Brother, Guess Who I Am

Earth, Yanshan City.

One week after sending out the invitations.

The summer heat was scorching, with hot winds swirling vigorously. Xu Xi sat in the courtyard study, where shadows of leaves swayed by the window.

Back and forth.

Fluttering, brushing.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, casting its glow onto the desk.

Like a pair of scissors made of light, it carved the sheets of paper on the table into sharply defined halves of brightness and shadow, now gently pinched between fingers.

"Hmm, everyone who should receive one has been accounted for. No omissions."

Xu Xi gave a slight nod.

With a sweep of his hand, he pushed aside several sheets densely filled with names—lists of those who had received the wedding invitations.

Among them were Xu Xi’s acquaintances, as well as friends and family of the brides.

Included were also a few former wanderers.

In this current era, they all led fulfilling lives, though they no longer knew Xu Xi.

Yet he had invited them anyway.

They were the kind souls who had once braved a torrential downpour to rescue helpless children.

Xu Xi wanted them to witness this pivotal moment in his life.

Even if they had long forgotten those memories.

"Time-wise, everyone has ample notice," Xu Xi paused, pulling out a single red sheet to finalize the wedding date.

Late autumn, early winter.

Sometime between November and December.

"This wedding could be considered two ceremonies—or perhaps even five."

"For hospitality, we’ll need to accommodate the tastes and customs of different guests. Maybe we should hire more chefs?"

Xu Xi pondered.

Time seemed to slow, stretching languidly in the moment.

With each breath, a gentle breeze rustled the corners of the papers, producing a cheerful, fluttering sound.

After a while, Xu Xi added new dishes to the list.

Spiritual delicacies from the cultivation world, magical beast meat from the arcane side, vitality-rich specialties from the martial path—anything distinctive was meticulously noted.

"That should suffice," Xu Xi stopped, his eyes scanning the densely packed words before dismissing the idea of further preparations.

Not because it was impossible.

But because the number of guests was limited, and they wouldn’t be able to eat much more.

"Invitations, timing, menu—all set."

"As for the venue..."

Xu Xi’s thoughts drifted, and across a vast distance, he glimpsed the witch and the mechanical maid gathered together, putting the final touches on the wedding site.

Hmm, they seemed to be working harmoniously.

No need to worry there.

"For the wedding dresses, Krisha and the others said they’d handle it themselves—no help needed."

"Including the accessories and keepsakes, they’ve taken care of everything."

"Which means—"

Outside, the wind grew slightly stronger, rustling the leaves and casting dappled light across Xu Xi’s face.

The realization struck him belatedly: "The only thing left for me to do is... wait?"

No tasks to complete.

No details to manage.

All he had to do was sit quietly until the day arrived, put on his attire, and step into the venue. Then, Xu Xi would greet the most significant moment of his life.

[Marriage.]

This surreal sense of weightlessness left him unsettled.

Leaning back in the wooden chair, his head resting against its back, his thoughts drifted in the silent room.

"Marriage..."

"Not a simulation, but a real wedding in the actual world..."

"It feels like floating in a dream—hazy, unreal."

"When I’m busy, it’s easier to ignore. But now, with nothing to occupy me..."

Xu Xi slowly closed his eyes.

The sunlight streaming through the window cast a pale golden glow over him, his heart adrift like a lone boat gently rocking on the tranquil lake of his mind.

Letting go of all thoughts, he embraced the serenity.

The breeze carried a sweet fragrance—the scent of dragon's blood grass.

Amidst the whispering wind and rustling leaves, a pair of warm fingers stealthily reached from behind, lightly covering Xu Xi's eyes.

"Brother, care to guess who I am?"

Xu Xi: ?

He sighed. "Is there really any need to guess, Mo Li?"

The hands withdrew, and light returned to his vision. Still lying on his back, Xu Xi found himself gazing up into a pair of playful, sparkling eyes.

"Brother, this is called a sense of ceremony," she said, borrowing the phrase from the internet.

Xu Moli pulled up a chair and sat beside Xu Xi.

As they spoke,

she produced a plate of watermelon out of nowhere—neatly sliced into uniform cubes, each skewered with a wooden pick, plump and inviting.

The two ate the fruit and chatted.

"Brother, are you done with all the preparations? Like meeting the families and sending out invitations?"

"Yes, all done."

"How did it feel?"

"Before it all started, I was a bit nervous and uneasy. But now that it's over, I feel oddly idle."

Xu Xi answered honestly.

Xu Moli seemed thoughtful. "I see... What about Master Li Wanshou? Did he have anything to say?"

The girl lowered her head,

staring at her toes,

her tone slightly unnatural.

Recalling Li Wanshou's demeanor, Xu Xi shook his head. "He didn’t say much. He seemed happy."

At this, Xu Moli finally relaxed,

her smile blooming once more.

"Of course. After all, there’s no real blood relation between you and me."

Xu Xi curled his fingers and lightly flicked the girl’s forehead.

His emotions were complex—a mix of relief, as if a weight had been lifted, and an indescribable wistfulness.

Xu Xi often wondered what exactly was written in that book, 108 Strategies to Capture a Man’s Heart, that had led Mo Li astray like this.

He’d once tried to borrow it, only to be swiftly rebuffed by the flustered girl.

"Anything else, but not this!"

Her voice was firm.

The usually obedient Xu Moli was uncharacteristically resolute on this matter.

The memory never failed to amuse him.

"Let’s go, Brother."

After finishing the watermelon, Xu Moli clapped her hands and stood up from the chair.

She leaned in close, her smile bright and mischievous. "Since you’re free now, let’s go on a date."

Direct and unabashed.

This was the Mo Li of today—no longer hiding anything.

Her sorrows, her joys, all laid bare before Xu Xi, a flower that bloomed solely for him.

"Where to?" Xu Xi asked.

"Everywhere," Xu Moli replied.

Her smile was warm and radiant as she intertwined her fingers with his, pulling him toward the courtyard and out into the sunlit streets.

The sunlight filtered through the trees, danced on the leaves, and draped over their figures,

encircling their clasped hands.

This was the reality she had dreamed of, painted with countless crystal-clear tears.