In an attempt to retrieve more memories, Murong Xiao returned to Fengjia Village several times. In another room, he found a box filled with paintings by Xiang Jin. Murong Xiao roughly counted them and found there were nearly two hundred paintings.

Each painting is different and they cannot form a story, but they have one thing in common: they all depict the same person, and... none of them have a face.

But anyone could recognize him; it was Murong Xiao.

Some of the paintings also have some writings on them, which are probably her notes from that time.

"Can I touch you? You're right in front of me, you helped me, but why do I feel so far away..." The painting depicts the moment he stood up for her when she was bullied while trying to get a phone card...

"I never expected to see you at the Xiang family's house... What a pleasant surprise! But we're still so far apart, like we're from two different worlds..."

"Attending a class reunion, I encountered the most unbearable and embarrassing situation, and you saved me from disaster. Why do I always run into you when I'm down on my luck? If this is fate, what is God trying to tell me? Is He letting me know the distance between us, and telling me to stay away from you?"

"I went to pay back the money today, and you took me into the buffet area. That bustling place felt like another world. I was happy but also nervous..."

"So you are Jianian... It turns out that fate has really played a huge joke on me. How can I tell you my feelings? But the person you want to marry is not me but Xiang Qi. I can only divorce you, but I can't bear to."

"Murong Xiao, I can't bear to part with him."

…………

Murong Xiao put the paintings back in the box and carried them back to the villa like treasures, hiding them away. When Su Ming wanted to pick him up, he was so frightened by a single look from Murong Xiao that he almost lost his soul.

During the past year and a half, Jiang Anqing often came to visit, usually bringing soup she had made herself. She remembered that Ajin loved drinking soup when she was little... Every time she brought it, Murong Xiao would throw it into the trash can and warn her not to appear within a hundred meters, but she seemed not to hear him and would come again next time.

"Ah Jin can't bear to leave me, I can't not come..."

"She's too thin. She needs to drink more soup to gain weight. Please have pity on her. This child has had a hard life..."

She was muttering to herself, and seemed to be mentally unstable.

To prevent her from interfering again, Murong Xiao transferred Xiang Jin to a physiotherapy hospital.

They stayed there for almost half a year.

That morning, Murong Xiao drove to the physiotherapy hospital as usual, holding a bouquet of freshly bought flowers, a bunch of vibrant roses.

Bai Ningshuang arrived a little earlier than her and had been waiting at the door for half an hour.

"Master Xiao, I have to clock in at 9 o'clock. Can you hurry up? I'll get my salary docked if I'm late." Bai Ningshuang was boundless when she got anxious, and her unhappiness was written all over her face.

"What's it to me? Don't you know to ask your old man to ask for leave for you?" Murong Xiao said in a bad tone.

“Old Sun was in surgery all night and just fell asleep. I can take a day off myself, why should I make him take one?” The two said as they walked inside.

"So, why don't you ask for leave yourself when you can?"

Bai Ningshuang was stunned. So this was a call to action against her! Sure enough, Master Xiao was still the same Master Xiao. Ah Jin might spoil her, but she wouldn't!

"Do you know how much salary I lose for taking a day off? I've already taken ten out of twelve days this month. I only agreed to work at Hengjia for Mr. Li Wen's sake. I have to pave the way for her. By the time she wakes up, I'll have already figured out the company's situation for her. She just needs to take over her grandfather's inheritance."

"Even a tiny company like this is worth Ah Jin's time and effort."

Bai Ningshuang: "...They're valued at several billion, okay?" But in Master Xiao's eyes, it's nothing!

Sure enough, a working-class person like her would only get infuriated if she talked to her boss.

The two bickered and arrived at Xiang Jin's room. Pushing open the door, they found the person on the hospital bed sleeping peacefully, showing no sign of opening their eyes.

The initial excitement instantly cooled down.

"I've fantasized countless times that when I push open this door, I'll see Ah Jin with her eyes open, greeting me." Bai Ningshuang sighed, her eyes reddening.

Murong Xiao didn't say anything, but turned around and instructed the nurse to bring up the prepared cake. He wanted to celebrate A Jin's birthday.

Two years have passed, and Murong Xiao remains in the same state. He seems to have never compromised and firmly believes that A Jin can wake up.

Or perhaps, he simply couldn't bring himself to face the fact that he had lost Ajin.

Bai Ningshuang sighed again.

"Instead of sighing here, why don't you go and help?" Murong Xiao said coldly.

"Okay, I'll go right now." Bai Ningshuang was still a coward; she was afraid of angering Murong Xiao, so she quickly ran off to help.

Murong Xiao turned and went into the room.

He straightened out the colored lights and balloons that Bai Ningshuang had arranged, making the room more pleasing to the eye, before walking up to Xiang Jin.

"Put the hat on." He braided the birthday hat, put it on Xiang Jin's head, and smoothed her hair down her forehead.

At that moment, Bai Ningshuang called him from outside.

"He's so stupid, he can't even handle something this simple. Ah Jin, are you sure you want to be friends with someone like this?" Despite his complaints, Murong Xiao turned and left.

"Huh, where is everyone?" When everyone pushed the cake into the room, they found that the hospital bed was empty.

"Where did Ajin go? Where did Ajin go? Is she...?"

Murong Xiao immediately realized something. He pushed everyone aside and frantically searched through the rooms, calling out Xiang Jin's name all the while.

Bai Ningshuang quickly split up and took action.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!