In her last life, Qixun's dad was a high-ranking military officer, the uncle who raised her hogged the global wealth leaderboard for years, and she herself was an unrivaled genius, lacking nothing in power or status.
Speaking of material life, even ancient royal princesses weren't as well-off as she was.
As for spiritual life…
Do you think a genius scientist who spends almost every waking moment immersed in the sea of knowledge would lack a spiritual life?
She honestly didn't have much impression of her mother's death—after all, she was way too little then. The only real pain she ever felt in her previous life was probably when her dad died. That was truly a tough time—there's just nowhere to put the kind of despair that comes from missing someone you'll never see again.
But when it comes to pain, people can rarely empathize fully with others, can they?
Besides, she wasn't someone good at comforting others.
After some thought, she could only imitate what Lingsu did before, rubbing Spirit Jade's head and saying dryly, "It's just a dream. Even if it were real, it's over now. People should live in the present. Uh, yeah, our family's poor now, but things are definitely gonna get better, trust me."
Spirit Jade felt the warmth of her palm and suddenly her eyes turned red.
"Mm, I know."
Seeing her like this, Qixun couldn't help but suspect her little sister had just awakened memories of her past life, like she did. Otherwise, it's just a dream—no one gets this worked up over a dream.
But other people's past? That's not too interesting to her. Who doesn't have one, anyway?
What she was curious about was the act of suddenly awakening past life memories.
If it was just her, fine, but for both of them to remember their past lives almost simultaneously? Now that's weird.
Could it be because Little Five and she are twins?
With her nature of having to get to the bottom of everything, she was momentarily unable to restrain herself. She totally forgot her little sister was still upset, and instead sat upright, eyes blazing, and looked at Spirit Jade, "Come on, tell me. When did you have that dream? What happened in it? How did you feel after? Can you remember what caused it—did you touch something before bed or were you thinking about something that could've led to the dream?"
Alright, to be honest, her own memory-awakening had been strange too, but after thinking about it half the day, she couldn't figure out why. But if Little Five really did get her memories back, maybe she'd be able to find a clue over here?
Chasing down the root cause—anything that happens, always has a trail to follow.
Sure, awakening past life memories is scientifically nuts, but she always thought, at the end of science is theology. Even theology can be explained and verified by science, in her mind.
Spirit Jade was a bit speechless at this, her righteous anger from remembering her previous life completely disrupted by Qixun's excited, shining eyes.
But that business about suddenly recalling her previous life—she didn't dare blurt that out, even to her twin sister.
Seeing Qixun's eyes lighting up, Spirit Jade shot her a look and said quietly, "There was such a big fire at home last night—I was so scared I almost died. Who could think about anything? It was just a dream, that's all."
After a pause, thinking her words didn't really explain why she'd suddenly gotten upset and teary, she added, "I'm just anxious about our family. With this big fire, there's nothing left. How are we going to live now?"
So that's why she's upset?
Qixun glanced at her exquisitely pretty, porcelain-doll-like sister. Their family may not have been super rich before, but they at least never worried about food, clothing, or daily needs. Then she looked around at the three shabby straw huts they lived in now and shook her head in secret.
No wonder Little Five's eyes were red with worry.
Their house, honestly, is way beneath her beautiful, delicate sister—such an injustice for her!
No way, have to get rich, absolutely have to.
What, making money?
With her IQ, she can't make money?
As for social status, not only did their dad very likely score real high in the imperial exam, their oldest and second oldest brothers were ambitious too, pretty much destined to land official posts one day.
Even without them, come on, she's got dual academy academician credentials. If she can't make the family well off, who can?
Qixun clenched her fists with gritted teeth, feeling fired up with energy.
Let's do it! Today I'm drawing up a plan—to rise to life's peak and make sure my family never has to worry about food or clothes again.
By now she had completely forgotten about the so-called dream inquiry.
Spirit Jade noticed her first staring at her, then inspecting the room, then baring her teeth like she was brainstorming, and felt chills: "Fourth Sister... what's gotten into you?"
"Huh?" Qixun snapped back to herself and replied with over-the-top gentleness, "Nothing! Don't worry, don't be afraid. As long as your big sis is around, I promise you'll never go hungry or cold. What's money? Earning silver is a piece of cake for your sister. Anything money can fix isn't a problem. I'll figure out a way to earn silver soon."
Spirit Jade: ...
Come on, we're sisters—grew up together in mom's belly for ten months. Like I don't know exactly what you're like? With your happy-go-lucky personality, making money? Sis, I don't buy it one bit!
Spirit Jade gave her a sidelong glance. "How come I never knew you could make money? Fourth Sister, if you were so capable, when Dad was scraping up exam travel money, why didn't you earn some for him then?"
"Ah?" Even Qixun realized she'd gotten over-enthusiastic and blurted things out, forgetting her current persona wasn't supposed to be so outstanding.
Life is just too hard.
Qixun sighed tragically. For someone as outstanding as me to have to keep a low profile… there's nothing harder in life.
No way she could tell her own little sister, "Actually, your sister here has an IQ of 200 and being a prodigy is no big deal—I can do money-making in my sleep," right?
What sister, if she suddenly claimed she remembered her past life, and she'd been a super-genius? Who could take that? Wouldn't you think her brain was busted?
Qixun tried to look dignified and save face, putting on a serious look: "Back then I hadn't realized how awesome I was yet."
Spirit Jade: ...
Just... hard to describe the feeling.
Her big sis' sudden, mysterious confidence—no matter how Spirit Jade thought about it, just didn't seem normal.
She'd been dazed because she suddenly remembered her past life, but with her real sister acting like this, Spirit Jade suddenly felt the past life stuff was small potatoes. With a sister like this to worry about, heavens, who has time to wallow in old sorrows?
Besides, the past life is, well, in the past now.
Looking at her slightly unreliable but lively and spirited big sister, Spirit Jade's heavy heart—laden by memories of her tragic past death—was somehow healed a little.
Living this life well is the most important thing.
Staring at her big sis' righteous nonsense, Spirit Jade rolled her eyes, "Sure, let's see you say the same to Mom next time."
Qixun: ...Why does nobody believe the truth anymore?
It's not that she's proud, really.
Her uncle used to say Yan Xiaosong was a bit tsundere—she'd never agree. How is that tsundere? She just knows her strength and is honest about it, is all.
Qixun heaved another sad sigh.
Being a person is hard enough; being an honest person, even harder; being an honest person others actually believe? The hardest of all.
For the sake of the future, Qixun struggled to ask, "You really don't think I can make money?"
Spirit Jade shot her a look and shook her head. "Don't see it."
Qixun: ...
The two sisters sat in silence, just looking at each other.