Chapter 121

Yan Yiming had been in an exceptionally good mood lately. Her subordinates at the company noticed it, and so did the elders at home.
Not only that, the elders also observed that Yan Yiming was coming home more and more frequently.
For the elders, who were constantly hoping for Yan Yiming to start dating and get married, this wasn't a good sign.
Uncle Yan felt that this couldn't go on. With Yan's condition gradually improving and Dr. Yan settled in S City, there was no need for Yan Yiming to be so constantly by her side. Thinking of his niece, who was about to turn twenty-seven, Uncle Yan believed that if they didn't step in to help, she might really end up staying single forever.
As for potential matches, Uncle Yan had several in mind. There were plenty of young men in S City from wealthy families, handsome and talented, but the one he favored the most was a young man who had been somewhat infatuated with Yan Yiming since their last meeting.
Uncle Yan thought he could help foster a connection between the younger generation.
So, the next time Yan Yiming came home, after greeting the now-familiar Jiang Yi, Uncle Yan waited until Jiang Yi had finished examining Mother Yan and they were all sitting together chatting.
Uncle Yan didn't treat Jiang Yi as an outsider and wanted to use his influence to persuade Yan Yiming. Casually, he brought up the idea of Yan Yiming finding time to meet a certain young man from a prominent family. Worried she might refuse, he added that the young man came from a good family, was handsome, had a pleasant personality, and, most importantly, liked her.
Yan Yiming nearly choked on her water.
Jiang Yi's beautiful eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched the scene, then considerately handed her a tissue. “Take your time, no need to rush.”
Yan Yiming shot him a glare and raised a hand to stop her uncle. “I don't, “
Uncle Yan, looking as though he knew exactly what she was going to say, cut her off with a sigh. “Child, I'm not asking you to get married right away. Just meet him. If you hit it off, then you can date. If not, then don't.”
“Cough, cough,” Yan Yiming cleared her throat. “Uncle, you're setting me up.”
Uncle Yan widened his eyes. “How am I setting you up???”
“You're trying to set me up on a blind date right in front of my boyfriend. How is that not setting me up?”
Uncle was dumbfounded, taking a moment to process the situation. His gaze fell on Yan Yiming’s face, then he glanced at Jiang Yi with a hint of confusion. “Boyfriend? Where?”
Jiang Yi nodded earnestly. “Uncle, right here.”
Yan Yiming: “Hahahahaha!”
Uncle: “……???”
It took him a while to fully grasp the situation, and when he did, he stumbled over his words, “Y-you two are together?”
Auntie, who had just brought over a plate of cut fruit, missed the earlier conversation but caught that one sentence, and that was enough. She was so startled she nearly dropped the fruit plate. “A’Ming and Dr. Yan are dating?”
Yan Yiming put on a convincingly apologetic expression. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell everyone sooner.”
Jiang Yi watched her deliberately teasing his uncle and aunt, the corners of his lips lifting naturally. Following Yan Yiming’s lead, he shamelessly explained to the bewildered couple, “We were just about to tell you, Uncle, but you suddenly brought up setting A’Ming up on a blind date.”
Uncle’s face flushed with embarrassment, while Auntie shot him a glare, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “When did you two get together? How did it happen so fast?”
“We,” Jiang Yi glanced at Yan Yiming, “have known each other for many years.”
Yan Yiming turned to look at his profile, handsome and captivating, with eyes that occasionally met hers, brimming with a tenderness she couldn’t resist. Her heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of fulfillment.
Yan Yiming never doubted Jiang Yi’s eloquence. In no time, he spun a flawless tale, convincing Uncle and Auntie that the two had been drawn to each other from the start and that their reunion was nothing short of fate, a bond that couldn’t be severed even by the passage of time.
Yan Yiming felt like laughing, yet she couldn’t bring herself to.
Though most of it was fabricated, some parts were true.
They had indeed reunited, they had met again, but it wasn’t fate. It was the final wish Jiang Yi had fought for with everything he had.
A sudden ache pierced her heart.
Just how much suffering had he endured? How much torment had he gone through?
During this time since their reunion, Yan Yiming had asked him many times, but he would only smile, shake his head, and smoothly change the subject.
He didn’t want to talk about it. He said it was too trivial to be worth mentioning.
But compared to the Jiang Yi of the past, he had clearly changed in many ways. Yan Yiming believed it was more likely that those experiences were too cruel, and he didn’t want to upset her by bringing them up.
He could never bear to see her feel even the slightest bit of sadness.
Her thoughts drifted far away, and by the time she snapped back to reality, Uncle and Auntie had already pulled Jiang Yi into a long conversation, eagerly sharing even the most embarrassing stories from Yan Yiming’s childhood. Jiang Yi, however, listened with unwavering attentiveness.
Yan Yiming helplessly coughed again to draw their attention. Her aunt, who had been laughing for a long while, finally asked, “So, what are your plans for the future?”
Jiang Yi looked at her. After a moment of thought, Yan Yiming spoke seriously, “Get married next year, have a child the year after.”
Her uncle and aunt: “...”
Who was it that once declared they would never marry, let alone have children? Now, in the blink of an eye, they were slapping their own face, or as the young folks liked to say these days:
True fragrance.
Though he was quite satisfied with this answer.
He had never considered Dr. Yan before, but now, thinking about it, he couldn’t find a single flaw in her. She was practically perfect.
Jiang Yi’s status in this life was far superior to what it had been before. According to her uncle, he came from a renowned medical family. Though not as wealthy as the Yan family, they had deep-rooted prestige, and Jiang Yi was the most outstanding among them.
Yan Yiming wasn’t the least bit surprised. This was Jiang Yi, after all, of course he would be the most exceptional.
Mother Yan’s condition gradually improved, so Yan Yiming no longer needed to return home every day. After Jiang Yi returned to S City, he was headhunted by the most prestigious hospital.
She heard his schedule was packed, keeping him busy all day long. Yet, every day when Yan Yiming left the company, she could spot him sitting in his car at a glance. Even the half-open window couldn’t hide his face.
He no longer had the elegant, long-haired appearance of before, but now his features carried a sharper, more defined edge. With his black hair and dark eyes, she knew the young women downstairs often stole glances at him, whispering about how unfairly handsome he was.
But the moment they saw her, they’d all fall silent, then murmur enviously about how she had it all, looks, wealth, and such a handsome boyfriend. A true winner in life.
Yan Yiming accepted the praise with satisfaction. Once in the car, as Jiang Yi leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, she suddenly kissed him.
Jiang Yi turned his face and stared at her without moving. Yan Yiming kissed his beautiful lips once more. Jiang Yi chuckled and sat back.
“Next time, remember to aim properly.”
Yan Yiming laughed for a good while. “Alright, no problem.”
Jiang Yi smiled too. Outside, the lights glittered brightly, while soft music played inside the car. Yan Yiming quietly drifted off to sleep, her face still strikingly beautiful and vibrant, with long lashes and tempting red lips. Her ink-black, slightly wavy hair made it even harder for him to look away than in the past.
He drove her back to her place. When Yan Yiming opened her eyes, perhaps reluctant to move after a dream, Jiang Yi gently pinched her cheek. “I’ll carry you upstairs.”
“No need, I’m awake,” Yan Yiming smiled. She had just dreamed of Jiang Yi with long hair and dressed in blue robes, though his appearance in the dream differed slightly from her memories, thinner, more haggard, his pale skin sending waves of dull pain through her heart.
In the dream, Jiang Yi seemed to be speaking with Uncle Li. She dreamed he kept coughing, and when Uncle Li brought him medicine, he merely waved it away and had him take it back.
Yan Yiming desperately wanted to speak, but no words came out, and Jiang Yi couldn’t see her.
She only woke when Jiang Yi called her name. In the dimly lit car, she met his familiar face, her heart racing uncontrollably. Jiang Yi offered with a smile to carry her upstairs, but she refused without a second thought.
He had always been a scholar, and back then, he was so ill, a gust of wind could have knocked him over. Remembering Jiang Yi’s frail figure from that time, she suddenly grabbed his arm.
Jiang Yi paused, then asked gently, “What’s wrong?” Yan Yiming looked up at him blankly and suddenly asked, “Back then, after I left... how did you get by?”
Jiang Yi's eyes flickered slightly, but the car was too dark to see clearly. He tucked her slightly disheveled long hair behind her ear and chuckled, “Guess.”
Yan Yiming's heart still ached, and she continued to grip Jiang Yi's arm without letting go. “I won't guess.”
“Still exactly the same,” Jiang Yi sighed, his tone tinged with teasing. “After you left...”
“Hmm,” Yan Yiming nodded.
After a moment of thought, Jiang Yi continued, “After you left, I married over a dozen concubines and had a bunch of children. Life's been pretty good...”
The earlier palpitations vanished instantly. Yan Yiming shot Jiang Yi a glare, pushed him away without mercy, but then suddenly remembered her current strength and worried she might have hurt him, so she quickly pulled him back.
Jiang Yi got out of the car and took her hand. “Angry?”
“No,” Yan Yiming said expressionlessly. “Maybe those concubines have been reincarnated. Shouldn't you go look for them...”
Before she could finish, Jiang Yi lifted her into his arms. Yan Yiming gasped in surprise, afraid his slender frame couldn't handle it, and tried to wriggle free with a clever twist, but Jiang Yi held her tightly.
Yan Yiming froze. Jiang Yi chuckled inwardly and carried her straight into the house.
As he moved to turn on the light, a pair of arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him down. Yan Yiming bit his lip, her nimble tongue slipping past his teeth.
Unrestrained, Yan Yiming was nothing short of a temptress.
To Jiang Yi, even more so.
There was no time to turn on the light. Jiang Yi gripped her chin and kissed her fiercely, with a wildness unlike his usual elegance. Yan Yiming clung to him more intensely than ever before.
The kiss was so deep it made breathing difficult. Yan Yiming's ragged breaths echoed starkly in his ears, further stimulating his nerves.
Jiang Yi felt he had forgotten something, but he couldn't recall it now, or perhaps he didn't want to. His hands, his lips, refused to leave her for even a second, as if a moment apart would leave him breathless.
His lips trailed downward from her chin to her neck, then to her collarbone. His teeth gently undid the buttons of Yan Yiming's blouse.
Yan Yiming held him tightly. Though she had initiated it, seeing him undo her buttons made her blush.
Another button came undone. Jiang Yi's left hand pressed against her waist, pulling her close. Hearing his ragged breathing, Yan Yiming finally remembered something. She gently nudged her knee and felt an obvious change. Noticing the slight shift in Jiang Yi's expression, she smiled playfully.
“Is this the restraint of someone who married over a dozen concubines?”
So her earlier initiative was all for this one remark. Jiang Yi bit her fiercely. “How could any of those concubines compare to you?” He truly feared what else she might say, so he simply kissed her again to silence her.
Yan Yiming knew perfectly well he was deliberately saying such things to provoke her. Forget about a dozen concubines, he probably hadn't even touched another woman all these years.
Jiang Yi couldn't guess the chaotic thoughts running through Yan Yiming's mind. All he knew was that regardless of why she had initiated this today, he had no intention of stopping now.
Back then, because there was no future for them, he hadn't even wanted to hurt her, afraid she wouldn't be able to pretend with others afterward. But now that she was about to entrust the rest of her life to him, after yearning for so many years, he could finally be unrestrained.
He had waited too long.
The skin beneath his hands felt even more irresistible than he remembered, and the uninhibited passion made his heart race even more. Moonlight streamed through the window, falling on the dark-colored sofa, accentuating her luminous fair skin and alluring curves.
Yan Yiming, noticing Jiang Yi was still fully dressed, suddenly felt shy and covered her eyes.
Back when she was still pursuing Jian Yuyan, she had also “sold her body,” but at that time, the body wasn't truly hers, and there were no emotions involved. Yan Yiming hadn't felt anything then, but now, everywhere Jiang Yi's fingers touched, she couldn't help trembling.
She softly called out Jiang Yi's name, and he answered her again and again by her ear, his voice impossibly gentle, yet the movements beneath were anything but gentle.
Yan Yiming gripped Jiang Yi's arm, her breathing growing increasingly unsteady.
She had originally thought Jiang Yi was physically frail, but she never expected his strength to be so formidable. She had considered whether she needed to take the initiative since it was his first time, but now she was pinned against the soft sofa, unable to move an inch.
Miscalculated, Yan Yiming thought dazedly.
Her fingers dug into his arm, then wandered randomly across his firm back, the resilient muscles felt wonderful to the touch.
She had been mistaken, Yan Yiming closed her eyes.
Jiang Yi gently brushed aside her damp hair. Exhausted, she didn't even want to open her eyes. Jiang Yi chuckled softly and lifted her up. Yan Yiming wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her long legs encircling his waist.
“Need a bath,” Yan Yiming said lazily.
Lying in the warm water, Yan Yiming finally felt how sore her entire body was. As Jiang Yi's fingers traced her skin, she seemed to detect a different intention and suddenly gasped, opening her eyes. She was about to say something, but her words were cut off by a moan, and she forgot what she had meant to say.
She had no memory of when they left the bathroom. The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell asleep. A few minutes later, Jiang Yi came in and carefully used a hairdryer to dry her still-damp hair strand by strand.
It was very late, but Jiang Yi didn't seem to care about the exact time. Yan Yiming was already asleep. Jiang Yi pulled the blanket over her shoulder, which had been exposed when she turned over, and was about to turn off the light when he noticed a corner of something peeking out from under the pillow.
Slightly surprised, Jiang Yi pulled out the corner. The familiar handwriting and the yellowed paper instantly flooded his heart with countless indescribable emotions.
Back then, he had given her the final freedom, leaving behind a letter. He never imagined how heartbroken Yan Yiming would be after he left that day, nor did he know that she would treasure that letter, keeping it close to her, even reading it every night, it became her solace all these years.
In the letter, he thanked her for the time she had given him, for being willing to linger in his world a little longer.
He still loved her, he still couldn’t bear to leave her, but just as gatherings must eventually part, she still wanted to leave, she was still unhappy. He couldn’t bear to see her unhappy or in pain, so he ultimately chose to let go.
He wished her happiness in the days to come. He told her not to think of him, who had hurt her, after she returned. He hoped there would be someone who loved her more than he did to care for her.
Jiang Yi let out a long sigh. Truthfully, he could no longer remember exactly what he had written back then, too much time had passed, and aside from the fact that he still loved her, nothing in that letter reflected his true feelings. He had lied to her, saying he was content, that he would live out the rest of his life well, but he had broken every promise. He said he hoped she would find someone who loved her more and forget him, but he had never truly meant it.
He still wanted to hold her in his arms himself, only him, and it had to be him.
And now, he had done it.
No matter how much suffering he had endured, he had made it through. Compared to Yan Yiming’s uncontrollable tears when they finally reunited, compared to this letter that had been read countless times and grown worn, compared to her saying she had once loved someone so deeply that she was willing to spend her whole life with that person,
Jiang Yi felt that everything was worth it.
Now, Yan Yiming was by his side, sleeping peacefully. Tomorrow, they would have breakfast together as usual, talk, and do whatever they pleased. They had a lifetime to spend together forever, a fantasy he had never dared to imagine before, not even in his wildest dreams.
He loved her deeply.
And he would continue to love her.
Until they grew old together.
Jiang Yi folded the letter and placed it back by the pillow. He pulled the soundly sleeping Yan Yiming into his arms. She stirred slightly, then nestled obediently and drifted back to sleep. Jiang Yi smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Content, he closed his eyes.