On another visit to the Meiren Pavilion with Hua Yan, he encountered a woman trying to take advantage of them. Terrified, he dodged her attempt to kiss him, but she violently tore his clothes, exposing his skin. The woman’s disdainful remarks about him being defiled made his tears flow even more intensely.

He had long known he was impure, his innocence lost, having been ridiculed for years. Hearing such words still hurt him deeply; his dignity was gone.

Hua Yan tried to push the woman but was slapped and fell.

Cold wind kept blowing, Xu Yi’s clothes were torn, his body growing colder, his heart increasingly fearful. He couldn’t let other women touch him; he would rather die than allow it.

In his despair, the weight on him disappeared, and he felt a warm embrace. Xu Yi opened his tear-filled eyes and saw the woman he had been longing for. He hugged her and cried. She always appeared when he needed her most, yet why wouldn’t she want him? What had he done wrong?

Xu Yi thought if he lowered his status, becoming like Su Xi, Jin Yu might notice him, but his hope was shattered. Everyone believed she had fallen due to Cloud Mei’s blow, but Xu Yi noticed the light in her eyes when she looked at Su Xi; her gaze was soft, unlike how she looked at others.

He knew she truly didn’t want him anymore.

That day, in Jin Yu’s embrace, Xu Yi said many things. When he left, he smiled at her: “Even if you don’t like me, I will always love you in my heart.” It was a brilliant yet bleak smile.

He didn’t want to lose his dignity in front of Cloud Mei, but found himself begging just to stay by her side. If she didn’t want him, what was dignity worth?

He had already lost his dignity before her. Desperate, he disregarded shame, seeking to remain with her but ultimately failing.

Previously, he had despised Cloud Mei’s desire to elope with the second young miss of the Jin family, but he now understood her feelings. When love runs deep, nothing else matters.

His father’s words rang true: despite being neglected, Cloud Mei had people who cared for her. What did he have? He wasn’t Cloud Mei; he had no one who loved him. The person he was to marry was only for business, likely already looking down on him.

In that moment, he understood his father’s enduring love for his mother. Once in love, one becomes uncontrollable, still loving even when hurt, unable to forget.

He had loved her for six years; how could he forget? Without her, his life would lack brilliance, and he would see no one else.

Xu Yi fell silent, lowered her head, and then gently nodded, a fleeting glimmer of anticipation in her eyes.

“Then choose one you like.”

Xu Yi looked at Jinyu in surprise, “Can I, can I?”

The shop owner called Jinyu ‘master’, and she responded faintly, glancing at the jade pieces displayed with no emotion. Unsure of her thoughts, the owner assumed she was inspecting and brought out some of the finest jade for her.

Jinyu casually looked over the selection and let Xu Yi choose. Feeling nervous, he stayed close to her, saying, “You can pick one for me.” He would love anything she gave him, and if she personally selected a piece, he would have no regrets.

Seeing Jinyu motionless and expressionless, Xu Yi feared she might change her mind. He quickly grabbed a piece and said, “I’ve chosen.” He was satisfied as long as it was from her.

The owner hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Jinyu then said calmly, “Put it on my account.” Watching them leave, the owner felt conflicted, realizing that if she had known, she wouldn’t have brought out the hard-to-obtain jade pieces. Today, she wondered which young master had won Jinyu’s heart.

Xu Yi clutched the hairpin, the cool jade seeping into his palm, filling his heart with happiness.

“Where would you like to go next?” Jinyu asked, noticing his teary eyes.

Xu Yi smiled brightly to hide his embarrassment.

#

Jinyu watched Xu Yi standing before the Three Lives Stone, making a wish, the green jade hairpin already in his hair.

Jinyu glanced at Huayan and said, “If your master wants to marry him, he should return quickly.”

Huayan quickly explained, “You misunderstand. The young master has never contacted her and knows nothing of her situation.” She worried that if Jinyu refused because of this, it could harm the young master’s happiness. The young master was devoted to Jinyu but unaware of the master’s control over information, which was meant not to harm him.

Jinyu remained indifferent, responding, “I meant nothing by it,” as she walked toward Xu Yi, leaving a conflicted Huayan behind.

#

Lovers hope for a predestined connection across three lifetimes. Xu Yi thought that if he couldn’t be with her in this life, he hoped for the next.

With the Three Lives Stone as witness, they would be together in the next life, without concern for status or title, as long as they could be united.

Turning, he saw Jinyu beside him, gazing at the Three Lives Stone. Xu Yi couldn’t help but ask, “If there’s a next life, will you let me stay by your side?” His voice carried expectation and unease, fearing words that would crush his hope. He resolved to wait for a lifetime when they could be together.

“Mu Xi, if there’s a next life, will you let me stay by your side?” The man’s hopeful eyes shone like stars.

“I don’t want much, just being able to watch you will be enough.”

The woman smiled, her gaze full of emotion. “The person I want, I will always keep by my side.”

“Am I the person you’ve always wanted?”

Jinyu stared quietly at the Three Lives Stone, sorrowful. They had promised to be together for three lifetimes, yet couldn’t complete one life together.

Seeing her silence, Xu Yi’s eyes dimmed. He forced a slight smile, “It’s okay. Just being able to see you from a distance is enough.” He tried to cheer himself up, but his heart couldn’t find joy, knowing he might not see her again.

Even with her in front of him, he might never see her face again. He was grateful that while she hadn’t promised, she hadn’t refused either, meaning he might have a chance in the next life.

Jinyu accompanied Xu Yi to various places. He rarely went out and had many unvisited sites in the ten-mile town. While these sights brought him a fleeting happiness, everything lost its color before Jinyu.

As darkness fell, Jinyu took Xu Yi near his home. She noticed his eyes were wet as tears began to roll down his cheeks. Jinyu showed no annoyance or offered comfort; she simply stayed quietly with him, listening to his sobs, reminiscent of that day in Suxi’s room.

Xu Yi wiped his tears, his voice choked, “Thank you. I was very happy today.”

Jinyu glanced at him, then looked at the sky and said softly, “If you can still walk, we can wander a bit more.”

Xu Yi smiled, yet tears rolled again, and he nodded, “Okay.”

After wandering for a while, they returned to their starting point. The sky had darkened, and Xu Yi didn’t cry this time, just staring blankly in the direction of the Xu family home.

“Let’s go back,” Jinyu said calmly.

Xu Yi turned to her in a daze, her expression equally calm, “You go first. I want to watch you leave.”

Xu Yi gazed at Jin Yu’s figure melting into the darkness, taking out the jade hairpin from her hair. The cool sensation seeped into her palm, evoking emotion. She wanted to glimpse her once more; after this, they would never meet again. Today was her happiest day. It was enough.