Before Yin Sang could finish speaking, Gu Mingyan rushed over and hugged him tightly, saying, "No, don't apologize to me! I don't want your apology! I know you and she were once husband and wife, and there are feelings between you, but there are feelings between us too, right, young master? Don't abandon me, I... I'm willing to be your concubine! I just beg you not to abandon me..."
Yin Sang shook his head with a wry smile, gently pried her hand away, and said, "Mingyan, sit down and listen to me."
Shunmingyan sat down on the edge of the bed as instructed.
Yin Sang stared at her for a long while before speaking: "Mingyan, listen to me. The peerless young master you know, admire, and are infatuated with is not me."
"How could he not be you? It's definitely you!"
Yin Sang shook her head and said, "No, he is not. Young Master Wushuang is a character created by Elder Xuanyuan, based on all his preferences. Wuhen likes to play chess, but chess is what I hate most in my life; Wuhen can't play the flute, but I can; Wuhen doesn't like spicy food and garlic, but I do; Wuhen is gentle and kind, and considerate of others, but I am not... None of these are important. The most important thing is that Wuhen doesn't remember Cuiyu, but I do."
Gu Mingyan opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
"You'll never know what happened between Cuiyu and me. Often, fate is like that; only the person who went through those things with you can enter your life. No matter how many others come afterward, if you miss that period, you miss it for a lifetime. After I became Shui Wuhen, I met you. Do you know why I indulged you so much, enjoyed watching you throw tantrums, break vases, play the piano, and stand under the tree? Because those were Cuiyu's habits. You had her shadow in you. I saw that shadow and thought I'd found what I wanted. But a shadow is just a shadow; it's not, and it won't truly become, the warmth I need. Even without Cuiyu, even without my memories, our union would have been a tragedy. Saying this might be cruel and selfish, but I have to say it." Yin Sang paused. "Mingyan, I don't love you. I'm sorry."
Gu Mingyan slapped him across the face, then covered her face and left.
Yin Sang watched her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight before slowly turning around. In that turn, he was astonished to find Qian Cuiyu, lying on the bed, staring at him with wide, dark eyes. He was immediately filled with surprise and joy: "Cuiyu, you're awake!"
"You hurt her..." These were the first words Qian Cuiyu uttered.
Yin Sang couldn't help but smile bitterly, "I know... but I have no other choice."
"Perhaps I don't mind if you have three wives and four concubines."
Yin Sang said in a low voice, "But I mind."
Qian Cuiyu stared at him blankly, a slight smile appearing on her lips, and slowly said, "Yin Sang..."
“I’m here.” He reached out and hugged her.
“You’re still so cold and cruel to people.” Qian Cuiyu’s smile deepened. “But this is my Yin Sang, my Mr. Mu. It’s so good that you’re finally back…”
“Yes, I’m back…” Yin Sang leaned down and kissed her lips, murmuring, “I got lost before, lost for six whole years. Fortunately, I finally came back, and fortunately, you were still waiting for me…”
"But it feels like a dream... For the past six years, I've often dreamt that you've come back, but when I wake up, I'm still all alone..."
"This time you're not dreaming, it's real."
It was true. Sunlight streamed through the window, turning his eyebrows and long hair golden, so clear, so warm—her Yin Sang was real.
Thank God, she has finally been given happiness again.
From this day forward, you are Mr. Mu, and I am Mrs. Yu. Mr. Mu and Mrs. Yu, let us never be separated, okay?
Mu Yu once made a promise.
end
Two disheartened people sat facing each other, urging each other to drink.
One person murmured, "It's gone, it's gone... I've lost him, I've really lost him..."
The other person sighed, "Sister, you should be content. At least the young master has been with you these past few years. You two at least had something in your lives. As for me... I didn't even have the chance to have anything..."
The man who had spoken earlier opened his eyes wide and asked, "Brother, what do you mean?"
"What do you mean? Nothing... That woman, I knew she was a jinx! A complete jinx! The sooner she leaves, the better. Look at the mess she's made of Emerald Manor ever since she came!"
"I hate Qian Cuiyu!"
"I hate it too..."
"I hate you, young master!"
"I hate it too..."
"cheers!"
"cheers!"
Two disheartened souls, drinking and singing; how short is life! Once fate has waned, it can never catch up.
The End of the Book
postscript
After ten months, the "Good Things Are Coming" series is finally complete. The order of creation is: the third child, the eldest, and the second child.
"A Perfect Match" tells the story of how a young woman finds her ideal husband, which takes place before marriage; "Ten Miles of Red Makeup" tells the story of how a young woman gets along with her husband after becoming a wife, which takes place after marriage; "The Wood and Jade Agreement" is divided into two parts, one before and one after.
If Bao'er represents my aspiration, forever so pure, clean, joyful and bright, then Mingzhu represents my reflection on how to grasp and improve my situation, while Cuiyu is simply my wishful thinking.
Can you love someone like that? The breakups and reconciliations aren't due to misunderstandings, but rather the cruel twists of fate, something you can't help. Yet you always persist, trying to understand and empathize with them, unwilling to hurt them. Can you love like that?
The answer is—it only happens in novels.
So let's make our persistence even more thorough.
I love, therefore I exist.
Leafy at the most beautiful time of this summer