54. The Moon Hides the Egret
"Warm and cozy, you'll always have me."
The room, filled with the sweet scent of a young girl, had only one light on.
Shang Xinuan leaned against the headboard, holding Li Xiran in her arms.
The man, who had just taken a shower, felt a little feverish; a temperature check revealed a low-grade fever. This usually robust man, having endured a series of setbacks, finally succumbed to the comforts of his homeland.
"How do you feel after taking the medicine?" she asked softly, as if holding a baby.
"I'm fine, don't worry." Li Xiran wrapped his arms around her waist, his breath lightly inhaling the fragrance of her chest. Perhaps sensing her disbelief, he playfully pecked at her nipple through her clothes with his teeth, "It's possible that I want you, that's why I'm getting hot."
Shang Xin's waist went limp slightly. "Stop fooling around, be careful with your heart."
The doctor advised that although the knife wound was not fatal, it had still caused some damage to his heart function, and he should be very careful not to overexert himself.
“This kind of thing that makes your nerves feel good doesn’t count as overwork.” Li Xiran’s hands had already started to unbutton her pajamas.
Perhaps due to extreme repression, he needed some release. Shang Xinuan sensed that his actions today were more ruthless than usual, and he seemed unwilling to stop, extending the timeline as well.
"Nuan Nuan, you are my paradise," he said in a low voice.
Only when he was by her side could Li Xiran briefly forget all his troubles. Everyone must die eventually, and he hoped to die by her side.
In the middle of the night, Li Xiran lay on the bed, and Shang Xinuan used a warm towel to wipe his back. "Are you feeling any better?"
He took her hand and kissed it lightly. "Thank you, my wife."
He called her "wife" so skillfully and naturally that Shang Xinu only realized it belatedly.
What did you call me?
"Wife."
The young lady put down the towel and touched his forehead again, saying, "Your fever has gone down."
Li Xiran sighed deeply and pulled the person into his arms. "I'm perfectly sober, Nuannuan."
“...”
"Nuan Nuan, do you want to get married soon?"
He wanted to say: Nuannuan, let's get married after you graduate.
But when it came to the point of being spoken, it turned into a question.
He feared that his current situation might seem like he was feigning pitifulness to soften her heart, and he still hoped that the young lady was making a completely rational decision about marriage.
"Li Xiran, let's get married after I graduate," Shang Xinuan said calmly. "I'm serious, let's build a family together."
In terms of background, she and Li Xiran are quite similar.
The mothers all had children out of wedlock, and the fathers wanted to make amends, but could offer very little.
She was just lucky; she met her loving grandfather and uncle and aunt who healed her childhood nightmares and turned them into a fairy tale.
But occasionally, she still feels lonely.
It was an unspeakable emptiness that originated from the depths of the heart.
"Okay." Li Xiran finally closed his eyes wearily, still murmuring, "Shang Xinuan, I love you with my life."
-
The following week, the Li family began to announce the funeral, and prominent families in Shanghai came one after another to offer their condolences.
With her grandfather's consent, Shang Xinuan accompanied Li Xiran to handle the funeral arrangements.
The two elders of the eldest branch of the Li family sent a message early in the morning, saying that they were too old to come and that their son, Li Yuzhan, would handle all matters on their behalf.
Because Shang Xinuan was there, Qiao Xi stayed at the Li family's old house, busying herself with various tasks.
The two were both dressed in white Chanel suits, looking dignified and polite.
"After this incident, the whole of Shanghai knows you're my aunt," Qiao Xi said in a low voice. "Does Grandpa have any objections?"
After all, Shang Xinuan was still unmarried, and her public appearance at the funeral of the man's mother would inevitably attract some gossip and criticism.
“Grandpa agreed, and he also felt sorry for Li Xiran being all alone.” The funeral of the aristocratic family was grand and imposing. “The Li family’s status is what it is, and there will definitely be people who take advantage of his age to try to act tough. My presence here is equivalent to the Shang family’s presence here, and they will always consider Grandpa’s face.”
The powerful families are deeply intertwined; she wants to be both Li Xiran's vine and his leaf.
"My uncle is so lucky to have met you."
"It's a blessing for my brother to have met you."
Shang Dan arrived just in time and overheard the two of them talking back and forth. "This is the first time I've seen you two, sisters-in-law, praising each other like this in a business setting."
The young lady shoved an apple into Shang Dan's hand. "What, how about we become uncle and nephew?"
"You've really grown up." Shang Dan pinched her shoulder. "Where's Lao Li?"
"Yijing's two uncles have arrived, and he went to pick them up." It was Qin Jianchuan and Yisheng, and Bai Quezhou and Zeling. They used to play together often, but after the four of them got married and had children, they devoted all their energy to their careers and children.
“The Bai family…” Bai Quezhou is the brother of Li Yuzhan’s fiancée. “When Bai Quesi got engaged to Li Yuzhan, only the two of them came.”
Shang Xin replied, "Uncle Quezhou is a very good person. Among the Bai family, only Uncle Quezhou is not snobbish."
Just then, a group of people came in.
Yi Sheng's belly was already showing, while Ze Ling was holding a milky white little dumpling.
"Hello, uncles and aunts," Shang Xinuan greeted them sweetly.
"Still calling him Uncle and Aunt?" Bai Quezhou took his noisy son into his arms. "If you keep calling him that, will Old Li have to change how he addresses him in the future?"
Li Xiran's originally thin and tired face now showed a warm smile, "That makes you look good."
"The restaurant is all set up, let's go eat first," Shang Xinuan said, linking arms with Li Xiran.
After breakfast, everyone headed to the funeral home for the final farewell ceremony.
They were sitting in a private room when they suddenly saw a peculiar face appear in the lobby of the Yijing District.
"The Chen family from Yijing has actually come too," Bai Quezhou said softly.
The Chen family of Yijing and the Chen family of Shanghai are not of the same lineage, but if you trace back a few generations, you can find a connection.
However, in recent years, the Li family has not had much contact with the Chen family, so Li Xiran was not very clear about the reasons for the guests invited by her maternal family.
"The Chen family of Yijing has two branches. The second branch died in an accident abroad years ago, leaving behind a daughter. That's Chen Rongqing from the first branch, and next to her is his son, Chen Jingshu, who was abducted and has just been found." Qin Jianchuan had some dealings with the Chen family, so he knew a thing or two about it. "Before the Chen family patriarch passed away in early summer, it was a bloody and turbulent time, until this child came home..."
Even prominent families have their own set of difficult problems.
"Has Chen Rongqing been promoted again?" The Chen family is powerful because the eldest branch of the family is in politics and has commercial capital backing them. "I thought he should retire at his age."
“Aside from not being able to have children, he’s also a master at getting promoted,” Bai Quezhou mocked.
"What do you mean?" Qiao Xi asked curiously.
"Chen Rongqing's son claims that he was abducted in his early years and that his mother committed suicide due to depression."
"Isn't that so?"
Bai Quezhou covered his son's ears, "That boy, Chen Jingshu, was born from a depth charge."
“...”
The room fell silent as everyone looked at the tall, slightly gloomy-looking young man.
Shang Xinuan was the first to look away, but she couldn't help but glare at Chen Rongqing, "Scoundrel."
-
After the meal, everyone traveled by car to the funeral home.
On a winter morning, the sky was overcast.
As everyone arrived at the funeral home, the last rays of sunlight were obscured by dark clouds.
Inside the venue, Chen Shaoyi lay in the crystal coffin as if asleep.
Li Xiran gave her the utmost respect, burying her together with Li Qianyun.
Shang Xinuan secretly looked at Li Xiran's expression and saw that he was neither sad nor happy, but she could feel the sorrow surging in his heart.
She stepped forward, took Li Xiran's arm, looked him in the eye, and said, "It's not shameful for a man to cry."
As Shang Xin's warm voice faded, a tear slid down the corner of Li Xiran's left eye.
After the ceremony, Chen Shaoyi's lawyer called Li Xiran over.
Shang Xinuan left the hall first with the crowd.
In the empty courtyard, there were only a few people gathered in small groups.
There were some whispers among the crowd.
"Madam Chen made things difficult for Li Xiran a lot during her lifetime, but unexpectedly, he was the one who arranged this splendid funeral in the end."
“Sigh~ When a person dies, all that’s left is a handful of ashes. The living always need to find some comfort.” For Li Xiran, perhaps he was seeking the comfort that comes from the passing of his parents.
Chen Shaoyi's hatred for Li Xiran reflects her desire to live.
In the end, Li Xiran saw Chen Shaoyi off, which also conveyed his hope for forgiveness from his childhood.
Li Xiran finally emerged from the hall only after the crowd had dispersed.
Holding a letter, he had just reached the Bodhi tree in front of the courtyard when his legs gave way and he stumbled.
Shang Xinuan rushed forward to support him, "What's wrong?"
Li Xiran shook his head, but smiled when he looked at her. "My mother said she has forgiven me."
Li Xiran handed the will and letter to Shang Xinuan. The letter contained only one sentence: If Li Xiran presides over the funeral, the letter shall be presented; if it is someone else, the letter shall be destroyed.
Chen Shaoyi's will was only a few short sentences, and it was clear that she was in a state of exhaustion, both physically and mentally, before her death.
Her gist was: a dying person's words are often kind. Looking back on life, no one can live a smooth and peaceful life. She used to think she had been deceived, but later she realized that she simply didn't want to believe that Li Qianyun loved her. She was afraid that people would die for love, but hatred could be transformed into the ability to survive.
Finally, she also told Anya where she was buried.
“Nuan Nuan, I’ve found my mom too.” He had been searching for her for over twenty years, from childhood to adulthood.
Shang Xin hugged Li Xiran, "Let's go pick her up and take her home."
Anya was eventually buried by Li Xiran in London, where they had previously lived.
After he came of age, he bought the house and turned it into a small courtyard.
Lush willow trees surrounded the stream in the courtyard, and Anya slept soundly in the flower bed next to it.
-
After finishing these tasks, the end of the year is fast approaching.
The two returned to Shanghai before the Lunar New Year and stayed at the Shang family home, eating, drinking, and having a great time.
Li Xiran had gained a little weight and started working out with Shang Dan to build muscle.
“My uncle is really different now,” Qiao Xi said to Shang Xinu, holding a cup of hot tea.
The two friends sat together, and Shang Xinuan glanced at the two men in the gym who were secretly competing with each other. "Why are they different?"
“Since the funeral, I feel like my uncle has finally come back to life.” Qiao Xi raised an eyebrow.
Shang Xin smiled faintly, her eyes filled with Li Xiran's figure. "Yes! He has finally turned 11."
All those gloomy past events have now vanished.
The years to come will be filled with joy and warmth.
Are you going back to England for Chinese New Year?
There is no Spring Festival holiday in the UK, so students have to return to school on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Shang Zun had originally planned for his family to spend the Lunar New Year abroad so that his little princess wouldn't be lonely. However, after the New Year, the Shang family had Shang Dan and Qiao Xi's engagement ceremony, plus a series of business engagements, so even if he wanted to leave, the situation wouldn't allow it.
"My flight is tomorrow afternoon." The young lady looked somewhat dejected. "However, Li Xiran will come back with me."
"Shouldn't the Li family be just as busy as the Shang family?" Qiao Xi was surprised.
“Your uncle said that work is important, but having a little girl is even more important.” Li Xiran directly entrusted all of Li’s domestic affairs for the next year and a half to Chen Ti.
My flight back to the UK was on a dark night.
At the same altitude of tens of thousands of meters, the first-class cabin was dimly lit.
Amidst the turbulent airflow, Shang Xinuan couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
In her mind, Shanghai was still filled with the atmosphere of the New Year, and most people at the airport were on their way home.
Li Xiran reached out and took her soft little hands in his palms, stroking them gently. "Nuan Nuan, you'll always have me."
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 03:19:10 and 23:44:23 on June 9, 2023!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Peach Yakult Cool Ice 5 bottles; 34200402 3 bottles; hahall 2 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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