Qingfeng City has become much more prosperous.
As you walk down the street, people are praising this youngest city lord.
When Gu Jiangli and Jiang Huaizhi arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, their third brother, whom they hadn't seen for a long time, had grown into a young man. He smiled and was respectful and polite, sharing his insights on governing Qingfeng City with them.
Not long after, Jiang Huaizhi and Gu Jiangli set off for the capital.
Nan Yu, who was serving as an official in the imperial city, did not miss the opportunity to greet them at the city gate.
This time, they were openly touring the capital, and naturally some people wanted to befriend them. However, unlike before, they didn't have strong ulterior motives; they were more interested in seeing what kind of family had raised children like Nan Yu and Yun Qing.
They stayed in the capital for some time. Yun Qing probably heard the news, so she came from outside to meet with them.
Six months have passed, and both Gu Jiangli and Jiang Huaizhi are getting a little bored.
Perhaps because they are getting old, and their children are living fulfilling lives, and they were very happy with their days of traveling and sightseeing, they plan to return to Qingfeng City.
After returning, Gu Jiangli and Jiang Huaizhi never left the city again.
One winter day, Jiang Huaizhi sat in a recliner with a huge umbrella over his head. Snow was falling heavily in the courtyard, and the branches of the trees were covered with frost.
Gu Jiangli placed a recliner next to him and lay down with him. She held his hand and felt it was a little cold.
"Huaizhi, it's getting cold. Let's watch the snow for a while longer before going inside."
Jiang Huaizhi smiled and looked at the snow scene outside. "Jiang Li, for some reason, I keep dreaming about the first time I met you."
"Really?" Gu Jiangli smiled as well. "What was it like when you first met me?"
She asked, her gaze wandering as if lost in memories.
In fact, Gu Jiangli knew in her heart that the doctor had said a long time ago that Jianghuai's days were numbered.
Looking at the few gray hairs at his temples and calculating his age, she realized that he couldn't really be considered to have died young, so she took it all in stride.
Gu Jiangli remembered their first meeting very clearly, but she just wanted to hear what Jiang Huaizhi had to say.
His eyes grew distant, a faint smile playing on his lips, and he said in a low voice:
"Back then, you pretended to be bullied, deliberately bumping into me, crying and looking aggrieved. I then pretended to be a refined and righteous young master, asking you what happened, intending to stand up for you... Jiang Li, do you remember?"
Gu Jiangli nodded. How could she not remember?
At that time, she knew that her mission target was not Jiang Huaisong but Jiang Huaizhi, so she tried every means to leave a deep impression on him and, incidentally, teach Jiang Huaisong a lesson. That's why she deliberately put on a show in front of Jiang Huaizhi.
"Huaizhi, looking back now, you were acting back then too, and I wasn't being my true self either. We were both acting out different versions of ourselves with our own purposes."
"Thank goodness... thank goodness I met the real you, and you didn't despise the real me."
Gu Jiangli grasped his hand, using more force, but no matter what, Jiang Huaizhi's hand simply couldn't warm up completely.
“Huaizhi, what you did was extreme, but it was also reasonable. If I were you, I might not have done any better. I might have been even more insane, more ruthless, and more heartless. So, you did nothing wrong. The one who was truly wrong has already been punished. How could I possibly despise you for not doing anything wrong?”
Jiang Huai remained silent for a long time without speaking.
He seems really tired.
His eyes looked like they were about to close, but they weren't quite closed yet.
After a while, he exhaled, his expression seemingly reluctant:
"Jiang Li, meeting you is perhaps a gift from heaven. I know it's time for me to leave, but I'm worried. What will you do if I leave? Will you be bored, lonely, or scared...?"
"I don't want to leave, Jiang Li, I can't bear to leave you alone..."
Gu Jiangli choked up, unable to speak.
In fact, the doctor examined him some time ago and said he might only have a month left to live.
But after that, a month passed, autumn went, and winter came.
Jiang Huaizhi's health did not improve, but he did not die young as the doctor had predicted.
She thought that Jiang Huaizhi's health was still good and it wasn't time for him to leave yet.
Unexpectedly, it was because he couldn't bear to leave himself that he stayed.
Gu Jiangli shifted her body slightly, snuggling into his arms, her ear pressed against his chest, listening to his beating heart.
She stammered, "Huaizhi, I'll be fine, don't worry, I really will be fine."
Jiang Huaizhi forced a smile. "To be honest, Jiang Li, I really want to die after you. If I go first, you love me so much, you will definitely cry day and night and not be able to sleep. I'm really afraid that you will suffer and become haggard because of this."
Gu Jiangli choked up and didn't say anything.
"Jiang Li, after I die, you can cry for me for three days. After three days, don't be sad for me anymore, okay?"
Gu Jiangli hummed softly against his chest.
She heard Jiang Huaizhi chuckle softly, as if he were in a good mood.
A moment later, a low, husky voice reached her ears: "Jiang Li, I love you too."
Gu Jiangli's body trembled, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.
She had never said such words to Jiang Huaizhi, but he believed that her love was hidden in her actions and in her eyes.
Therefore, his use of "also" is a response to his love for her.
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