Chapter 23 Xu Xiangying left the basement. She pondered Lin Jingan’s words: “I’m letting you go. You are free. But, Ying, if you go back to him, I’ll hand over the data about your blood to the government, and you can expect to become a lab rat!” She put on a mask and sunglasses, walking through the bustling streets, feeling the sunlight she hadn’t felt for a long time. How long had she been imprisoned? Time left no trace on her. Xu Xiangying went to Anxiang Yingsleeve and met with Ye Xueqing. Ye Xueqing recognized her at first glance and was shocked, “Sister, you’re back!” Xu Xiangying pressed a finger to her lips, signaling silence, and led her to the small courtyard behind the book room. She sat on the swing, her fair skin and black hair, red lips, in a pure white dress, her posture leisurely, the dress gently swaying with the swing. “How are they?” She looked at a pond full of green lotus leaves, her voice clear and pleasant. Ye Xueqing replied, “They’re okay. Mr. Jiang has never given up on finding you. Little Ruyi is very well-behaved. Mr. Zhou has been helping them.” “Lin Jingan turned out like this because of me.” “Meng Yuan was the same.” “Truly, evil leaves its mark for a thousand years!” Her sigh made Ye Xueqing feel something was off, “What do you mean by that? Haven’t you gone home yet?” Xu Xiangying nodded, “I don’t want to see them for now. Don’t mention my return.” She turned her head, her gaze full of trust, “You know what to do, right?” “Have you decided?” “Yes.” “Mr. Jiang and the others are very worried about you.” “I know.” “If there’s any problem, we should sit down and discuss it together.” “We’ll see.” She stayed in the small courtyard of Anxiang Yingsleeve for many days, not speaking, not socializing, only communicating with Ye Xueqing for daily necessities. Ye Xueqing had limited contact with Jiang Baiyuan, only when he called, so no one discovered Xu Xiangying’s presence. Days passed. Xu Xiangying read books, mostly on psychology, which helped her heal from the trauma of imprisonment. She had done nothing wrong; Meng Yuan, Lin Jingan, they were adults, free to harm themselves or others, and they would pay the price for that freedom. But her? She had lived too long, a youthful body with an old, numb heart. Once, she had found passion for life in Jiang Baiyuan, but the life of imprisonment had brought her back to her original state. A monster who had lived for hundreds of years, still dreaming of living a normal life? She returned to her previous life of seclusion. Until Jiang Baiyuan found her. He couldn’t find Xu Xiangying, so he went to Lin Jingan, using hypnosis to learn that he had released her. If Xu Xiangying was free, who could she contact in Shenzhen? Ye Xueqing… Jiang Baiyuan came to Anxiang Yingsleeve, and as expected, he saw Xu Xiangying. She was leaning on the swing, a book in hand, her white dress swaying with the swing. “Yingying—” he exclaimed with joy, running over, kneeling on one knee before her, “Yingying—” Xu Xiangying looked at him indifferently, “Baiyuan—” Her coldness contrasted sharply with his warmth, chilling his heart. Jiang Baiyuan finally sensed her abnormality, “What’s wrong?” Why didn’t she go home after gaining freedom? Why won’t she see us? Do you know how worried we are? And Ruyi, don’t you miss Ruyi? He had many questions, wanting to interrogate her, but he was afraid of hurting her heart. He had always been gentle with her, and now that she was back, having endured so much, how could he bear to question her? “Yingying, I’m sorry, I didn’t protect you well.” He reached out, gently touching her cheek, his eyes filled with unchanging deep affection. Xu Xiangying’s heart softened a bit: “Bo Yuan—” She thought of her secret, of Lin Jing’an’s threat, and her heart grew cold… She pulled his hand down and sighed, “Let’s just leave it at this.” Jiang Bo Yuan’s facade of calmness suddenly shattered: “Why?” “I and Lin Jing’an…” “Don’t say it. I don’t mind. It’s not your fault.” In truth, he did mind. No man would not mind his wife being with another man, but since it had already happened, minding it was pointless. He only knew that he still loved her, very much, no matter what she was like. Hearing him say that, Xu Xiangying shook her head: “I’m not talking about that. Bo Yuan, my relationship with Lin Jing’an isn’t as simple as you think.” “Did he threaten you?” His guess made her heart skip a beat: “How did you know?” Jiang Bo Yuan embraced her, continuing to speculate: “Did he take some compromising videos of you?” Xu Xiangying: “…” She had worried for nothing. She thought he had discovered her secret. Xu Xiangying shook her head: “No. Nothing like that.” “Then why?” “I can’t be with you. It’s better for us to separate.” “No way. I disagree. Don’t you care about Ruyi anymore?” “She’s still young; she’ll soon forget about me.” “And what about me? How am I supposed to forget you?” His question was met with a long silence. Xu Xiangying closed her eyes, thinking of her beautiful and obedient daughter, then picturing Lin Jing’an’s sinister and ugly face, she was torn in fierce struggle… When she opened her eyes again—Jiang Bo Yuan held her shoulders, gazing at her affectionately, his voice gentle: “Yingying, look into my eyes…” Xu Xiangying complied, and in the next second, she heard a snap, her consciousness blurred, and her thoughts slowed… Jiang Bo Yuan asked, “Yingying, why do you want to separate?” “We are not of the same kind.” “What do you mean?” “I’m a monster. I am immortal. If you knew my secret, you’d be frightened. And Lin Jing’an, knowing we are together, would expose this secret. I don’t want to become a lab rat.” The truth was shocking. Jiang Bo Yuan was stunned for a while, realizing that his wife had always looked the same since they met; how slow was he to only now find it strange? But was being different something to fear? No. No matter what she was like, what her identity, she was his wife, his daughter’s mother. Thus, his gaze was resolute: “Yingying, I will protect you. Do you trust me?” “I don’t know. People change. You will grow old, and I will remain young; it will be painful for you… Bo Yuan, I’ve seen many people die of old age, and I don’t want to see that with you. We are not of the same kind…” “It’s not like that. I love you. I’ll be with you for as long as I can. Yingying, don’t leave us.” “I—” She wasn’t a determined person; at her core, she had a bit of a typical woman’s temperament. If someone else with such powers had been as immortal as her, they might have been haughty and wreaked havoc, but she had lived quietly for years, guarding against others discovering her secret and harming her. Her consciousness gradually returned. She awoke as if from a dream, looking at her somewhat unfamiliar husband: “What did you do to me?” Jiang Bo Yuan’s expression was calm: “Yingying, I know everything now.”
Author’s Note: Thank you for your support. The family will soon be reunited. There’s a little less content today, but I’ll add more tomorrow.
