Later, when she turned eighteen, she was given as a gift to one of Beijing’s powerful elites.
She broke one tycoon’s lifeline and was hunted for two years.
Then, the tycoon who sent people to chase her down everywhere went bankrupt using some methods she applied. Unable to bear the debt, he jumped into a river and committed suicide.
Her world finally quieted down.
This was the first person who died indirectly because of her.
Jiang Nanshu came to her senses, feeling a burning pain in her stomach.
But she endured it and even managed to smile at Xun Wu, “Come drink up, today it’s on me!”
“You’re really reckless! Did that dumbfuck go to your house again to piss you off? Fuck, he really deserved to die,” Xun Wu cursed.
“I’ll take you to the hospital,” Xun Wu tried to carry Jiang Nanshu out.
But she pushed him away, “I’m fine, I’m really fine. My stomach has already healed. After today, we’ll get our plan… *hic*, on schedule. Xun Wu, after we pull this job, you, you can go.”
Xun Wu laughed at her grudgingly, “Where did you learn to ditch people after using them? Boss, I’m not kidding, it’s been so many years, do you really still love that dead guy that much? Just a mention of him and you end up heartbroken, coming here to drown your sorrows? I’m really at a loss for words that this tragic literary thing is actually happening to me.”
“I’ve long forgotten him, what I’m sad about is something else, Xun Wu, *sob sob sob*, I think I’ve done something terrible,” Jiang Nanshu cried uncontrollably, her eyes red as she looked at him.
Xun Wu: “…”
He turned his head away, unable to bear looking at her, “Don’t cry to me, damn it.”
This was the first time Jiang Nanshu cried so sorrowfully.
So she could cry after all.
That was Xun Wu’s first thought.
He resignedly took Jiang Nanshu to the hospital and carried her for a while.
“Boss, you’re too skinny. I can barely feel your weight as I carry you. Tsk tsk, eat more,” Xun Wu murmured while coaxing her.
Even though Jiang Nanshu had already passed out.
The emergency room check-up that evening revealed that there was indeed something wrong with her stomach.
Xun Wu stayed by her side watching her hang an IV drip.
Which secretary would be as dedicated as he was?
He was really impressed with himself; Jiang Nanshu had to give him a raise!
As he was lost in thought, suddenly he heard Jiang Nanshu speak. Xun Wu jumped in surprise, seeing that she was still unconscious, but her brows were furrowed in distress.
He couldn’t help but lean in closer and heard Jiang Nanshu murmur three almost inaudible words, “Lu Qingyan.”
Xun Wu was slightly taken aback. Lu Qingyan? Was it food or a person’s name?
…
After half a year, Jiang Nanshu dreamed again.
The dream brought her to Lu Qingyan.
It seemed to be winter where he was, his back to her, and he looked even thinner.
His footsteps in the snow were deep and uneven.
Jiang Nanshu got closer before realizing that the place he was going to was a hospital.
Someone respectfully greeted him and accompanied him inside. From beginning to end, he showed no expression, just numbly following along.
Why was he going to the hospital?
Was he sick?
Jiang Nanshu wanted to follow him in.
But she found herself blocked outside, unable to get any closer.
Time ticked away, second by second, and it wasn’t until three hours later that Lu Qingyan came out.
He was shrouded in a thick coat, someone holding an umbrella for him behind.
Jiang Nanshu followed him all the way, maintaining just the right distance.
Lu Qingyan returned to the Lu Family’s Half Mountain Villa, which had changed quite a bit. The once open garden had been transformed into an enclosed space, resembling a secluded garden castle, cutting off the peering eyes of the outside world.
Upon entering the villa, Jiang Nanshu realized that Grandpa Lu was not there.
In the entire villa, aside from Lu Qingyan, there were only the dutifully working servants.
He washed his hands and took three sticks of incense from a servant with an indifferent expression.
Jiang Nanshu was drawn by the scent of the sandalwood incense; she curiously examined the Buddha statues placed around.
These things hadn’t been in the Half Mountain Villa before.
Because Lu Qingyan didn’t believe in gods or Buddha.
The incense smoke twisted and turned, a white mist enveloping Lu Qingyan, rendering his features even more indistinct.
He bowed deeply three times towards the statue with due respect and then solemnly inserted the three sticks of incense into the burner.
Jiang Nanshu didn’t know why she was having such a strange dream, the scent of the sandalwood becoming clearer and clearer at the tip of her nose, as if she was truly in this setting.
But then she thought to herself, it was just a dream.
So, she walked comfortably to Lu Qingyan’s side and tilted her head to look at his handsome profile.
Seeing him look so earnestly at the deity, she also fixed her gaze on it.
After a long while, Jiang Nanshu finally let out a drawn-out sigh, “Is what I’m dreaming your reality? It shouldn’t be anything so bizarre. I’ll just treat it as my imagination. I heard you committed suicide; why be so extreme? Dying once was enough for me; why offer a buy one get one free deal? Just live your life properly. Before my death, I even checked the divorce procedures—my marriage doesn’t count anymore after my death. You should go find someone who treats you well.”
Having said this, Jiang Nanshu turned her head to glance at Lu Qingyan.
Seeing his calm gaze fixed on the Buddha statue, she couldn’t help but continue, “Let’s just cancel out all our past grudges. No one owes anyone anything. Otherwise, I’ll be annoyed constantly thinking about these things in another world, disturbing my life.”
“Don’t appear in my dreams anymore either. We should both have new lives. Ah, I wonder how Xixi is doing? Why haven’t I dreamt of her?” Jiang Nanshu mumbled, thinking it must be about time.
This dream should just about do it.
“So, you still don’t love me, huh?”
Hearing Lu Qingyan’s voice, Jiang Nanshu was taken aback.
She turned her head and saw Lu Qingyan still gazing at one spot.
“If you loved me, you would have stayed for me, right?”
Jiang Nanshu almost thought he was speaking to her.
But in reality, Lu Qingyan was just talking to the air.
Jiang Nanshu raised her hand to wipe away the nonexistent sweat from her forehead.
“Don’t turn into another Zhou Yanbai, okay? That guy was a complete psycho.”
Jiang Nanshu paused, feeling a bit gloomy, “I’m babbling here and you can’t hear me.”
She looked at him again.
His gaze was almost obsessively fixed on the Buddha statue, as if he was searching for an answer.
But inanimate objects can’t talk.
Jiang Nanshu wanted to pat his shoulder, to tell him not to be sad.
To treat their youth as a loss, to just forget about her.
Why torture himself so much?
“Time will prove everything. I haven’t been dead for long, so it’s normal that you can’t accept it yet. In time, you will forget me.” Jiang Nanshu’s hand never actually touched Lu Qingyan’s shoulder.
She felt a bit guilty and also somewhat afraid to touch him.
“I understand now. If you don’t love someone, what can you do? Only by forcing it can you resolve the issue.”
Jiang Nanshu: “?”
She turned her head and, just by chance, Lu Qingyan also turned his head, seeming to see her, his eyes harboring obsession and madness.
As Jiang Nanshu watched in horror, he slowly curled up the corners of his mouth, cold and devoid of any smile.
Jiang Nanshu felt a pain in her wrist, tightly clutched by him. His eyes shifted from aloof to pleased, but the words that came out were chilling.
“I’ve caught you.”