“That way she’ll have a brother to protect her,” Sang Yu added.
Lin Xinyan said to her, “If you have a daughter and she marries my son, he can protect her for the rest of her life.
Sang Yu smiled because she was looking forward to it.
What if that actually happens? It’ll be such a nice coincidence!
When Zong Jinghao came up, Sang Yu left.
He took a look at the baby who was fast asleep in Lin Xinyan’s arms.
Zong Jinghao stretched out his hands and said, “Let me carry him.”
Lin Xinyan looked up and saw his tired countenance, so she whispered, “Go and take a rest first. He can accompany you.”
“I’m not tired.” He took the baby into his arms and the baby continued to sleep in his embrace.
Lin Xinyan stepped out of the room to give them some space.
Downstairs, Zhuang Zijin and Cheng Yuwen were about to head out to pick up their two kids.
“Put on more clothes. It’s getting chilly out there.” Zhuang Zijin passed Cheng Yuwen a jacket.
Cheng Yuwen replied, “It’s not chilly in the car.”
“Just wear it. You’re not young anymore, so you shouldn’t take the risk.” Zhuang Zijin put the jacket on him and Cheng Yuwen didn’t protest anymore. After putting on the jacket, Zhuang Zijin straightened his collar and made sure everything was in order before saying, “Let’s go.”
Cheng Yuwen nodded and let her go ahead first while he closed the door behind them.
Meanwhile, Lin Xinyan was in a daze when she watched the scene unfold from the staircase. Ever since Zhuang Zijin and Lin Guoan’s divorce, she had never seen Zhuang Zijin acting so intimately to a man.
Shortly after they left, the doorbell rang. She went downstairs to open the door and saw a delivery guy. “Hi. Is there a Ms. Lin Xinyan here?”
Lin Xinyan replied, “That’s me.”
“This package is for you. Please sign here.” The delivery guy passed a box to her.
She signed and received the box. She then closed the door and inspected its contents. There was an exquisite piece of jade carved into a pendant inside. I wonder who is this from?
Just as she was about to put back the pendant, she saw a card inside the box, so she took a read.
“I originally planned to give it to your son personally, but I didn’t want to trouble you because your husband was too petty. I could only send it via delivery. I heard about what happened to Zong Qifeng and I’m very sorry. My deepest condolences to you. I think he would wish that you would spend your days in smiles rather than tears, and I think he would pray for all our happiness! —Bai Yinning”
Lin Xinyan closed the card and put it back into the box. She then took out the jade pendant and put the box into a drawer.
She graciously accepted his kind act.
When she opened the bedroom door upstairs, she saw Zong Jinghao lying sideways on the bed with the baby in his arms. They were both sleeping soundly.
She took out a blanket from the cabinet and gently covered them with it. After that, she took out the jade pendant and wrapped it around the baby’s neck. The baby moved his pink and supple lips while he remained fast asleep.
She cast her son a loving look as she gently stroked his face. When she turned to look at Zong Jinghao, she felt her heart ache.
He didn’t sleep much these days, so he’s skinnier now.
She interlocked her fingers with him and planted a kiss on his forehead. “I feel so sorry that you have a lot of regrets in your life. I’ll stay by your side for the rest of our lives.”
The man who was seemingly fast asleep, twitched his eyebrows suddenly, but Lin Xinyan didn’t notice it since it happened in a flash.
Time seemed to fly. It was already New Year’s Day in a flash.
Life was peaceful then. The baby could already make some sounds and Sang Yu’s stomach was clearly bloated as well. She took a leave from her studies for one year to focus on taking care of her health.
Su Zhan and Qin Ya were also living a happy life in C City. Even though they didn’t have kids, their careers were successful and their days were well spent.
Besides that, Cheng Yuwen and Zhuang Zijin decided to live together.
Lin Xinyan was the one who suggested it. She could tell that Zhuang Zijin and Cheng Yuwen took good care of each other and were each other’s emotional support. At their age, love wasn’t present anymore, but she still felt that they should have a partner to spend the rest of their lives together.
Lin Xinyan thought that time was precious, so the most important thing was to live a happy life regardless of what others might think.
They didn’t register their marriage or hold a wedding ceremony. Instead, they only invited everyone for a dinner during New Year’s Day.
During the meal, Sang Yu said, “Xinyan, I’m having a girl.”
“Huh?” Qin Ya smiled and looked at her. “Are you really arranging your daughter’s marriage before she’s even born?”
After all, Lin Xinyan had two sons.
Zong Yanchen was older, but the baby was only one year older than her daughter.
Sang Yu ate a piece of tofu and smiled. “So what? Judging by the parents’ good looks, their son will definitely be a handsome one too. I need to call dibs on him first before everyone else does.”
“Tsk.” Su Zhan mocked, “She’s already thinking about that even before her daughter is born.” He took a look at Shen Peichuan and said, “She thinks even more than you.”
Shen Peichuan poured him a glass of beer. “Are you sure that she’s the only one who made that decision?”
Su Zhan was speechless.
Fine!
Keep boasting, hmph!
“Let’s eat.” Su Zhan placed some food in Qin Ya’s bowl. “We’ll go skating in Switzerland in a few days.”
They were the most joyful couple because they could remain in the dating phase for the rest of their lives.
“So petty.” Shen Peichuan knew Su Zhan well.
“Don’t be jealous.” Su Zhan smiled and asked, “Do you and Sang Yu know what passionate love is? You haven’t even spent much time together before you’re both shackled down by the baby. That’s no fun at all. Look at us! We can go anywhere in the world we want.”
He then stood up and took out a box from his pocket containing a diamond necklace.
“Ya, a present for you.” He put the necklace on Qin Ya. Qin Ya was wearing a black jacket, so it made the diamond seem even more dazzling. “I wish for our eternal happiness.”
After that, he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“Stop hogging all the attention.” Sang Yu waved her hands. “The stars of the show today are these two people.”
Zhuang Zijin and Cheng Yuwen were somewhat embarrassed sharing a meal with all the youngsters. After all, they weren’t young anymore, yet they…
“Let’s have a toast together.” Lin Xinyan picked up her glass and held Zong Jinghao’s hand with her other hand. He smiled and as he gazed at Zhuang Zijin and Cheng Yuwen, he said, “Let’s toast for Mom and Yuwen’s health and longevity.”
“Cheers!”
The clinking of the glasses permeated throughout the room as the laughter drove away the sadness.
Meanwhile, snow was falling outside.
Winter had already come, but this was the first snow.
“I wanna play in the snow.” Zong Yanxi excitedly tugged Zhuang Zijin’s hands as Cheng Yuwen held her other hand. “Let’s go.”
Everyone went out because they were all excited about the snow.
In a flash, all the treetops and rooftops were covered in a layer of white.
“Let’s take a walk outside too.” Lin Xinyan stared at Zong Jinghao with a gentle gaze.
Zong Jinghao took a jacket from the coat rack and put it on her. He then buttoned up the jacket and placed her hands into his own. His hands were just as warm as usual, and Lin Xinyan felt the warmth pervading her entire body, giving her a sense of security.
Because of the snow, the night sky didn’t seem so dark.
As they walked hand-in-hand down the street, two rows of footprints tagged behind them. Snow decorated their hair as Lin Xinyan said cheekily, “Your hair is white.”
Zong Jinghao stopped and stared at her while she met his gaze with a loving glance of her own.
“I wouldn’t mind even if all your hair turns grey. I will still love you.”
After that, she tiptoed and planted a kiss on his chin. She wanted to continue their stroll after the kiss, but he stopped her by pulling her towards him.
With a gentleness in his eyes that could melt the snow, he caressed her flushed face and planted his lips all over her eyes, nose, and lips. The kiss grew deeper as time passed and she kissed him back passionately while wrapping her arms around his neck.
It was as if they wouldn’t stop until they melted into each other’s arms.
A few years later.
“I never loved you.”
During their three-year wedding anniversary, Zong Yanxi wanted to tell Jiang Mohan she was pregnant with his child. But before she could do that, he gave her a “present” of his own instead.
“Why?” Tears rolled in her eyes, but they never slipped down her cheeks because she didn’t want to believe it.
Was he lying all along?
If he was, why?
Jiang Mohan approached her and she stepped back. He grabbed her by the chin and hissed, “I married you only because you’re the lady of the Zong family. I married you not because of love, but because of hatred!”
He had planned twenty years for this day!
“Hatred?” Her lips trembled. Some women would break down in tears in that moment while some women would beg for a second chance. However, Zong Yanxi only stood motionless as she concealed the hopelessness she felt.
She endured the pain silently.
“Yes. Hatred. Does your father and you think that lives can be bought with money?” His gaze was sharp and cold.
Zong Yanxi was perplexed. “What are you talking about?”
What does he mean? What does this have to do with Daddy?
Jiang Mohan let her go and threw the divorce papers in front of her. “Sign it.”
