster! You can't control yourself, you're a dangerous threat! You should never have come to our family, my sister should never have saved you! Why did you come to ruin our family? Why?"
Back then, after the family had announced the news of her second sister's death, he believed it too, like a lifeless corpse, allowing her to beat and scold him.
Dao Luo later learned the truth, and whenever she recalled that scene, it left a bitter taste.
In her memories, the tall and silly Cang would always mimic her sister and call her by her nickname: "Luoluo."
She was so annoyed back then.
But she got used to it later.
After all, Cang would carry her and her sister around, and bring them strange little things, helping them keep secrets from their parents, so it wasn't so bad.
Later, she helped her parents deceive Cang and her sister.
She witnessed Cang's anguish after he thought her sister had died.
She saw her sister cry and search for something several times every month.
All these years, Dao Luo had been tormented by her conscience. She later tried to find out where Cang had gone, but couldn't find him.
Her sister was searching for him, and she was searching too, but they couldn't find him.
If they could find Cang, no one would stop them now, right?
But sadly...
Half a year later.
In the small villa.
Dao Yuan Jing had taken Snow Crystal, which also cured her long-term poor health, and now she was full of energy.
Cang Ling no longer drank alcohol and had moved out of Nanfeng Courtyard long ago. He no longer cared about anything else, only his own little family.
Every day, when he opened his eyes and closed them, he saw his partner, a truly blissful person without a care in the world.
"Cang, let's go fishing today?"
"Okay."
"Cang, I want to travel and see the world."
"Okay."
"Cang, I want to cook for you."
...
A year later, Dao Yuan Jing became pregnant.
When she was five months pregnant, one day, Cang Ling was holding a hoe in the garden, digging soil to plant flowers his partner liked. His partner wore a sun hat and stood by his side, reciting a storybook to him.
"The frog asked the big tree, 'Don't you regret it? Don't you resent it?'"
"The big tree said: 'No one would regret having the moon, would they?'"
"The potato said: 'My moon has returned.'"
Cang Ling laughed out loud when he heard this, as if he found the story amusing. He looked at his partner's belly: "My moon not only came back, but brought a little moon too."
Dao Yuan Jing walked over and kissed her husband, smiling: "How do you know it's just one little moon?"
She thought she would never have children again, but she never expected today to happen. Since she now had health, money, and longevity, she wanted to have a few more to accompany her and liven things up.
Cang Ling was suddenly kissed, but he stubbornly didn't put down his hoe and didn't use his muddy hands to touch his wife. He could only endure this sweet fragrant kiss.
Instead, Dao Yuan Jing comforted him, "Cang, I'll satisfy you tonight."
Cang Ling coughed lightly, "Do as you please."
Only with a cub in her belly did she need to resort to other means.
