Until Lu Qingyan’s tall figure disappeared into the bedroom, Jiang Nanshu called out to Da Shachun again.
But it was all in vain.
Da Shachun had disappeared as if she had vanished; Jiang Nanshu couldn’t contact her at all.
Or had she not followed her back to this world after unlinking?
Jiang Nanshu lifted the quilt and sat in front of the mirror.
This was her first time seeing her own reflection in this world.
Her appearance hadn’t changed much from five years ago, except that the flesh on her cheeks had gone, leaving her complexion a bit pale; the five years had not left any mark on her face.
She looked down at her thin arms, clean and neat, completely different from her body in her original world.
Although she was weak now, she was healthy.
She no longer had to endure the torment of illness.
And she could see Xu Xi, Yan Yidan, and Yang Jiashu again, and even her foster parents and possibly Sister Xu Yun, who might not recognize her.
The gloom inside Jiang Nanshu was swept away, and she became hopeful instead.
Zhou Yanbai from her original world had died.
She had done what she needed to do, and avenged what was necessary.
From then on, she just wanted to live a free and easy life in the future.
Jiang Nanshu couldn’t wait to recuperate and go out to see her friends and family.
She wondered how Mrs. Ji was doing.
The image of Mrs. Jiang quickly flashed through her mind. It had been five years…
The one who had gastric cancer, she must have passed away by now, right?
And wasn’t Jiang Yunchuan on good terms with Lu Qingyan?
Why then was he driven away outside the hospital room?
What on earth had happened over these five years to shatter their brotherly bond?
And had her marriage with Lu Qingyan not vanished either?
Thinking about all this, Jiang Nanshu fell asleep again, perhaps finding a new focus had helped her sleep very peacefully.
Until she was awakened by a series of gentle kisses.
When she met Lu Qingyan’s dark eyes, his peach blossom eyes curved beautifully: “Good evening, wife.”
Jiang Nanshu jumped in shock, and her movements involuntarily dodged; his normally bright peach blossom eyes immediately clouded, and Jiang Nanshu swallowed, her voice a bit hoarse from not speaking for a long time, “Are you… alright…”
Hearing her voice, the cloudiness in Lu Qingyan’s eyes vanished, and his eyes became gentle again: “You’re finally willing to talk to me.”
“Shall we go down for dinner?”
He didn’t respond to Jiang Nanshu’s question at all.
He didn’t give her a chance to refuse, put shoes on her and led her out of the room.
Jiang Nanshu stepped out of the room for the first time, finding the place strangely familiar.
“Where is this?” she asked.
Lu Qingyan seemed in a good mood, “Half Mountain Villa, I had it rebuilt especially for you, it’s very quiet here, no one will come to disturb you and me, do you like it?”
Jiang Nanshu’s gaze landed on the servants cleaning downstairs.
They didn’t even dare to lift their heads to look at her, staying quiet without making a sound, eerily silent.
Lu Qingyan sat beside her, holding a bowl in his hand.
Jiang Nanshu saw him wanting to feed her again, she quickly refused, “I can eat by myself.”
Lu Qingyan looked down at the porridge, then at Jiang Nanshu’s pale face, he sighed deeply and placed the bowl in front of her: “Alright.”
Jiang Nanshu had not expected the reunion to start in such a bizarre way.
It wasn’t that Lu Qingyan had changed for the worse, but that he had become better.
So good that it felt unreal.
Even the water temperature for her bath had to be tested by him before letting her wash, and he insisted on drying her wet hair completely before letting her go to bed.
Most importantly, he hugged her tightly at night, nearly suffocating her with his embrace.
Jiang Nanshu felt that this love was far too heavy for her to bear.
He buried his head in her neck. Jiang Nanshu tried to dodge, but he forcefully pulled her back, immobilizing her completely.
“I’ve longed for this day for a long time and now that it has happened, I will not let you leave my side,” he murmured.
Jiang Nanshu’s heart felt as dead as ashes as she stared at the ceiling.
What is all this about?
“Lu Qingyan…” she softly called his name.
“Hmm? Wife, I’m here,” his voice was nasal.
Jiang Nanshu took a deep breath and finally voiced her thoughts, “When can I go out? I want to see Xu Xi and the others.”
Silence.
A long silence.
She tried to look at Lu Qingyan, but since his face was buried in her neck, she couldn’t see his expression.
So, she had to physically push him away, “Lu Qingyan, I said I want to meet Xu Xi and the others.”
The place was large, but it felt too oppressive and quiet.
Jiang Nanshu didn’t like it.
“Okay, got it. Can you wait until you’re a bit healthier? Eat well and take care of yourself, then I’ll let them visit you,” Lu Qingyan coaxed gently.
Jiang Nanshu then felt reassured, her tone also softened, “Alright.”
He reached for her hand resting on his chest and his gaze fell on her ring finger, “There’s a ring missing here, I’ll put one on you tomorrow.”
He lightly kissed the tips of Jiang Nanshu’s fingers.
Jiang Nanshu endured the tingling sensation and did not withdraw her hand, sighing inwardly, truly, it was like settling a debt.
She didn’t dislike Lu Qingyan, her feelings for him were very complex.
Jiang Nanshu thought she must like him; otherwise, why would she feel guilty about hurting him?
She too was a commoner who could fall for tenderness.
Perhaps the heavens had brought her back to start over with Lu Qingyan?
Their relationship was full of regrets and scars.
But these paled in comparison to the deep bond between them.
Having died twice already, dealing with emotions shouldn’t hurt more than death, right?
Jiang Nanshu decided to be brave just this once.
Thus, she reached out and gently embraced him, whispering, “Alright.”
Lu Qingyan paused, then after a long while, the corners of his lips curved up slightly, “The ring was ready a long time ago. I wanted to give it to you personally. This room is a bit empty; I want to hang our wedding photo. When you’re better, let’s have a grand wedding, okay?”
Jiang Nanshu pondered seriously and then nodded.
Only then did Lu Qingyan, utterly satisfied, hold her tightly, his hand gently stroking her flat belly.
“And then have a child who resembles you, and the three of us could always be together.”
Jiang Nanshu’s eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head, that wasn’t possible!
She wasn’t ready for a child, how could she be pregnant.
Lu Qingyan laughed softly, his tone light, “There’s no rush. We have plenty of time.”
Jiang Nanshu didn’t understand the meaning behind his words.
The next day, he brought the ring.
A diamond ring worth eight million.
Placed on her ring finger.
He smiled satisfactorily, “Looks much better like this.”
Jiang Nanshu also looked down and agreed, the ring was indeed beautiful.
But what she really wanted now was to go out.
“Lu Qingyan, I feel that I’ve recovered enough. I can walk and jump; I want to go out.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyan, leaning down, soothingly kissed her lips, “Rest a few more days. You’ve only just woken up, what if you fall sick as soon as you go out?”
Jiang Nanshu: “…”