Chapter 639 - 641: Heartbreaking Reunion
Bai Ruozhu quietly got down from the bed and walked to the window, standing there for a while. She strained her ears to listen: all she could hear was the sound of someone walking away in the distance – it must have been the Butterfly. But the other person remained silent.
Despite herself, she finally opened the window. Whoever had been able to drive the Butterfly away couldn’t be an enemy, and he must have superior martial arts skills. So why had he been hesitant to reveal himself?
She looked outside, saw nothing. Most likely, the person was on the rooftop. She flared her nostrils slightly, detecting a foreign scent in the air, carrying a hint of cosmetics – it surely came from the Butterfly. But there was something else...
The fresh and crisp scent of bamboo leaves. It was him. He had returned!
Bai Ruozhu was overcome with excitement, but her heart soon fell, much like the feeling of having a bucket of cold water dumped over her just when she was enjoying herself. It was him, but he hadn’t appeared at her window as before. He just stayed outside, and even after the dangerous figure had left, he didn’t seem to want to see her.
A sharp pain seized her heart. As expected, things had gone wrong after the effects of the Forget-Love Insect had worn off. Her intuition was spot-on after all. As she thought of this, she couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh that was tinged with self-mockery.
"I know it’s you. Weren’t you asking who I was? Let’s talk about it face-to-face." In the end, Bai Ruozhu spoke up. Even though the pain in her heart was as sharp as a knife cut, she was not one to hide when confronted with difficult situations. She would rather clarify things, even if it meant the end of their relationship.
After a long pause without any response, just at the moment when Bai Ruozhu thought the person had already left and she had just talked to the empty air, a sigh came from the roof. A silhouette jumped down and stopped outside her window.
As Bai Ruozhu was standing by the window, the two of them were suddenly very close. They each just quietly observed each other. He was wearing a mask today, as though he wanted to hide his emotions. However, his eyes were brimming with melancholy and reluctance.
Bai Ruozhu inhaled deeply, suppressing the indescribable emotions welling within her, and said in a low voice: "Come in and talk."
After she spoke, she turned away and walked towards the table.
The person hesitated a moment, but then jumped in.
Looking back at him, he was still dressed impeccably, his hair damp from the mist. Thinking of him waiting outside all night, she could not help but feel her heart soften.
"How long have you been back?" Seeing him silent, she asked directly.
Jiang Yichun did not walk over to her. He looked conflicted as if he didn’t know what to do. After a long pause, he finally said: "Just a couple of days."
"Why didn’t you come to see me initially? Just because you didn’t know who I was?" Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. "Does it really matter who I am? Or is it more important to clarify who you are in love with?"
A look of struggle flickered in Jiang Yichun’s eyes, and he spoke in a raspy voice: "I know that the termination of the Forget-Love Insect’s effects will amplify those feelings. I haven’t forgotten that. However, I want to know who you are if you aren’t Bai Ruozhu."
Bai Ruozhu let out a sorrowful laugh. "I thought you were the most trustworthy person, which is why I told you a secret that I’ve never shared with anyone else. How ironic that I misjudged you. Fine, I’ll clarify things for you now."
She inhaled deeply. "I am also Bai Ruozhu, just not originally from this era. I was in an accident and hit my head. As a result, I wake up and find myself here, living as this Bai Ruozhu. I think fate arranged for me to carry on her life, to give birth to her child, to take care of her family. So, I have been trying as hard as I could."
If Jiang Yichun hadn’t brought this up today, she might have continued to believe that she was the original Bai Ruozhu. She had fully adapted to this role. However, his appearance has uncovered this secret.
"And the original Bai Ruozhu? Did you kill her?" It took Jiang Yichun quite a while to ask this question, as if he was suffering greatly.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh. "I thought you knew me better than this. Do I look like someone who would hurt innocent people to you?" For a moment, her heart sank. Frustrated, she said, "By the time I arrived, she had already been pushed off and was not breathing. How was I the one who hurt her? Instead, I want to ask you: why do you ask such questions? Do you question my morality merely because you recall someone you used to love?"
Jiang Yichun took off his mask. He looked pale, his eyes deep and dark, beard stubble shadowing his chin. It was obvious he hadn’t been sleeping well lately.
She supressed her pity and avoided looking at him, saying coldly: "Since you doubt my moral character, you’re free to go to someone else. I don’t need your protection. I can handle my own affairs."
Jiang Yichun was taken aback, and for a moment, seemed at a loss. "I-I didn’t mean it like that. I just had some doubts."
"Have you resolved your doubts now? You can leave. It’s best if we don’t meet in the future." Bai Ruozhu said, anger seeping into her voice.
She knew she shouldn’t blame him for caring for someone else. She knew it was the side effect of the Forget-Love Insect, and she also knew she shouldn’t be this furious. But she couldn’t help it!
If he loves her enough, even if he recalls someone else, he would still have some consideration for her, wouldn’t he? However, he doubted her, even questioned her moral character. How was she supposed to let that go?
"Ruozhu, I..." Jiang Yichun seemed at a loss for words. "It’s not like what you think. Let me explain."
Just as he began to speak, sounds came from the yard. The voice of the guard, Cui Fan, could be heard, "Miss, it seems a martial arts expert was here just now. Are you alright?"
Bai Ruozhu’s heart leapt. If the servants saw her meeting with a man in the middle of the night, her reputation, along with her family’s, would be ruined.
"I’m fine, but make sure you all stay on your guard." After she spoke, she shot a fierce look at Jiang Yichun, signaling him not to alert the guards outside.
Jiang Yichun gave a bitter smile, thinking what use were these guards? They’re easily overcome in a real crisis, and they are an hindrance when he wants to talk to her in peace. However, he didn’t mind, he knew this situation would soon change.
As if he had figured something out, the troubled look on his face disappeared. He gestured to Bai Ruozhu, then swiftly left.
It was quite a while before Bai Ruozhu quietly closed the window and returned to her bed, hugging Dengdeng and sobbing.
"Dengdeng, will you resent me for not being your biological mother?" Bai Ruozhu muttered. But as soon as she finished her question, she felt indignant and grumbled, "But I was the one who gave birth to you, enduring the pain and nearly losing my life. You are my child, the one I brought into this world." Her voice was filled with resentment. It was all that bastard Jiang Yichun’s fault for ruining her mood.
The next morning, feeling exhausted from lack of sleep, Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to get up. Then she heard someone knock on her room door, followed by her mother’s terrified scream...