Chapter 8

His expression quickly darkened as he stared at her in silence for a long while. She lifted her head, her eyes glistening with tears: "Tianlei?" That soft, pleading voice struck straight into his heart. It had been so long since she had called him that, long enough for his heart to ache.

She had never mentioned her parents or siblings to him, and he always thought she was shy and reluctant to speak more. Judging by her attire and appearance, she seemed to come from a wealthy family, but he had never imagined that she was actually from the Helian residence. It was not until her birthday, when she invited him to her home, that he discovered the truth. It turned out that she was the daughter of Helian Xiao. Heaven had played a tremendous joke on him.

Busy putting down the sweet potato, she turned around, facing him: "What’s wrong?" She merely held her stomach and cried, as if she were a broken string of pearls, continuously falling down.

A stylishly dressed and elegant woman in her early thirties entered, with a pair of elegantly arched willow-leaf eyebrows and a form-fitting long qipao that accentuated her curvaceous figure. She smiled and said, "If it weren't for encountering Deputy Officer Li, we would have finished this performance without knowing that you, Third Brother, were also here."

He could no longer let her go. He used the most despicable means to obtain her, taking possession of her body. Later, he exploited her further, marrying her and entering the governor's residence. Helian Jingfeng was caught off guard by him, even intending to cultivate him, and he successfully acquired several pieces of intelligence.

He took the teacup, sipped a little, and frowned. The deputy officer Li, who had been observing closely from the side, quickly stepped forward and asked, "Chief of Staff, what is the matter?" Duan Xulei turned his head and said, "Go and ask if there is any Biluochun?" She has always only drunk Biluochun.

He raised his head slightly, a hint of surprise on his face: "What? Is my sister-in-law here to watch the play as well?" Clearly, he had instructed his servant to inquire thoroughly, and it was reported that his mother and sister-in-law had already come to watch the play yesterday. Moreover, this performance of "Su San's Release" was not a new play; how could his sister-in-law abandon the card game to come and watch a second performance? A thought crossed his mind; could it be that his mother had arrived?

In the end, the last few sweet potatoes were burnt, charred into a dark mass, and naturally could not be eaten. However, he sensed a slight change in her; she no longer deliberately ignored him, although she still acted somewhat indifferent.

Until the day she discovered it

He hurriedly wiped her tears with his hands, but to his surprise, the more he wiped, the more she shed. With no other options left, he gently kissed her, as light as a feather, softly brushing away her tears. He let his lips linger at the corners of her eyes, tenderly sucking, as if trying to draw out the moisture from the depths of her gaze. She leaned her head against his chest, trembling incessantly. His heart trembled in response, and in the end, he could only capture her small lips with his own.

He walked up, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and whispered, "Come, you can eat now." He brought the peeled sweet potato to her lips. She was momentarily stunned, and after a while, she gently opened her mouth and took a bite. It was sweet and soft, like cotton. Yet, her heart felt a pang of sourness, as if bubbles were rising one by one, all the way to her throat and nose. It seemed as if her eyes were about to overflow. This scene was so familiar, as if it had been repeatedly relived in a dream. Her heart felt a pang of sourness, as if bubbles were rising one by one, all the way to her throat and nose. It seemed as if her eyes were about to overflow. This scene was so familiar, as if it had been repeatedly relived in a dream.

After exchanging a few more words, the sound of drums and gongs began to rise from the stage. Madam Duan smiled and said, "You all listen for a moment, I will go accompany the old lady." As she reached the door, she turned her head and said, "Third brother, please bring Miss Jingqi to our box later. Let the old lady have a look as well." Duan Xulei merely smiled and did not respond.

With a smile, he pulled her over, making her sit on his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist and saying, "This is a good way to listen to the opera." She was annoyed and struggled to get down. He leaned in close to her ear and said softly, "Don't move." Her face turned red again, and she scolded, "Pervert!" as she reached out to hit him. However, he laughed heartily, squinting his eyes at her as if he wanted to devour her, and said, "Is it wrong to be lecherous towards you?" Although there were no other people in the box, she still felt extremely embarrassed and covered his mouth with her hand.

She was annoyed with him, merely huffing and turning her head away. He, however, laughed and leaned closer, asking, "What’s wrong? Are you angry again?" She ignored him. He had already found a way to deal with her. Turning back, he instructed, "You all go out and attend to your duties."

He smiled, looking extremely comfortable. He said, "Alright, alright. You come, just be careful not to burn your hands." He reached out and handed it to her. She stood there in a daze, simply not accepting it.

He smiled, and did not move around anymore, holding her and saying in a proper manner: "Alright, let's listen to the opera." After listening for a while, the stage was lively, and Su San had already sung to the second act: "Su San left Hongdong County, now standing in front of the street. I have once expressed the sorrow in my heart, gentlemen passing by, please listen to my words: which one of you is going to Nanjing, to deliver a message to my Sanlang. Just say that Su San has met her end, in the next life I will repay as a dog or horse. I have once expressed the sorrow in my heart, gentlemen passing by, please listen to my words: which one of you is going to Nanjing, to deliver a message to my Sanlang. Just say that Su San has met her end, in the next life I will repay as a dog or horse.

Madam Duan showed a hint of surprise on her face, but being a person of stature, she quickly composed herself. With a smile, she glanced at Duan Xulei and said, "Good! Good! Third brother, how should I address this young lady?" Duan Xulei replied, "Just call her Jingqi." Madam Duan approached and took her hand, giving her a once-over before smiling and saying, "Miss Jingqi, do come to our residence sometime and join me for a few rounds of mahjong. After all, if you lose, someone will pay!" She could only respond with a faint smile, saying, "Yes."

Li Jiezhai had just replied: "The commander's wife came with the old lady." As soon as the words fell, a melodious laughter came from the doorway: "Third brother, why didn't you greet your sister-in-law when you came to watch the play?"

In those years of radiant flow, she thought she had forgotten. Yet at this moment, it is as clear as ever. It is as if a sealed box has been torn open, and now, as it is opened, the past comes rushing back. So vivid, as if it had just happened—those tender memories, those once-held connections.

Even if she would never speak another word to him, even if she would never look him in the eye again, even if she would never smile at him again—he would never let her go. She is his, for a lifetime she will be his, and for a lifetime she can only be his

He rested his head on her shoulder and asked, "Why aren't you eating? Didn't you say you wanted to?" She did not respond. He only felt that something was amiss, so he moved her head to take a look, and saw that her face was streaming with tears, like a flower trembling in the rain

He calmly introduced her, saying: "This is my sister-in-law!" Her face turned even redder as she glanced at him, only to see him standing there at ease, seemingly oblivious to her embarrassment. She had no choice but to look up and greet her softly: "Hello, sister-in-law!"

A renowned performer happened to arrive at the Changman Spring Theater to perform. He knew that she felt bored staying at home every day, so he had someone come to pick her up early. After having dinner, they finally went to the theater.

Yet she lay in his arms, unwilling to let him go, and after a while, she embraced him and said softly: "Please let Brother Dong go. I am with you every day, and I only feel guilty towards him. I owe him so much, so please release him."

Li Jiezai went out for a while and quickly returned, smiling as he said: "Chief of Staff, you are in luck. Originally, there was no fine Biluochun tea prepared in the theater. I was just about to come back to inform you. By coincidence, I ran into the commander's wife. One of her maids happened to be carrying some. She said it would be sent to you shortly"

After returning to the south, he deliberately refrained from thinking about her, numbly indulging himself. In fact, from the moment he entered the northern region, he had already lost the chance to turn back. Later, after his father's death and after Helian Jingfeng had annihilated the western and southern regions, he found himself even less able to turn back. The south could be destroyed by Helian Jingfeng at any moment; if he did not gather intelligence, how could he justify himself to his deceased father, and how could he justify himself to his elder brother who now held great power in the south?

Duan Xulei stood up and said, "Sister-in-law, you jest." As soon as Madam Duan entered, she glanced at Jingqi and clapped her hands in laughter, saying, "So, there is a charming and enchanting person hidden in this room." Jingqi, feeling shy, blushed at her smile, and her ears turned warm.

She let out a faint sigh. It was very soft, yet he heard it clearly. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and asked, "What’s wrong?" She remained silent. He turned her head towards him, facing him, and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, "Why are you unhappy again? I was just teasing you earlier. If you are truly angry with me, just hit me to vent your frustration"

She merely pretended to be watching the play, while the performer on stage recited: "I am Chong Gongdao, a magistrate from Hongdong County. Due to my age and my honest character, the lord has appointed me to oversee the women's prison—" The warmth on her face had not yet faded; she turned to glance at him, but he was lost in thought. After a while, he finally turned his head and smiled at her, saying: "What’s wrong?"

It was not until the news came from the person stationed in the northern region, saying that she had a miscarriage in the hospital, that he felt as if he had been enlightened, his mind buzzing with realization—only then did he understand what he had lost. It turned out that he had lost a part of himself in the north, with her, and it could never be whole again. He always believed that she was carrying his child, and that no matter how far apart they were, across mountains and rivers, their connection would never be severed. Yet, in the end, it all came to nothing. He always believed that she was carrying his child, and that no matter how far apart they were, across mountains and rivers, their connection would never be severed. Yet, in the end, it all came to nothing.

He tried every possible means to have the spies from the North gather information about her, and finally learned that she would leave for America with Dong Muxun. At that moment, he had only one clear thought: he would never let her go. Absolutely not.

When they first met that year, she also held her head high, yet shyly apologized to him. At their first glance, he became infatuated and unconsciously waited for her appearance. He even forgot the purpose of his journey to the northern region, which was to enroll in the semi-military management department of Anyang University.

The private room is located on the second floor, elegantly decorated. He helped her take off her long black coat and handed it to the attendant standing nearby. As soon as they sat down, the servants brought out dried fruits, melon seeds, fresh fruits, and hot tea one by one

Later, news came from the northern region that she was in close contact with Dong Dequan's son, Dong Muxun. He naturally knew Dong Muxun and could tell at the time that he had feelings for Jingqi. However, he had never thought that one day she would belong to someone else—never. Subsequently, news of her engagement to Dong Muxun arrived—on that day, he smashed his phone in anger, causing a group of guards to think that something had happened.

The young servants moved the chairs and brought in fresh tea. Madam Duan said, "I will not sit down; I need to go accompany the old lady. Yesterday, I accompanied her to listen to a performance, and I found it delightful; today, she insists on having me come again." She turned around and instructed, "Shuangbao, why haven't you brought over the Biluochun yet?" Shuangbao handed the Biluochun to the young servant and instructed them to brew the tea again.

Due to their proximity, their breaths intertwined. He only felt something warm and wet sliding down her face, dripping onto his. He hurriedly moved aside to take a look, only to see that she was crying again. A sense of panic arose in his heart, and he quickly asked, "What’s wrong? Don’t scare me. Are you feeling unwell?"