Chapter Twenty: Idle Chit-Chat Between Siblings

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  "What is a plan book?" Fan Siyan cast a pleading glance at her sister.

  Fan Ruo blinked and explained: "It's just what you're going to do, a very simple thing."

  Fan Siyan nodded, from childhood, he had established a grand goal in his heart, so he could do these things with the seriousness that was not at all consistent with the so-called spoiled rich second generation.

  Fan Siyan's childhood dream was: to become the second richest family in the world, the Ye Family! --- Only at that time he did not know what kind of relationship there was between his brother who encouraged him and the Ye Family.

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  There was a nanny who took Fan Siyan to wash up, and the flower hall was left with only two siblings. Fan Xian walked out in silence, followed quietly by Ruo Ruo. The two siblings walked very tacitly in the corridor, and when they were about to arrive at Ruo Ruo's boudoir, they stopped their footsteps beside a shallow pool.

  Ruoxi spoke up first: "I know there shouldn't be any distinction of social classes, it's just that if Ruoer really wants to take that path, I'm afraid it will be very difficult."

  Fan Xian smiled and shook his head: "As long as there are people in society, there will be classes. I've told you this before, no need to forcibly change anything. The problem is, we can acknowledge the existence of such things, but it's not necessary to change our own nature just because they exist."

  Fan Ruo Ruo opened her big eyes and looked at her brother curiously: "What is Ben Xin?"

  "It's not what those Taoist priests say about the Way." Fan Xian patted his own chest, "It's just a very simple literal meaning, 'original heart' is... what do you really want?"

  "Life for each person only once, this only life should be spent in what way? When we look back on the past, do not regret because of the waste of time, nor shame because of mediocrity. At the moment of my death I can proudly say: I have done all that I wanted to do, even if I did not succeed, but I tried."

  Fan Ruoruo's eyes fluttered and gazed at Fan Xian's face, with a look of admiration in her eyes.

  "This sentence wasn't said by me." Fan Xian awkwardly explained: "It was said by a person named Ostroumovsky."

  "This name is strange... it sounds like a person's name from across the sea."

  "Not bad, just that last part I changed a bit, after all I'm not a lofty person, my vision can only focus on the next three years, the next three miles."

  "So... since Ruo Er likes it, let him work hard to do it. This way, he won't regret it in the future. This is following one's heart." Fan Ruo was deep in thought, as if she had gained some insight.

  Fan Xian continued: "People need to survive, so if they can find a way to make a living that is also their interest, then it's a relatively ideal state of survival."

  "I understand." Fan Ruo's smile bloomed like a flower.

  Fan Xian smiled: "You may not have noticed Si Leng's expression when he was calculating, that expression made me think of a sentence: People who are serious are the most beautiful."

  Fan Ruo smiled and thought, "Can that dignified look of my brother's be considered beautiful?"

  Fan Xian's expression turned serious as he lectured, "Don't laugh, in this aspect, you're actually not as good as him. At least he clearly knows what he wants to achieve in his lifetime, but what about you? Although the people of Kyoto call you a talented woman, what do you really want to do? The way of poetry is not an easy one, if you truly want to pour your emotions into it, you must be more diligent and serious, don't just treat it as a hobby."

  Fan Ruoruo bowed her head to accept the lesson, but deep down in her heart was a warmth. She thought that this kind of Q&A between teacher and student, which had only been on paper in previous years, had finally become a reality. What a happy thing it was! The moonlight shone down from above, reflecting off the shallow pool and rippling into a faint silver wave in the corridor's corner. Fan Xian's face happened to be enveloped in this soft, gentle light, making his already exceptionally beautiful face appear even more delicate than usual.

  "Brother is truly beautiful." Fan Ruo Ru gazed at him and said softly.

  Fan Xian did not hear this sentence, thinking of the scenes in Huating, slightly distracted, and muttered to himself: "I hope this house can be quieter, I hope Liu is smart enough, don't let me down."

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  Just as the two were about to part ways, Fan Xian suddenly remembered the white-clothed woman he had met by chance in the Qing Temple at dusk. He described her appearance and attire with great anticipation, thinking that the young lady was clearly a member of an extremely wealthy and noble family in Kyoto. Since his sister often visited the back gardens of the royal and noble families' mansions in Kyoto, she should have some understanding of this.

  But Fan Ruo heard the description, and didn't have a single clue, giggling and asking: "Where did brother meet the fairy? It's even taken her soul away."

  In her heart, her brother would always be the mature and wise elder, but this was the first time she saw a hint of loss on his face. She couldn't help but feel curious about the woman in white. Fan Xian sighed: "If even you don't recognize me, it seems I really can't find my way back." Although he said so, his heart remained resolute, knowing that one day he would meet again...the chicken leg-eating girl.

  He suddenly thought of something and his heart skipped a beat.

  A string of sugar gourds led him to the Qing Temple he had always wanted to go to, and then saw that girl. These coincidences made him believe in the word "fate". A great expectation rose in his heart, and he excitedly said: "You say... is it possible that she is... Miss Lin?"

  Fan Ruo furrowed her brow and said, "Miss Lin's family, I really haven't seen it. After all, her identity is somewhat... somewhat..." She glanced at her brother and whispered, "...somewhat inconvenient, so very few people know what she looks like, only occasionally some news will come from Miss Ye's place, saying that the two of them are close friends, with a very intimate relationship."

  "Miss Ye?" Fan Xian now felt a sense of tension whenever he heard the surname Ye.

  "Kyoto's guardian Ye Zhong's daughter, Ye Ling'er." Fan Ruo Ruo curiously asked: "What's wrong?"

  Fan Xian smiled, thinking of the girl on horseback he saw when he first entered Kyoto. He thought that as long as he could find people, he wouldn't lose track of the clues. However, Fan Ruoruo hesitated for a moment before saying: "But I estimate that the woman you met today, Brother, is definitely not Miss Lin, so even if I ask Ye Ling'er, it won't be of any use."

  "Why so certain?" Fan Xian had always hoped that the romantic plot would unfold on himself, but now he heard it and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.