Jiang Nanshu again exited Jiang Jingcheng’s chat and turned to Jian Hemian’s.
Her relationship with Jian Hemian wasn’t particularly long, nor was it short.
He had been to the place where she once lived and would protect her.
There might have been a moment when he truly saw her as a sister.
Jiang Nanshu clicked open the chat, in the first year after her death, Jian Hemian explained that since he had memorized her number, he hadn’t saved it; he knew it was her calling, but the call was answered by someone else.
So, he broke up with Qu Yao.
The second year, he started dating a new girlfriend, one who wasn’t from their circle.
The third year, he would often send pictures of his laboratory and even the photos of the building that exploded became a part of his memories.
The fourth year, he said he was preparing to get married, hoping she would wake up and attend his wedding.
The fifth year, he sent her a wedding invitation—it was five months later.
Jiang Nanshu clicked open the picture: Jian Hemian’s girlfriend wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she had a serene temperament, a pretty smile, and her eyes sparkled like stars when she laughed.
But this was none of her business.
She continued to look at Jiang Zhouye’s messages.
Jiang Zhouye had sent her many photos of trophies.
The hot top 1 song that dominated the charts for a year.
And a Golden Melody Award.
He then sporadically talked about his achievements in the music industry, and casually mentioned Duan Huaiyu, since they were close and he had given him a boost; now, Duan Huaiyu was a singer with some fame in the entertainment industry, very popular with fans.
Then he said, it was thanks to the heartfelt words she shared that he achieved these successes, and he hoped she would wake up to accept his apology in person.
He was extremely sorry for indulging shamelessly at the time.
Hearing one’s inner thoughts had almost become a taboo topic between them.
Jiang Nanshu couldn’t be bothered to bring it up, and they didn’t want to either.
It was as if it had never happened.
Jiang Zhouye was the first among them who had heard her inner thoughts back then and hadn’t come clean with her.
Jiang Nanshu didn’t reply.
She would go back to the Jiang Family home, but not now.
She couldn’t be bothered to look at Jiang Yunchuan’s messages anymore; the copious amount of text gave her a headache.
Then there was Jiang Leyi.
She didn’t have much to say.
Just that every year on her birthday, she would send a set of jewels worth over fifty million.
And at the end, she would write, “Nannan, Sister has done it. I’m now a movie queen, the family heir. I have a lot of money and can send you unique necklace jewels, no matter how expensive.”
Five years, five sets.
Each more costly than the last.
Jiang Nanshu’s eyes sparkled.
She still had no resistance to shiny jewels.
She wiped the non-existent drool from the corner of her mouth and typed happily: [Sister Yiyi, I’m back.]
Jiang Leyi replied quickly: [I am already on my way back to Beijing from abroad, wait for me Nannan.]
Next was Xu Xi.
Jiang Nanshu scrolled down.
She found that Xu Xi, over the past five years, hadn’t missed a day in messaging her, would talk about what she did every day, talk about what she ate at each meal, shared the joy of her life, along with the excitement of successfully becoming a host at Beijing Radio; even if Jiang Nanshu on the other side couldn’t reply, Xu Xi still tirelessly sent messages for five years, even sending one yesterday, asking when they could meet next.
Jiang Nanshu replied with a hooked smile: [Anytime is fine for me, whenever you have time off we can meet, I’ll always be here.]
Xu Xi: [If you dare run away again… I’ll… hold you every day! (shy)]
Jiang Nanshu: [Teddy bear nodding.jpg.]
Jiang Nanshu replied to messages with great joy.
It was about two hours later when Lu Qingyan finally returned.
He was dressed in a neat suit, the top button of his clean shirt fastened up, and his dark blue tie was tied meticulously, giving off an inexplicably cool and ascetic aura.
“Accompany me to a dinner engagement tonight,” Lu Qingyan settled into his office chair.
Jiang Nanshu finally looked up from his phone, somewhat baffled, “Am I going too? Why? Couldn’t you just go talk by yourself?”
Lu Qingyan sipped from the coffee his secretary had just brought in.
“This time it’s a family affair; the business investors we’ll be talking to all bring their spouses. You’re my wife, would I bring my grandfather instead?” Lu Qingyan said indifferently.
Jiang Nanshu: “…”
Her face felt somewhat hot.
How could Lu Qingyan utter the word “wife” so smoothly and ambiguously!
She had yet to call Lu Qingyan “husband.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed.
She sniffled and responded, “Oh, okay then.”
Lu Qingyan’s eyes softened, “It’s still early; go sleep in my resting room for a bit. I’ll call you when it’s time for lunch.”
Without being polite, Jiang Nanshu was terribly sleepy from being woken up early by Lu Qingyan. Upon reaching his resting room that bore his scent, she quickly fell asleep embracing the blanket.
Lu Qingyan waited about half an hour before going in.
Jiang Nanshu’s breathing was shallow; even asleep, she looked adorable to Lu Qingyan.
He liked it when Jiang Nanshu was sleeping.
She seemed so gentle, easy to get close to.
He could feel Jiang Nanshu’s compliance towards him.
But he could no longer revert to his former self.
He was no longer the carefree and composed Lu Qingyan.
If her perseverance had led her to another world for Zhou Yanxu, then his obsession was her.
Lu Qingyan looked down at the Buddha Beads on his left wrist, rubbing them with his fingers. The cool touch brought back a flurry of memories from five years prior.
He received a letter from Zhou Yanxu, and eventually he took Jiang Nanshu’s body to Yulin Temple.
Internal pain sieged Lu Qingyan; Zhou Yanxu was the one she loved.
Similarly, Zhou Yanxu understood Jiang Nanshu more than anyone else.
He sought a remedy from him, hoping against hope, ready to try anything with even a one in a million chance.
Zhou Yanxu simply told him that he would make Jiang Nanshu live again.
But a price had to be paid.
Lu Qingyan agreed without a second thought.
It was a loan of life.
Although it bordered on the unbelievable, he followed Zhou Yanxu’s instructions.
Back in Beijing.
Jiang Nanshu began to breathe again.
He wept bitterly, burying his face in her body.
The gaping wound on his wrist was from then on concealed by the Buddha Beads.
Zhou Yanxu said not to remove them, promising they would bring him safety once.
As they left Yulin Temple,
He glimpsed at Zhou Yanxu’s slender silhouette and couldn’t resist asking, “Do you, do you love her…”
If it wasn’t for love, how could he have known about Jiang Nanshu’s whereabouts so early on, waiting here for him to bring her?
Zhou Yanxu merely turned to look at him, his pale eyes tinged with resignation.
“Nannan could have lived a happy and joyful life; it is I who led to this outcome. I failed to save anyone, so please take good care of her after she returns. We monks cannot engage in romantic love,” he said.
His last sentence seemed to be a joke.
Lu Qingyan pursed his lips, observing his short black hair, wondering if he truly had embraced monkhood.
Lu Qingyan didn’t want to expose the truth, and in the end, he bowed to Zhou Yanxu and left with Jiang Nanshu.
No matter how long it took, he would wait for his loved one’s return.