{"id":3903,"date":"2026-06-08T11:30:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pursuit-of-jade-98\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:30:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:30:27","slug":"pursuit-of-jade-98","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/es\/chapter\/pursuit-of-jade-98\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuit of Jade 98"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Chapter 98<br><br>After returning from meeting He Jingyuan, Grand Tutor Tao went straight to look for Fan Changyu. Only upon arriving at her camp did he learn that she had gone home.<br><br>The new recruits were not yet participating in battles. Commanders were given one day off every half month, and the ordinary soldiers under them enjoyed the same day of leisure. Those like Fan Changyu, who had a residence near the garrison, could return home for the day.<br><br>Grand Tutor Tao clasped his hands behind his back and glanced at the sky.<br><br>\u201cHeaven truly loves to toy with people. Why must everything happen at once?\u201d he muttered.<br><br><br>&#8212;<br><br>Following the address Xie Qi had provided in his letter, Xie Zheng finally found the small courtyard Fan Changyu had rented just as the sun was nearing the horizon.<br><br>The courtyard stood in a rather secluded area. A stone path stretched toward the gate. Branches from a pomegranate tree extended over the courtyard wall. The red blossoms had long since fallen, leaving only tiny pomegranates no larger than fingernails.<br><br>The gate was open.<br><br>An elderly woman in her fifties sat on the doorstep with a basin of vegetables, leisurely trimming them. Nearby, a young woman who had changed back into women&#8217;s clothing sat on a small stool helping her sort the vegetables.<br><br>Inside the courtyard, a wiry old man was crafting some sort of tool while a young fellow beside him concentrated on planing wood.<br><br>Leading his horse, Xie Zheng stopped walking.<br><br>He stood there quietly for a long time.<br><br>Perhaps it was because of the glow of the setting sun. Everything before him seemed bathed in warm golden light.<br><br>For a moment, he actually felt as though he had come home.<br><br>The schemes and power struggles of the imperial court felt distant.<br><br>Only tranquility remained in his heart.<br><br>Footsteps sounded from farther down the road, accompanied by a child&#8217;s cheerful singing, wildly off-key.<br><br>Turning his head, Xie Zheng saw Changning hopping along at the front. The two little buns atop her head bounced with each step.<br><br>Behind her, Xie Qi was herding a mother duck and a flock of ducklings.<br><br>\u201cLittle ancestor, slow down! You&#8217;ll fall!\u201d he called helplessly.<br><br>The sea eagle waddled along as well. Whenever a duckling lagged behind and Xie Qi couldn&#8217;t manage it, the eagle would peck at it once, frightening the fluffy yellow duckling into squeaking and scrambling forward.<br><br>When Xie Qi looked up and spotted Xie Zheng standing beside the road with his horse, he jumped in surprise.<br><br>\u201cMy Lo\u2014 Master!\u201d<br><br>Changning also exclaimed in surprise.<br><br>\u201cBrother-in-law?\u201d<br><br>Hearing the commotion, Fan Changyu looked toward the gate.<br><br>When she saw the man and horse standing beneath the sunset, she froze briefly.<br><br>Then she wiped her hands on her clothes and stood up.<br><br>She wanted to go help him with the horse, yet hesitated where she stood.<br><br>Instead, Zhao Auntie beamed with delight at the sight of him and urged Fan Changyu forward.<br><br>\u201cQuick, quick! Xiao Yan came all this way to find you. Why aren&#8217;t you welcoming him?\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu simply had not expected Xie Zheng to appear in Chongzhou so soon.<br><br>Wasn&#8217;t he supposed to be leading troops against Kang City?<br><br>How had he suddenly ended up here?<br><br>Filled with confusion, she walked over.<br><br>Just as she was about to offer to take the horse, Xie Wu rushed over and snatched the task away.<br><br>Grinning broadly, he said,<br><br>\u201cThe cattle shed&#8217;s empty. I&#8217;ll tie the horse up there.\u201d<br><br>The courtyard had originally belonged to a farming family and still contained pig pens and cattle stalls.<br><br>After Zhao Auntie moved in, she planted vegetables nearby and raised chickens and ducks. Every day, Changning would beg Xie Qi to take her to herd the ducks to the river and back.<br><br>As a military craftsman and veterinarian, Zhao Carpenter didn&#8217;t need to participate in military drills. His schedule was even more flexible than Fan Changyu&#8217;s.<br><br>After bringing Zhao Auntie over, Fan Changyu had gone looking for him.<br><br>Zhao Carpenter had never expected to see his wife again in a foreign land. When he had been conscripted, he had already prepared himself to die far from home.<br><br>Now that the old couple had reunited, he spent most of his time at the courtyard.<br><br>He was not someone who could sit idle. Seeing that the tables and chairs were old and worn, he immediately began making furniture and household items.<br><br>The once shabby courtyard gradually became filled with warmth and life.<br><br>Looking at the man she had been separated from for only a few days, Fan Changyu asked honestly,<br><br>\u201cWeren&#8217;t you in Kang City? Why are you here?\u201d<br><br>The orange-red sunset illuminated her cheeks, making them look as though they were brushed with rouge.<br><br>Xie Zheng stared at her for a moment.<br><br>\u201cIf the mountain won&#8217;t come to me, then I must go to the mountain.\u201d<br><br>These days, Grand Tutor Tao had been forcing Fan Changyu to study. After listening daily to his endless lectures and classical sayings, her learning had indeed improved.<br><br>She understood what he meant.<br><br>Her cheeks grew even redder beneath the sunset.<br><br>Zhao Auntie had already stood up with the prepared vegetables.<br><br>\u201cXiao Yan, come sit inside!\u201d<br><br>She was delighted to see him.<br><br>Since ancient times, few people returned alive from war.<br><br>Now the old carpenter was safe, and Changyu&#8217;s husband was safe too.<br><br>To Zhao Auntie, that was a tremendous blessing.<br><br>Turning around, she immediately began issuing orders.<br><br>\u201cOld man! Hurry up and slaughter that speckled hen in the chicken coop!\u201d<br><br>Xie Qi, who had just finished herding the ducks into their pen, said,<br><br>\u201cAuntie, I&#8217;ll do it.\u201d<br><br>He immediately grabbed a hen from the coop and headed toward the kitchen.<br><br>Still unaware of Xie Zheng&#8217;s true identity, Zhao Auntie worried he might misunderstand.<br><br>\u201cThat was Xiao Qi just now. The one who helped with the horse earlier was Xiao Wu. They&#8217;re both soldiers under Changyu. You don&#8217;t know this, but Changyu is quite capable now. She&#8217;s become an officer in the army and commands dozens of men!\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu had never told the elderly couple who Xie Zheng truly was.<br><br>Partly because she feared frightening them.<br><br>Partly because their original marriage agreement was no longer valid, and she had wanted to wait until everything was settled before explaining.<br><br>Who could have expected Zhao Auntie to start praising her tiny squad leader position right in front of Xie Zheng?<br><br>She hurriedly interrupted.<br><br>\u201cAuntie, what&#8217;s for dinner tonight?\u201d<br><br>Sure enough, Zhao Auntie&#8217;s attention immediately shifted.<br><br>\u201cThe chicken&#8217;s settled. It&#8217;s a pity there&#8217;s only one female duck\u2014we need her to raise the ducklings, so we can&#8217;t slaughter her. Let&#8217;s make pork rib soup too&#8230;\u201d<br><br>Perhaps wanting to give the two people who had not seen each other for so long some privacy, Zhao Auntie dragged Zhao Carpenter into the kitchen to help with the fire.<br><br>Changning was also coaxed into going with them.<br><br>Xie Wu still had not returned after tying up the horse.<br><br>For a moment, only Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng remained in the courtyard.<br><br>Feeling somewhat awkward, she said,<br><br>\u201cI still haven&#8217;t told Zhao Auntie and the others who you are.\u201d<br><br>\u201cIt doesn&#8217;t matter,\u201d Xie Zheng replied.<br><br>Then he asked,<br><br>\u201cHow have things been in the army?\u201d<br><br>They had been perfectly fine when they parted, yet now Fan Changyu suddenly felt uncomfortable no matter what she did.<br><br>Drawing circles on the ground with her toe, she answered,<br><br>\u201cMy adoptive father arranged a squad leader position for me. Everything is going well for now.\u201d<br><br>Xie Zheng merely gave a quiet \u201cMm.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu couldn&#8217;t think of anything else to say.<br><br>Noticing the long wooden case in his hand, she asked,<br><br>\u201cWhat&#8217;s that?\u201d<br><br>\u201cFor you.\u201d<br><br>\u201cFor me?\u201d<br><br>Curious, she accepted it and immediately felt its weight.<br><br>Opening the case, she found a Mo Dao resting inside.<br><br>The blade was black with golden-red forging patterns running through it, while the edge gleamed silver-white.<br><br>It looked brand new.<br><br>Fan Changyu lifted the weapon and tested its weight.<br><br>It felt perfect in her hands.<br><br>As her fingertip lightly brushed the edge, her skin split open immediately, producing a tiny bead of blood.<br><br>She looked surprised.<br><br>\u201cWhat a fast blade!\u201d<br><br>Then she looked at Xie Zheng.<br><br>\u201cYou specifically had this forged for me?\u201d<br><br>Xie Zheng neither confirmed nor denied it.<br><br>Lifting his eyes lazily, a trace of amusement appeared in his voice.<br><br>\u201cI&#8217;m waiting for you to earn achievements and make a name for yourself soon.\u201d<br><br>Understanding the meaning behind his words, Fan Changyu felt her face heating up again.<br><br>Gripping the handle tightly, she looked at him with determination.<br><br>\u201cI will.\u201d<br><br>That look made Xie Zheng pause slightly.<br><br>His gaze deepened.<br><br>\u201cWant to try out your new weapon?\u201d<br><br>Assuming he meant sparring, Fan Changyu brightened.<br><br>\u201cOf course!\u201d<br><br>She immediately adopted a fighting stance.<br><br>But Xie Zheng said,<br><br>\u201cLet&#8217;s go outside.\u201d<br><br>Thinking he simply wanted more room, she readily agreed.<br><br>\u201cThen let&#8217;s go to the riverbank. It&#8217;s more open there.\u201d<br><br>After informing the kitchen she&#8217;d be back later, she followed him out carrying her new blade.<br><br>By that time, dusk had fully settled.<br><br>The riverbank was deserted.<br><br>Xie Zheng casually picked up a wooden stick as his weapon.<br><br>Back when Fan Changyu used her pair of butcher knives, her style had always been straightforward and powerful.<br><br>Now that she possessed a long-handled Mo Dao perfectly suited to her, her strengths became even more pronounced.<br><br>Under the moonlight, their weapons moved so quickly they appeared as mere afterimages.<br><br>Metal striking wood produced alternating sharp and dull sounds.<br><br>Compared to short blades, Fan Changyu&#8217;s use of a long weapon was far more fluid and connected.<br><br>Yet because she had rarely used a long-handled blade in actual combat\u2014and because her opponent was Xie Zheng\u2014her inexperience still showed.<br><br>For some reason, however, Xie Zheng did not seem to be fighting at full strength tonight.<br><br>He rarely met force with force.<br><br>Instead, he relied primarily on technique.<br><br>Fan Changyu was accustomed to emphasizing offense over defense.<br><br>Facing such evasive tactics, she felt unable to properly unleash her strength.<br><br>As her attacks grew more impatient, openings inevitably appeared.<br><br>After one powerful slash, Xie Zheng seized the opportunity.<br><br>The wooden stick struck her weapon away.<br><br>As she stumbled backward onto loose stones, her back collided with one of the dock&#8217;s wooden posts.<br><br>Just as she tried to recover her blade, Xie Zheng&#8217;s wooden stick stopped less than half an inch from her chest.<br><br>Fan Changyu was startled.<br><br>The sparring had left her sweating heavily.<br><br>Her breathing was deep, her chest rising and falling rapidly.<br><br>Her clothing almost brushed against the wooden stick aimed at her heart.<br><br>The darkness concealed Xie Zheng&#8217;s expression.<br><br>Only his voice sounded.<br><br>\u201cYou lost.\u201d<br><br>For some reason, it sounded slightly hoarse.<br><br>Replaying the fight in her mind, Fan Changyu pressed her lips together.<br><br>She tried to move but realized he had no intention of withdrawing the stick.<br><br>Unwilling to accept defeat, she protested,<br><br>\u201cAgain!\u201d<br><br>The man before her simply continued staring at her without blinking.<br><br>Fan Changyu looked up and met his gaze.<br><br>The darkness in his eyes startled her.<br><br>Instinctively, she wanted to look away.<br><br>Yet it was as though something held her captive.<br><br>She could only stare back.<br><br>When he lowered his head to kiss her, her breathing caught.<br><br>Listening to the gentle flow of the river nearby, her eyelashes trembled.<br><br>Then she slowly closed her eyes.<br><br>Compared to before, his kiss was gentler.<br><br>But also far more lingering.<br><br>Fan Changyu felt as though she could hardly breathe.<br><br>She pushed against him, only for him to capture both her hands and pin them above her head.<br><br>His other hand held her chin.<br><br>The kiss deepened.<br><br>Very deep.<br><br>Perhaps because they had just been exercising, his entire body burned with heat.<br><br>His breath felt almost feverish.<br><br>The thin summer clothing between them did nothing to block his warmth.<br><br>The heat intensified his scent.<br><br>It was neither incense nor sweat.<br><br>Rather, it was a unique scent that belonged solely to him.<br><br>And it smelled surprisingly pleasant.<br><br>Perhaps due to lack of air, this felt entirely different from before.<br><br>Previously, only her lips and tongue had gone numb.<br><br>Now her limbs felt weak.<br><br>She could barely remain standing.<br><br>The person in front of her seemed to be faring even worse.<br><br>He buried his face against her neck.<br><br>His breathing sounded like that of a beast on the verge of losing control.<br><br>The hot breaths against her skin almost burned.<br><br>Fan Changyu instinctively sensed danger.<br><br>Tilting her head aside as much as possible, she thought for a moment and suggested,<br><br>\u201cHow about&#8230; we spar again?\u201d<br><br>The man suddenly bit lightly into the side of her neck.<br><br>Then, almost vindictively, sucked at the spot.<br><br>The faint but distinct pain made Fan Changyu gasp.<br><br>She immediately stopped talking.<br><br>She knew little about relationships between men and women.<br><br>All she noticed was that after hearing her soft intake of breath, his body seemed to tense even further.<br><br>Even his temples glistened faintly with sweat.<br><br>Realizing how uncomfortable he seemed, she gently patted his back in reassurance.<br><br>He released her neck and stared at her from close range.<br><br>His eyes were darker than the night itself.<br><br>A softness flowed through his hoarse voice.<br><br>\u201cFan Changyu&#8230; when can I marry you?\u201d<br><br>He was truly handsome.<br><br>His damp hair hung messily across his forehead.<br><br>Within those deep phoenix eyes, dominance mixed with subtle compromise and grievance.<br><br>His lips were drawn tight.<br><br>Looking at him made one want to kiss him.<br><br>Fan Changyu&#8217;s heart softened.<br><br>Reaching up, she touched his face.<br><br>With utmost sincerity, she replied,<br><br>\u201cWhen I&#8217;ve earned enough of a dowry for myself, I&#8217;ll marry you.\u201d<br><br>The dowry she referred to was naturally not money.<br><br>It was what she had told him before\u2014a confidence and strength that would allow her to stand beside him as an equal and walk forward together.<br><br>Xie Zheng stared at her.<br><br>\u201cGood. I&#8217;ll wait for you. In this life, I will marry no one but you. And you may not marry anyone else.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu laughed.<br><br>\u201cIn all my life, I&#8217;ve only ever liked one person. If I don&#8217;t marry you, who else would I marry?\u201d<br><br>Those words left Xie Zheng stunned for quite a while.<br><br>Fan Changyu herself felt embarrassed after saying them.<br><br>Looking away, she muttered,<br><br>\u201cZhao Auntie has probably finished cooking. Let&#8217;s go back.\u201d<br><br>Suddenly, Xie Zheng asked,<br><br>\u201cWhat about your former fianc\u00e9?\u201d<br><br>So much had happened since leaving Qingping County that Fan Changyu had nearly forgotten Song Yan existed.<br><br>Hearing him brought up now, she stared at Xie Zheng in disbelief.<br><br>\u201cYou think I liked him?\u201d<br><br>Xie Zheng squeezed out two stiff words.<br><br>\u201cIn the past.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu never imagined he would suddenly dredge up old matters.<br><br>After all, he had always looked down on Song Yan.<br><br>Helplessly, she replied,<br><br>\u201cBelieve me or not, I didn&#8217;t even like him back then.\u201d<br><br>Scratching her head awkwardly, she continued,<br><br>\u201cActually&#8230; we weren&#8217;t even very familiar with each other. Most of the interaction between our families was handled by the adults. From childhood onward, all he cared about were books and scholars. I spent my childhood running wild with the other children in the alley. When I grew older, my mother kept me on a tighter leash.<br><br>\u201cI rarely saw him.<br><br>\u201cAnd even when I did, we barely exchanged a few words.<br><br>\u201cI always thought he was rather proud. He never seemed particularly interested in marrying a butcher&#8217;s daughter like me.<br><br>\u201cI even privately suggested calling off the engagement.\u201d<br><br>Xie Zheng suddenly said,<br><br>\u201cYou gave him a pair of clay dolls.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu was dumbfounded.<br><br>For the first time, she felt his memory was almost frighteningly good.<br><br>She stammered,<br><br>\u201cNo, that was when I wasn&#8217;t even eight years old! I didn&#8217;t give him the dolls because of romantic feelings. His father had just died, and I felt sorry for him.\u201d<br><br>Xie Zheng pressed his lips together and said nothing.<br><br>After scratching her hair again, Fan Changyu asked,<br><br>\u201cHave you never given a girl anything before? Out of courtesy or something?\u201d<br><br>His reply came cold and immediate.<br><br>\u201cNo.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu genuinely had no idea how to handle the situation anymore.<br><br>It felt as though she had become some notorious heartbreaker while the person she liked suddenly became obsessed with her past.<br><br>She sighed.<br><br>\u201cIf you&#8217;re bothered by it\u2014\u201d<br><br>He interrupted her.<br><br>\u201cI&#8217;m not.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu: \u201c&#8230;\u201d<br><br>How was she supposed to continue that conversation?<br><br>The two of them simply stared at each other.<br><br>Eventually, Xie Zheng lowered his long dark lashes.<br><br>\u201cLet&#8217;s go back.\u201d<br><br>As he turned away, his figure looked both elegant and strangely lonely beneath the moonlight.<br><br>When Fan Changyu shouldered the Mo Dao and hurried after him, she remained utterly bewildered.<br><br>She had no idea how she had suddenly become a heartless woman who had broken someone&#8217;s heart.<br><br><br>&#8212;<br><br>On the way back, Fan Changyu repeatedly tried to start conversations.<br><br>Xie Zheng mostly answered with one or two words.<br><br>Soon she realized he had no desire to talk and simply fell silent as well.<br><br>Neither of them spoke again until they reached home.<br><br>During dinner, Zhao Auntie seemed to notice the strange atmosphere between them.<br><br>After the meal, Xie Wu and Xie Qi fought over who would wash the dishes.<br><br>Xie Zheng sat in the courtyard chatting idly with Zhao Carpenter.<br><br>Meanwhile, Fan Changyu went to find bedding for whoever would end up sleeping on the floor.<br><br>The courtyard contained only three rooms.<br><br>Normally, Zhao Auntie and Changning shared one room.<br><br>Xie Qi occupied another.<br><br>The last room belonged to Fan Changyu.<br><br>Whenever she came home, Zhao Carpenter and Xie Wu usually returned as well.<br><br>At those times, Changning slept with Fan Changyu, the elderly couple shared one room, and Xie Wu squeezed into Xie Qi&#8217;s room.<br><br>Tonight, however, someone was clearly going to end up sleeping on the floor.<br><br>As Fan Changyu carried the bedding toward her room, Zhao Auntie blocked the doorway.<br><br>With a serious expression, she said,<br><br>\u201cChangyu, Auntie wants to talk to you.\u201d<br><br>Thinking something important had happened, Fan Changyu put down the blankets.<br><br>After Zhao Auntie closed the door and sat down, Fan Changyu said,<br><br>\u201cGo ahead.\u201d<br><br>The older woman sighed.<br><br>\u201cChangyu, I know you&#8217;ve become successful now.<br><br>\u201cBut there&#8217;s an old saying: don&#8217;t abandon your wife who shared hardship with you.<br><br>\u201cWhen times were difficult, Xiao Yan stood beside you through it all. Later he was even dragged away by conscription.<br><br>\u201cNo one can compare to that bond.<br><br>\u201cXiao Yan is handsome and strong.<br><br>\u201cNo matter what, I hope you two live well together.<br><br>\u201cDon&#8217;t become one of those heartless people who forget their roots the moment they gain wealth and status.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu was completely unable to explain.<br><br>All she could do was force out,<br><br>\u201cWe&#8217;re fine.\u201d<br><br>Zhao Auntie frowned.<br><br>\u201cHe was perfectly fine when he arrived. Then you two went out together, and he came back looking like that.<br><br>\u201cYou must have quarreled.<br><br>\u201cDon&#8217;t try to fool me. I&#8217;ve lived long enough to know better.<br><br>\u201cOne wrong look between the two of you and I can tell.\u201d<br><br>After some thought, she asked,<br><br>\u201cXiao Wu is always by your side. If Xiao Yan minds that, should I arrange a marriage for Xiao Wu?\u201d<br><br>Alarmed, Fan Changyu immediately said,<br><br>\u201cIt&#8217;s not that! Auntie, don&#8217;t worry about it. It&#8217;s really nothing serious. I&#8217;ll find a chance to explain things to him.\u201d<br><br>Zhao Auntie looked unconvinced.<br><br>Then she glanced at the pile of bedding Fan Changyu had prepared.<br><br>Without hesitation, she stuffed every blanket back into the cabinet and shut the doors.<br><br>\u201cYou two will sleep in the same room tonight and talk things through properly.<br><br>\u201cI&#8217;ll take care of Ningning.\u201d<br><br>Fan Changyu made one final attempt.<br><br>\u201cOne blanket isn&#8217;t enough.\u201d<br><br>Zhao Auntie glared at her.<br><br>\u201cHow is it not enough? It&#8217;s already summer. One blanket corner each is more than enough.<br><br>\u201cWhat were you planning to do with all those blankets?<br><br>\u201cMake him sleep on the floor?\u201d<br><br>Being driven back to her room left Fan Changyu feeling even more aggrieved.<br><br>She wasn&#8217;t the one causing trouble!<br><br>Not long afterward, Xie Zheng entered the room as well.<br><br>Without needing to ask, she knew Zhao Auntie had sent him in.<br><br>Sitting on the edge of the bed, Fan Changyu awkwardly said,<br><br>\u201cGoing to sleep?\u201d<br><br>Xie Zheng removed his outer robe and lay down on the outer side of the bed wearing only his inner garments.<br><br>Seeing him deliberately leave most of the bed for her, Fan Changyu felt too embarrassed to tell him to sleep alone.<br><br>After extinguishing the lamp, she carefully climbed over from the foot of the bed and settled against the inner edge, leaving a wide space between them.<br><br>Neither spoke in the darkness.<br><br>After a long while, Fan Changyu finally sighed.<br><br>\u201cHow can you be so unreasonable?<br><br>\u201cWhen I gave someone a gift as a child, I had no idea what the Song family would become later.<br><br>\u201cI didn&#8217;t know I&#8217;d meet you either.<br><br>\u201cYou can be upset about things happening now.<br><br>\u201cBut if you&#8217;re bothered by things from before I even knew you, what exactly am I supposed to do?\u201d<br><br>The figure on the outer side remained motionless.<br><br>Then his low voice sounded in the darkness.<br><br>\u201cWhen I was four years old, I lost both my parents.\u201d<br><br>Caught completely off guard, Fan Changyu thought he was bringing this up because she had mentioned giving Song Yan clay dolls after his father&#8217;s death.<br><br>Perhaps he wanted a gift too.<br><br>Helplessly, she replied,<br><br>\u201cThose clay dolls were actually toys Uncle Zhao made for me, like the grasshoppers he makes for Changning.<br><br>\u201cI&#8217;ll make a pair of dolls for you myself, alright?\u201d<br><br>As she spoke the final three words, she reached over, took his hand, and gently shook it.<br><br>It felt like a feather brushing lightly across his heart.<br><br>After a long silence, he answered,<br><br>\u201cAlright.\u201d<br><br>He wasn&#8217;t bothered.<br><br>He was jealous.<br><br>Jealous that during the years before he met her, while he walked through life alone, another child had received her pity because of the pain of losing a father.<br><br>That child had been given something by her.<br><br>Had grown up alongside her.<br><br>Had seen every stage of her life that he himself would never witness.<br><br>Had even once been engaged to her.<br><br>Merely thinking about it caused an indescribable darkness to spread through his heart.<br><br>But he dared not tell Fan Changyu any of this.<br><br>He feared she would think him insane.<br><br>Hearing his agreement, Fan Changyu finally felt she had successfully soothed him.<br><br>\u201cThen it&#8217;s settled.\u201d<br><br>As she tried to withdraw her hand, however, he suddenly clasped it firmly, leaving her no chance to escape.<br><br>Surprised, Fan Changyu turned toward him.<br><br>Yet his eyes remained closed as though he had already fallen asleep.<br><br>Both amused and helpless, her heart softened completely.<br><br>Still holding his hand, she lay flat and gradually drifted to sleep.<br><br>Only after her breathing became steady did the supposedly sleeping man suddenly open his eyes.<br><br>Turning his head slightly, he gazed at her unblinkingly through the 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