Chapter 54 Tang Hui Discovers Anticipation Is Worse Than Confession

Tang Hui spent the next two days discovering a horrifying truth.

Anticipation was significantly worse than confession.

At least confessions ended uncertainty.

Anticipation simply sat inside your chest and refused to leave.

Unfortunately, Gu Beichen had given her exactly enough information to become distracted and not enough information to resolve anything.

“When the gathering ends, I’d like to talk to you properly.”

One sentence.

One terrible sentence.

And now Tang Hui thought about it constantly.

Not intentionally.

The thoughts simply appeared.

While organizing consultation records.

While drinking tea.

While mediating emotionally unstable cultivators.

Very inconvenient.

The inter-sect gathering continued around her with relentless energy. Visiting disciples moved through Qingyun Sect’s mountain paths while lectures, exchanges, and competitions filled the daily schedule.

The Matchmaking Pavilion remained busier than ever.

Tang Hui appreciated that.

Work distracted her.

Mostly.

Unfortunately, work also involved romance.

Which currently felt less helpful than before.

“Senior Sister Tang?”

Tang Hui blinked.

The consultation room came back into focus.

A nervous disciple sat across from her looking concerned.

“…Sorry. Continue.”

The disciple hesitated.

“I was asking whether waiting is always difficult.”

Ah.

The universe possessed a cruel sense of humor.

Tang Hui folded her hands calmly.

“Usually.”

“Even if you’re certain how you feel?”

The question landed harder than expected.

Around them, afternoon sunlight filtered softly through the pavilion windows while distant voices drifted from the courtyard outside.

Tang Hui considered carefully.

Then answered honestly.

“Sometimes certainty makes waiting harder.”

The disciple looked thoughtful immediately.

“Why?”

Because once you know what you want, uncertainty becomes much more noticeable.

Tang Hui did not say that aloud.

Instead, she smiled slightly.

“Because patience becomes more difficult when something matters.”

The disciple nodded slowly.

Then left looking unexpectedly reassured.

Wonderful.

Tang Hui now counseled people using accidental self-reflection.

The pavilion continued operating normally afterward, though Tang Hui noticed herself becoming increasingly aware of certain things.

Specifically:

Gu Beichen.

Again.

Terrible.

The man remained exactly the same as always.

Calm.
Reliable.
Consistent.

Nothing dramatic changed.

Yet somehow everything felt different.

Because now Tang Hui noticed things she previously ignored.

The way he automatically carried heavier supply crates before anyone asked.

How he remembered the names of regular pavilion visitors.

The fact that younger disciples instinctively sought him out when nervous.

And perhaps most dangerously—

how naturally he fit into her life now.

The realization appeared repeatedly throughout the day.

Like a persistent spiritual mosquito.

Very annoying.

Around midday, Luo Ming arrived carrying tea from the eastern guest terraces.

Naturally.

The man appeared wherever entertainment existed.

Qin Yue accompanied him as usual.

Also naturally.

At this point, if Tang Hui saw one without the other, she’d assume someone became lost.

Professional observation.

Nothing more.

Luo Ming immediately noticed her mood.

Dangerous.

“You’re distracted.”

Tang Hui didn’t even look up from the consultation records.

“No.”

“A lie.”

“Still no.”

Qin Yue accepted tea from him automatically before sitting near the records table.

Neither seemed aware of the movement.

Tang Hui stared briefly.

Then looked away before becoming professionally frustrated again.

Hopeless.

Both hopeless.

Luo Ming followed her gaze.

Then smiled.

Oh no.

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“Whatever you’re about to say.”

The smile widened.

Disaster confirmed.

Before he could speak, however, another pavilion disciple rushed through the entrance.

Excellent.

Interruption.

The disciple looked breathless.

“Senior Sister Tang!”

Tang Hui immediately sat straighter.

“What happened?”

“The visiting elders approved the public demonstration.”

Dead silence.

Ah.

Right.

That.

The emotional nightmare she successfully forgot for almost six hours.

Several disciples immediately looked excited.

Traitors.

Tang Hui herself looked spiritually wounded.

“…They approved it.”

“Yes.”

“Officially.”

“Yes.”

Tang Hui looked toward the ceiling.

The ceiling offered no support.

Unhelpful ceiling.

The disciple continued enthusiastically.

“The demonstration happens tomorrow evening!”

Wonderful.

Just wonderful.

Luo Ming looked openly delighted.

Su Yan, who had entered the pavilion moments earlier, somehow looked even more delighted.

That should not be possible.

Yet here they were.

Tang Hui immediately distrusted both men.

“Why are you smiling?”

Su Yan answered honestly.

“Because tomorrow will be entertaining.”

A terrible answer.

An accurate answer.

But terrible.

The remainder of the afternoon disappeared into preparation discussions.

Apparently the elders wanted a live consultation demonstration involving volunteers from multiple sects.

The stated goal:

showing how communication and emotional understanding could resolve interpersonal conflicts.

Reasonable.

Unfortunately, Tang Hui had absolutely no faith that reality would remain reasonable.

Especially because Su Yan kept volunteering suggestions.

None of them helpful.

As sunset approached, the pavilion gradually emptied.

Disciples returned to their residences while the mountain paths glowed softly beneath hanging lanterns.

Eventually, only a handful of people remained.

Lin Qingyue finished organizing records.

Qin Yue collected formation notes.

Luo Ming lingered suspiciously.

Su Yan finally left after being threatened by multiple people simultaneously.

A successful afternoon overall.

By the time evening settled fully across Qingyun Sect, Tang Hui found herself alone in the rear courtyard again.

Not intentionally.

It simply happened.

The flowering trees rustled gently overhead while distant lights shimmered across the mountain peaks.

Tomorrow.

The gathering ended tomorrow.

The demonstration happened tomorrow.

And afterward—

Gu Beichen wanted to talk.

Properly.

Tang Hui sat quietly beneath the familiar tree where so many important conversations seemed to occur lately.

For once, she didn’t try distracting herself.

Didn’t joke.

Didn’t deflect.

Didn’t change the subject.

She simply sat with the feeling.

Nervous.

Hopeful.

Excited.

Terrified.

All simultaneously.

The realization should have bothered her.

Instead, it felt strangely peaceful.

Because for the first time, she wasn’t afraid of the answer.

Footsteps approached softly through the courtyard.

Tang Hui smiled before looking up.

Because she already knew who it was.

And somehow—

that certainty no longer frightened her.

Not anymore.

Gu Beichen stopped beneath the flowering tree.

Moonlight filtered through the branches above him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Tang Hui asked quietly:

“Are you nervous too?”

The question surprised him.

Only briefly.

Then he answered honestly.

“Yes.”

Tang Hui laughed softly.

Relief washed through her unexpectedly.

Because somehow—

knowing that made everything easier.

The silence that followed felt warm instead of awkward.

Comfortable instead of uncertain.

And sitting beneath the flowering trees of the pavilion she built herself, surrounded by the sect that had become her home, Tang Hui realized something important.

Whatever happened tomorrow—

she was ready for it.