Huaiyu, you must be safe and sound!
There are still so many things I haven't told you, and countless dreams I haven't shared with you. You must wait for me!
The lotus pond was vast and dark, and Bai Yujing's small boat darted through it.
"Huaiyu, Huaiyu!"
He called his wife's name over and over again, hoping to hear a response.
However, in this dark lotus pond, apart from the chirping of insects, there was no other sound to answer his call.
Bai Yujing rowed tirelessly, his heart filled with despair and helplessness.
He had just walked down the aisle with her, had not yet had the chance to tenderly care for her, had not yet conceived a new life together, and had not yet confided the feelings hidden deep in his heart to her...
He cannot accept the reality of losing her; he absolutely cannot!
Time seemed to freeze, the torchlight gradually dimmed, and an indescribable terror suddenly welled up in Bai Yujing's heart.
He quickly took off his outer garment, tore it into thin strips, and used them to maintain the faint light of the torch.
"Huaiyu, where are you?"
His cries were almost tearing his throat apart, yet he still dared not stop for a moment.
The night was deep and the silence was suffocating. Just as he was about to fall into the abyss of despair again, suddenly, a few faint knocking sounds came from afar.
He quickly held his breath and listened carefully.
Sure enough, it was a knocking sound!
Bai Yujing immediately adjusted the direction of the oars and headed towards the direction from which the sound came. As he approached, he vaguely recognized a piece of driftwood floating on the lake, and the figure on that driftwood was none other than his beloved wife!
His heart was pounding in his chest. He quickly jumped into the water and carefully helped Jiang Huaiyu onto the boat.
She seemed utterly exhausted, only briefly opening her eyes after boarding the ship to glance at Bai Yujing before drifting back to sleep.
Her body was as cold as ice, so Bai Yujing held her tightly in his arms, warming her icy body with his own body heat.
"Huaiyu, everything is alright. I will take you home."
He no longer had the strength to row back, so he could only hold her tightly and talk to her.
Jiang Huaiyu nestled in his arms, listening to his rapid and steady heartbeat, her body gradually relaxed and regained its calm.
Seeing her so weak, Bai Yujing felt as if her heart was being crushed.
He felt both pain and deep remorse.
"Huaiyu, don't sleep, talk to me, someone will come to rescue us soon."
Jiang Huaiyu did not answer; her breathing was weak and shallow.
Bai Yujing gently stroked her cheek and was surprised to find that her cheek, which had been cold just moments before, had now become burning hot.
"Huaiyu, wake up! We're on our way home, and we'll be back in our warm home soon."
He pressed his cheek tightly against her soft face, and only by feeling her faint breath could his inner turmoil subside slightly.
Jiang Huaiyu also wanted to respond to him.
However, after floating in the water for two long hours, she had exhausted all her strength.
Suddenly, hot tears streamed down her face, and she heard Bai Yujing's suppressed sobs.
"All the mistakes were my fault. I shouldn't have argued with you. If I had come to greet you today, perhaps none of this misfortune would have happened, and you wouldn't have suffered so much..."
"If anything were to happen to you, how would I survive alone in this world..."
Those glistening tears fell one by one onto her forehead, cheeks, and lips.
Jiang Huaiyu gently stuck out the tip of her tongue and licked it. Hmm, it had a salty and astringent taste.
She wanted to tell him that today's tragedy was just an accident, and no one could have predicted it would happen. If she were to be coveted by that wicked person, even if not today, there was no guarantee that she wouldn't suffer misfortune tomorrow or the day after.
But she no longer had the strength to speak, and could only listen to Bai Yujing's repentance and self-blame in her ear.
She thought to herself that this man was truly trustworthy.
Even though he has someone else in his heart, she is willing to spend her life with him because of his sense of responsibility.
Looking back, perhaps she was too fixated on the details.
Just as she was lost in thought, she heard Bai Yujing whisper, "I was wrong, Huaiyu. I should have confessed to you directly that day that I admired you. Perhaps I fell deeply in love with you the moment we first met. When I couldn't find you just now, I was terrified, worried that I would never have the chance to tell you these deep feelings..."
Jiang Huaiyu's previously confused consciousness immediately became clear.
She forced open her heavy eyelids and asked in a hoarse voice, "Bai Yujing, what did you just say?"
The torches had long since burned out, and under the bright moonlight, her eyes shone with a clear, watery light.
Bai Yujing's gaze was piercing as he stared intently into her eyes. He said in a firm and steady tone, "Huaiyu, I want to tell you that my love for you, my desire to spend the rest of my life with you, is as steadfast as a rock."
"Really?"
Bai Yujing raised his finger and pointed to the sky, "If this is a lie, may the heavens punish me!"
Jiang Huaiyu stood there, stunned, her heart filled with turbulent emotions.
"The one you love is not Jiang Shuqin?"
"Of course not!"
"But you have admitted that you and she have an unusual past."
Bai Yujing gently shook her head, as if swaying in the wind, "Between her and me, everything is pure and innocent. Apart from our engagement, there has never been the slightest transgression. You should know all this perfectly well."
Jiang Huaiyu asked in confusion, "Since you have no feelings for her, why is her portrait hanging in your room with such affectionate words written on it, and even... you carried it with you after marriage?"
Bai Yujing was stunned for a moment. When had he ever done such a thing?
He gave a bitter smile and said, "Huaiyu, isn't there some misunderstanding between us that needs to be clarified?"
Jiang Huaiyu was in turmoil, but nodded slightly, "I think that's true."
Bai Yujing's expression was serious, and his tone was firm. "Then, I will go through it all for you in detail from beginning to end."
Having gone through today's turmoil, he deeply realized that if he didn't make things clear, he might never have another chance.
He recounted everything without reservation, from his first meeting with Jiang Shuqin to her heartfelt confession, their engagement and exchange marriage, to his union with Jiang Huaiyu, and even the origins of the portrait.
After listening, Jiang Huaiyu felt enlightened.
"In other words, you asked Xie Wenyin to burn that portrait, but she secretly hid it, attempting to sow discord between us."
"Yes, that should be the case."
With the misunderstanding cleared up, Jiang Huaiyu's mood gradually brightened, and a touch of joy quietly blossomed in her heart, growing stronger and heavier.
She gently stroked her pounding chest and gazed at Bai Yujing with deep affection.
"Could you...say it to me again?"
A knowing look crossed Bai Yujing's eyes. He smiled slightly, gazed into her eyes, and said affectionately, "Huaiyu, I love you. I wish you could spend this life with me and never change your heart."
Jiang Huaiyu raised her head, revealing a bright, spring-like smile.
"I am willing, Bai Yujing, I also admire you."
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