Chapter 55 Gift: "I'll steal money to give you food."

(55)

The candlelight flickered dimly. Watching the red thread melt into the night, Chu Li's eyes flickered. She recalled her wedding day, when she had also pressed her fingerprint on the Heavenly Marriage Contract in the same way. Back then, she was filled with trepidation and had unknowingly married herself off. In her eyes, the Heavenly Marriage Contract was no different from a contract of servitude, except that she had bought herself into a wealthy family and could eat her fill from then on.

As for what kind of person her husband was, she thought that as long as he didn't beat her to death, she could accept him no matter how old, ugly, or bad-tempered he was. Serving someone was better than begging for food.

However, to her surprise, her husband was a very good and gentle person, but the better he treated her, the more she wanted.

At first, she just wanted to have enough to eat and wear. Later, she wanted him to look at her more often. Then, she wanted this person to belong to her completely, from head to toe, inside and out. Everything about Shang Xinglan should be hers.

Chu Li couldn't remember when things had turned out this way.

It was probably when Shang Xinglan trusted her and decided to elope with her that he was willing to break with the entire Shang family for the sake of this imposter.

She grew bolder and bolder, and with Shang Xinglan's indulgence, she became arrogant and spoiled. She could order him to wash her underwear, peel apples, and do things that only servants would do, and he would do them without complaint and with a smile.

Shang Xinglan was a gift from heaven to her.

Chu Li had always thought this way, which is why she could choose whether to keep the gift or give it to someone else. She did it without any burden, confidently believing that she could bear the result of the gift leaving her.

However, that's not the case.

He was no longer a gift, but an indispensable part of her life. Forcibly separating him from her body would take away her own part along with him.

He must love her, whether he has lost his memory, fallen into demonic possession, or is dead, he must still love her, that's how it should be.

If Shang Xinglan had spoken to her gently and politely after losing his memory, Chu Li might not have been so sad. She would have only regretted losing this gift. But he completely ignored her, disdainfully saying that she was an "unseemly" woman and that she even had someone else she liked.

That completely overturned her love for him and her, making Chu Li realize that he wasn't so good after all, and that he wasn't worth her sacrifices for him.

So, it's really great that I didn't lose my memory.

He was still the Shang Xinglan she knew—kind, soft-hearted, and unwavering in his affections.

This is the kind of Shang Xinglan who deserves her wholehearted devotion, without fear of betrayal or abandonment, allowing her to fully display her selfishness, greed, and weakness.

"Even if you don't pretend to cry, I'll still put my fingerprint on it." Chu Li watched him tuck the Heavenly Marriage Contract into his clothes, as if it were incredibly precious and he would never let her touch it again. She wanted to laugh, but her heart was warm. "Shang Xinglan, do you like me that much?"

Shang Xinglan glanced at her and threatened in a low voice, "If there's a next time, I'll hate you."

Chu Li laughed out loud and said with absolute certainty, "You won't."

Shang Xinglan frowned, wanting to say something more, but a pair of warm and soft lips pressed against her cheek.

"When I ask you if you like me, you have to say that you really like me, understand?" Chu Li stared straight at him, as if she wanted to remember this moment forever, never to forget it even in death.

Upon hearing this, Shang Xinglan paused slightly. They had just been arguing, and now he found it difficult to say it. After a long while, he said softly, "I have said this many times."

No matter what Chu Li is like, in his heart she is a pure and flawless blank sheet of paper, a person as fragile and clean as a gardenia, making him willing to give everything for her like a moth drawn to a flame, hoping only to become her support.

"Speak," Chu Li repeated firmly.

"..." Shang Xinglan paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I just really like you."

Chu Li kissed him on the cheek as a reward, smiling gently, "What about the rouge box? Did you give it away?"

Remembering the rouge box he had crushed, Shang Xinglan coughed lightly, "Throw it away."

Chu Li looked at him meaningfully, then asked in a low voice, "Did you really throw it away? Or did you give it to someone you love?"

Shang Xinglan looked up at her and followed up on the conversation, saying, "I gave it to my sweetheart."

Chu Li pretended to pinch him, but Shang Xinglan pulled him onto her lap.

"Achu, please don't leave me again, I'm begging you." He buried his face in her chest and said in a muffled voice, "I want to be with you no matter what, even in death, I'll be happy. Don't you want me to be happy the most?"

Chu Li was stunned for a moment, listening to him say softly, "I know you want to make it up to me, but it's not necessary now. I've already forgiven you, ever since you saved me at the Soul Cleansing Spring."

While underwater, he almost gave up struggling, and the scene of Chu Li marrying him flashed through his mind.

He didn't fall in love with Chu Li at first sight; at least, his first impression of her was one of pity.

The little girl was so thin and frail, only twelve or thirteen years old, with hardly any flesh on her body. How could he possibly fall in love with her?

Like Chu Li now, he wants to make up for his past mistakes.

I want her to live happily in the business, carefree as an ordinary woman, where all she has to think about each day is whether the food is good or not, rather than whether she can eat at all.

When Shang Xinglan first saw her climbing over the wall, he was startled. She was incredibly bold, not using the main entrance but walking along the wall, and even daring to sit on the wall and pick persimmons for him to eat.

That was something he wanted to do as a child but didn't dare to, and if he got caught, he would definitely be punished.

While verbally forbidding anyone from climbing over the wall again, Shang Xinglan secretly removed the array in the east courtyard.

When servants spoke ill of her, she would fearlessly rush up and fight them, tearing her hair into a mess, but she would never admit defeat.

No rules or etiquette ever work on her.

She never waited for meals to be served at home; when she was hungry, she would go find food to eat. She could eat the fine wine and dishes at Fengyi Tower, and she also enjoyed the vegetable pancakes sold on the street. Occasionally, she would even be caught tricking children into eating candied hawthorns.

Chu Li lived a carefree and unrestrained life before him, so interesting and vibrant, so different from Shang Xinglan's stagnant life. He always wanted to see what unexpected things she could do.

The thought of her smile gave Shang Xinglan a renewed sense of strength. He had to live, to live as tenaciously as Chu Li.

This small Soul-Cleansing Spring is nowhere near as difficult as Chu Li's previous days.

That's why Shang Xinglan held on until Chu Li came to rescue him.

Her hair smudged like ink spreading in the water. Her fair face wasn't particularly beautiful, but at that moment she seemed like a goddess sent by heaven to save him. Shang Xinglan watched as she desperately grabbed his hand, trying to pull him up and then breathing on him.

He knew that Chu Li's heart already belonged to him.

From that day on, they finally became a real couple, supporting each other through thick and thin, and able to get through anything.

"I understand." Chu Li sat on his lap, leaned down and kissed him again and again. "I swear I will never abandon you again, or I'll be a beggar in my next life."

This is absolutely the most vicious oath she could utter.

Shang Xinglan said in a low voice, "Then come find me earlier in your next life, and I'll beg for food with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Li stared at him blankly, feeling as if something had gently bumped into her heart, causing a dull, aching pain. She couldn't help but whisper, "Can't you earn money to feed me?"

"I'll steal money and still give you food."

Chu Li chuckled softly, but as she laughed, tears welled up in her eyes again.

If Shang Xinglan had been by her side when she was a child... she can't imagine how much her life would have changed.

If they really have a next life, it doesn't matter if Shang Xinglan comes later, he must come.

“Let’s go back. Shang Jinyue must be very worried about you.”

Chu Li tapped his shoulder. "You beat him until he vomited blood. He might have internal injuries."

Hearing her words, Shang Xinglan's lips twitched slightly. His acting skills were indeed far inferior to his third brother's. She actually believed that Shang Jinyue would vomit blood if she was pushed.

It's so exaggerated, even a fool could tell it's fake, right?

Shang Xinglan lifted her off his lap, his expression turning colder. "Of course we have to go back, but there's still one thing we haven't resolved."

Chu Li looked at him in confusion, and saw him get up to leave, but before leaving, he turned back and snatched the dress she was wearing.

Outside the door, Gu Ye was still sitting cross-legged, resting his chin on his hand in frustration.

A moment later, the palace doors opened.

Shang Xinglan stood in front of him, her face extremely cold.

“Master…” Gu Ye quickly stood up from the ground, wanting to say something, but seeing Shang Xinglan’s expression, he couldn’t say anything.

Shang Xinglan threw the garment in her hand at his face and said coldly, "Since when?"

Upon hearing the sound, Chu Li walked to Shang Xinglan's side and secretly peeked half of her face at Gu Ye.

Serves them right.

How dare you covet her? Shameless!

Gu Ye caught the garment, which seemed to still retain the warmth of Chu Li's body. He remained silent for a while before saying softly, "I don't know either. I'll accept whatever punishment Master wants."

Shang Xinglan said calmly, "You don't need to follow me anymore. You can go now."

Gu Ye opened his eyes slightly and subconsciously said, "I'm not going anywhere."

Hearing his words, Shang Xinglan sneered, "Then what do you want to do? You did something like this and you still expect me to keep you alive?"

Gu Ye said matter-of-factly, "It's true that I like the mistress, but I won't compete with the master for her."

Chu Li was stunned.

Shang Xinglan was equally incredulous. "What did you say?"

“I said I won’t fight you for her. I promise, as long as you’re alive, I won’t touch a single hair on her head again.”

Shang Xinglan almost laughed out of anger, and pulled Chu Li behind her, "What if I die?"

Gu Ye pursed his lips and said seriously, "I will take care of your wife and children for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Li finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Shang Xinglan took a deep breath, turned her head and glared at her. Chu Li immediately stopped laughing, coughed lightly, and made a disgusted face, "Pah, who needs your care? Go to hell!"

Gu Ye glanced at her, his heart itching again, but before he could look at her for more than a few moments, he was completely hidden by a figure.

Shang Xinglan looked at him coldly, then kicked him far away. "For your godfather's sake, I won't kill you. Get lost."

Hearing his words, Gu Ye froze, slowly raising his head to look at him. "It is precisely because of your kindness in saving my godfather that I will not leave, no matter what you say."

He was a piece of meat that couldn't be cut or crushed. Shang Xinglan's head started to ache again. He really wanted to stab this ungrateful bastard to death, but during those years in the Demon Realm, only Gu Ye and Yan Xinbai were by his side, and their friendship was genuine.

Chu Li suppressed her smile, took Shang Xinglan's hand, pulled him to her side, and whispered in his ear.

Upon hearing this, Shang Xinglan's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and he muttered, "There is indeed such a spell, but only you could come up with such a method."

Chu Li glanced at him and said softly, "I'll take that as a compliment."

Gu Ye didn't know what they were discussing, but he soon found out.

"Gu Ye, does it hurt?"

Chu Li walked up to him, bent down, and asked with a smile.

Looking at her gentle, smiling face, Gu Ye's heart skipped a beat.

The next moment, the face transformed into that of the godfather, smiling with wrinkles, both kind and eerie.

Gu Ye: ...?

Seeing his ashen face and the look of discomfort he had as if he had swallowed a fly, Chu Li and Shang Xinglan couldn't help but chuckle softly.

She stomped hard on Gu Ye's boot and snorted, "If you ever dare to disrespect me again, you'd better think about your godfather."

If Gu Ye ever harbors those thoughts towards her again, her face will turn into the image of Gu Ye's godfather, to see if he still dares to covet her.

Gu Ye's lips twitched slightly, disgusted to the core. He couldn't bear to look at that face any longer and quickly looked away.

Okay, Chu Li, you win.