The fierce fighting paused, smoke thickening the air. The pungent smell of gunpowder, mixed with the stench of earth and blood, was almost nauseating. Inside the manor, everyone sat or lay, panting heavily with exhaustion. Blood still seeped from their wounds, but they had no time to care, simply seizing this moment of respite to regain their strength.
Chen Qingchen searched the crowd anxiously, finally spotting Jiang Zhi's slightly frail but still erect figure. He hurriedly pushed through the crowd and walked towards her, the bricks and stones beneath his feet clattering as his hurried steps clattered. As he approached, his eyes softened, filled with heartache and pity. Looking at Jiang Zhi's slightly exhausted but still resolute face, his unspoken thoughts and worries burst forth like a flood.
"Jiang Zhi, you've suffered along the way." Shen Qingchen's voice trembled slightly, choking with sobs. Every word seemed to come from the softest part of his heart. He raised his hand, as if wanting to touch Jiang Zhi's cheek and brush away the dust on her hair. But when his hand was halfway extended, as if afraid of disturbing her, he paused in mid-air, and finally slowly fell, his fingers gently grasping the corner of her clothes, as if this could confirm that she was really in front of him.
Jiang Zhi subconsciously shook her head slightly, avoiding his blazing gaze that seemed capable of burning her. Her gaze drifted to the distance, a desolate landscape ravaged by war. Broken walls cast long shadows in the setting sun, a perfect reflection of her chaotic state of mind. "Now is not the time for this," she said, her voice cold and distant, yet the slight tremor at the end betrayed the turmoil within her. How could she not know the affection in Shen Qingchen's eyes? But the pain of the past, like an invisible yet solid wall, stood between them, making her afraid to respond easily, fearing she would fall back into the same heartbreaking quagmire.
Shen Qingchen seemed oblivious to her words, his gaze fixed on her face, the deep affection in his eyes threatening to drown her. He knew full well that he had caused Jiang Zhi so much pain in the past, and the guilt and regret gnawed at his heart every lonely night. Now, fate had brought them together again, and he didn't want to miss even a moment of tenderness. So, as if driven by an invisible force, he reached out and grasped Jiang Zhi's hand tightly. Those hands, which had been intertwined with his countless times, now felt slightly cold.
"When this is over, can we start over?" Shen Qingchen's voice was low and firm, carrying an unquestionable resolve yet also a hint of cautious anticipation. Every word struck Jiang Zhi's heart. Jiang Zhi felt a shudder in her heart, and the sweetness and pain of the past suddenly flooded back like a tide. The beautiful images of them strolling together on the street, watching the sunset with laughter, flashed alternately with the painful scene of him turning away and taking Jiang Yao back during their divorce, leaving her momentarily unable to distinguish between dream and illusion.
Before she could answer, the quiet air was suddenly filled with the sound of a child's cry. The cry was like a sharp dagger, instantly piercing the delicate atmosphere at the moment. Jiang Zhi seemed to wake up from a dream, hastily pulling back her hand from Shen Qingchen's grasp, a flash of panic and uneasiness in her eyes. She ignored the momentary disappointment in Shen Qingchen's eyes and turned to run quickly towards the basement, her steps hurried and messy, raising a cloud of dust.
Shen Qingchen was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted and followed Jiang Zhi. The basement was dark and damp, filled with a stale, decaying smell. The dim light above her head flickered, as if it would go out at any moment. Jiang Zhi's figure shuttled through the dim light and shadow, quickly reaching the dark room door. She pushed the door open, and a milky fragrance mixed with the unique scent of a child hit her face. Jiang Zhi's heart instantly tightened, and her heart was in turmoil.
In the corner, a tiny child cried, his face flushed red. Tears welled up in his eyes, and small, pea-sized teardrops rolled down, soaking the collar of his swaddling clothes. He waved his fists helplessly in the air, his mouth wide open, his sobs piercing his eardrums. Jiang Zhi's heart was broken. She took a few steps forward, bent down, gently picked up the child, and held him tightly in her arms, whispering softly, "Baby, don't cry, don't cry, Mommy is here." Her voice was as gentle as the warmest spring breeze, full of endless comfort and doting. One hand gently patted the child's back, trying to calm him down.
Shen Qingchen stood at the doorway, watching the scene unfold silently, his heart swirling with complex, indescribable emotions. His gaze fell on the child; his features and features were remarkably like Jiang Zhi's. For a moment, the joy of becoming a father surged through him like a warm current, bringing tears to his eyes. But then, guilt washed over him like a surging tide. He remembered Jiang Zhi enduring the hardships of pregnancy and the excruciating pain of childbirth alone, and having to protect the child in this chaotic world, while he himself had been absent from all of this. Overwhelmed with self-blame, his fists clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white.
Under Jiang Zhi's comfort, the child gradually stopped crying, only occasionally sobbing twice, and his little hands tightly grasped Jiang Zhi's collar, as if afraid that she would disappear again. Jiang Zhi gently kissed the child's forehead, raised his head and looked at Shen Qingchen, his eyes revealing a bit of vigilance and alienation, as well as a subtle expectation. Shen Qingchen walked forward, his steps slow and heavy, as if he was afraid to disturb this fragile tranquility.
"He...is our child?" Shen Qingchen's voice trembled slightly, his eyes fixed on the child, trying to find more traces of himself on his tender face. His hand unconsciously stretched out, wanting to touch the child, but stopped in mid-air. He was afraid that the child would resist, and even more afraid that Jiang Zhi would be unhappy.
Jiang Zhi nodded slightly, hugged the child tightly, and said nothing. She didn't know how to face Shen Qingchen at this moment, nor did she know how to explain all this to him. The pain of the past made her build a wall in her heart, but deep in her heart, the love for Shen Qingchen was like an undercurrent, never truly drying up. She looked at Shen Qingchen, the light in her eyes flickering, as if she was in deep entanglement.
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