When Ling Yiran suddenly opened her eyes, she realized that she had been dreaming again. She dreamed about the little boy and the little girl.She woke up after dreaming about the little boy falling!As soon as she looked up, her almond-shaped eyes met a pair of familiar peach blossom eyes. However, at the moment, Yi Jinli's eyes were like a deep, dark, bottomless sea."Had a dream?" he asked with his thin lips parted, his voice sounding so far away."Yes." Ling Yiran nodded and looked at the clock on the wall. It was past two o 'clock in the morning. "Did I wake you up?""No, I just happen to have some trouble sleeping. What were you dreaming about? You look so pale," he said.Ling Yiran opened her mouth, but for a moment, she did not know what to say. Could she say she dreamt about a little girl saving a little boy and that she thought the little boy could be Gu Lichen?He was already sensitive about Gu Lichen mistaking her for someone else, and now she could not even figure o
He never knew that he could be so flustered just by hearing her words."Are you feeling better?" asked Ling Yiran, not caring that his hug was hurting her. All she cared about was what was wrong with him.However, it did seem that his trembling was subsiding. It was not as serious now. "Better..." Yi Jinli murmured, still holding her.It turned out that she could frighten him so much and that she had more influence over him than he thought.After a long time, Yi Jinli's trembling finally stopped.Then, he let go of his hands and said to Ling Yiran, "I must have hurt you when I hugged you.""It's all right. It doesn't hurt too much. I have pretty good pain tolerance," she said. After all, after such inhumane torture in prison, ordinary pain was nothing to her.Yi Jinli's eyes darkened as if he had thought of something. "All right, I'm fine now.""By the way, what was the matter with you just now?" she asked. She would feel troubled if she did not know why."It was probably...
She patted him again and again before saying softly, "Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. There are no more nightmares. I'll stay with you."He did not know whether to laugh or cry. 'Does she think of me as a child?'However, it was as if that lingering fear faded little by little along with her pats and gentle voice. Then, sleep caught up to him.'Stay with me…' It seemed that with her company, he would not be afraid.Not even Yi Jinli himself knew he would fall back asleep so soon.Hearing the sound of his even breathing, Ling Yiran stopped and called out softly, "Jin?"He had fallen asleep and did not answer her.She breathed a sigh of relief. He was asleep, and his brows did not furrow as before. In his sleep, he looked just like an angel—So pure and serene.It was completely different from the way he looked in front of people.Perhaps, he was an angel only to her.As for the dream of the little boy and the little girl, she did not want to tell him until she got to the bott
However, his eyes seemed to be looking at another person even though he was currently facing the one before him. 'Substitute... Who was the substitute?'Once, he imagined what the little girl would look like when she grew up. The women he found more or less had traces of the figure he imagined.After seeing Ling Yiran, he felt as if he had seen the little girl.However, Ling Yiran was not the one he had been looking for. It was this woman, Hua Lifang, who saved his life.He had also seen photographs of Hua Lifang growing up, and indeed, when she was eight or nine years old, she looked exactly like the little girl he remembered.However, the adult Hua Lifang did not look like what he thought she would look like when she grew up. She looked somewhat similar to Ling Yiran, with similar eyebrows, eyes, and jaws, but when they were together, you could not mistake them.Their auras were quite different."Lichen?" Hua Lifang's voice rang, interrupting Gu Lichen's trance.Gu Lichen imm
Perhaps when that happened, she would end up miserably.Hua Lifang's heart trembled, but now that she had embarked on this path, there was no turning back.She would hold on to Gu Lichen no matter what. As long as Gu Lichen did not know the truth, he would be her biggest backup!...Yi Jinli took Ling Yiran to the detention center where they met Wan Yuming.He was a middle-aged man in his 40s with a slightly chubby figure and an unfamiliar face. He was just a stranger to her.However, this stranger had done her such a disservice!'Without this person, I wouldn't have gone to prison for three years. I wouldn't have had to suffer so much. I’d still be a promising female lawyer, doing what I wanted to do for the rest of my life!'At first, Ling Yiran thought she would not be able to see Wan Yuming before the court hearing. After all, he had already fled abroad.However, she did not expect to see this man in the detention center so soon.Fear appeared on the man's face when he ca
Yi Jinli's eyes glistened as he lowered his eyelashes gently. "Maybe he's having a hard time after framing you. He’s been abroad, and if he didn't want to come back, we wouldn't have been able to catch him so soon. He voluntarily returned and surrendered himself when he knew that they’re investigating the case again."Of course, what he did not say was that Wan Yuming was willing to surrender himself because he had used a lot of means to force the man to do so."A hard time?" Ling Yiran snorted. "Can he be forgiven just because he had a hard time? It's like murdering someone and asking forgiveness from the victim. Don't you find it ridiculous? I just didn't die in prison. If I had died in prison, there's no way I could stand in front of him!"Every word she said was like a whip, whipping his heart and making it harder for him to breathe."So... You won't forgive him, right?" asked Yi Jinli in a mutter."Yes, I can never forgive a man who has done me so much harm!" replied Ling Yir
"Mr. Yi, I... I've done as you said. Please, let me live!" Wan Yuming said hastily.Yi Jinli's eyes were dark. The man in front of him was one of the main culprits in making Yiran bear the crime. "As long as you never say what you shouldn't, you can keep your life."Wan Yuming was relieved.If he could, he would never even think about turning himself in. He was only forced by Yi Jinli.Even abroad, when someone like Yi Jinli wanted to go after someone, there was no getting away from it."Then, my family..." Wan Yuming said nervously."I won't touch your family since they don't know what you've done. However..." Yi Jinli's voice paused. Wan Yuming had just felt the slightest bit of relief when he was suddenly nervous again. "What you made Yiran suffer and what you made her pay back then, you must now pay back twice as much." Wan Yuming was eager to defend himself, but Yi Jinli had already stood up as if he was too impatient to hear more from him. "Wan Yuming, I'll let you keep y
"Why’d you want to come here?" Yi Jinli asked with subtle hoarseness in his voice."When I was a child, I used to play on this hill. Even though we weren’t allowed to play here because the adults said it was dangerous, I’d still sneak up the hill. I felt like an explorer on the hill," said Ling Yiran.On the other hand, Hua Lifang was not a big fan of coming here."All children do that," he said."Back then, I always thought I’d find some secret on this hill. For example, treasures, alien spacecraft, or maybe I’d discover some time passage. Wasn't I silly?" said Ling Yiran.Perhaps in the eyes of an adult, this hillside was not that big even if it was connected to the mountain behind it. However, in the eyes of children, it was like a new world."No, it's adorable. However, you've grown up now. This is just a hill, after all. Come on, it's getting late. I'm worried it'll be quite late when we get back to Shen City," said Yi Jinli.Ling Yiran nodded, but she looked back at the hi
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