Chapter 31

Yan Yiming and Little A witnessed everything that day. Jian Yuyan's final question to Jian Yu'er didn't surprise Yan Yiming too much.
Jian Yuyan had long known he and Jian Yu'er weren't biological siblings, but Jian Yu'er didn't.
Jian Yuyan didn't hesitate to reveal his biggest secret just for an answer, but even that didn't bring the response he hoped for.
Yan Yiming was somewhat curious - was this deviation in the world due to her appearance? In the original game, when would Jian Yu'er have learned about Jian Yuyan's feelings for her?
Following this development, romantic feelings definitely wouldn't develop mutually between Jian Yuyan and Jian Yu'er. Since the game required mutual affection between the male and female leads, Yan Yiming guessed that Jian Yu'er must have learned about Jian Yuyan's feelings only after his true identity was revealed.
Knowing they weren't biological siblings, combined with Jian Yuyan's tear-jerking identity, she might have finally been moved, eliminating the deeply ingrained taboo of sibling incest.
But now, Yan Yiming had completely torn apart that paper. All illusions in Jian Yuyan's heart were shattered. Yan Yiming's gamble was very successful - Jian Yu'er had personally sent the person who should have belonged to her right into her arms.
The previous Jian Yuyan had treated Yan Yiming quite well, but compared to now, it was still far inferior.
Yan Yiming could sense the change in Jian Yuyan when he returned this time. It was no longer the kind of unconditional pampering as before, to put it crudely, it felt as though being kept had turned into a genuine romance.
Letting go of Jian Yu'er from his heart was not as difficult as Jian Yuyan had imagined. Or perhaps, the wound that should have hurt had unknowingly been soothed by someone else.
It was just that he felt an unfamiliar emptiness, a sense of not being used to it.
At such moments, Jian Yuyan always longed to see Yan Yiming.
When Jian Yuyan arrived at the Plum Garden, it was just past noon. Yan Yiming often took a short nap around this time, and she was still sound asleep when he entered.
Jian Yuyan sat by the bedside, gazing at her delicate features. Noticing her scrunch her nose slightly, as if dreaming of something, he chuckled softly and reached out to brush his fingers over her brows, finally resting them on the small red mole.
Yan Yiming drowsily opened her eyes and, upon seeing Jian Yuyan, nuzzled affectionately against his hand before rolling to the inner side of the bed to make space for him.
Jian Yuyan lay down beside her and suddenly remarked, “I once met a woman with a red mole in the exact same spot.”
Yan Yiming opened her eyes. “Was she beautiful?”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
Tsk, to say this face is more beautiful than the previous one, Jian Yuyan is truly lying through his teeth. Yan Yiming laughed softly. “What happened to her?”
“She died.”
“How tragic.”
Jian Yuyan recalled the last conversation he had with Yan Yiming in her previous identity. Looking back now, he realized she had already resolved to die. A person so determined to end her life had, in death, succeeded in making two men forever remember her. She must have been satisfied.
Noticing Jian Yuyan's distant expression, Yan Yiming remembered that her previous identity had crossed paths with him a few times. Curious, she asked, “Were you sad when she died?”
“Sad? Only those who loved her would feel sad,” Jian Yuyan smiled faintly. “I was just shocked. It seems there are many things in this world more important than living.”
Yan Yiming’s smile faded. After a long silence, she said quietly, “If one cannot follow their true heart, what’s the point of living?”
Jian Yuyan was taken aback. All his life, he had only ever heard of duty and deep-seated grudges. As for what his true heart desired, he had long forgotten.
He reached out and gently pinched Yan Yiming’s cheek. “If she were still alive, the two of you might have shared similar views.”
“I think so too,” Yan Yiming curved her lips into a smile. Jian Yuyan had finally spoken an honest word.
Lying side by side, Yan Yiming playfully twisted a strand of their hair together into a knot. But as soon as she let go, the strands loosened and returned to how they were before.
Jian Yuyan indulged her playful antics, his heart softening bit by bit. Suddenly, he recalled that the maid had once mentioned Yan Yiming went to Fuyu Mountain for a specific reason. When he asked about it now, Yan Yiming shot him a glare but still retrieved a jade carving from a small compartment in the bed and handed it to him.
Taking the jade pendant, Jian Yuyan couldn’t help but chuckle, as the carving unmistakably depicted a rabbit.
“Why a rabbit?” he asked, genuinely curious.
Because at first, I thought you were the ultimate villain, a venomous snake. But later, I realized you’re soft-hearted and prone to tears, clearly just a rabbit.
Yan Yiming didn’t explain. Instead, she said seriously, “I specially went to Fuyu Temple to have a master bless it. You must keep it safe.”
“Help me put it on,” Jian Yuyan handed the carving back to her.
Yan Yiming smiled brightly and fastened the jade rabbit to his waist.
Among the exquisite, priceless jade pendants hanging from Jian Yuyan’s waist, the rabbit looked somewhat out of place, yet he found it quite pleasing. “You’ve been staying in the Plum Garden without going out lately. Do you want to go somewhere fun?”
Yan Yiming blinked, hesitating before speaking, “Better not. What if we run into someone who recognizes Miss Jian…”
“You were born with this face. Should you hide just because you resemble her so much?” Jian Yuyan’s heart ached for her. “A’Ming, you don’t need to consider others in everything.”
Hearing this, Yan Yiming seemed overjoyed. She poured tea for both herself and Jian Yuyan. “In that case, we definitely should go. But there hasn’t been much fun in the capital lately.”
Jian Yuyan thought for a moment and suddenly remembered, “I almost forgot. The regional lords are returning to the capital soon. Tomorrow, Prince Yue is arriving, and the Crown Prince will personally welcome him. It’s bound to be lively, I’ll take you to see.”
Yan Yiming’s hand trembled slightly as she held her teacup. “Prince Yue?”
“Prince Yue is the youngest regional lord and the Crown Prince’s own brother, deeply favored by the emperor,” Jian Yuyan teased her. “He looks very much like the Crown Prince, an undeniable handsome man. Want to take a look?”
After a long pause, Yan Yiming lifted her gaze with a smile. “If he’s truly an undeniable handsome man, then of course I must see him. Aren’t you afraid I might abandon you for him…?”
Jian Yuyan pinched her cheek gently. “If he sees you, he definitely won’t have a pleasant expression.”
“Why?”
“Because Prince Yue has some history with my sister, and you look so much like her.” Jian Yuyan laughed at Yan Yiming’s stunned expression. Nan Gongye had always treated Jian Yu’er poorly, so if he saw Yan Yiming’s face, he would surely react the same way.
Moreover, his lack of concern about Nan Gongye wasn’t for that reason alone. It was because, ever since that person died, Nan Gongye had never looked at anyone else again.
After experiencing a woman as stunning and resolute as Yan Yiming, there was likely no one left in this world who could stir Nan Gongye’s heart.