Section 1

The Ji family was originally a prominent clan in Jiangnan. During the Republic of China period, the entire family migrated to San Francisco, and their business continued to grow. By the time of Ji Silang, they had already reached the fourth generation. However, Ji Silang himself is an extremely low-key individual; even those close to him, such as Zhu Jiu, are unaware of his family's background.

Fortunately, she has just stepped onto the third step

I will go get the medical kit

She looked up at the ceiling, her gaze vacant, and her thoughts suddenly drifted far away

This is Zhu Jiu's third visit to the Ji family. Walking through this tranquil and ancient garden, she once again exclaimed, "Ji Silang, your family truly lives every day in the Republic of China era"

Their wedding date is set for one month from now

Zhu Jiu gently exhaled a breath

Ji Silang could not help but laugh, "That is indeed the case"

The woman beside him has climbed snow-capped mountains, rolled through deserts, and traversed primitive jungles. In the harsh environment of Africa, she provided medical assistance for an entire year, blending in among a group of men, never once requiring care from others

Mother Ji and Ji Silang were drinking tea, occasionally whispering a few words to each other

Zhu Jiu thought of those complicated processes and social engagements, and his head began to ache

Ji Silang helped her up and then noticed that her calf was scraped, with blood seeping out

A hand gently patted her face, the warmth of the palm making her instinctively yearn for it. She grasped that hand tightly, holding on firmly.

Zhu Jiu entered the room and headed straight for the attic. As she ascended the stairs, she forgot that she was wearing high heels and a long skirt. Taking large steps, the heel of her shoe caught on her skirt, and with a loud "bang," she fell down the stairs.

This is her first visit to the Ji family, and she is there as his girlfriend

This time, he brought her over to discuss the wedding arrangements, to have a custom-made dress, and to select jewelry

Zhu Jiu also knew that, as a newlywed bride, her attitude was quite inappropriate in front of the elders. However, at this moment, she only felt exhausted and had no strength to force a smile.

When she met his family for the first time and heard him mention that his grandmother, mother, and aunts had not worked since getting married, she immediately wanted to walk away. In the end, it was Ji Silang who repeatedly assured her that after marriage, she could still do anything she wanted.

"OK, OK. Forget I said anything." Ji Silang squatted down in front of her to tend to her wounds

When Ji Silang returned with the medical kit, he saw the remnants of a long skirt on the ground and shook his head, sighing: "Tsk tsk, such a beautiful dress, and you have ruined it. Mint, sometimes I really doubt whether your attribute is truly that of a woman"

Ji Silang's bedroom is located on the second floor, featuring a small attic filled with an entire room of books, including many hard-to-find medical textbooks, all of which can be found here

The wedding ceremony of the Ji family is exceedingly elaborate, and as the eldest son, Ji Silang's event is particularly grand. There will be two banquet receptions, one in Chinese style and the other in Western style.

The lifestyle of the Ji family is also retro, with men striving for their careers outside, while women wear old-fashioned qipaos, their hair meticulously styled, managing the household and educating the children at home

Zhu Jiu came to her senses and realized that she was still tightly holding his hand, the back of his hand marked with deep imprints from her nails

After taking the measurements, it is time to select the matching jewelry

Zhu Jiu shot him a glare with the expression "Are you kidding me?", opened the car door, and got out.

Her vision gradually became blurred until a voice pulled her back to reality

As Qisilang was brewing coffee, he turned around and, seeing her in such a disheveled state, couldn't help but laugh out loud

Are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?" He took out a tissue and wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead

She slowly opened her eyes and met the concerned gaze of Ji Silang

In the side hall of the Ji family courtyard

She saw herself, covered in wounds and on the brink of death, being thrown into the Necker River like garbage. With a "splash," a circle of water was stirred up, and the bone-chilling river water in the cold winter instantly awakened her. She struggled desperately, flailing and shouting, but the night was so dark, and the world was silent. The gentle and beautiful Necker River under the sunset had suddenly turned into a deserted island, with only her desperate cries for help echoing in the night. Soon, the water gradually crept over her head, flooding her ears, nose, eyes, and mouth. Her chest and lungs were painfully compressed, her breathing grew weaker, and her body sank. She opened her eyes slightly, ... flailing and shouting, but the night was so dark, and the world was silent. The gentle and beautiful Necker River under the sunset had suddenly turned into a deserted island, with only her desperate cries for help echoing in the night. Soon, the water gradually crept over her head, flooding her ears, nose, eyes, and mouth. Her chest and lungs were painfully compressed, her breathing grew weaker, and her body sank. She opened her eyes slightly, ... watching the glaring blood dye the river red ...

Ji Silang said: "Hey, are you really okay?"

It is hard to imagine that so far away from China, in San Francisco, there is actually a hidden Jiangnan garden. It is a true Jiangnan garden, with its intricate courtyard layout, winding corridors, a pool of clear water, and every brick and tile exuding an antique charm. Being within it evokes a sense of time travel.

Zhu Jiu sat on the sofa, kicked off the bothersome shoes, raised her hand, and with a "rip" sound, a large portion of her delicate silk long dress was torn away.

Ji Silang! Zhu Jiu gritted his teeth in pain and roared

Ji Silang said: "You look unwell, let me call home to reschedule the appointment, and I will take you back to rest now"

Ji Silang noticed her listless expression, greeted her mother, and then took her away.

She had a lengthy surgery last night, did not rest well, and got up early this morning to fuss around at the beauty salon and women's clothing store. Originally, Ji Si Lang said she could be as casual as usual, but she felt that the basic etiquette that should be observed cannot be overlooked, as it is the minimum respect.

Zhu Jiu glanced at him expressionlessly and said, "Do you want to verify it?"

Zhu Jiu said: "Isn't it just a bit of sleep deprivation? I am not that fragile"

Mother Ji was very particular about these matters. On the table, there were more than ten large velvet boxes arranged in layers, displaying a dazzling array of jewelry, some matching traditional Chinese dresses and others matching wedding gowns. She asked Zhu Jiu for her opinion on each piece, but no matter what Mother Ji said, Zhu Jiu responded with a nonchalant tone, saying they all looked good, which caused Mother Ji to appear somewhat displeased.

Zhu Jiu stood in the center of the room, arms outstretched, allowing the old tailor, who was making her dress, to measure her with a tape measure, first for the dimensions of a traditional Chinese gown, and then the wedding dress designer came to take measurements.

Alright, Miss Zhu

Apologies. She released her hand and turned to glance out the window; Ji Silang's car had already stopped outside a residence

Zhu Jiu has not had that dream for a long time

Mint, Mint!

The scenes in her memory overlap with the present moment. That winter, she also opened her arms like this, standing in the dazzling wedding dress shop, allowing someone to take her measurements. The handsome designer with deep blue eyes praised her body proportions, saying she would look absolutely beautiful in the wedding dress he designed. After hearing this, she turned around and proudly flaunted to the man sitting behind her, who was smiling and gazing at her.

Across the vast mountains and rivers of time, meeting you again, all the words and phrases are contained within this silent gaze

After much effort, it is finally completed