STT – Chapter 79

Extra

The traces of my love for you

After Lu Zizheng graduated from graduate school, she chose to stay at the university and became a small lecturer in the School of Foreign Languages. Love to play love to watch come. Although the treatment was not as good as when she was in the translation company before, it was good that the work was leisurely, with weekends off and winter and summer vacations.

After Father Jiang completely retired, Jiang Huaichuan fully took over the company. Jiang Huaixi remained as before, assisting from the side, willingly being the company’s second-in-command. Due to their unity of heart and effort, Father Jiang’s retirement did not bring much fluctuation to the company, and it passed through this critical period unusually smoothly.

The kindergarten’s summer vacation always comes earlier than the university’s. In mid-June, six-year-old Lu Xinmian was already on vacation, but because Lu Zizheng had not yet started her summer break, the family’s early-planned summer trip could not yet take place. Lu Xinmian had to obediently stay at home, and together with Jiang Yikai, follow grandpa and grandma for daily walks, bird watching, playing golf, and occasionally going out to see exhibitions.

This Friday, Jiang Huaixi was not feeling well and didn’t go to the company, resting at home instead. After the family had breakfast together, Lu Zizheng went to school to teach as usual. This was the last class of the semester and couldn’t be rescheduled, otherwise Lu Zizheng would certainly not have left Jiang Huaixi, who was feeling unwell, alone at home. Only after repeatedly confirming that Jiang Huaixi was not seriously ill, and being accused of being fussy by Jiang Huaixi, did Lu Zizheng finally leave, looking back every few steps.

Jiang Wang was now the deputy director of the Xu Family Hospital, but she still served as Jiang Huaixi’s personal doctor. Whether due to the Jiang family’s kindness to her or her friendship with Jiang Huaixi, she felt obligated to fulfill this responsibility.

She had a day off today, and after breakfast, remembering she hadn’t contacted Jiang Huaixi for many days, she called Jiang Huaixi to inquire about her recent health condition. Hearing Jiang Huaixi’s uncontrollable coughs on the other end of the phone, Jiang Wang couldn’t help but frown. Although Jiang Huaixi insisted she was fine, Jiang Wang still couldn’t feel at ease and decided to go to the Jiang family a few days earlier than usual to give Jiang Huaixi a check-up.

After hanging up the phone, she walked to her daughter’s playroom to inform Xu Baihan. Xu Baihan was casually sitting on the fluffy blanket on the big bed, leaning forward with a gentle smile, tenderly accompanying the Xu family’s little princess Xu Zhiqian playing with Lego.

Jiang Wang gently placed her hands on Xu Baihan’s shoulders, lowered her head to lightly kiss the top of her head, and softly informed her lover, “I’m going to the Jiang family to see Huaixi, she seems to have caught a cold.”

Before Xu Baihan could react, Xu Zhiqian quickly stood up, dropping the Lego in her hands, and pattered towards Jiang Wang with her short legs. She hugged Jiang Wang’s waist and said in a soft, cute voice, “Mama, take me with you, I want to go too, you’ll be very bored alone, Zizi can play with you.” Zizi was Xu Zhiqian’s nickname.

Jiang Wang lowered her head to exchange a glance with Xu Baihan, unable to suppress a slight smile. She bent down to pick up her mischievous daughter and exposed her without mercy: “You’re not worried about me being bored, you just want to go play with Xinmian, right?”

Xu Zhiqian, having been exposed, giggled somewhat embarrassedly, burying her face in Jiang Wang’s embrace and nuzzling gently, “Mama, just take me with you…”

Xu Baihan stood up, tucking her long hair behind her ears, and reached out to take Xu Zhiqian from Jiang Wang’s arms. She smiled gently at Jiang Wang and said, “She’s just playing at home anyway, you might as well take her along. I’ll go change her clothes.”

Jiang Wang lightly pinched Xu Zhiqian’s delicate little nose and said resignedly, “Your mama has spoken, I can only obey. Don’t be naughty at Auntie Jiang’s house, do you understand?”

Xu Zhiqian, having received permission, immediately beamed with joy. “Ua…” she kissed Xu Baihan, who had spoken for her, several times, smearing saliva all over Xu Baihan’s face: “Mama, I love you…”

Then she turned her head to blow a kiss to Jiang Wang before mischievously replying, “I understand.”

After saying this, she eagerly urged Xu Baihan, “Mama, let’s go change clothes quickly. I want to wear that little dress you just bought me a few days ago. Xinmian told me last time that I look prettier in dresses…”

Jiang Wang and Xu Baihan couldn’t help but laugh silently.

Xu Zhiqian was a year and a half younger than Lu Xinmian. At home, she was mischievous and somewhat spoiled, but in front of Lu Xinmian, she became incredibly well-behaved. Whenever she had something good to eat or play with, she always remembered to share it with Lu Xinmian, often leaving Jiang Wang and Xu Baihan at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

When Xu Baihan was playing with her daughter, she once asked Xu Zhiqian, “Why do you like Xinmian so much?”

Xu Zhiqian tilted her head and answered with a matter-of-fact expression, “Because Xinmian is very beautiful, especially beautiful.”

Lu Xinmian has been accompanying Lu Zizhen, and is even more outstanding than Lu Zizhen. At just six years old, one could already see how graceful and distinguished she will be when grown up. Her small face is delicately carved like jade, white and smooth as jade, as exquisite as a porcelain doll. Under a pair of peach blossom eyes as dark as ink, a small delicate tear mole adds a touch of liveliness, charming and alluring. Yet her temperament takes after Jiang Huaixi, standing there gracefully, naturally commanding a presence, cool and dignified, standing out among peers.

So, when her daughter said Xinmian was beautiful, Xu Baihan had no objection. But merely because of this, for her to be willing to accommodate and please Xinmian, it doesn’t make sense. From her perspective as an adult, Xinmian is somewhat hot and cold towards her own daughter. Zizi is quite a sensitive child; there’s no reason she couldn’t sense Xinmian’s indifference towards her.

So she still gently probed: “But Yikai is also very good-looking, handsome and cute. Why don’t you like Yikai the same way you like Xinmian?” Jiang Yikai is Jiang Huaichuan’s son, the same age as Xu Zhiqian.

Xu Zhiqian seemed stumped by the question, this time she thought seriously for a good while before answering Xu Baihan: “Because Xinmian rarely smiles at me.” What she actually wanted to express was that because Xinmian rarely smiles at her, but Xinmian looks very good when smiling, she wants Xinmian to often smile at her. Moreover, she felt her mother was very strange, she just likes Xinmian, wants to play with Xinmian, and feels happy when she sees Xinmian happy. Why ask why?

Her language expression ability was limited, she didn’t know how to explain clearly, so she only said this puzzling sentence.

Hearing their daughter’s answer, Jiang Wang and Xu Baihan were both at a loss whether to laugh or cry, it turns out their daughter is still a masochist.

After Jiang Wang brought Xu Zhiqian to the Jiang family, she confidently handed Xu Zhiqian over to Mother Jiang who was taking care of Lu Xinmian and Jiang Yikai, while she went straight upstairs to find Jiang Huaixi.

After going upstairs, about twenty minutes later, Jiang Wang had just finished listening to Jiang Huaixi’s chest when she suddenly heard a loud “bang, crash” from the living room. Jiang Wang’s hand holding the stethoscope involuntarily shook.

During the examination, Jiang Huaixi and Jiang Wang were chatting casually, her cool face originally bearing a faint smile, but upon hearing the sound, her brows slightly furrowed, and she immediately stood up, walking hurriedly towards the door. She was worried that something had happened to Xinmian, Yikai, and Zizi while they were playing.

She had just reached the corridor outside the second-floor room when she heard Jiang Yikai’s childish voice rise, panicked: “Sister, what should we do, you broke the vase, grandfather really likes this vase…”

Jiang Huaixi walked a few more steps forward, looked down, and saw Lu Xinmian’s small body crouching in front of a mess of vase fragments, looking somewhat at a loss. Jiang Yikai and Xu Zhiqian were standing a few steps behind her.

Mother Jiang had gone to the kitchen to check on the morning tea that the maid had prepared for the children, so she let the three children play by themselves in the living room first, preparing to eat something in a while. Unexpectedly, shortly after she left, Xu Zhiqian begged Lu Xinmian to play a game with her, and Jiang Yikai also looked at her eagerly. Lu Xinmian couldn’t refuse the two of them, so she half-heartedly went along with them. However, they didn’t expect that as the three of them started playing around, Lu Xinmian accidentally broke the vase.

Jiang Huaixi first carefully examined Xinmian from head to toe, then seriously scrutinized Yikai and Zhiqian, making sure the children were not injured. Only then did she feel relieved and decided not to go downstairs yet, but to observe quietly.

Xu Zhiqian walked a few steps forward and pulled Lu Xinmian up. Despite her young age, she showed unexpected composure. She comforted Lu Xinmian in her childish voice: “Don’t be afraid, Xinmian. I’ll say I broke it later. Grandpa Jiang won’t criticize you.”

Mother Jiang finally rushed back after hearing the noise. Seeing the mess of fragments on the floor, her face changed slightly in fright. She immediately grabbed the hands of the three children, examining them up and down for injuries. Seeing that all three children were fine, she then proceeded to ask what happened.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Zhiqian, just as she had told Lu Xinmian earlier, immediately blurted out: “Grandma Jiang, I accidentally broke the vase. It has nothing to do with Xinmian.”

Although Jiang Yikai was somewhat afraid of being criticized for doing something wrong, he still bravely spoke up to help: “Grandma, it was Yikai being naughty. It has nothing to do with Zizi and sister.”

As for Lu Xinmian, who was being protected by the two, her hands placed on both sides of her skirt were tightly clenched. She tried to speak several times but ultimately lowered her head, hiding her face in her black long hair, without saying a word.

Jiang Wang, standing beside Jiang Huaixi, couldn’t help but sigh: “Zizi is really wrapped around your daughter’s finger.”

However, Jiang Huaixi didn’t respond. Her delicate brows furrowed even more tightly as she watched her daughter’s persistent silence, suddenly feeling very disappointed. After Xinmian was born, perhaps due to the influence of her own body during pregnancy, her constitution had always been poor. Before the age of three, she was constantly ill with minor ailments, worrying the whole family to pieces. It wasn’t until after she turned four that she slowly started to get better. The family naturally showered her with love and protection, and even Yikai, her younger brother, learned to give in to and protect his sister.

Although Jiang Huaixi didn’t say it out loud, in her heart she felt sorry for the child who had suffered too much when she was young. So, regarding education issues, although she intended to be strict, she ultimately compromised with the family’s indulgence, turning a blind eye to it. However, she didn’t expect that under such indulgence, at some point, Xinmian had grown into this weak and irresponsible figure who only knew how to hide behind others.

Jiang Huaixi narrowed her eyes, her pale thin lips tightly pressed together. She turned around and descended the stairs step by step, walking heavily to Lu Xinmian’s front.

Mother Jiang, seeing Jiang Huaixi come downstairs, asked with concern: “Did we disturb you? Have you finished the check-up? Nothing serious happened downstairs, don’t worry, go back up and rest.”

Jiang Huaixi just shook her head lightly, then looked at Lu Xinmian with deep eyes, asking in a flat voice: “Xinmian, tell Mom, who broke the vase?”

Jiang Huaixi’s demeanor was naturally cool, and at this moment her expression was cold, the sense of pressure instantly overwhelming, imposing without anger. Moreover, Jiang Huaixi had always been relatively strict with Lu Xinmian, and Lu Xinmian was already quite afraid of Jiang Huaixi. Now, hearing Jiang Huaixi’s cold question, she lowered her head in panic, not daring to look at Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Yikai was intimidated by his aunt’s low pressure and couldn’t help but timidly hide behind Mother Jiang. Seeing this, Xu Zhiqian, although also feeling a bit scared, still stood in front of Lu Xinmian and defended her: “Auntie, I broke the vase. Please don’t blame Xinmian.”

Mother Jiang, seeing how panicked all three children were, immediately felt sorry for them and lightly scolded Jiang Huaixi: “Huaixi, what are you doing? You’re scaring the children. If you have something to say, say it nicely. Don’t be so serious.”

Jiang Huaixi’s brows furrowed even tighter, her voice becoming even deeper: “Mom, don’t speak.”

She stroked Xu Zhiqian’s head and said gently: “Good child, your mother has come down too.” After saying this, she turned her face and signaled to Jiang Wang with her eyes, and Jiang Wang intuitively pulled her daughter in front of herself.

Jiang Huaixi stared steadily at Lu Xinmian, who was now standing alone, and asked once again: “Lu Xinmian, look at me. Tell me, who broke the vase.”

Mom only called her full name like this when she was angry, Lu Xinmian keenly perceived. She finally raised her head and looked at Jiang Huaixi. When her gaze met Jiang Huaixi’s cold, ice-like eyes, her eyes immediately reddened, her gaze flickering, tears welling up in her eyes. But she bit her lip, still not saying a word, not daring to respond to Jiang Huaixi.

She didn’t want to lie, but she also didn’t dare to admit.

Jiang Huaixi’s heart gradually cooled with Lu Xinmian’s silence. She averted her eyes, no longer looking at Lu Xinmian, and turned towards the study where she usually taught Lu Xinmian literature and writing. Her voice was flat: “Xinmian, you’ve made Mom very disappointed today. Go to the study and write the two characters for ‘responsibility’ a thousand times, and reflect on where you went wrong. Don’t come out until you’ve finished, and don’t eat either.” She is the older sister of Jiang Yikai and Xu Zhiqian. When she did something wrong, instead of protecting them, she actually let them take the blame for her.

Although Mother Jiang felt sorry for her, seeing that Jiang Huaixi had truly turned cold, she knew she was really angry and didn’t dare to persuade her.

Jiang Huaixi turned around to go back upstairs. When passing by Jiang Yikai and Xu Zhiqian, she patted their heads and told them in a gentle voice: “It’s good for good friends to love each other, but remember, your own mistakes should be borne by yourself. Helping each other is not meant for times like this.”

Lu Xinmian bit her lower lip, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Huaixi’s back. Large tears finally fell, but she didn’t dare make a sound.

She rarely smiled at Xu Zhiqian because she had always been envious of her. Mom was always gentle with Xu Zhiqian and Yikai, never sparing praise and guidance for them, but seldom able to approve or praise herself. Even when she occasionally read her bedtime stories at night, her voice was always cool and distant, not as warm as Mama’s.

When Lu Zizheng returned home from school at noon, she sensitively noticed that the atmosphere at home seemed a bit off, unusually tense.

Mother Jiang, seeing her return, felt relieved as if seeing a savior. No one could persuade Jiang Huaixi, but Lu Zizheng was the only exception. She hurriedly pulled Lu Zizheng aside and told her everything that had happened in the morning. In her words, she couldn’t help but express some dissatisfaction, feeling that Jiang Huaixi was too harsh on Xinmian. The child was still young, and any mistakes should be explained and taught properly, not dealt with in a few words of cold violence like this. The child was becoming less and less close to her.

Lu Zizheng sighed, naturally wanting to speak for her beloved, and comforted Mother Jiang: “Mom, Huaixi is also doing this for Xinmian’s good. You know her personality is like this, she doesn’t like to say many things out loud, keeping them in her heart. I will try to persuade her. However, Xinmian indeed did something wrong today, so it’s understandable that Huaixi is angry.” Although she said this, when she heard Mother Jiang say that Xinmian was watching Jiang Huaixi’s back, crying silently until her eyes were red, she still felt extremely heartbroken.

After comforting Mother Jiang with a few words, Lu Zizheng went to the study to see her daughter.

At the sound of the door knocking, Lu Xinmian raised her head, and upon seeing Lu Zizheng, tears immediately began to fall. She put down the brush in her hand, jumped off the stool, and plunged straight into Lu Zizheng’s arms, sobbing audibly, her tears wetting Lu Zizheng’s front.

Lu Zizheng embraced her daughter’s small, soft body, her heart instantly melting. How could she bear to reproach her anymore? She only gently patted her back, helping her calm down, comforting her: “Don’t cry, baby, don’t cry…”

In Lu Zizheng’s warm and reassuring embrace, Lu Xinmian finally gradually stopped crying. She raised her head, eyes blurry with tears, and asked Lu Zizheng pitifully: “Mama, does Mom not like me?”

Lu Zizheng’s hand, gently patting her daughter, paused for a moment, feeling shocked. She hadn’t realized that her daughter’s misunderstanding of Huaixi had already grown so deep. She felt both heartache and regret. She stroked her daughter’s head and asked in confusion: “How could that be? You are the person Mom cherishes most in her heart. She loves you more than she loves herself, so how could she not like you?” She pulled away slightly from Lu Xinmian, meeting her daughter’s watery eyes, and explained solemnly yet gently: “Mom’s health isn’t good. At that time, to give birth to you, she suffered a great deal. But no matter how naughty you were in her belly, no matter how much you tormented her, she couldn’t bear to give you up. If it weren’t for her persistence, you might not have been able to come to us.”

She reached out and pulled the Maitreya jade pendant, tied with a red string, that Lu Xinmian always wore around her neck, and said gently: “Look, this treasure you wear, when you were two years old and constantly sick, Mom personally went up the mountain to fast and pray for a month, seeking a high monk to bless you. Do you remember the zodiac animal doll gifts you receive every New Year? From the little tiger when you were one year old, to the later little rabbit, little snake, little horse… each one was personally sewn by Mom, stitch by stitch. You don’t know, to make these little dolls for you, her ten fingers were almost pricked into a hornet’s nest. Xinmian, knowing this, do you still think Mom doesn’t like you?”

Tears still hung on Lu Xinmian’s long eyelashes, about to fall. Hearing Lu Zizheng’s words, she was momentarily speechless. She never knew that Jiang Huaixi had done so much for her behind the scenes. Even those New Year gift dolls Lu Zizheng mentioned, Jiang Huaixi always casually handed them to her when everyone was giving her New Year gifts, with a flat “This is for you, Happy New Year.”

Lu Zizheng kissed her daughter’s little hand and gently guided her: “Xinmian, Mom just isn’t good at expressing herself. She always does more and says less. In her eyes, she only wants you to become a better person. Xinmian, do you want to become a better person?” Actually, what she told Xinmian was just the tip of the iceberg of what Jiang Huaixi had done over the years. She didn’t tell Lu Xinmian that Jiang Huaixi had established a charity foundation in her name, didn’t tell Lu Xinmian how many things Jiang Huaixi had purchased under her name, didn’t tell Lu Xinmian that Jiang Huaixi had even bought a piece of land and designed architectural drawings, preparing to build a marital home that Lu Xinmian would only use in ten or twenty years… She knew that Xinmian was still young and wouldn’t understand these things even if told. She just wanted Lu Xinmian to know that Jiang Huaixi loved her very much, just like herself.

Lu Xinmian nodded, her voice still a bit hoarse from crying, but answered firmly: “Xinmian wants to become a better person.”

Lu Zizheng smiled with satisfaction and finally asked: “Then tell Mama, why didn’t you dare to admit that you broke the vase today? Were you afraid of being criticized by Grandma and Mom?”

Lu Xinmian hesitated for a moment before honestly answering Lu Zizheng: “It’s not that. I… I knew Mom wasn’t at work today, she was at home, and I was afraid… afraid that if she knew I was naughty and did something wrong, she would like me even less.” Towards the end, her voice became lower and more aggrieved.

Lu Zizheng felt a twinge in her heart as she listened. She kissed her daughter’s forehead and gently but firmly promised: “That won’t happen. Xinmian, you must remember, no matter what mistake you make, you will always be Mom’s treasure. We will never dislike you. We all love you very, very much.”

Lu Xinmian finally broke into a smile through her tears, nodding heavily: “Mm, I’ll remember that.”

Lu Zizheng ruffled her hair, smiled with relief, and then, remembering something, asked Lu Xinmian: “So what will you say to Zizi the next time you see her?”

Lu Xinmian rolled her bright, big eyes, pursed her lips revealing a pretty smile, and said earnestly: “I’ll tell Zizi I’m sorry, and thank you.”

Lu Zizheng happily kissed her daughter’s smiling face again and praised her: “That’s right, baby is so clever.”

After comforting her daughter and holding her hand to write “responsibility” several times with the brush, Lu Zizheng finally went upstairs to the bedroom.

As soon as she entered the room, Lu Zizheng saw Jiang Huaixi standing by the windowsill with her back turned, gazing absent-mindedly out the window.

Lu Zizheng quickly stepped forward, reaching out to embrace Jiang Huaixi from behind, resting her chin on Jiang Huaixi’s shoulder, and softly asked against Jiang Huaixi’s cheek: “Why are you standing here in the breeze? Is your headache better?”

Jiang Huaixi instinctively turned around, extending both arms to hug Lu Zizheng back, encircling Lu Zizheng in her embrace, and nodded: “Much better.” After a pause, she asked flatly: “Did you go see Xinmian?”

Lu Zizheng leaned into her embrace, making a soft nasal sound: “Mm.”

There was a faint weariness in Jiang Huaixi’s voice as she said: “Zizheng, have I not done well enough? Xinmian hasn’t grown up the way I thought she would. She’s always a bit afraid of me, a bit timid, not brave enough, and not responsible enough.”

Lu Zizheng gently shook her head, lifted her face to lightly kiss Jiang Huaixi’s jaw, and softly consoled her: “No, you’ve done very well, you’re just a bit impatient. Xinmian is still young. No matter how well-behaved and sensible she is, she’s still a child after all. Huaixi, you need to give her time to grow up. We still have a lot of time. Can you be a bit more patient?”

Jiang Huaixi’s arms around Lu Zizheng tightened imperceptibly, her eyes dimming slightly. She wasn’t sure if she really had a lot of time left to wait for Xinmian to grow up. So, she was always a bit anxious, a bit afraid. Afraid that she might not be around by the time she had properly taught Xinmian. She was afraid that Xinmian wouldn’t grow up to be Zizheng’s support, and even more afraid that Xinmian wouldn’t be capable enough, not sensible and well-behaved enough, causing Zizheng to worry and be sad for the latter half of her life.

But thinking this way, isn’t it unfair to Xinmian?

Jiang Huaixi lowered her head and gently kissed Lu Zizheng’s forehead, sighing almost in a murmur: “I was wrong. We still have a very, very long time…”

She began to smile softly and slowly, like winter ice melting instantly, leaving only a gentle tenderness like water. Her tone returned to the arrogant one Lu Zizheng was familiar with, ruthlessly slandering Lu Zizheng: “It must be you who corrupted my excellent genes. When I was Xinmian’s age, I was so well-behaved, so clever, so sensible, so responsible…”

Before Jiang Huaixi could finish her list of “so…”, Lu Zizheng couldn’t bear to listen anymore. She laughed softly, interrupting her with disdain: “Jiang Huaixi, give it a rest…”

Jiang Huaixi lifted Lu Zizheng’s chin, her clear, ink-like eyes coldly staring at Lu Zizheng, her tone threatening: “Zizheng, say that again…”

Lu Zizheng wasn’t afraid of her at all. She smiled tenderly, raised her head to draw closer, and pressed her lips against Jiang Huaixi’s thin lips that were so good at making threats, passionately sealing them with a kiss…

After a long while, not until Jiang Huaixi’s breath became uneven and her hands around Lu Zizheng’s neck began to gently push her away, did Lu Zizheng reluctantly release her lips and tongue.

Jiang Huaixi’s typically pale and cool face was now flushed with a peach-like redness, looking exceptionally alluring. Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but lean close to her reddened, delicate ear, teasingly mocking her with a smile: “Huaixi, just now, were your legs so weak you could barely stand?”

Jiang Huaixi’s hands lightly gripped Lu Zizheng’s shoulders as she delicately caught her breath. Hearing this, she slightly raised her fine eyebrows, her lips revealing a faint smile. She turned her face, lowering her gaze to look at Lu Zizheng, drew closer, and gently blew a soft breath. Then, she approached Lu Zizheng’s delicate ear, parted her white teeth, and bit down.

Lu Zizheng was caught off guard and hurriedly pleaded coquettishly: “Ah, it hurts, Huaixi, it hurts, hurts, hurts…”

In reality, how could Jiang Huaixi bear to bite down hard, but Lu Zizheng was willing to play along, acting out the scene to its fullest…

The door was slightly ajar, and although the soundproofing was good, the sounds from inside the room could still be faintly heard outside. The housekeeper, who had come to call them down for dinner, raised her hand to knock but suddenly froze in place.

The housekeeper’s old face couldn’t help but blush slightly. She didn’t dare disturb them and turned to go downstairs, muttering to herself: So Huaixi is on top, I wonder if she’s tired or not. Ah, the tonic that Madam had me stew for Zizheng earlier must have been for the wrong person. I should quietly let Madam know…

When it was time for lunch, the whole family was at the table, only missing Lu Xinmian, who was still in the study finishing her writing.

Lu Zizheng gently patted Jiang Huaixi’s arm, slyly urging her: “She’s been reflecting for so long, Xinmian must know her mistake by now. Not eating is bad for her health. Huaixi, why don’t you go call Xinmian to come eat?”

The whole family turned hopeful, pleading gazes towards Jiang Huaixi. Jiang Huaixi pursed her lips, looked towards the study, let out a light sigh, and unusually softened her heart. She stood up and, while walking, responded in a faint voice: “Mm…”

Lu Xinmian didn’t dare slack off for a moment, having already written “responsibility” 678 times. When she saw Jiang Huaixi, she reflexively froze for a moment, then remembering what Mama had just said, she finally let down her guard and revealed an obedient smile, softly calling out: “Mom…”

Jiang Huaixi stood at the doorway, looking at her small body sitting upright at the large desk, holding a brush almost thicker than her fingers, which made her appear even more solitary. Her heart softened greatly. She slightly gentled her voice and said flatly: “No need to write anymore, go eat.”

Lu Xinmian, however, didn’t show overwhelming joy as if granted a great pardon. Instead, she gently shook her head and refused: “No.”

Jiang Huaixi frowned slightly, somewhat surprised.

Lu Xinmian curved her brows and eyes, looking at Jiang Huaixi, smiling as warmly and brilliantly as the early sun. Her soft voice was full of determination: “Let me finish writing, Mom. I don’t want to disappoint you again.”

Jiang Huaixi felt as if her heart had been struck heavily by something. It didn’t hurt, but it trembled violently. Looking at her daughter’s smile, she finally relaxed her brows and eyes, revealing a warm and brilliant smile.

Zizheng, you’re right, I should be more patient…

Xinmian is still young, we have time to accompany her as she slowly grows up…

We cannot control the length of our lives, but we can choose our attitude towards life.

If I were a river destined to run dry tomorrow, then before tomorrow comes, I would willingly exhaust the last drops of this life’s flow to embrace and nourish you on the banks.

The flowing water may dry up, but it will leave behind banks full of blossoming flowers.

The gentle breeze whispers, the flowers smile softly; those are the traces of my love for you.

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LP: Re-translated on October 23, 2024

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