Xu Yanzhi's stern warning expression softened when he saw it was her.
Meng Jiuyi asked, "Why did you dig up this sycamore tree? Didn't Uncle Zhuang say it was left to you by your mother?"
Xu Yanzhi smiled and said, "With the hotel's new plans, this lawn will be used for something else. An old tree is naturally of little use."
The tree seems more like a symbol of the love between Xu Yungan and his mother—a joke.
He gestured to the waiter next to him.
"Honey, go with him first. I'm afraid I might accidentally hurt you."
He was gentle yet resolute, not acting impulsively. The tree of life, nurtured by his mother, had its roots mostly exposed and only needed a few more cuts to bring it crashing down.
The sycamore tree was already teetering on the brink of collapse. Seeing that she couldn't stop it, Meng Jiuyi grabbed the handle tightly as he swung the shovel. The sharp blade sliced directly across her hand. If Xu Yanzhi hadn't pulled back quickly, her hand would probably have been bleeding.
As the shovel hit the ground, Xu Yanzhi immediately pulled her hand over to check the wound, but Meng Jiuyi shook it off, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears.
"Go ahead and dig. I wouldn't have bothered with you if Uncle Zhuang hadn't called me."
She was about to leave after she finished speaking, but she was pulled back. The wound on the back of her hand was not bleeding, but the long line looked like it had split a beautiful piece of porcelain, which was an eyesore.
Xu Yanzhi gave her a deep look, then without saying a word, picked her up and placed her on a bench in the corridor, signaling the waiter to get the medicine.
The medicine was brought, but she refused to apply it no matter what. Even when held on her lap, she struggled clearly.
Xu Yanzhi warned, "Don't move!"
"Just because you tell me not to move doesn't mean I should."
Tears still welled in her eyes. Meng Jiuyi turned her face away. "I can't even control you, so why should you try to control me?"
He was also driven to despair by her antics, and with her arms around him, he whispered in her ear.
"Mind your own business, go ahead."
Her struggles gradually weakened, and Xu Yanzhi gently applied cotton swabs to her wounds, asking...
Why should we care about that tree?
She lowered her head and remained silent, only the smooth curve behind her ear could be seen.
"My tree is dead."
Xu Yanzhi was taken aback.
She died during the year she frequently moved as a child. People were only focused on making money and had no interest in a tree that couldn't produce any value. By the time she finally went back to look for it, it was so rotten that even its roots had been uprooted.
"The sycamore tree in Ruijin Mansion is the most lush I have ever seen. The person who planted it must have put in a lot of effort. From choosing the location to confirming the amount of sunlight, and then to watering, the care put into every step is obvious."
"I don't know why you're going crazy cutting down trees today, but it would be such a waste to just cut them down like this."
Although his mother is no longer alive, the traces of her love for him are evident in every aspect of his life. Her parents are still alive, but the waste materials they give her can't even support a single tree.
Xu Yanzhi lowered his eyes and stared at her smooth and quiet profile. His already hoarse throat suddenly tightened, the emptiness faded, but the tearing sensation in his chest became clearer than ever before.
He didn't say anything, he just held her tighter.
After the medicine was administered, Xu Yanzhi gave instructions to the waiter.
"Please go and bring some fresh soil."
Upon hearing this, the waiter immediately relaxed, as did Uncle Zhuang, who was not far away. Although they didn't quite understand what he was going to do, they had finally calmed down from his earlier frenzy.
When the soil arrived, Meng Jiuyi realized that he intended to replant the trees.
"There's one right there, just push it back."
Xu Yanzhi smiled faintly: "The ritual of planting trees."
Meng Jiuyi: "..."
Although she didn't quite understand, she still helped out. The night wind was cool, and the man's suit jacket was draped over her shoulders. He coughed softly a few times.
Meng Jiuyi hurriedly tried to return the suit to him, but he said...
"Do you think I'm that frail? It's alright."
He gestured, "There's another corner here."
The new soil completely buried the roots of the sycamore tree, and after planting and watering it, it seemed as if the tree had come back to life.
Just when he thought he could leave, Xu Yanzhi tied a rope around the card, and the blank card swayed in the wind.
Uncle Zhuang handed him a pen at his signal, and Meng Jiuyi looked at him as he pulled him into his arms, somewhat puzzled.
"what?"
The pen was placed in her hand, and the man's broad frame completely shielded her slender body, keeping her from the wind and rain.
Xu Yanzhi held her hand and slowly wrote on the blank card, his handwriting strong and powerful.
【Meng Jiuyi's Tree】
He whispered in her ear, "From now on, this tree will only be yours and has nothing to do with anyone else. Today is the first day we planted it. Let's come every year from now on, okay?"
His broad chest kept out all the cold wind, and Meng Jiuyi leaned against him, feeling the heart behind him pounding more violently than ever before.
Hers has gradually cooled down.
--
On the way back, the car was first parked in Meng Jiuyi's residential area.
Don't bother seeing me off today.
Meng Jiuyi took out a bag of medicine and handed it to him, "I can tell from your cough that you might have an infection. Some of these are powders, and some are cold capsules. The daily dosage is indicated on the boxes; some are twice a day, some are three times a day..."
She kept rambling on and on, and under the soft overhead light in the car, the smile on Xu Yanzhi's lips never faded.
As Meng Jiuyi tried to push open the door to get out of the car, the lock button popped up, and the man grabbed her other, uninjured wrist. With a gentle pull, Meng Jiuyi almost fell into his arms.
The partition between the front and rear seats had already been raised, and the private space felt cramped because the two of them were so close together, even his deep eyes were extremely aggressive.
He remained calm and composed, slowly uttering his words.
"My head hurts so much."
ah?
Xu Yanzhi casually lowered his eyes, "Feel it, do you have a fever?"
Meng Jiuyi couldn't feel it, so she touched his forehead and then her own, and thought, "Maybe there's something there."
"I forgot to buy fever reducers, remember to ask Uncle Zhuang to do it later—"
Xu Yanzhi said, "Don't go back tonight."
What?
Seemingly unable to tolerate even this short distance, Xu Yanzhi pulled her onto his lap without further ado, "Want to come to my place?"
"no!"
Meng Jiuyi tried to run, but his buttocks were only slightly raised before he was casually pressed down.
He wasn't as forceful as Tan Yuchen, but his hand was pressed against her hip, making no other movements, which prevented her from running away.
It turns out this guy is just as ruthless as anyone else when he gets into trouble.
I have a cold.
Xu Yanzhi stared directly into her evasive eyes. "It might get worse tonight. I've encountered people dying from the flu before when I was abroad. Are you willing to let me go if you don't see me tomorrow?"
A cold can't be that serious.
Xu Yanzhi never imagined that one day he would break the rules and tell one lie after another, and use all his acting skills just to keep her.
It's like they're talking about a terminal illness.
His breath was so hot, constantly eroding her thoughts, and Meng Jiuyi tried to reason with him.
"Uncle Zhuang can take care of you too."
Xu Yanzhi remained calm and composed, saying, "He can't do it. He still has family waiting for him."
"What about the other servants...?"
Xu Yanzhi pressed his finger on the door handle, and Uncle Zhuang received the signal, so the Rolls-Royce drove away from the residential area.
He chuckled softly, "I promise I won't do anything to you, I just want to keep an eye on you. Besides, I'm too weak to do anything about it."
--
The other chapter is undergoing minor revisions and will be available by 11:00 PM.
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