Chapter 221 - 118: Zhou Lian’s Gift

Chapter 221: Chapter 118: Zhou Lian’s Gift

It was only now that Zhou Lian understood. To Li Xiu, she was his entire life. Overcome with affection, she gently kissed the sleeping Li Xiu. Gazing at his peaceful face, her heart filled with a sudden clarity. ’What does a person live for in this lifetime? I’m just an ordinary woman. I don’t have grand ambitions of bringing peace to the world, nor the arrogance to look down upon the heavens. All I want is for the people I love, and the people who love me, to be safe, healthy, and happy!’

But right under her nose, the man who loved her most in this world was so lacking in confidence, so insecure. She whispered to the sleeping Li Xiu, "Jin Chen, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I won’t let your deep love for me down anymore. Just as you wish, I will always love you deeply. If there is a next life, I will still marry you, and we will continue to love and cherish each other."

As if he had heard Zhou Lian’s confession in his sleep, the corners of Li Xiu’s mouth curved up slightly, making his handsome, distinguished face seem to radiate with happiness.

When Li Xiu awoke, the sun was about to set. He slowly opened his eyes, still lost in the sweet dream he just had. The warm, delicate body in his arms made the corners of his lips curve up. ’This is my Bao’er.’ He looked tenderly at Zhou Lian, still sleeping in his embrace, and gently closed his eyes for a moment. ’It’s all real. It’s true that Bao’er is giving me a gift, and the person in my arms is real, too!’

Under Li Xiu’s fervent gaze, Zhou Lian gently opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was his look of deep affection. A warmth spread through Zhou Lian’s heart. She looked up and kissed his eyes—the eyes that always, always looked at her with so much love. As he gently closed them, she felt him tremble with joy.

"Jin Chen, I love you. I love you so much."

Hugging the woman in his arms tightly, Li Xiu was so emotional he couldn’t speak. Zhou Lian’s personality was reserved and subtle; the few times she had expressed her love, it had always been in a roundabout way. This was the first time she had used the most direct words to express the most direct love.

After some time, the two finally composed themselves and left the room. After all, with parents and children in the house, they couldn’t stay holed up in their room all day. Sister Fang saw the two of them walk out in an embrace and glanced discreetly at Zhou Lian. When she saw Zhou Lian give a slight nod, she smiled and took her leave.

At this time, Zhou Huaitai and Zhang Yizhen were home from school, reviewing their lessons in their room. Nuonuo and Yanyan were also doing their homework in their respective rooms, accompanied by Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou. Looking at the sun that had already set, Zhou Lian said softly to the man beside her, "Jin Chen, come take a walk with me in the garden."

Li Xiu never refused Zhou Lian’s requests, unless it posed a risk to her health. The two walked toward the adjacent garden in each other’s arms. Sister Fang watched their embracing figures from behind and smiled. ’How wonderful. Beautiful people and a beautiful love always move the hearts of those who witness it.’

The sky gradually darkened. By the pavilion near the rockery in the garden, the lights were dim and scattered. Zhou Lian took Li Xiu’s hand and gently led him over. The pavilion had been arranged just as Zhou Lian had instructed.

Looking at the scene before him, Li Xiu looked down at Zhou Lian, who was smiling up at him, and asked in a somewhat hoarse voice, "Did Bao’er prepare this especially for me?"

"Yes. Today, you’re the birthday star, Jin Chen. I wish you many more happy returns!"

Gently pulling Zhou Lian into his arms, Li Xiu restrained himself, kissing the top of her head while secretly wiping away the tears in his eyes. ’I’ve finally waited for this moment.’ Looking at everything before him, Li Xiu understood that Zhou Lian had now completely let go of all her reservations. She had confessed to him a few times before, but Li Xiu knew she had never fully opened up—not just because of her reserved and subtle nature, but because a trace of mistrust had always remained. After two lifetimes, Li Xiu understood Zhou Lian better than he understood himself.

As long as Zhou Lian didn’t love him wholeheartedly, she would never take the initiative to make him happy; she would only passively accept his affection. It wasn’t that she didn’t love him before—it was just her nature. For her to have prepared such a surprise for him now... it meant he had finally gotten his Bao’er.

"Thank you, Bao’er. Thank you!" ’Thank you for being willing to trust me wholeheartedly. Thank you for loving me with all your heart!’

Gently slipping out of his embrace, Zhou Lian took Li Xiu’s hand and led him to the stone table in the pavilion. "I told Mom and Dad that I’d be celebrating your birthday with you alone tonight. We’ll stay in the garden house tonight, how does that sound?"

"Okay. I’ll listen to whatever Bao’er says today!"

They made a wish, blew out the candles, and shared a bottle of red wine with the lavish meal on the table. Zhou Lian had never been much of a drinker. Even though she only had three glasses, she was already quite drunk. She looked at Li Xiu under the lights, chuckled, and said, "Jin Chen, I have a gift for you. Do you want to see it now?"

Seeing the drunken haze in Zhou Lian’s eyes, Li Xiu nodded gently and followed behind her, watching over her carefully.

They arrived at the two-story building in the garden. Seeing Zhou Lian swaying a bit, Li Xiu gently put an arm around her waist and asked, "Bao’er, where are we going? Let me help you, okay?"

They finally made it to the second floor. She turned on the light, and Zhou Lian stared dazedly at the framed calligraphy painting. "Jin Chen, take a look. Do you like it?"

After helping Zhou Lian sit down on a nearby chair, Li Xiu walked to the table. He looked at the calligraphy painting, and his eyes instantly widened.

Blankets of white snow, and beneath a red plum tree, two lovers in a gentle embrace. A simple depiction, yet it would make anyone who saw it smile knowingly.

Beside it, written in elegant, fine-print calligraphy: "I wish to share with you the beauty of the snow and moon, the wind and flowers. I wish to travel with you to the ends of the earth. I wish to endure with you as the sands of time slip by. I wish to witness with you all the world’s splendors and compose with you our romance beneath the moon and among the flowers. If you never leave my side, I will be with you until death do us part! This love is unwavering, for all of eternity, to the highest heavens and the deepest underworld!"

He recognized Zhou Lian’s handwriting at a glance. Li Xiu was overcome with emotion. ’This isn’t just a calligraphy painting, this is clearly a love letter from my Bao’er!’ He read it over and over again. He had lived for two lifetimes, and this was heaven’s mercy, giving him the best birthday gift he could ever receive.

Hearing Li Xiu muttering to himself, Zhou Lian grew a little antsy. ’Does he like it or not? Just say something!’ "Jin Chen, do you like it?"

He turned and hugged Zhou Lian tightly, saying with unrestrained excitement, "I love it! I love it so much! Bao’er, thank you. This is the best gift I’ve ever received in my entire life!"

She snuggled against his chest and said softly, "I’m glad you like it. I’ll prepare a gift for you every birthday from now on, Jin Chen. And you should be as happy as you are now. I love seeing you laugh with such joy!"

He looked down in surprise at Zhou Lian’s hazy eyes and truly began to laugh heartily. ’My Bao’er is drunk. Otherwise, she’d never be so forward with sweet nothings.’ "Bao’er, could you read it to me just once? Please?"

"Why do you want me to read it?"

"I just want to hear it!"

"Oh, alright then. I wish to share with you the beauty of the snow and moon, the wind and flowers. I wish to travel with you to the ends of the earth. I wish to endure with you as the sands of time slip by. I wish to witness with you all the world’s splendors and compose with you our romance beneath the moon and among the flowers. If you never leave my side, I will be with you until death do us part! This love is unwavering, for all of eternity, to the highest heavens and the deepest underworld!"

On his thirty-first birthday, Li Xiu received the best, most beautiful, and most longed-for gift of his two lifetimes. This life was now complete.