Chapter 335 The Untarnished Starlight
Fu Shenyuan slowly opened his eyes, his bright, obsidian-like eyes fixed on Jiang Ranxing, his gaze calm and unwavering like a still lake.
Jiang Ranxing's unbelievable past embraced him.
"hiss--"
"Sorry, I touched your wound," Jiang Ranxing quickly let go of his hand, noticing Fu Shenyuan instinctively clutching his chest wound. "Yes, yes, I'll go call a doctor, let the doctor take a look at you first—"
"Burning Star, calm down, Burning Star..."
Fu Shenyuan took Jiang Ranxing's hand. Although he didn't have much strength, the cool touch was enough to calm her down.
"I'll go find a doctor to take a look at you, wait for me."
"No need for that yet, Ranxing. Sit down and let me take a good look at you," Fu Shenyuan squeezed her hand. "Being able to see you again alive makes everything worthwhile."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ranxing sat down on the edge of the bed, turning her head to look at the man. At this moment, all the emotions in her heart surged up, bitterness, sweetness, heartache, love, and pain all rushed to her heart. It was as if she had a thousand words to say, but she could only say one sentence: "Thank you."
"That's not what I want to hear, Ranxing." Fu Shenyuan shook his hand, making her shake it. "Can you say something else to cheer me up?"
Fu Shenyuan became like this to save her, so she should say something, and must say something, to make Fu Shenyuan feel better.
But when the words reached her throat, she still couldn't say anything.
"Let's talk about it after you've recovered."
Fu Shenyuan blinked, his eyelids drooped, and he suddenly chuckled softly before laughing.
"Burning Star, I had a dream, let me tell you about it."
Jiang Ranxing nodded.
“When I was very young, I met a little girl who accompanied me through the most difficult time. At that time, she told me that she was starlight and would always shine on my mountains and rivers. She called me Brother Xiaochuan and would always be with me. At that time, I didn’t tell her that I was actually very happy and wanted to be with her for a lifetime.”
"Later, I found that my mind was out of control, and I even chose to drown myself in the sea. When I woke up, I couldn't escape the sea anymore. The beach was dark and cold that night, and I was terrified. Suddenly, my starlight appeared. It was like a beam of light that came from the sky and shone on me. It desperately saved me. It said, 'It doesn't matter if I die, as long as Brother Xiaochuan can live.'"
“My instinct was not to die, but I didn’t want her to die in my place. I wanted to save her life, but my mind became even more chaotic, and I couldn’t even control my limbs. I couldn’t save her, but she saved me with her life.”
"We were both rushed to the emergency room, barely escaping with our lives. Fortunately, we both survived. But unfortunately, we forgot what the other looked like. From that day on, my starlight dimmed."
"But actually, God has been very kind to me. He sent my starlight back to me in another form. But this time I wasn't so lucky to recognize her. In fact, I even personally caused her indelible harm. I'm really the stupidest person in the world."
"Burning Star, tell me, I know I was wrong, I'm willing to do anything to make up for it, do I still deserve to be forgiven?"
Jiang Ranxing remained silent for a long time.
Their story began long ago, as if they came into this world only to be entangled together for a lifetime, until an ending is reached.
They all remembered everything, from their first encounter to the final act of standing in front of her and stabbing her in the heart with a sharp knife.
The story was full of twists and turns, and neither of them knew how to end it so that they could give each other a perfect ending.
Fu Shenyuan squeezed her hand again.
Jiang Ranxing seemed to have just come to his senses and said calmly, "The damage has already been done, so let's let it all go. From now on, we're even, and we shouldn't bring this up again."
I will save your life.
You took a knife for me.
A life for a life.
You've repaid all the debts you owed me, and all the grudges can be settled.
Fu Shenyuan, however, was extremely unwilling: "No, we can't just let this go."
Everything else can pass, but this is the only thing that won't.
"I owe you, this knife is nothing. I want to spend my whole life repaying your kindness. You can't deny me this opportunity."
Jiang Ranxing did not respond: "Let's talk about it later. Let the doctor take a look at you first."
Jiang Ranxing pressed the call button by the bedside. Under Fu Shenyuan's reluctant gaze and her insistence, he finally agreed to the doctor's examination.
As she walked out of the intensive care unit, feeling relieved, she looked up and met another pair of eyes watching her from around the corner.
Wen Qingrang walked over, glanced into the intensive care unit first, and then looked at her.
"He's awake, you can rest assured."
Jiang Ranxing nodded.
"Let me take you home to rest. You can't stay here like this forever; your body won't be able to take it."
Jiang Ranxing shook his head again.
Wen Qingrang sighed softly.
"Qingrang, go ahead and do your thing. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
Jiang Ranxing stood up, but when she tried to walk outside, her steps faltered and she fainted.
"Burning Star!" Wen Qingrang exclaimed, and carried her back to the ward.
She had been working so hard for so long, and her body was completely exhausted. She desperately needed an IV drip and rest.
However, this time Jiang Ranxing was no longer as anxious as she had been when she was unconscious.
Having witnessed Fu Shenyuan wake up, she felt relieved and was able to rest peacefully and fall asleep.
Wen Qingrang also quietly stood guard outside her hospital room.
Time flies, and half a month has passed quickly.
Jiang Ranxing had long since recovered from her coma and weakness, while Fu Shenyuan, due to his serious injuries, could only recover. It would probably take a long time for him to fully recover, but fortunately, he had already returned to a normal life.
They left the hospital separately.
Jiang Ranxing was picked up by Jiang Yan and taken back to the Jiang family.
Fu Shenyuan was driven away by Tan Shen and taken back to the villa.
Fu Xingyi was naturally happy to see his father return home, but he was still worried about his mother. After he and his mother were kidnapped, they suffered a lot of shock and fright. Fu Shenyuan also had a rare conversation with his young son.
Fu Xingyi seemed to understand as well, and in the end, the father and son reached a consensus: they must treat their wife and mother well and not do anything to make Jiang Ranxing unhappy.
After Fu Hongkai, Lin Xuesha, and their accomplices were arrested for kidnapping, the police followed Fu Hongkai's trail and uncovered more criminal gangs led by Zhao Dong. Zhao Dong was so angry in prison that he wanted to tear Fu Hongkai apart, but unfortunately, none of them would ever have the chance to get out.
Twenty-two days after the kidnapping, the procuratorate formally filed a public prosecution against Fu Hongkai and Lin Xuesha. Before the first trial, the court summoned Fu Shenyuan and Jiang Ranxing to appear in court as witnesses.
At the entrance of the procuratorate, Jiang Ranxing, dressed in a professional suit, stood on the steps, gazing at the solemn sign with a mix of emotions.
Then Fu Shenyuan arrived, stood beside her, and extended his hand to her.
"Let's go, let's accept all of this with our own hands."
A moment later, Jiang Ranxing placed her hand on his palm.
"According to relevant laws and regulations, this court hereby sentences suspect Fu Hongkai to death for dozens of crimes, including kidnapping, organizing murder, and economic embezzlement, with deprivation of political rights for life. The sentence will be pronounced and executed at a later date. Suspect Lin Xuesha is sentenced to life imprisonment for seven crimes, including kidnapping, harboring murder, and economic crimes, with deprivation of political rights for life. The sentence will be pronounced and executed at a later date."
Thud—
The gavel fell, and the judge formally pronounced the verdict and adjourned the court.
Fu Hongkai refused to accept the verdict and shouted that he was not satisfied and wanted to appeal again. The court would not allow such behavior. Prison guards immediately came to apprehend and restrain Fu Hongkai, and pulled him off the dock and handcuffed and shackled him.
"Fu Shenyuan! Just you wait, your end will be ten thousand times worse than mine, you will definitely die a horrible death!"
Fu Shenyuan did not react to Fu Hongkai's curses, but Jiang Ranxing, who was sitting next to him, could sense that his emotions were not so stable.
Lin Xuesha, upon learning that she would never be able to leave prison for the rest of her life, cursed viciously, but was restrained by the prison guards.
"Jiang Ranxing! Fu Shenyuan! You two won't have an easy time! You don't deserve happiness!"
Lin Xuesha had completely lost her former elegance as a young lady. When she became a prisoner, she was a terrible sight to behold, and she was dragged away by the prison guards.
Their curses are nothing compared to the lives Fu Shenyuan and Jiang Ranxing are living now.
Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished; the cycle of karma has always been so.
The judges and court clerks also left.
The crowd in the courtyard gradually dispersed.
Finally, all the lights in Courtroom 3 of the Criminal Court were turned off.
Fu Shenyuan and Jiang Ranxing haven't left yet.
They all knew that what had just ended here was not just a case, but also the chaotic story that had unfolded between them.
The hammer of fate has fallen.
Everything has come to an end.
Their story can finally be without any more twists and turns.
At the same time, the sky over the city finally cleared up, and the long-awaited sunshine filled every corner of the city.
Ten days after the first trial concluded, Wens Foodstuff Group's company in China announced its delisting, marking the official end of an era for this long-established enterprise.
After leaving early in the morning, Grandpa Wen went to his vineyard abroad and began a leisurely retirement life, tending to his flowers and plants with great enthusiasm.
On the day Wen Qingrang was about to leave, Jiang Ranxing went to the airport early in the morning to wait for him.
Inside the lounge, Jiang Ranxing handed the gift bag he was holding to Wen Qingrang.
"The temperature difference between day and night in country K is huge. This is a scarf I made myself to keep warm when I go to and from get off work."
Inside the gift bag was a camel-colored cashmere scarf with a low-key and simple pattern, which suited Wen Qingrang's temperament very well.
Wen Qingrang smiled, put the gift bag away, and when he looked at Jiang Ranxing again, he still asked that question.
"Burning Star, let's leave together? Let's go to K country and live a life where no one will bother us. The kind of life you once longed for is the life we want to live for the rest of our lives."
"Qingrang, thank you for your kindness. I really like that kind of peaceful life, and I would definitely be very happy with you because I know you will treat me well. However... I have a new family now, my brother, my parents. We are all changing, and I can't just think about myself. The Jiang family needs me, and you, the new Wen family, also needs you."
“I already knew your answer, but I still wanted to try. Never mind,” Wen Qingrang stood up and extended his hand to her. “Ranxing, whenever you’re willing, come to K Country to find me. We’ll be the same as before—”
They will be the same as they were at the beginning.
"We are still friends."
Jiang Ranxing smiled and said, "Okay, we're still friends."
The friendship we shared will continue to shine in the days to come.
Wen Qing wrapped her coat tighter and boarded the plane bound for Country K.
The plane soared across the sky, leaving a straight line in the misty white. Jiang Ranxing stood on the jet bridge and watched the plane gradually disappear from sight. His mind was in turmoil for a long time before he finally turned around and left silently.
On the plane, Wen Qingrang also turned his gaze away from the ground.
Shortly afterward, the second trial results for Fu Hongkai and Lin Xuesha's case were also released, and the original verdict was upheld.
On the day Fu Hongkai was executed, Xu Hui and Fu Yuqi both came to Fu Shenyuan to plead for leniency. But if pleading were effective, there would be no need for the law.
Under the gun of justice, Fu Hongkai, this cancer, was completely eradicated from this world.
Lin Xuesha's situation was even worse. A life sentence meant she would spend the rest of her life in prison with no chance of ever getting out. After the Lin family went bankrupt with huge debts, Lin Heyuan was also arrested and imprisoned. Su Yuening and Xiao Che, who had gone abroad, escaped this fate. The Lin family had also completely fallen into ruin.
Meanwhile, in the Jiang family, Jiang Yan now spends most of his time managing the company, successfully transforming into an elite man. His newlywed wife, Mia, however, still works as a designer with Jiang Ranxing and won first place in the International New Designer Competition, gaining a place on the international stage with her professional skills.
Not long after, at breakfast at the Jiang family's house, Mia vomited. A check-up at the hospital revealed that she was several weeks pregnant.
Jiang Yan was overjoyed and excitedly stroked the baby through Mia's belly every day.
“The baby hasn’t even taken shape yet, what can you touch?” Mia asked.
"He will know. In fact, he must be able to sense it from his father."
Mia smiled and hugged Jiang Yan.
Not long after, Mia's early pregnancy symptoms became more and more severe.
Jiang Yan was so nervous that he stopped going to work and spent every day wanting to stay with Mia and the child. The elite man turned into a henpecked husband.
Jiang Ranxing felt that her brother's condition was not good, so she suggested arranging a position for Mia in the company so that she could be taken care of.
As a result, Jiang Yan directly opened a branch company focusing on design and fashion, and put Mia in charge as the boss.
Mia was not up to the task, so she called a halt and offered to work as a designer in the company. She also called Jiang Ranxing over to support her. With Jiang Ranxing there, she was practically the most authoritative figure in the design world.
Another winter has passed, and the Jiang family's design company has successfully risen to the top of the industry, even rivaling Ji Shiheng's Lingsu.
At the fashion gala, Jiang Ranxing ran into Ji Shiheng, who still showed interest in her, but Jiang Ranxing didn't reciprocate.
Ji Shiheng jokingly said, "It seems that Fu Shenyuan still hasn't won his wife back. It's a wonder he made such a big scene before, almost losing his life and still couldn't appease his wife. Tsk tsk."
Ji Shiheng has always been sarcastic in his words to Fu Shenyuan.
Jiang Ranxing smiled but didn't say anything.
"You really didn't agree to him?" Ji Shiheng asked seriously. "Well, it's good that I didn't agree, that way I still have a chance."
"Mr. Ji is joking."
Ji Shiheng raised an eyebrow slightly: "Why don't you reconsider me? I quite like you. I can treat you even better than Fu Shenyuan. Don't you believe me?"
"That's not what I meant, I just don't want to think about it."
Ji Shiheng couldn't make a fool of himself.
At the stylish gala dinner, Jiang Ranxing's company received widespread praise from the industry.
Jiang Ranxing's influence in the fashion industry is growing, and he is gradually reaching the level of a master like his mentor, Zhou Yinxiu.
At the same time, Jiang Ranxing had more and more suitors, but without exception, they were all driven away by Fu Shenyuan in various ways.
Now everyone knows that Jiang Ranxing is taken, even though this guy never managed to win her over.
When winter turned to spring, Fu Shenyuan came to wait for Jiang Ranxing downstairs at his company again.
The employees all know that he is the boss's suitor, the youngest and most promising tycoon in the city. Countless women are chasing after him, but he doesn't even glance at them. Whenever he has a break from work, he can always find Fu Shenyuan wherever Jiang Ranxing is.
Mia always disliked him whenever she saw him, and even tried to drive him away at one point, but Fu Shenyuan's determination towards Jiang Ranxing was not something that could be easily dispelled.
"Aren't you annoyed, Fu Shenyuan? We will never agree to Ranxing being with you, don't even think about it!" Mia was already showing her pregnancy, but her imposing manner with her hands on her hips was not weak at all, she looked just like the matriarch of the Jiang family.
Fu Shenyuan dared not provoke her: "I just came to see Ranxing and see how she is."
Mia said, "She's perfectly fine without you, so hurry up and go!"
Helpless, Fu Shenyuan drove the car away, but then drove it back when Mia wasn't around, just to wait for Jiang Ranxing to come out.
Seeing Jiang Ranxing chatting and laughing with his colleagues, Fu Shenyuan felt a sense of fulfillment, as if his heart was filled with something.
He was content as long as he could see her.
But this contentment was gradually replaced by dissatisfaction. After getting a handful of water, he wanted a lake; after getting a lake, he wanted an ocean. He would never be satisfied until he got Jiang Ranxing.
That day, after Jiang Ranxing finished her new design project, Fu Shenyuan was waiting for her downstairs with flowers.
"Burning Star, do you have time? I have a gift I'd like to give you."
Fu Shenyuan sends Jiang Ranxing gifts almost every day, and he seems to enjoy it immensely. Even when Jiang Ranxing coldly tells him to stop sending gifts, he doesn't listen and continues to gather the best things from all over the world to send to her. The company's lounge alone is piled up like a warehouse with gifts from Fu Shenyuan.
After Jiang Ranxing realized that she couldn't control him either, she let him do as he pleased. As long as it didn't affect her work and life, she didn't really care what Fu Shenyuan was doing.
"Let's go take a look. Get in my car, I'll take you. You'll definitely like it."
For some reason, Fu Shenyuan was unusually persistent and clingy about this today.
After getting into the car, Jiang Ranxing looked out the window at the scenery rushing past the city. She knew where Fu Shenyuan was taking her—the seaside where their intertwined fates began.
I used to think that the sea that Fu Shenyuan had specially fenced off for Lin Xuesha was actually a token of his love that he had always kept for her.
The once desolate seaside has been transformed into a beautiful landscape.
Vast expanses of countless pink and white roses carpeted the ground, forming a sea of flowers that connected to the sea. Balloons, ribbons, and champagne created an exceptionally romantic atmosphere, while the pink clouds and mist along the beach made it feel like stepping into a painting—a stark contrast to the terrifying scenes of the past.
He wants to refresh the old memories and cover them up.
Jiang Ranxing understood that Fu Shenyuan was doing everything he could to help her heal her wounds and bring back her smiles.
Fu Shenyuan led Jiang Ranxing to the center of the sea of flowers and took out an old photograph from his pocket.
"This is……"
Fu Shenyuan said, "I found the old man who used to take pictures on this beach all those years ago, and bought this photo from him."
In the photo, they are both still young, but it is clear that their small faces are exactly the same as their grown-up selves, like miniature versions of them.
"If only I had found this photo sooner, we wouldn't have missed it for so many years."
"There are no 'what ifs' anymore, it's all in the past."
“It’s all in the past, but we still have a future.” Fu Shenyuan took her hand and knelt on one knee. “Ranxing, give us a future. I will treat you even better. I will live for you for the rest of my life.”
Jiang Ranxing looked at the handsome man kneeling in front of her, took out a velvet box from her bosom, and took out a sparkling ring from it. The diamond on the ring setting was shaped like a star.
She had seen this in the fashion news not long ago. It was a new design by an internationally renowned jewelry master after many years, and the master's brilliance was fully reflected in this ring.
Everyone was curious about what kind of person could make this master come out of seclusion, but they never expected that it was Fu Shenyuan who personally sought out the ring for her.
My heart started pounding rapidly.
"Burning Star, marry me again, let me love you properly again. This time, I will cherish you and never let you be sad."
A touching promise, a beautiful scene, and a handsome and affectionate man.
What Jiang Ranxing rarely dreamed of before has now actually appeared before his eyes.
After experiencing countless hardships and tears, she was truly loved by Fu Shenyuan.
Jiang Ranxing blinked, her nose tingling slightly. The man in front of her was still waiting for her answer.
No matter what, many years from now, this moment will be etched into her core memory, radiating a pink glow.
The waves, carrying the sea breeze, bring the fragrance of roses, which mingles with the damp, slightly salty sea air, instantly calming the mind.
Jiang Ranxing looked up as the night began to unfold. Beside the pale moonlight, there was a shining star, which shone brighter and brighter.
The starlight, once obscured by dust, is now revealed once more upon the mountains and seas.
It's as if it's saying: Thank you for never giving up on pursuing happiness. Now, if you're willing, you already have happiness.
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