Ling Yiran continued saying, "How would your eldest brother feel if he knows that the woman he protected with his life was kneeling in front of his grave like this but couldn’t even offer him incense?"Gong Beicheng's expression turned ghastly.Moments later, he looked coldly at Xia Xi. "If you want to burn incense for my eldest brother, kowtow a hundred times in front of his grave! I want to see you do it!"Everyone around them looked startled as soon as he said that.Ling Yiran slightly frowned, but Xia Xi finally smiled as if she had hope again. "Okay, I'll kowtow."When she finished speaking, she kowtowed in front of the tombstone with loud thuds.The sound of her actions was clear in the silent cemetery.Ling Yiran was worried. Xia Xi had suffered so much in the mental hospital. She was already weak and had so many wounds, both old and new, on her body. If she kowtowed a hundred times, it would probably be detrimental to her health."Mr. Gong, are you going to let her fain
"It's because she's worth it. I love her determination, but my heart also aches for her stubbornness. I've never felt that way with other women. Gong Beicheng, you know what? I only hope that I can protect her and help her when she’s in trouble. It doesn't matter if she doesn't love me. I only hope that she can live a good life!""But isn't it sad to love without expecting anything in return?" Gong Beicheng asked.His eldest brother replied with a smile, "There's nothing to be sad about as long as I don't feel sad. Love isn't always about possession or reciprocation. Sometimes, giving is happiness."He only thought his eldest brother was foolish back then.However, now it seemed that there was another fool! His eldest brother had said that Xia Xi was stubborn. It seemed to be the case.Gong Beicheng said nothing. With trembling hands, Xia Xi picked up the incense sticks on the ground and carefully lit them as well as the candles. Then, she knelt in front of the tombstone while loo
Ling Yiran murmured, "It was upsetting to see Xia Xi doing that at Gong Nanting's grave today. I wonder how Gong Nanting would feel if he knows that the woman he protected with his life is in such a state.""You seem to care more and more about Xia Xi," said Yi Jinli."I probably feel sorry for her after looking up her information and getting the chance to talk to her. Maybe everything would’ve been different if Xia Xi had loved Gong Nanting instead," Ling Yiran said emotionally.Yi Jinli said, "Maybe. The car accident would’ve probably still happened. In that case, Gong Nanting's death would only make Xia Xi more miserable."Ling Yiran suddenly wrapped her hands around Yi Jinli. "Jin, it's a good thing you're alright!" She cherished the present more after witnessing what had happened today.She once thought God had given her too many sufferings and was only waiting for the good things to happen after the storm. She only wanted to be happy."I'll be okay." He put his arms around
Then, she met Gong Nanting through Su Zhehan, but she did not expect Gong Nanting to fall in love with her. He did not tell her about his feelings for her, so she had no idea.She thought she would happily marry Su Zhehan, but she repeatedly faced suspicions.The Su family looked down on her even more.One time at the Su family's banquet, a relative of the Su family openly questioned how an ex-convict like her could dare to marry Su Zhehan in front of everyone. They said there were many socialites better than her in Deer City. Though she was the eldest heiress of the Xia family, she had a criminal record.The relative even made assumptions about female inmates serving other men, suggesting that she might have done so too. Xia Xi had found it utterly ridiculous at the time. However, when she refuted that relative, she was besieged by the rest of the Su family's relatives.She argued with them without backing down, and they were silenced.However, she did not feel the joy of vict
She had exhausted her love for him during those dark days...Xia Xi slowly opened her eyes, only to find that it was already dawn. The nurse was looking at her with concern. "Miss Xia, you're awake. Do you want me to help you to the washroom to wash up?""Yes, thank you," said Xia Xi. She sat up, only to find tears in her eyes.It was because she had dreamed of what happened that year, and it was too painful...Xia Xi went to the washroom. After washing up, the nurse came to change the dressing on her wounds. Once that was done, she ate breakfast.Everything was different from when she was locked up in the mental hospital.She was halfway through her breakfast when there was suddenly an argument outside the ward, followed by what seemed to be sounds of fighting.Xia Xi frowned, wondering what had happened outside. Suddenly, the ward door was pushed open and someone barged in. The nurse in the ward tried to stop the person, but someone pinned her down the next moment.When a fig
Gloom flickered on his face. "Yeah, I don't understand you. But Gong Nanting understood you, huh?"Nostalgia flickered in Xia Xi's eyes. "Yes, he understood me, but I didn't understand him at the time."When she learned to understand that man, he had disappeared from this world forever.What she said made Su Zhehan’s face darken instantly. He hurried over to her bed and grabbed her jaw. "Xia Xi, you have no shame. If you thought he understood you, why did you accept my proposal? Were you trying to get the best of both worlds? You enjoy being chased by men, don't you? But it made me the joke of Deer City!"Xia Xi said indifferently, "I'm not as shameless as you are. I was forced into a mental hospital, but you married Xia Huan only three months later. Four months later, your baby was born and announced to have been born prematurely. But I'm afraid you know very well whether the baby was born prematurely."Su Zhehan instantly felt awkward. It was as if he could not hide his mistake
"I only came here today to ask you if you... were pregnant with my baby?" he asked as he stared at her.She had called him to tell him she was pregnant before the accident.He had been ecstatic, but she then got into a car accident with Gong Nanting. Gong Nanting even died trying to protect her.Everyone in Deer City said she had cheated on him. When he got to the hospital and asked the nurse how she was, the nurse said she was not pregnant at all.She had tricked him! Perhaps she lied to him because she was afraid he would break off the engagement. She wanted to make sure she could marry into the Su family!Therefore, he did not give it any more thought after that. However, he somehow remembered the phone call she made back then.'Why did she tell me that she was pregnant, or was there something else she was hiding? Was she in some sort of trouble?'Xia Xi looked indifferently at the person in front of her. Her red lips parted slightly as her hoarse voice said with indifferen
He did not expect this man to be Yi Jinli from Shen City. He had naturally heard about the Yi family of Shen City and knew their status in Shen City.It was surprising that such a person would get involved in Xia Xi's affairs."Mr. Yi, I didn't expect to see you again," said Su Zhehan.Yi Jinli smiled. "Mr. Su, I'm afraid it's not inappropriate for you to intrude into another patient’s ward like this. If I report this to the police, it might hurt your reputation.""I'm only here to meet someone I used to know. Now that I've met her, it's time for me to go," Su Zhehan said as he glanced at Xia Xi, who was sitting up on the hospital bed. "It seems I did the right thing by not marrying you."Xia Xi smiled, but her eyes were full of disappointment. "It's a good thing I didn't marry you either."Su Zhehan left with his men. Ling Yiran came over and asked, "Are you okay? He didn't do anything to you, did he?"Xia Xi shook her head. "He just said some things that don't matter. It's not
He clenched his jaw and felt his teeth ache. 'Yeah, she’s broken up with me. She has every right to find a new boyfriend, but... the thought of her smiling at another man, and kissing and hugging him makes me uncomfortable.’ Gu Lichen could not help feeling irritated."You can't find one! Do you think you can find another man like me to love when you love me so much?" he said.Zhong Keke retorted with a slightly red face, "You... You're too confident. Who are you to say I can't find one? I love you now, but I can slowly get over you. Besides, I don't need to find a man like you in the future. I just need to find an ordinary man with a good personality who treats me well! I’ll give him all my heart, and he’ll do the same!"It was more like she was telling herself that.'Yes, I can move on from him. I can do it!'However, her words seemed to have provoked him as he turned the steering wheel sharply, slammed on the brakes, and pulled over at the roadside.She was thrown forward and
The fact Zhong Keke accepted was that she feared she would love him more and more!When Yi Jinli and Gu Lichen returned to the ward, Ling Yiran was still chatting with Zhong Keke about the children, not only the new baby but also the triplets."Alright, Lichen and I are going home first. Yiran, have a good rest. I'll visit you and the baby again next time," Zhong Keke said and got up after seeing the exhaustion on Ling Yiran's face.Ling Yiran replied, "Okay. I'll let you meet my triplets next time.""Sure."After Zhong Keke and Gu Lichen left, Yi Jinli lay on Ling Yiran's bed and said, "If you're sleepy, sleep first. The doctor said you need more rest."Ling Yiran said, "I'm a little sleepy, but I had a nice chat with Keke today. Jin, you know what? I think it's great that Lichen has fallen in love with Keke. Keke's a wonderful woman, and Lichen has finally found his happily ever after."She said as she slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.Looking at his wife's sleeping fac
"Thank you! It's a good painting, and I like it very much. I didn't expect you to draw my daughter like that.""I saw the baby when I came to the hospital that day, so I remembered," said Zhong Keke."I heard from Jin that you and Lichen both came to the hospital that day. I didn't scare you, did I?" said Ling Yiran.Zhong Keke smiled softly, "All that matters is that you're safe. Being alive is better than anything."The two women chatted while the two men looked at each other. Then, Yi Jinli said, "Lichen, let's go get some air."The two men got up and walked out of the ward.Zhong Keke looked uneasily at the ward door.Ling Yiran said, "They’ll be back soon. Don't worry. My Jin won't kidnap Lichen."Zhong Keke smiled, knowing that Yi Jinli probably had not told Ling Yiran about what happened that day."By the way, how are you and Lichen's relationship? Does he treat you well?" Ling Yiran asked."He treats me well." It was true. He treated her well. He would give her everyt
He and Song Qingyao were not even friends."You don't have to explain this to me," said Zhong Keke. They had broken up, and she did not need these explanations.Besides, she knew better than anyone that he had always been in love with Yiran.Thinking of Yiran, Zhong Keke said, "I want to go to the hospital to see Yiran. Can I?" The last time she visited Yiran, Yiran was still unconscious, so she wanted to check on her.Hesitation flashed across Gu Lichen's face."Don't worry. I won't say anything to trigger Yiran. I’ll still pretend to be your girlfriend in front of Yiran. If Yiran asks you, you can say we're doing quite well. When Yiran has recovered, I can make an excuse to say we've broken up. Of course, I can take all the blame. For example, I thought being with you attracted too much attention, or I couldn’t get used to being with you, or I had fallen for someone else—"Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly pulled into a wide embrace.His hands held her tightly
Zhou Xinmian: [I said you were living with Gu Lichen now. Then they said nothing and left readily.]"..."Zhou Xinmian: [Did you block their phone numbers? They said you're not answering your phone.]Zhong Keke: [Yeah.]She should have blocked her uncle's family's phone numbers long ago. Even blocking them now was considered late!Zhou Xinmian: [Well done! But didn’t they try calling you using another phone number?]Zhong Keke: [They did. But as soon as they spoke and I heard their voices, I hung up and blocked their phone numbers.]In other words, she did not give them a chance to talk.She did not want to listen to what they had to say anyway. They had worn out the last of her affection.Zhou Xinmian: [Have you made up your mind this time?]Zhong Keke: [I’ll just consider that my grandparents only gave birth to my father!]In other words, she no longer considered her uncle and his family her family!Zhou Xinmian: [You should have done that long ago! They told me Gu Lichen
It was why he had said such things at the time to keep the woman from leaving!"Maybe I've liked you since then." It probably started earlier than he thought.Zhong Keke's eyes watered as tears were about to pour out. She raised her hands and covered her eyes, "Gu Lichen, stop telling me such things!"Such things would only make her waver when her resolution was hard-won. Did he know how much determination and perseverance it took her to ask for a break-up and keep her distance from him to stop loving him when she loved him so much?Though her hands shielded her eyes, they could not stop the tears.His fingers pulled her hands away. "Alright, I'll stop. I'll stop talking. Don't cry."Her tears had always left him flustered.He hugged her and coaxed her. The indifference in his phoenix eyes had become affection.Zhong Keke finally stopped crying, but she still sniffled occasionally.Holding a tissue, Gu Lichen carefully wiped the tears from her face. After a moment, he said,
"Do you care about me?" She smiled bitterly. "That word isn’t only something you say but..." She did not continue speaking after a pause.However, he already knew what she was going to say.Gu Lichen turned pale. He knew that the incident at the comic fiesta was something that bothered her.He was the one who caused it!"Also, I think we'd better talk about the possibility of me getting pregnant!" she said."Okay, go ahead," he said as he asked the others in the living room to leave."Will you insist that I have the baby if I get pregnant?" she asked, looking at him."If you’re pregnant, I don't want to lose the baby," he said. He had never longed for children even though his parents had always wanted grandchildren, even if it was out of wedlock.However, such ideas had never occurred to him.Now, he wanted to have the baby because they would be... his baby with Keke!"Even if I don't want the baby, are you still going to stop me from having an abortion?" she asked.He was s
Even though he did not love her, she still thought she was a better candidate than Zhong Keke.However, to her disappointment, the way Gu Lichen looked at her was still icy."I'm not interested in you. The Song family you're so proud of will no longer exist in Shen City a year later. Perhaps the Song family can keep some things if you start planning now. Otherwise, you'll have nothing left."With that said, Gu Lichen left the ward, leaving Song Qingyao standing where she was in a daze.Other than reluctance, resentment, and jealousy, there was more shock and fear on her face.'Does Lichen intend to eradicate the Song family within a year? Is... Is he going that far for Zhong Keke? He doesn't love Zhong Keke, right? Why is he doing it? Why?' Unfortunately, no one could give her the answer.Gu Lichen walked out of the hospital and got into the car. He slowly closed his eyes as Song Qingyao's last words flashed through his mind.'It doesn't matter... even if I don't love her?'Kek
Song Qingyao's heart sank. Sure enough, he could find out anything he wanted to."Why did you do it?" Gu Lichen said coldly.Song Qingyao suddenly laughed. "You're asking me why? Gu Lichen, I’ve loved you for so many years. What do you think?""I wouldn't love you even if Zhong Keke didn't exist. If I wanted to fall for you, I would have done so from the beginning," said Gu Lichen.Song Qingyao's mouth was full of bitterness. She knew that!However, knowing was one thing. Her being reluctant and unwilling to accept it was a different matter!She shouted, "Why did you choose Zhong Keke? You love Ling Yiran because Ling Yiran saved your life when you were a child. What about Zhong Keke? Why her?"She accepted losing to Ling Yiran because she had never saved Lichen's life.However, how could she accept losing to Zhong Keke? "Because she's the one who saved me from the messy relationship," replied Gu Lichen."What do you mean?" Song Qingyao was puzzled.Instead of explaining, he