Chapter 196

Chapter 196

Lichuan Arc: Mrs. Jiang

In early June, Yun Li brought a fiancé home.

Ever since Yun Li had told Yun Meilan about being assaulted in high school, Yun Meilan’s attitude had relaxed considerably.

She no longer interfered with whom Yun Li dated, though in daily life, she would still slip in her resentment toward the rich now and then to warn her.

Now that Yun Li had ignored all her earnest advice and brought Jiang Baichuan to her door, Yun Meilan felt as if her daughter were slapping her in the face.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” Yun Meilan dragged Yun Li into the bedroom and lowered her voice to question her.

“I want to marry him.” Yun Li pulled her hand free and raised it to show her the ring. Then she took two steps back, her tone calm, as if she no longer expected her mother’s blessing. “He proposed to me. Last month.”

Perhaps because Jiang Baichuan was outside, or perhaps because Yun Meilan was too furious to speak, the silence stretched on for a long while.

“I don’t agree.” Just as Yun Li turned the doorknob to leave, Yun Meilan spoke up to stop her. “You and him won’t end well! You’re just like I was back then. I didn’t listen to your grandparents either, and what happened? Do you know…”

“Mom, this isn’t the same.” Yun Li’s voice choked, her chest painfully tight. “You can’t impose the lessons from your own failures onto my life. And I shouldn’t have to pay for your mistakes, do you understand? Mom, I have my own life.”

The last look she gave Yun Meilan held a trace of pleading.

All she wanted was for Yun Meilan to let her go.

“You…”

“Auntie, may I speak with you?” Jiang Baichuan knocked lightly on the door twice.

Yun Li took a deep breath and opened the door from the inside.

Coming home with her had been Jiang Baichuan’s suggestion in the first place.

He said that since they would be husband and wife in the future, then as one, they should face everything together.

Including Yun Meilan’s unreasonable anger and accusations.

After exchanging a look with Yun Li to reassure her, Jiang Baichuan turned to Yun Meilan. “Auntie, please.”

Back in the living room, Yun Li poured Jiang Baichuan a glass of water and chose to sit beside him.

Yun Meilan straightened her back. “What is there to talk about? If it’s about the wedding, then as Yun Li’s mother, I have the right to disagree. I know you’re rich, but money isn’t everything. I don’t need your money.”

“I do have money, but it isn’t for you.” Jiang Baichuan remained composed. Unhurriedly, he took a stack of documents from the briefcase he had brought and handed them to Yun Meilan.

“What is this?” Yun Meilan took them with a frown.

“My sincerity.” Jiang Baichuan’s expression did not change as he spoke in an orderly manner. “I’ve wanted to come meet you for a long time, but Yun Li wouldn’t let me. She was worried I would be subjected to your abuse for no reason. But you have never even met me. You don’t understand me, nor do you understand the love between us, yet you rejected me outright.”

“Of course, perhaps you may reject me. But you shouldn’t reject your own daughter.”

“She isn’t lacking in any way. She’s wonderful-so wonderful that I don’t even know how to describe her.” Jiang Baichuan did not care whether Yun Meilan was moved by those words. He was simply stating the facts. “You say we won’t end well. On what grounds?”

“Auntie, I love Yun Li. I want to marry her. I hope you’ll give us your blessing.” Jiang Baichuan’s final sentence was especially sincere.

Yun Meilan had already stopped flipping through the documents when he said his second sentence.

Jiang Baichuan met her eyes. “What you’re holding is the prenuptial agreement between Yun Li and me. If in the future I fail to make Yun Li happy, she can ask me for a divorce. I will have no right to refuse, and I will leave with nothing.”

“Jiang Baichuan!” Yun Li had known nothing about this. Before shock, the first emotion that surged up in her was panic. “Do you know what you’re doing…”

“Don’t be mad. Let me finish first. You can deal with me later.” Jiang Baichuan tightened his grip slightly around her wrist and pulled her back down to sit.

Yun Li was speechless. “…”

“The document beneath it is the transfer of five percent of Jiang Corporation’s shares to Yun Li. It already took effect last week.”

“As for the betrothal gifts, I’m still waiting for your approval.” Jiang Baichuan ignored Yun Meilan, who was equally shocked, and continued getting back to the point. “If you agree, my father will bring our family to formally visit in three days.”

“After marriage, I will not keep any personal assets. All personal property will be handed over to Yun Li. From now on, everything I have belongs to her.”

“Auntie Yun, is this sincerity enough?” He spoke so solemnly, but in the palm he held tightly clenched, nervous sweat had long since seeped out.

He was nervous because he was asking to marry Yun Li.

Yun Li had told him about her parents, so he knew exactly what Yun Meilan was worried about.

Her hatred of the rich was a prejudice born from betrayal.

And her wish for her daughter to marry someone within the system was an attempt to make up for the mistake she herself had made when she was young.
But putting all of that aside, she truly was afraid that Yun Li would end up walking the same old road she had.

By the time she heard this, Yun Li’s lashes were trembling, and she could no longer hold back the redness in her eyes.

Yun Meilan, however, seemed as if she were hearing things. She repeated with a mocking laugh, “How could that be? How could it be true? Who are you trying to fool…”

How could anyone love another person to such an extent? How could anyone, for the sake of marrying the woman he loved, be willing to hand over everything he had?

In disbelief, Yun Meilan flipped through the documents in her hands, muttering under her breath. Only after quite a while did she gradually calm down.

It was as if she had finally accepted this unbelievable fact.

The prenuptial agreement and share transfer documents Jiang Baichuan had produced were far too authoritative. That sincerity was enough to silence anyone.

Yun Meilan truly had nothing left to say.

“I want the household register. Tonight,” Yun Li said, sensing that Yun Meilan was beginning to relent. Her tone was urgent, almost as if she were striking while the iron was hot.

It was too hard to persuade Yun Meilan. She was afraid her mother would change her mind again and refuse.

When Yun Li finally got the household register and walked Jiang Baichuan downstairs, her emotions still wouldn’t settle. She was breathing hard, her heart pounding wildly out of control. Only when her breathing finally evened out did she realize tears had already streamed down her face.

Jiang Baichuan held her, stroking her head and gently patting her back. “Don’t cry, don’t cry…”

Yun Li could not calm down. But then again, neither could he.

He had never expected Yun Li to suddenly ask for the household register.

Not only had she asked for it-she had actually gotten it.

Yun Li wiped her tears. When she spoke, her voice was thick with a nasal sound, faintly broken by sobs. “You take this. Tomorrow happens to be Monday. Let’s get up early, line up, and get our marriage certificate.”

She was afraid. Afraid of any possible change.

Jiang Baichuan couldn’t help laughing. “In that much of a hurry?”

Yun Li glared at him irritably. “You’re not?”

“I am.” Taking the household register from her, he opened it and glanced through it, then teased her in that roguish way of his. “Why do you think the Civil Affairs Bureau doesn’t open at night? If it did, tonight would be our wedding night.”

The awful unease weighing on Yun Li was instantly scattered by his ridiculous remark.

Early the next morning, as one of the first ten newlywed couples to register at the Beicheng Civil Affairs Bureau, Yun Li and Jiang Baichuan received a surprise gift specially prepared by the office.

A box of wedding candies, and a small box of three condoms.

Yun Li took one look and immediately stuffed the little gift bag into Jiang Baichuan’s arms.

“You’re blushing, Mrs. Jiang.” Jiang Baichuan’s heart was surging with emotion as he clutched the two bright red marriage certificates like priceless treasures.

“It’s the sun.” Yun Li lifted her head to look at the clear, cloudless blue sky. Standing in the shade, she said it with perfect confidence.

Jiang Baichuan smiled indulgently. Once they got into the car, while Yun Li lowered her head to fasten her seat belt, he could no longer hold himself back. He leaned over, turned her face toward him, and kissed the lips he had been longing for all morning.

“Finally…” His heart pounded wildly. The relief and satisfaction of finally getting what he wanted swept through his entire body. His kiss was urgent, filled with emotion. “You’re finally my Xiao Lizhi.”

From this day forward, he was her husband, and she was his wife.

In every lifetime, never to be parted.

–

According to Jiang Baichuan’s original plan, he would persuade Yun Meilan to agree first, then formally visit with betrothal gifts to ask for Yun Li’s hand.

But that one sentence from Yun Li-about getting their marriage certificate-had given him a taste of the joy Xie Qiyan must have felt back when Xia Wanzhi took the initiative and suggested they go register their marriage.

And so, following that pace, their wedding was scheduled for October of that same year.

One month before the wedding, Jiang Baichuan went abroad. When he returned, he brought back a piece of news.

Liu Tai was dead.

As early as when he had learned what Yun Li had gone through in her youth, Jiang Baichuan had begun investigating Liu Tai through Liu Ye. But Liu Tai had been overseas for far too long, disappearing as if he had vanished from the world. Even the Liu family had no idea where he was.

Jiang Baichuan had never stopped looking for him.

As long as he was unsure whether someone like Liu Tai was living comfortably, he had to find him-and make sure he would never live comfortably again in this lifetime.

He would not let Liu Tai off. Nor would he let Liu Ye, who had shielded Liu Tai, off either.

Even if that man was his own mentor.

The world was vast, and finding one person was no easy task. Fortunately, persistence paid off, and relevant news eventually came back from the Golden Triangle.

By the time Jiang Baichuan arrived, the man was already dead. He had been beaten to death by a mob. His arms were covered almost entirely in irregular needle marks; he was clearly an addict.

Liu Tai had always been a rotten bastard. In his youth, he had been a notorious delinquent. Later, Liu Ye had sent him abroad, where he squandered money recklessly. Perhaps he had strayed onto some road of no return, and that was how he ended up like this.

Originally, Jiang Baichuan had wanted to find Liu Tai and force both uncle and nephew to come to Yun Li, kowtow, and apologize. But now that Liu Tai had died violently in a foreign land, Jiang Baichuan was, in truth, rather satisfied with the outcome.
Jiang Baichuan had hesitated for a long time before telling Yun Li about it.

He was afraid Yun Li would have another stress response.

But if he said nothing, the hatred and shadow in Yun Li’s heart would be buried deep inside her for the rest of her life.

Yet when he finally spoke, Yun Li only looked dazed for a moment before growing calm again. In that instant, Jiang Baichuan felt an inexplicable panic. “Liu Ye owes you an apology too. I…”

“There’s no need.” Yun Li shook her head sharply, then turned and threw herself into his arms, holding him so tightly. “Jiang Baichuan, it’s already over. I don’t want to hear anything about them, and I definitely don’t want to see them.”

It was already over.

Not just the time that had passed. Not just that incident.

She had moved on too.

That lingering nightmare had quietly faded long ago, over countless nights with Jiang Baichuan by her side.

She had walked out of the darkness and crossed over that barrier.

All so she could run toward her Jiang Baichuan.

In October, at the start of winter, the wedding arrived as promised.

The venue was packed with guests. As the bride, Yun Li sang in public for the first time, performing a song she had written for Jiang Baichuan.

“This song is called Lover. I wrote it one night after I accepted Mr. Jiang’s proposal.”

Her eyes were filled with starlight as she gazed at him with deep affection. “A song called Lover, for my lover.”

Aside from Xia Wanzhi, who knew she was litchi, an original musician who had retired years ago, no one else knew about this identity of hers.

Back then, she had gone viral across the entire internet with a song called “lychee rose.”

That clear, distinctive voice could not be found anywhere else online.

But after that year, Yun Li had vanished without a trace.

All because Yun Meilan had discovered her secretly practicing with the guitar Ming Yuan had left behind and threatened her with death, forbidding her from touching music ever again.

But from now on, she had decided to start over and sing her own songs again.

The flower-strewn road that belonged to litchi would never come too late.

–

On their wedding night, in the bridal chamber beneath the glow of candles.

Jiang Baichuan had an elder sister who was an award-winning actress, and thanks in part to those acting genes, he managed to escape a round of utterly inhumane wedding toasts.

He acted so impatient, so fierce and hungry.

Yun Li had been lying perfectly fine on the bed, only to curl up in fright at the sight of him like that.

Jiang Baichuan laughed despite his exasperation. “I just missed you too much. I only want to hold you…”

Yun Li shot him a reproachful look. “Do you think you’re fooling a child?”

“Mm. I also want to kiss you.” Now that Jiang Baichuan had her in his arms, he immediately started pushing his luck.

“Go take a shower!” Yun Li failed to hold back her strength. Who would have thought Jiang Baichuan really was somewhat drunk? That kick sent him straight to the floor.

A muffled groan came from the ground. Yun Li wanted to laugh but felt sorry for him too. “Did it hurt? Let me see.”

“It hurts…” Jiang Baichuan let out a long breath. His tall, sturdy body simply draped itself over Yun Li’s much smaller frame, his seductive voice carrying obvious temptation. “That bastard Xie Qiyan helped the outsiders take turns forcing drinks on me. My head hurts.”

Yun Li used all her strength to make him stand properly. “I was asking whether you hurt yourself when you fell just now…”

Jiang Baichuan nodded. “That hurts too. My hip hurts. I fell here. Touch it.”

Yun Li: “…”

She had reason to suspect what he’d injured was his brain.

“Help me wash up.” He laughed softly, his breath scorching as he buried his entire head against Yun Li’s neck. “My Lady Wife.”

Thump, thump, thump-

Yun Li’s heart was about to explode.

The bathroom was hazy with steam, the damp heat still rising. Jiang Baichuan didn’t dare do anything reckless to Yun Li, so he taught her how to be reckless with him instead.

Yun Li was not someone without desires, and what was more, the man standing bare and honest before her was her newly wedded husband.

Her lover.

With both arms wrapped around Jiang Baichuan’s neck, Yun Li’s breathing was unsteady, and her voice carried nervousness. “Don’t stop. I can.”

That one sentence made the desire in his eyes flare. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and Jiang Baichuan forcibly suppressed his impulse. “There’s no rush. We have a lifetime ahead of us. We’ll take it slow.”

“Jiang Baichuan, I said I want you.” Her wet fingers tightened around Jiang Baichuan’s chin. Yun Li’s lips parted slightly, as if she had made an enormous decision. “I want you tonight.”

He had given her all the ritual and ceremony of a grand, proper wedding.

Then she would give him a true wedding night in return.

Even under the influence of alcohol, Jiang Baichuan was still very gentle.

Yun Li was afraid, gripped by fear of the unknown, but those fears and shadows had long since become insignificant before Jiang Baichuan.

She simply wanted him.

So very, very much.

“Jiang Baichuan, I love you.” Tears still trembled on Yun Li’s lashes-tears of finally having her wish come true.

“I know.” Jiang Baichuan held her tight and kissed her eyes. “I love you too.”

A pair of red dragon-and-phoenix candles burned in the wedding room.

When the red candles burned down to the end, the ceremony was complete.