Chen Yan's fingertips trembled as he picked up the jade pendant.
Shen Yan held the jade pendant in his palm; the cool touch made his eyes well up with tears.
Chen Yan asked, "Why did you redeem it...?"
Meng Qingluan answered according to her heart.
"Didn't you say that this jade pendant was left to you by your mother? It must be very precious to you."
"Since it's so precious, it certainly can't be sold off casually."
Shen Yan tried hard to remain calm, but a storm raged within her.
In this world, are there really any people who care about what they cherish?
Chen Yan straightened his back and suddenly started talking about the jade pendant and his mother…
“My mother left when I was five years old, leaving behind only a jade pendant. Her fate is unknown. My father died when I was seven years old. He was hacked to death by bandits on his way to find my mother.”
"No one would take care of me, so I was sold into the village chief's house as a servant. However, the village chief's house was robbed by bandits and no one survived."
"From then on, I became a jinx that everyone wanted to kill."
“Everyone says my life is too cheap and too hard, and that anyone who gets involved with me will be unlucky. They raised money to hire a Taoist priest to burn me to death so that they could avoid being affected by my bad luck.”
Chen Yan gripped the jade pendant tightly and continued.
"The Taoist priest agreed. In the middle of the night, he took pity on me and let me escape. He threw the ashes of the grass and wood to them to show them, to serve as my ashes."
“I voluntarily sold myself into the South Wind Pavilion. It was a very harsh place, and the winters were very cold. I almost died in the winter when I was sixteen.”
"This jade pendant is the thing that has been with me the longest, after all, I am a jinx that everyone dislikes."
Meng Qingluan's lips parted slightly and then closed again, her heart feeling as if it were being gripped by a pair of large hands.
Shen Yan's past was something she had never known.
In the novel, Shen Yan is a powerful cornerstone in Li Zhanjue's path to seizing power.
Many readers even consider Shen Yanqi to be an appendage of Li Zhanjue, believing that Li Zhanjue is Shen Yanqi's only salvation.
Only then did Meng Qingluan realize the truth.
Shen Yan never needed anyone's salvation; he had already gritted his teeth and persevered through so much on his own.
The path he has walked has been more rugged and arduous than anyone else's.
Meng Qingluan suppressed her tears and, feigning composure, took Chen Yan's hand.
"Are they stupid, and are you stupid too?"
"Just because they say you're a jinx doesn't mean you are. If you're destined to die young, don't blame fate. We were husband and wife, we even had a wedding ceremony. Am I dead? Aren't I alive and well?"
“Chen Yan, listen to me.” Meng Qingluan reached out and gently touched his cheek. “You are the luckiest person in the world. If anyone says you are a jinx, then they are the unluckiest people in the world.”
Chen Yan lowered his head, his nose touching Meng Qingluan's neck, and whispered.
"So, Luanluan, am I a jinx?"
Meng Qingluan felt as if she had been punched hard in the heart.
She hugged Shen Yan, her nose red and her voice choked with emotion.
"Of course you are not, you are the best person in the world."
Meng Qingluan shed a tear and repeated it again.
"You are Shen Yan?? My lucky star."
The room was silent for a few seconds, then Shen Yan suddenly wrapped his arms around Meng Qingluan's waist.
When he spoke again, his voice was terribly hoarse.
Will you abandon me?
"No, the one who left first was the puppy."
Meng Qingluan didn't know how long Shen Yan had been holding her; she only remembered that it was very late when she fell asleep.
Inside the room, the sound of even breathing could be heard.
The room was dark and quiet.
After a while, the man who had been lying down and asleep opened his eyes, his eyes clear and without any sign of sleepiness.
Shen Yan turned his head to look at the sleeping face of the girl beside him, taking advantage of the moonlight streaming in. She was very quiet.
The blanket that was originally placed in the middle of the bed had been ruthlessly pulled off by Meng Qingluan before he went to sleep, beneath his pitiful body.
Shen Yan's lips curled into a smile as he reached out and pulled the person into his arms.
He brought his face close and stared at her for a while. Then he leaned down and, like a puppy, gently nuzzled her lips.
Then, with a gentle exertion, Meng Qingluan felt pain and tried to shrink back in dissatisfaction, only to be firmly restrained again.
Chen Yan murmured softly, "From now on, no matter if you are Meng Qingluan or some mountain spirit or monster, you are not allowed to abandon me again."
"Stay with me, stay with me, stay with me!"
"Accompany me to the high hall, accompany me to the Yellow Springs."
Chen Yan's voice grew louder with each note, his eyes flashing with an unusual determination.
...
When Meng Qingluan woke up, Shen Yan had already prepared breakfast and brought it in.
My lips felt swollen, with a tingling, painful sensation and a slight itch.
Meng Qingluan raised her hand to touch her lips, which were surprisingly red and swollen.
Meng Qingluan muttered, "It's been so cold these past few days, are there still mosquitoes?"
"Hmm?" Shen Yan put down the bowl and looked up.
Meng Qingluan pointed to her swollen lips and complained.
"Look, those stinky mosquitoes are biting my lips."
Shen Yan glanced at it, his expression unchanged.
He calmly replied, "It must have been hidden in the house all along. I'll find it and take it down today."
Meng Qingluan nodded, looked around the room, and then buried herself in her food.
Today, Meng Qingluan prepared to take Chen Yan to the academy for the exam, so that he could participate in the preliminary examination in a few days.
After finishing their meal, the two took the money and went to town.
The news of the early exam had already spread, and many people flocked to the gate of the academy, all ready to seize this opportunity to pass the imperial examinations.
Meng Qingluan and Shen Yan were not in a hurry.
Meng Qingluan was still wearing the same thin clothes she had worn before.
The weather was cold, so she could only put her hands inside her sleeves to keep warm.
Although Shen Yan wasn't much better off, he was wearing clothes that Meng Qingluan had bought from a servant at Nanfeng Pavilion, so at least they were a little warmer.
Shen Yan noticed that Meng Qingluan's nose was bright red and she was constantly sniffling.
He reached out and pulled Meng Qingluan closer to him.
Meng Qingluan hurriedly raised her hand and looked around. Seeing that no one was looking in their direction, she felt a little relieved.
He whispered, "Let me go. It's not good if someone sees us in public."
Shen Yan found it somewhat amusing.
Previously, she had openly held his hand in front of so many people at the noodle shop, whispering sweet nothings to him.
Now, however, she has become shy.
Shen Yan chuckled lightly, "It's alright. It's cold, and you're wearing too little clothing. If I don't hold you and shield you from the cold wind, you'll get sick, won't you?"
Chen Yan lowered his head again, his voice even softer.
"Besides, we are husband and wife. If they have any objections, it is because they are jealous that I married such a good wife as you."
"..."
When Meng Qingluan heard the second half of the sentence, her ears turned bright red.
Shen Yan, why does it suddenly seem like you've developed some kind of sweet talk skill?
Honestly, it's embarrassing for anyone who hears this.
Meng Qingluan no longer hesitated.
Shen Yan didn't think it was a big deal. How could a model young woman from the 21st century be afraid?
Besides, it was quite warm in Chen Yan's arms...
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