Chapter 363 - 360: Pillow Talk

Chapter 363: Chapter 360: Pillow Talk

Early in the morning, Li Xiu got up and got himself ready. He woke up his two children and Zhou Lian, and once they had washed up and eaten the breakfast Sister Fang prepared, he left Sister Fang at home. Taking two bodyguards with them, the family of four went to the temple.

They stayed in the temple’s private chambers for seven days. Li Xiu only brought his two children and Zhou Lian back after the Dharma assembly concluded. The first and third branches of the family also knew why they had been away, so they didn’t come to disturb them. After hearing from Sister Fang that all the visitors over the past few days had come to see Grandma Li, and that no one had inquired where his family of four had gone, Li Xiu simply smiled and said nothing.

It wasn’t until that night, as he held Zhou Lian while they lay in bed, that Li Xiu said softly, "Bao’er, you see? None of them are fools."

"Oh, you," Zhou Lian said, looking at him gently. "As long as they don’t cause trouble in front of us, just let them be. Those younger ones from the first and third branches are a real handful. Jin Chen, don’t worry about things that aren’t your concern. There’s no need!"

Pulling Zhou Lian closer into his arms, Li Xiu sighed. "Let’s not talk about that. Holding this Dharma assembly for my master has finally resolved a regret from my past life. In my last life, I failed to live up to his expectations and made a complete mess of my own. If he had known he had such an unworthy disciple like me, I’m afraid he wouldn’t have been able to rest in peace."

"Jin Chen, that’s just how it is sometimes. It’s easy for an outsider to see things clearly, but not for the one involved," Zhou Lian said, trying to soothe him. "You were simply blinded by familial affection, your heart locked away. But you came to understand it all later, didn’t you? Besides, you’re doing so well in this life. I’m sure your master wouldn’t be angry!"

With a bitter smile, Li Xiu said self-deprecatingly, "Bao’er, I don’t know if he would be angry or not, but I was definitely in the wrong in our last life. My life was a mess, and worse, I ruined yours. To be honest, I can barely bring myself to think about how we treated each other back then. Just the thought makes my heart ache."

"I know. You made mistakes in our last life, but was I completely blameless? Jin Chen, it’s all in the past. The only thing we can control is the present," Zhou Lian said earnestly, not liking the look on his face. "Jin Chen, my life is wonderful now. I’m so happy. If I had to trade the suffering of my past life for being together in this one, I think I would be willing."

Gently stroking Zhou Lian’s hair, Li Xiu said tenderly, "Bao’er, thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance to love you."

Looking into Zhou Lian’s love-filled eyes, Li Xiu couldn’t help but recall the indifferent gaze she gave him before she was gone in their last life. His heart felt as if it were being pricked by countless needles, a dense, sharp pain. Back then, seeing that detached look sweep over him felt like being strangled, leaving him unable to breathe.

"Jin Chen, giving you a chance was really giving myself a chance, too. See? Now I’m the happiest person in the world. You dote on me and cherish me with your very life. Isn’t that what every woman hopes for? You gave it to me! I remember reading a passage in my past life: ’All my life, I have longed to be treasured, properly placed, and carefully preserved. Spare me from sorrow, spare me from shock, spare me from wandering adrift, spare me from having no branch to cling to. But that person, I know, I have always known, he will never come.’"

"Jin Chen, you know how I must have felt when I read that in my last life. But now, in this life, when I read it, this is what I see: ’All my life, I have longed to be treasured, properly placed, and carefully preserved. Spare me from sorrow, spare me from shock, spare me from wandering adrift, spare me from having no branch to cling to. But that person, I know, I have always known, he has already come!’"

Moved, Li Xiu kissed Zhou Lian and said, "Bao’er, I can make all of this happen. ’May you be warm through the three winter months; may you feel no chill in spring. May you have a light when it’s dark and an umbrella when it rains. May you have a good person to accompany you on your journey. May time slow, may old friends never part; may the one on your mind wish you goodnight, and may you never feel lonely when you walk your own path. May every person you meet for the rest of your life be good. May you continue to love life with deep affection, live with abandon, neither fighting nor grasping. Love others, but more importantly, know how to love yourself.

Though the world is sometimes cold, may your heart be like a field of blooming flowers. Find simple joy, love quietly, understand deeply, and let go lightly. I only wish for this life to be filled with peaceful years. On your path forward, may you never forget to live with passion in this fickle world. May your kitchen be filled with the warmth of cooking, your living room with laughter, and your bedroom with hugs. May I be with you for a hundred years without sorrow; may you always have a good person by your side. May someone stand with you at dusk and ask if your porridge is warm. May the one who stays with you in this life be the love of your life. May health and happiness always be with you.

When the sun sets, may you have a dear friend to drink tea and chat with. When you wake, may you enjoy the bliss of family, and in this life, never forget your original heart. May there be stars in the night sky and fish in the river. May you meet a good soul in this life, failing neither your faith nor your love. May your journey through this mortal world be a fulfilling one, seeing through right and wrong, good and evil; and may you, from then on, find blessings wherever your heart leads, living a life of perfect freedom.’"

"Jin Chen, this is the real reason you’ve been working so hard all this time, isn’t it?" she asked. "You want to protect me, to give me a life of peace and stability. I’ve always known. I’ve always known everything you do for me."

Zhou Lian smiled at Li Xiu’s words, and the sight of that smile blossoming on her face made him feel that none of his hard work had been in vain—that all his efforts were filled with hope.

"Bao’er, do you remember that song called ’You Are the Most Beautiful Scenery of My Life’? Have you heard it?"

Seeing Zhou Lian nod, Li Xiu smiled and said slowly, "Bao’er, you are the most beautiful scenery of my life."

"You are too, Jin Chen. Don’t think about our past life anymore. I’m doing very well, I’m very happy. We are doing wonderfully now. Don’t dwell on what’s already happened. I’m sure your master wouldn’t want you to keep thinking about your past life, either. It’s enough that we’re both doing well in this one. Seeing you as you are now, he would surely be very pleased."

’She knew Li Xiu still carried this burden, but she hadn’t realized he still couldn’t let it go. It wasn’t that she was the type to forget the beatings once she was fed; it was that the past was the past. No amount of regret could change it. She had already forgiven him in this life. They were in love now. There was truly no point in digging up old grievances.’

In this life, Li Xiu had done everything imaginable for Zhou Lian—things he should and shouldn’t, things he could and couldn’t. In the Capital City, who didn’t know that Li Xiu was practically a madman when it came to doting on his wife? All those old patriarchs in the Imperial Palace muttered to themselves that even a great hero like Li Xiu was no match for a beautiful woman. And which of their wives didn’t sigh with envy, "A woman should marry a man like Li Xiu, like Li Jincheng!"

"Bao’er, it’s not that I want to think about our past life. It’s just that sometimes, the more I love you, the more I want to kill the man I was back then. In our last life, I ruined your entire life!"

Seeing Li Xiu start to lose control again, Zhou Lian cupped his face in her hands. "Jin Chen, look at me. In our last life, even though our relationship was bad, you can’t say I was unhappy. I was nowhere near as sharp as I am now. Back then, I just thought men were unreliable, but I had my children. Our daughter and son brought me happiness. And even if that happiness didn’t come from you, you can’t deny they are our treasures. In a way, they gave me happiness in your place."