Xiao Jin knelt outside the room shivering, afraid he would suddenly say she was incompetent, letting the third master enter and be thrown to feed the wolves.
She had only heard rumors about the bloodthirsty nature of Jiang’s second master before, but seeing it with her own eyes today, she was almost scared silly.
Chen Jing lay half-reclined on the bed, hearing footsteps, and turned back to look: “What did you do to him?”
“Just gave him a hot bath,” Jiang Donglin sat over softly, “Feeling better?”
Chen Jing smiled, but her expression was tinged with sadness, making Jiang Donglin’s heart ache.
Jiang Donglin kissed her palm, hugged her waist, and leaned his head on her leg: “Guo’er, shall I go pray to Buddha for you?”
Chen Jing raised an eyebrow: “Aren’t you not a believer?”
“As long as you’re okay, I’m willing to believe in anything,” he replied.
Chen Jing traced his handsome face: “I don’t want to pray to Buddha.”
“That’s fine,” Jiang Donglin said, “we’ll just invite Buddha home and worship him.”
“Donglin,” Chen Jing suddenly said, “Do you know who I am?”
“Of course, you’re my Guo’er,” he replied with a smile.
Chen Jing looked at him: “You’ve already caught Qin Mo, you should know why I’m here, right?”
“Know what?” he asked, feigning ignorance.
Chen Jing touched his tense back: “I’m going to die soon.”
Jiang Donglin sat up straight, tightly holding her hand, his voice hoarse: “No, don’t think nonsense.”
Chen Jing remained expressionless: “Madam Yi said I can only live for a month at most.”
Jiang Donglin’s heart ached sharply, his fingertips uncontrollably trembling, pleading in a trembling voice: “Guo’er, don’t say that, you’ll get better, you must get better!”
He seemed unable to bear it, gasping low, his eyes slightly moist: “Don’t scare me.”
Jiang Donglin had lived so long without fearing anything, but now he was extremely afraid of hearing the word “death” from her mouth.
How could this be?
His Guo’er was so cute, so obedient, destined to grow old with him. She had already agreed to his proposal, and the wedding was already being prepared.
She must be lying to him.
Jiang Donglin touched her pale lips and kissed them devoutly.
Just like before, whether asking him to take her everywhere or do good deeds, wasn’t it always like this? She would forget afterward, and this time would surely be the same.
As Jiang Donglin thought, his panic slightly subsided, but his face became even whiter, tears filling his eyes, falling between their lips, and when he licked, the once sweet kiss had turned salty.
Jiang Donglin felt particularly uncomfortable.
///
The temple was ultimately not visited.
Jiang Donglin comforted himself that everything was fake, but in his heart, he had to admit that Guo’er’s complexion was getting worse.
He posted public notices throughout the city, summoning all physicians to focus on researching Chen Jing’s condition, but the results were always unsatisfactory. Days passed, and still nothing was found.
Jiang Donglin’s mood became more irritable, calm and gentle when with Chen Jing, but turning gloomy the moment he turned away. The adjutant tremblingly spoke: “They say this poison is too tricky, they can only try to relieve the pain of the poisoned person and really have no way to develop an antidote…”
“Get out.”
Chen Jing’s condition worsened daily, becoming frighteningly thin, her lips cracked severely. Except for her bright, calm eyes, she looked completely terminal.
Jiang Donglin was heartbroken. He was almost losing control of his temper, his entire heart filled with negative energy, hating his own incompetence, hating those who harmed her.
Chen Jing had started coughing up blood, barely able to eat, only drinking some white porridge. Jiang Donglin developed angina, trembling all over whenever he saw Guo’er vomit blood.
He was scared and began trying everything.
He invited monks to bless Chen Jing, with sounds of wooden fish and chanting in the house.
He went to the temple, something he used to scoff at, now believing deeply. Climbing from the bottom step to the top on his knees, his knees were bloody and torn, but he didn’t care.
Guo’er could barely speak, coughing and vomiting blood. Jiang Donglin stayed by her side, telling her jokes to make her laugh.
At this time, Jiang Donglin’s long-dead older brother Jiang Dongqi emerged, accusing Guo’er and questioning her purpose for infiltrating the Jiang family, even suggesting he throw her out.
It seemed he wanted to die, and because of Guo’er’s illness, Jiang Donglin, now focused on kindness, would soon grant him his wish.
///
On the last day of the month, Chen Jing was particularly spirited.
Her face was rosy, her eyes sparkling, her lips red. Seeing him approach, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
A deep kiss.
Jiang Donglin held back tears, obediently responding.
After the kiss ended, Chen Jing kissed the corner of his mouth, her voice soft: “Dongling.”
“Mm.”
“After I die, don’t be too sad.”
“Mm.” He choked back tears.
Chen Jing smiled slightly, softly asking: “Do you like me?”
Jiang Dongling nodded repeatedly. He liked her so much.
“That’s good.” Chen Jing slowly closed her eyes, her voice light as a whisper: “If you like me, then try to live on, live for my share too…”
Tears dropped down, Jiang Dongling cried silently and collapsed, tightly hugging her breathless body, feeling the entire world had turned to darkness.
With a crying voice, he said aggrievedly: “You’re so heartless.”
Heartless to abandon him, not even giving him the right to accompany her in death. But what could he do… no matter how heartless she was, he loved her so much he would die in her place…
“Guoer…”
Chen Jing’s soul left her body, floating behind Jiang Dongling, quietly watching his uncontrollable crying. After a long while, she curved her lips in happiness. She had bet correctly. The moment she “died”, the second flower petal in her mind had immediately turned red, clearly indicating she had completed the mission in this world.
Chapter 35: Crybaby Extra /// In a private room of a coffee shop— Xu Chengan took a sip, his expression cold: “Are you sure I’m really your son?
He asked flatly, without a trace of anticipation in his eyes.
“We’ve already done a DNA test.” Song Junnian’s mood was both excited and complex. “Chengan, I’m your father.”
“Mm.” Xu Chengan nodded, acknowledging, then stood up to leave.
Song Junnian was hurt by his attitude and quickly grabbed his arm: “Don’t go, let’s talk.”
“Nothing to talk about.” Xu Chengan pushed away his arm and left without hesitation.
As for the DNA, who cares if it’s true or not – he didn’t care.
But Xu Chengan didn’t expect to be proven wrong so quickly.
///
He looked at him with a calm and penetrating gaze, slowly saying: “After all, in a rule of law society, I’ve heard that the Lu family’s hands are not clean. Lu Jing Yun’s shifty-eyed appearance clearly shows he’s not a good person. What does Mr. Song think?”
Not killing someone would be good.
Song Qian Nian’s furrowed brow gradually smoothed out, and he smiled and said: “Of course I think the same as Cheng’an. Don’t worry,” he reached out to touch Xu Cheng’an’s hair, “Dad will take care of it.”
In fact, he had never paid attention to this person and had never even seen him.
But this did not affect his and his son’s mutual dislike of him.
Xu Cheng’an casually avoided his hand and stood up: “Since that’s the case, I’ll wait for Mr. Song’s news.”
“You’re leaving already?” Song Qian Nian’s smile froze; they had only been talking for less than ten minutes. He felt unspeakably sad and disappointed.
Xu Cheng’an acted as if he didn’t see his dim gaze, leaving decisively without looking back.
In fact, he had always been a cold person.
