Chapter 113
Four years passed in a flash, and it was raining outside the window again.
Fang Yi lay on the soft goose-down quilt, listening to the pattering sound of the rain bubbling up from outside her line of sight.
The starry sky of a summer night was always exceptionally brilliant, but it was a pity that tonight it was cloudy with a light rain, and the stars could not be seen. Only a long wind passed through the corridor, blowing the light blue silk curtains, which reflected on the floor like the sea, rippling layer by layer.
In a few more days, it would be their wedding.
The head of the family had single-handedly arranged this wedding banquet. She had said that she had had someone calculate it, and it was an auspicious day. It was so grand that she wished she could turn it into a coronation ceremony for her daughter.
Fang Yi had thought that this day would never come in her plan. After all, the motherly love that had been delayed for eighteen years had solidified to a rather strong degree. Although she had not cried and hugged her like Lin Xinyou had at their first meeting, the two of them were surprisingly consistent in their pickiness towards their son-in-law.
The happy family scene had not appeared. The head of the family had pestered her for four years but had not been able to get Lin Xinyou to agree to get back together. After all, she had sincerely thought that she had died in that assassination. Her tears had long since dried up. But when the other party had appeared in good health, the years of fearful perseverance had seemed to become an absurd joke.
The head of the family had poured that little bit of guilt doubly onto Lin Shuxing, and had repeatedly tried her best to hope that Lin Shuxing would follow her back to Yanjing and inherit the Li family. This was the best gift a parent could give their child—supreme power.
Lin Shuxing was undoubtedly very much like her. Since she was a child, she had shown a super-strong competitiveness. They were ambitious, and their natural desire for success was like an appetite, which had to be greedily swallowed.
If it had been a few years ago, Lin Shuxing might have really been moved by this, changed her name, started a new life, and become the most powerful heir in the true sense of the word.
Lin Shuxing would have disappeared from Z City, and a certain Li would have taken her place on the stage of history. Perhaps many years later, when she looked back, she would nonchalantly talk about this misplaced life.
But she had not agreed, after all.
She had already passed the age of seeking recognition from the outside. She did not need to be anyone’s heir. She was herself.
The child had already completed the transformation of growth, but the parent had not yet weaned. That little bit of unplaceable love had become a little harsh and pitiful, and even in a high position, it could not be avoided.
The more the head of the family wanted to participate in Lin Shuxing’s life, the more Lin Shuxing was annoyed with her. Several times, it had made Lin Xinyou a little heartbroken, and she could only lower her face to mediate.
But for the great head of the family to be so miserable in front of her wife and daughter, Fang Yi always had a subtle feeling that she was pretending, similar to being dizzy from her own daughter’s anger just to get her ex-wife’s support. As long as her ex-wife could reach out, she would dare to lie on the ground and cling to her for a lifetime.
Probably those who play politics are more heartless.
Lin Xinyou had later recovered her original identity, but she was no longer active in the financial market, and had instead started a charity fund and an education business.
The death certificate of “Lin Lu” had been personally handled by the head of the family back then, and the process of restoring the files was also her golden word of mouth, carefully instructed. It was very strange no matter how you looked at it.
Lin Qingwan had taken over the family business very early, and the power transition had been exceptionally smooth. At first, some people had looked down on her because she had grown up outside, but they had not expected that this young lady, who looked gentle, was actually like a winding poisonous snake, silently flicking its tongue, and coveting a fatal blow, even more so than Lin Lan.
The head of the family had loved the house and its crow. Perhaps there were other reasons. In short, in these few years, the Lin family had completely built a bridge with Yanjing, and could sit firmly in the first chair of Z City without a marriage alliance.
Lin Shuxing, this in-line heir, had abstained. Li Xianqing had gotten her wish and had become the heir. The other nine branches had originally been quite critical, but the stupidest one with the loudest voice had already died, and the others could not make any waves.
He Shuanghua had been very successful in Yanjing. From a small lawyer to a spokesperson who sat at a meeting under the star flag, a casual remark from her youth had actually come true. Even someone like Fang Yi, who didn’t pay much attention to the news, would often see her on TV.
After Li Duqiu’s death, Li Sinian was still young and not enough to convince the public. The old ministers of the previous dynasty were eager to make a move, and all wanted a piece of the pie. The large family had fallen apart in a day. She was so busy that she was at her wit’s end, and had even had the heart to fly to Yanjing to see, and would always go with great enthusiasm, and would come back dejectedly, and after a while, she would go again with great enthusiasm…
After two years of a low point, she had miraculously survived, but had completely cut ties with the split-off Chen family, and had grown into a new force on her own.
Fang Yi had only learned by chance in a chat that the Wang family, which was in a sense the Li family’s biggest mortal enemy, had actually also invested a sum of money in Li Sinian at her most dejected, to help her make a comeback. It was also a kind of very clever risk hedging.
She was even too lazy to use a pseudonym to hide her identity, and had openly entered the house, and had guided this once-arrogant and arrogant young lady.
Genesis had in the end still stopped at the game level, and had been put under strict control. Most of it was trying to develop in the direction of people’s livelihood, and there was still a long way to go before the “god’s descent.”
But after completing the basic part of the R&D, Zong Heng had directly taken away her entire team. This time, her name was once again kept secret, and she was going to complete a great project. Along with her was Wang Haoyue. Instead, Elara had not joined the military industry, and after accepting the inspection, she had still stayed at the company to study.
In fact, the arrangement for these two people was completely opposite to her original plan. Elara was very hardworking and was willing to speak. Gradually, Fang Yi had nothing more to teach her. The further she delved, the more immature she was. She herself also needed to constantly learn.
Twenty-seven years old, still young. Fang Yi was considering getting another PhD.
Wang Quan had in the end still been taken back by Wang Hejun to do the real economy. Their dream had started here, but had not stopped here.
Fang Yi knew nothing about management. Lin Shuxing’s family was large and had a large business. She was not very concerned about the daily decision-making power here. Soon, Jiang Qiye, who had been on a one-year gap due to childbirth and had almost been forced to leave the workplace, had become the new CEO through a selection process.
Ms. Wang Hejun had gone from a nouveau riche to an international figure. After being summoned by that person, she had been so excited that her blood had boiled. She had exclaimed that as a national enterprise, she needed to do something. Middle age was also prime age, the age to strive!
From the warm praise that overflowed from her conversation, Fang Yi could probably also feel that the leader’s charm in this life had not diminished. The lighthouse of humanity was still illuminating the road ahead.
Duan Ruoxi had been saved from Jiang Gui’s hands. Although there were still some sequelae that required regular check-ups, she had opened a bakery in her younger sister’s name and only dealt with small cakes every day. Her life was simple and sweet, and she would often receive orders from some special units.
Jiang Wan’s ninth tail had been slow to grow, but it had only been four years, just a short period of sunrises and sunsets. Her “believers” were already all over the country. It was a pity that she was filming in a closed set abroad and had to be absent from the wedding.
But her grandmothers would attend on her behalf and witness it as Fang Yi’s family. They had come very early and had also brought many large and small bags of Qingqiu’s local specialties.
Yu Jiufeng and Fang Yi’s mother, Fang Yuan, had hit it off with the fox grandmothers and had had a great time exchanging tips on farming and growing flowers. The grandmothers had given them leaves from the Qingqiu tree and nine-colored silk, and they had in return given them the rice and small green vegetables they had grown themselves. It could be considered a kind of cross-species diplomacy.
Xia Wenzhou and her former comrades-in-arms were on a mission outside and could not come, but they had sent a lot of gifts through a special channel.
One of them had mentioned with a wronged expression that she had originally compiled her medals and military achievements to show Fang Yi and share her glory, but after being caught by Xia Wenzhou, she had been given a good scolding and had been questioned if she was trying to leak secrets. Each of them had been punished to copy the confidentiality rules twenty times. The letters that had been sent collectively seemed to have been intercepted a lot, but they were still exceptionally lively.
The wedding invitations had been sent out very early. Fang Yi had recalled the not-so-long first half of her life in a daze. Everyone seemed to have gradually found their own path. Being too immersed in happiness, she had a light and airy sense of unreality.
She suddenly really wanted to see Lin Shuxing, but according to the custom, they were not allowed to meet for a long time before the wedding.
Fang Yi had once suspected that this was an excuse for the head of the family not to let them meet, but Yu Jiufeng had said in a literary tone, “If two hearts are one for a long time, why need they be together day and night?”
It was even more suspicious. This was not something that Grandma’s level of quality could say.
The head of the family’s plan was meticulous and grand. After it was held in Z City, it would be held again in Yanjing. She was almost paranoid in her desire to announce it to the world, to make up for the secrecy of that special period back then.
Perhaps there was also a hint of “look at the country I have conquered for you.”
Fang Yi had flown to Yanjing for a few exchange meetings. It had indeed become as prosperous and advanced as a utopia. The depiction in the leader’s blueprint was being realized step by step. Walking on the streets, it was as if the future were within reach, which made one have the urge to cry.
But she still didn’t like Yanjing very much.
Fang Yi had tossed and turned many times, but still couldn’t fall asleep. The clock was gradually pointing to twelve. Fang Yi couldn’t hold it in and quietly sent a few messages to the pinned chat box.
The rain was still falling outside the window. Lin Shuxing might have already fallen asleep, and there was no answer.
When longing is not answered, it will become more and more intense. The side of her was empty.
Although it had been proven countless times that the so-called “balance” of one waxing while the other wanes had been broken, Lin Shuxing’s body had been well-nourished. Even the system had been stripped away in the brain-computer interface that had been realized a year ago, and had happily turned into a Beagle demon king, tearing down the house with the black-faced cats every day.
The calendar was torn off page by page. Before the dust had settled, she still had a faint sense of unease.
This unease was like a child holding a hot air balloon while walking in a bustling district. Even if you tied it firmly to your hand, you would still worry that it would fly away.
But with the head of the family’s protection, Lin Shuxing would definitely be very safe. Grandma had said that the head of the family’s fate was blessed by the Ziwei star, and had the aura of a dragon… at this, Fang Yi was very convinced that the head of the family had completely bought her over as well.
Fang Yi closed her eyes and tried to force herself to fall asleep as soon as possible, but her thoughts still popped up one after another, as continuous as the rain outside the window.
She suddenly remembered their first kiss, which was also on a summer rainy night.
The young lady’s lips were so soft, so beautiful and passionate, and had quietly ignited her damp self.
She had met Lin Shuxing when she was eighteen, and had been reunited with her when Lin Shuxing was eighteen.
Fang Yi did not believe in fate, but she would still be shaken by this subtle coincidence in the moments she gazed at the starry sky. She remembered the romantic sayings in cosmology and parallel universes, that perhaps everything had already happened billions of light-years away, but you could still change the future.
The method to break the deadlock back then had been inspired by Shui Wuding’s “sacrificial flow.” After the guidance of the Qingqiu grandmothers, it had obviously become much gentler. They had been eighty percent sure, but the remaining twenty percent had still made Fang Yi make many arrangements.
In the days and nights she had sat in front of the computer, she had also doubted the truth of the world. If she died, would she be erased and deconstructed, or would she fall into a cycle of reincarnation?
Or perhaps they had already met many times in a parallel universe before they had finally arrived here?
Overthinking is a disease. Thinking beyond one’s ability will only bring trouble. Fang Yi did not struggle for too long, because she had figured it out. If she could succeed, of course it would be great. If she failed and had to start over, then she would not forget again. She would definitely find Lin Shuxing earlier and face it with her.
Question the rules, not the love.
A person only lives for a few moments. The rest of the time is spent reminiscing.
The screen gradually dimmed, but a knock suddenly sounded on the door.
Before Fang Yi could hesitate to get up, the person outside had already pushed the door open.
“Fang Yi!”
The person she had been longing for dangled the keys and appeared so unexpectedly, throwing herself into her arms.
Rainwater slid down from the ends of her hair, wetting her neck, with a familiar body temperature and scent. In an instant, the entire empty house was filled with life.
Fang Yi caught her.
The young lady had grown a lot taller in recent years, like a willow branch sprouting in the new spring. She had shed her sickliness and immaturity, her bone structure clear, and her whole body was still damp with water vapor. Her skin was as white as porcelain, but her red lips smiled wantonly. When she raised her eyebrows, she had a bright and flamboyant arrogance. Only when she looked at herself would she reveal a bit of softness and attachment.
“It’s raining so hard. Did you come alone?”
“I wanted to see you!”
The woman touched her face and hands. They were a little cold. Just as she was about to turn around to get a towel, her waist was wrapped by a pair of hands. The young lady softly pressed against her, her voice also sticky, and she swayed coquettishly. “I just wanted to see you—”
Do I need a reason to want to see you? she said righteously, and nonchalantly rubbed her chin on Fang Yi’s shoulder, wetting a small patch of her pajamas, and gave a wicked smile.
Logically speaking, the young lady shouldn’t be here right now.
Fang Yi said, “Your clothes are wet. Go take a shower first, so you don’t catch a cold.”
The young lady raised her chin and looked at her expectantly. “You haven’t said you miss me too!”
“I miss you.” Fang Yi bent down and kissed her. Only then did the young lady turn her head in satisfaction and enter the bathroom.
The young lady had clearly snuck out. Of course, Fang Yi had to cover for her, but she still had to inform the relevant personnel beforehand to avoid any more chaos.
She had just finished editing the message and was about to send it when the young lady’s wet hand reached out and hooked her in. “Fang Yi, come and help me wash my hair—”
Although it was called washing her hair, when the warm shower wet her clothes, and the snow-white foam was rubbed in her palm, and the woman’s long, slender fingers passed through her hair, a shiver was triggered. It was unknown from which look it had started to change, and the steamy water vapor covered her skin stickily.
Their heartbeats were in resonance, and their breaths also became warm and moist. Fang Yi thought hazily, I’m done for. The head of the family will kill me.
But at this moment, the young lady gently raised her head, and with her wet eyes, she looked at her gently, and suddenly got close and kissed her on the lips. Fang Yi thought again, Alright, if I’m done for, I’m done for.
The young lady’s physical strength was much better now. She no longer fell asleep so easily, but at the same time, she had become more sensitive and loved to cry, especially crying in Fang Yi’s arms, and with hot tears, she would take a bite, and then suddenly, with a trembling tone, as if she had discovered a new continent, she would gently touch her collarbone:
“Fang Yi, you have a mole here…!”
“I heard that moles are the tears of a lover from a past life.”
The woman lowered her eyes and saw the red at the corners of the young lady’s eyes. That beauty mark was particularly moving, swimming like a small fish, and it came into her arms, as if it were a brand, and a bright mark was made.
If the ancient legends of past and present lives were true, then they must have embraced like this many times…
The night was long. Fang Yi always suppressed a little bit of reason, and gently patted the young lady to coax her to sleep. She herself had closed her eyes first, and her hands were still moving slowly.
Lin Shuxing was not sleepy at all. She traced her brow bone with her fingertips, as if she were tracing a sleeping mountain, and their breaths slowly overlapped.
Just as the young lady thought she had fallen asleep, that pair of eyes suddenly opened, and curved slightly, and she smiled at her gently.
The mountains also trembled for this. Who cares about those stupid, complicated rules that say they can’t meet? The young lady’s throat trembled. She licked her moist lips, her eyes lit up, and she suddenly said, “Let’s elope!”
“Where to?”
The young lady touched her chin and issued the invitation again. “Well! I haven’t decided yet. Let’s go north first. We’ll go wherever we go. We’d better be quick. Let’s go to the Alps to see the stars. The aurora in Norway this season is also not bad…”
When your beloved issues an invitation with her amber eyes and a smile, you simply cannot give a second answer.
Without any plan, they set off just like that.
The engine roared to life, and they drove towards a boundless future.
The rain finally stopped, and the dark clouds gradually receded. The night sky was as clear as if it had been washed. The vast starry sky was quiet and brilliant, and the moon hung high on the edge of the city.
Lin Shuxing casually pressed the blue music play button. Fang Yi’s playlist was as old as ever.
Soon, a mellow and long Cantonese female voice slowly flowed in the car. The young lady tapped her fingers on the woman’s thigh and hummed along with the melody.
The evening wind messed up her hair, with a fresh smell of earth. The scenery outside the window was receding, and the world was also receding. Only they were moving forward.
Marrying the Short-Lived, Maniacal Eldest Miss for Good Fortune – Main Story – End
