Tan Xiangchen looked directly into Li Yuzhu's eyes for the first time, his eyes full of gratitude and trust. He whispered, "Thank you, Yuzhu. I have been avoiding you for years, but after seeing you, I finally understand what I should do."
Li Yuzhu's eyes were slightly moist. She nodded slightly but didn't dare to say anything more.
Tan Xiangchen looked at her with heartache, as if he saw through the difficulties she had gone through over the years.
He raised his hands to hold her face and asked gently, "Have you been well these years? Have you taken good care of yourself?"
Li Yuzhu bit her lip, trying not to let the tears flow down. She answered softly: "It's okay, just a little tired." She didn't want to make Tan Xiangchen worry.
Tan Xiangchen shook his head with heartache: "I'm sorry for not coming back earlier." He reached out to wipe away Li Yuzhu's tears, hugged her tightly, and kept apologizing.
Li Yuzhu bit her lip, trying not to cry anymore. She said softly, "Let the past be the past. We are together as a family now, and that's enough."
Tan Xiangchen hugged her tightly and responded softly: "Yes, we will be together forever. Twenty years of suffering is enough. The pain of separation makes me cherish the person in front of me even more."
Li Yuzhu leaned in his arms, feeling his comfort and warmth. She smiled and suggested, "Xiang Chen, let's get married after we go back! This will make up for my regret of never wearing a wedding dress in my life."
Tan Xiangchen was stunned for a moment, then he smiled gently: "Okay, I will definitely let you wear a beautiful wedding dress." He remembered that Li Yuzhu once fantasized about wearing a wedding dress, and a strong desire surged in his heart.
Li Yuzhu's eyes sparkled with anticipation: "I have imagined myself wearing a wedding dress, and now I hope you can help me realize this wish."
Tan Xiangchen hugged her tightly and whispered, "I will make you the happiest bride."
At this moment, the bedroom door was kicked open by Li Yumei.
She saw Li Yuzhu and Tan Xiangchen hugging each other and kissing passionately, as well as underwear and other clothes scattered on the ground, her eyes filled with hatred.
Li Yuzhu and Tan Xiangchen were both startled when they heard the sound. Li Yuzhu quickly helped Tan Xiangchen tie the belt of his bathrobe to protect his privacy.
Tan Xiangchen watched Li Yuzhu tying the belt with love in his eyes.
"You...you guys..." Li Yumei glared at the two of them, her voice trembling but full of anger, "How could you do this to me? In order to get you, I did everything I could, even treating your illness and choosing medicine for you, but you would rather soak in cold water than touch me!"
Tan Xiangchen raised his head, his expression was cold and his tone was firm: "Li Yumei, I have never liked you. You tried every trick you could, but I only have Li Yuzhu in my heart. She is the love of my life, and I never thought I would like you."
He took Li Yuzhu's hand, his eyes firm: "From now on, I will no longer hide, and I will never be separated from her again."
Li Yumei's face turned pale instantly. This was the first time she showed her dark side in front of Tan Xiangchen.
She was jealous of Li Yuzhu and didn't understand why Tan Xiangchen liked her but not herself, even though she thought she was better than Li Yuzhu in every way.
"You like her because she looks like me, but her soul is completely different!" Li Yuzhu withdrew her thoughts from Tan Xiangchen's gaze, and was in a good mood because she could be with Tan Xiangchen. "Tan Xiangchen likes people, not appearances. He likes my kindness, sincerity and hard work."
"Just because you like someone doesn't mean you don't like them enough. Although we look similar, our souls are completely different," Li Yuzhu emphasized.
Li Yumei felt a sharp pain in her heart when she saw the two people holding hands tightly. She closed her eyes and tried not to look at them, but she couldn't calm down.
When she opened her eyes, a dark smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Tan Xiangchen, if you don't come to me, I will tell Li Yuzhu everything about the past."
Tan Xiangchen looked at Li Yumei with a look of nervousness and uneasiness in his eyes.
Li Yuzhu held Tan Xiangchen's hand tightly, with her fingertips trembling slightly.
There was a hint of fear in her eyes, and her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible: "Xiang Chen, it turns out that all these years... it was Li Yumei who threatened you, right?"
She felt as if something had stabbed her in the heart, and finally understood why Tan Xiangchen had never contacted her in the past twenty years.
It turned out that Li Yumei was behind all this.
Tan Xiangchen sensed her nervousness and gently held her hand back, his eyes gentle but firm: "Yuzhu, don't be afraid, I won't leave again."
His voice was low, but it carried a reassuring power.
Li Yuzhu still held his hand tightly, as if he would disappear if she let go.
"I...I really can't lose you again." There was a hint of sob in her voice and tears in her eyes.
Li Yuzhu took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
Her voice gradually became firm: "Xiang Chen, I have experienced life and death, and there is nothing to be afraid of. For Zhengchu and those grandchildren, I am willing to face any difficulties."
She raised her head and looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't believe what the outside world says, especially what Li Yumei says. She has been lying to you and to me."
However, despite her firm tone, there was still a hint of uncertainty in her heart.
She knew Tan Xiangchen loved her, but she wasn't sure if he would leave again.
This uneasiness was like a thorn, deeply piercing her heart.
Tan Xiangchen saw her worry and gently stroked her cheek, his eyes so gentle that it seemed to melt everything.
"Yuzhu, I promise you that I will stay with you for the rest of my life and will never let you suffer alone again."
His voice was low and firm, as if he was making an eternal vow.
Li Yuzhu's anxiety gradually dissipated as she watched him, and she regained her trust in him.
Tan Xiangchen lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.
He no longer resisted letting her see his face, but instead accepted himself as he was now.
He discovered that Li Yuzhu did not dislike him because of his appearance, but her eyes were full of love.
This acceptance made him feel warm inside, as if the knot that had been bothering him for many years had finally been untied.
However, at this moment, Li Yumei's voice came from the door coldly: "It's really touching, sister."
Her tone was full of sarcasm and jealousy, and her eyes were fixed on the two of them.
"Do you think he really loves you? Don't forget, you gave birth to a child out of wedlock, pissed off your parents and brought shame to the Li family!"
Li Yuzhu's body suddenly stiffened, and memories came flooding back like a tide.
She thought back to what happened back then, and realized that it had indeed brought shame to the Li family, and her parents cut off contact with her because of it.
Later, she learned that her parents had passed away, but she was unable to be with them, and her heart was filled with regret and guilt.
Her expression turned cold and tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
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