Chapter 96 Love, So Much Love

While the girls were enthusiastically discussing this young marshal, whom they had only heard of but never met.

Hearing footsteps, Lu Zhenyu turned around.

Shen Jingsi, holding his phone, went to the terrace.

He held the phone to his ear, "You can talk now."

A woman's voice came from the other end, "Young Master, everything you instructed has been done. Old Master Duan does suspect you and Miss Zhenzhen. Miss Tao has also been found out. The two families had a very unpleasant argument tonight. As soon as she left, Miss Duan committed suicide by disembowelment."

In the darkness, the man's sharp brows furrowed. "The person is dead?"

"Not yet, I heard he's still in the hospital undergoing emergency treatment," the woman asked. "Is there anything else I can do?"

"No need. Pack your things and leave the Duan family now. Someone will be waiting for you outside. Go with him." Shen Jingsi said in a deep voice. "Let me remind you, if you don't want to die, don't go back to the capital."

The voice on the other end softened, "Yes, I know."

Shen Jingsi said, "Let's withdraw as soon as possible. You've had a hard time these past few days."

Xiao Cui, hiding in the corner, pursed her lips.

It was no hardship she endured; thankfully, she survived.

If it weren't for the housekeeper's thoughtful consideration and eventual contact with Shen Jingsi, she probably would have wasted the rest of her life here.

"Young Master, I... I wanted to ask, is Miss Zhenzhen alright?"

Turning around and meeting the gaze peering from the living room, Shen Jingsi smiled at the little girl.

He turned around and said, "She's fine. Now, she's my wife."

A sigh of relief came through the receiver.

"That's wonderful," said Xiao Cui. "Young Master, I sincerely wish you and Zhen—oh no, I should call you Young Madam—happiness."

"Thank you, you too."

The call ended.

Shen Jingsi stood there, gazing at the endless darkness before him.

The dimness in front of him, accompanied by the laughter and chatter behind him, blurred the face that was bathed in darkness.

…

The group drank until midnight before breaking up.

In the dead of night, Lu Zhenyu, having finished washing up, came out drying her hair and looked at the blurry figure reflected in the glass window.

It's been an hour, and he hasn't changed his bent-over posture.

Lu Zhenyu approached silently, glanced at the half-pack of cigarette butts on the ground, and frowned slightly.

Shen Jingsi, who rarely gets a day off, was dressed in his loungewear, but even the brightest colors couldn't mask the melancholy emanating from him.

Lu Zhenyu sat down, her slender fingers tracing the fabric around her tight, narrow waist, her cheek pressed against the cool curve of her back.

"Something on your mind?"

His dark eyes, which had been deep in thought, trembled slightly.

The cigarette between his fingers was thrown to the ground and crushed out. He fanned the surrounding smoke and turned around.

"Why didn't you call me after you finished washing? I could have carried you back to dry your hair."

Lu Zhenyu didn't move, letting the strands of hair behind her drip, quietly leaning against him.

"It's okay, the weather's getting warmer, you won't get sick."

As she finished speaking, she looked up without warning, meeting his worried eyes that he couldn't hide in time. "Is there some trouble at work or something wrong at home? You seem to have something on your mind lately."

Since they've decided to stay together forever, then for Lu Zhenyu, there are many things they should face together.

The evening breeze carried the sweet scent from his arms. Perhaps he had drunk quite a bit of wine, for a tender, star-like glimmer appeared in Shen Jingsi's usually serene eyes.

He bent down and buried his face in the girl's neck.

This is his favorite move.

Inhaling his wife's sweet, soft scent, he held her tightly in his arms, closed his eyes, and felt the world become quiet.

It seems that Lu Zhenyu has always had this charm since she was a child.

No matter how anxious or restless you are, just seeing her, just having her by your side, even if she's sitting quietly reading or drawing without saying a word, will calm you down.

Shen Jingsi didn't say anything, so Lu Zhenyu quietly let him hold her.

The warm, soft palm gently caressed his broad, arched back, like a calm, sweet spring, allowing the majestic mountain to lean against him.

After a long, long time, I heard in my ear, "Zhenzhen, do you think I'm heartless, ruthless, and unscrupulous?"

Shen Jingsi still spoke up.

He wasn't seeking solace, because even after learning of Duan Xi'er's painful suicide, he never regretted the choice he had made.

But he wanted to know what kind of person he was in his wife's eyes now.

The officer was right that day.

This is why he was most afraid, most worried, and dared not tell Lu Zhenyu the truth from beginning to end.

He was afraid that the girl who lay beside him every day would become terrified of him after witnessing his ruthless methods.

"Duan Xi'er committed suicide by disembowelment."

The atmosphere in Shenjing is particularly sensitive tonight.

Sensitive enough, the moment the words left his lips, he clearly felt the small hand patting his back tremble slightly.

He closed his eyes.

So, you're still afraid of him, aren't you?

Just as he was beginning to regret revealing the truth, two small hands that had been hanging down to his waist suddenly encircled his narrow waist under his T-shirt and tightened their grip.

The two beating hearts seemed to be closer together.

Lu Zhenyu's voice was warm and gentle, like the evening breeze in May, soothing the man's particularly sensitive nerves.

"Would you think I'm weak, incompetent, and greedy for food and sleep?"

“Of course not,” Shen Jingsi said immediately.

He stepped back and looked at her, frowning with a serious and somewhat stern expression. "Zhenzhen, I won't allow you to talk about yourself like that. Remember, you are never weak, nor do you need to be capable. Your gluttony and laziness are because you are pregnant with our baby now."

As she finished speaking, her gaze softened. "Of course, it's not just her who's the baby; to me, you are too."

Babies are supposed to be greedy for food and sleep, aren't they?

As long as she's happy, what does it matter if she's a bit gluttonous or lazy? She can do whatever she wants, no matter what. I love Shen Jingsi, I love her so much.

Lu Zhenyu lifted her eyelids to look.

She didn't speak, but smiled and tilted her head to quietly look at him.

A gentle evening breeze blows, and geese return to their nests on the eaves.

At that moment, Shen Jingsi's eyes flickered, and he gasped as if he had suddenly realized something, then hugged the person back up.

He knew her answer.

She continued: You are never heartless, you have always been righteous, the reason you are ruthless is to protect me and the baby.

Of course, even if you're not protecting us, whether you're ruthless or not is none of my business.

I only love you as a person, and I also love Shen Jingsi, who loves me just as deeply.

Even if he schemes against everyone in the world and his infamy lasts for a thousand years, he is still just the husband I have loved deeply for many years.

I love you deeply, I love you very much, I love you terribly.

Feeling the emotions of the person in her arms gradually subside, Lu Zhenyu rubbed her face against her pounding chest.

"Honey, are you looking forward to seeing those three camellia trees bloom next spring?"

A voice rang in my ears, "Looking forward to it."

"What a coincidence, I'm looking forward to it too."

A glimmer of light appeared in Lu Zhenyu's eyes.

"I look forward to the arrival of my baby, to our family sitting around the round table for a meal, to the passing of spring and autumn, to the falling leaves and blooming flowers, and then to walking hand in hand through them, taking a stroll together, and picking flowers together."

"Sounds pretty ordinary, doesn't it?"

She smiled and hugged him tighter. "But the truth is, in the past five years, I wouldn't have dared to even dream of such an ordinary future."

Lu Zhenyu stepped out of Shen Jingsi's embrace, reached out and cupped his downcast, wet eyes, smiling so warmly and brightly.

"It was you who gave me the right to look forward, to escape that dark vortex, and to see the light and color of this world again."

A tear rolled down the corner of her reddened eye, which Lu Zhenyu kissed away on tiptoe. Then, she climbed to her ear, which was burning hot with emotion, and whispered:

"It's so good to have you. In the next life, let's meet again as children, fall in love, and stay together, okay? My love."

The moment his Adam's apple bobbed repeatedly, his thin lips, stained with tears, pressed down on him.

Her answer was a long, tearful kiss from the man.

This kiss was calm and tender, unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

Clean and tidy.

But it has already surpassed all the vows and promises made in this world.

Having loved the boy for so many years, how could Lu Zhenyu not know why he had been all smiles in public but lonely in private these past few days?

She knew everything after seeing that video.

This man has set up a very elaborate scheme.

She didn't know when he started planning, but she knew that he had gambled himself on it as well.

Betting on his conscience, humanity, and sense of loyalty.

She could completely empathize with the torment and self-reproach he felt as he placed his piece.

Because Shen Jingsi was never a heartless, ruthless, or cruel person.

If that were truly the case, then where would Shen Beizhen come from, and where would those five years come from?

She knows everything.

The sound of conversation drifted from the balcony into the quiet bedroom.

"Wife, I love you so much."

"I love you too, my husband."

"But suddenly I got a little scared."

Lu Zhenyu asked softly, "What are you afraid of?"

Shen Jingsi said, "If a hundred years from now, you pass away before me, leaving me alone to face this world without you, what should I do?"

After a long while, he buried his face in the crook of his neck and said again, "So, could you please indulge me one more time and let me go first then?"

Much later, the girl resolutely said, "No, I'll accept any condition, but I won't agree to this."

Shen Jingsi thought for a moment, "Then we'll die together?"

Lu Zhenyu thought about it for a moment, "This is something I can consider."

The man was delighted and looked down, "Before you die, could you do your husband a favor?"

Lu Zhenyu looked up. "What kind of help?"

His burning lips curled into a wicked smile as he leaned close to her ear.

Shen Jingsi lowered his voice, "I'm having an arousal."

Lu Zhenyu, "..."

Shen Jingsi received the message from his mother on the evening of the second day.

The voice message from Chen's mother was accompanied by a chaotic atmosphere and the voices of people sounding somewhat tearful.

"Xi'er has been given a critical condition notice. If you still have any conscience, please come and see her. Consider it your last look."

Shen Jingsi sat on the sofa for a long time, clutching his phone. Lu Zhenyu came out after washing up and accidentally glanced at the message. She then rubbed his slightly serious face.

"If you're worried, go and see."

Shen Jingsi looked at her, "It shouldn't be me who goes, no matter who it is."

If a person is truly beyond saving, they will die whether they go or not.

Moreover, this was indeed caused by him.

Lu Zhenyu understood this principle, but she understood the man in front of her even better: "If I don't lash out at her, I'll at least put my mind at ease."

If he really dies like that, she's sure he'll feel guilty and blame himself for the rest of his life.

They've already been ruined for five years by that woman, are they going to ruin the rest of their lives too?

Lu Zhenyu didn't want that.

Of course, her hatred for Duan Xier and Zheng Yaozong could not be completely erased by one of them being imprisoned and the other perhaps suddenly having a change of heart and committing seppuku.

She is kind-hearted, not foolishly kind.

Shen Jingsi held the person for a while, then decided to go anyway.

Lu Zhenyu saw him to the door and said, "If you can't come back tonight, just give me a call. Don't worry about me."

Shen Jingsi said with certainty, "I will come back. Wait for me."

Lu Zhenyu rubbed his face and smiled, "Okay, I'll wait for you. It's perfect that you're back. I also have some things I want to tell you. The baby and I are waiting for you at home, honey."

The 1.89-meter-tall man bent down, kissed his wife, then kissed his daughter, before getting into his car and leaving.