Chapter 1697 - 1524: Spirit Within the Antique 4

Fang Yan’s injury wasn’t severe. Her bones weren’t hurt; it was just a sprain, a slight muscle strain, with a swollen area that the doctor had pressed back into place, allowing her to walk lightly on her own.

On the way back, Tian Ze called a taxi to take Fang Yan home. He didn’t dare drive his own little white sedan, fearing another accident. Tian Ze planned to consult a master before deciding.

Initially, Fang Yan refused Tian Ze’s offer. She felt guilty for what she had done back then and was too ashamed to let Tian Ze take care of her. But no matter what Fang Yan said, Tian Ze remained silent and followed her, with no intention of leaving.

Fang Yan herself wasn’t sure if she truly wanted to refuse or was just pretending. In the end, Fang Yan still gave Tian Ze her home address.

In these past two years, Fang Yan’s parents had gone south for health reasons, leaving only Fang Yan alone in J City to struggle. Her business was here, making it impossible for her to leave.

While sitting in the car, Fang Yan made conversation with the driver to break the awkwardness with Tian Ze. Luckily, the driver was quite talkative, which eased the awkwardness somewhat.

After getting out of the car, Fang Yan started to feel awkward again. She touched her neck, scratched her ear, and felt uncomfortable facing the silent Tian Ze.

Finally, she awkwardly coughed and said, "I can go home myself. Just drop me off here."

Tian Ze still silently watched Fang Yan, his gaze falling on her slightly curled foot that was reluctant to touch the ground, then turned around and squatted down: "Get on."

Fang Yan’s hand instinctively clenched and then loosened. She knew she should refuse Tian Ze, but though she thought this, she was unwilling to say it.

In the end, Fang Yan still leaned onto Tian Ze’s back, rationalizing to herself, I’ll indulge just this once. Once he gets me home, I’ll send him away.

In the past, Tian Ze carried Fang Yan countless times. On Tian Ze’s back now, Fang Yan felt both unfamiliar and familiar, unable to resist pressing her face against his back.

"You still like these things."

Surprised by Tian Ze’s words, Fang Yan hesitated, then saw the red embroidery ball she had been clutching, now placed in front of Tian Ze because he was carrying her.

Fang Yan hesitated again, her nose suddenly souring, replying sullenly, "Yes, I’ve always liked them; you know that."

Since childhood, Fang Yan liked ancient trinkets, such as pouches, embroidery balls, and woven objects. In college, she dragged Tian Ze on holidays to various Antique Streets to find these things.

If she couldn’t find anything suitable, she bought colored threads to make woven objects herself, insisting Tian Ze learned with her, and Tian Ze obliged, the large man accompanying her in making them.

After dropping Fang Yan home, Tian Ze didn’t stay long; without needing Fang Yan to speak, he left on his own. Fang Yan reluctantly watched Tian Ze’s departing direction, silent for a long time.

That night, Fang Yan had a dream where she became a young lady in ancient times with a childhood sweetheart as her fiancé. Their families were equally matched, and their relationship was excellent.

However, just before they could discuss marriage, Fang Yan’s fiancé’s family became prosperous, his father becoming an official, and the families were no longer a match.

The fiancé’s family came to the Fang Family to break off the engagement. Fang Yan’s fiancé was unwilling, but was forcibly taken away, while Fang Yan, at the prime age for marriage, became disgraced, making her marriage prospects difficult.

For three years, no one showed interest, and Fang Yan became the ancient version of an older unmarried woman—a topic of gossip even in modern times, let alone in ancient times.

An older unmarried woman in ancient times was seen as hindering other family girls’ marriages. The entire Fang Family worried about Fang Yan’s marriage, their scholarly reputation unable to let their daughter become a concubine.

In desperation, Fang Yan’s father made a foolish decision, forcing Fang Yan to toss an embroidery ball to seek a husband, essentially giving up on her future.

Fang Yan didn’t resist, just locking herself in her room, threading a ball with red thread while shedding silent tears. On the day of the thrown embroidery ball, Fang Yan, veiled, holding the ball, ascended the tall platform.

Hearing the bustling crowd below, Fang Yan felt numb and bewildered, urged by those nearby to quickly toss the ball and select a husband. Fang Yan couldn’t help but shed two drops of bloody tears.

The blood-red tears fell onto the ball, carrying Fang Yan’s unwavering, unwilling obsession. Amid continuous urging, Fang Yan suddenly laughed maniacally, clutching the ball and jumping off the platform!

The platform was extremely high, Fang Yan diving headfirst, seeking death, her brain bursting open, blood everywhere, the red ball rolling in the blood pool, stained by her blood.

"Ah!"

Fang Yan screamed, sitting up, panting heavily! Cold sweat dripped down her forehead as she stared dazedly at her surroundings, the room pitch black, not yet dawn.

With a click, she turned on the bedside lamp, anxiously scanning around. Thankfully, it wasn’t the ancient boudoir or the ball-throwing platform, but her own home.

Fang Yan sighed deeply in relief, raising her hand to touch the cold sweat on her head, finding it odd how she had such a vivid, frightening dream!

Yet, the dream-self was quite similar to her—both having a beloved man and both being forcibly separated. Fang Yan understood her dream-self, thinking her dying wish was for her fiancé to come.

As Fang Yan herself had the same hope, being apart from Tian Ze for eight years but never ceasing to wish he would find her and repair their broken past.

On her bedside cabinet sat a red embroidery ball, identical to the one in her dream, only clean and new, not stained with the blood from the dream’s end.

Fang Yan chuckled bitterly, amused by her absurd dream, not only a complete tragic drama but including real-life objects as props in the dream.

After a night of dreaming, Fang Yan was listless and lethargic upon waking. Her ankle seemed more swollen, yet she had an important meeting with a significant client today, not to be neglected.

Thus, Fang Yan endured her foot pain, wrapped her injured ankle with bandages, and donned flat shoes before heading out.

This client was difficult, insisting on a meeting at a café with a good environment. Fang Yan had no choice but to carry on despite her injury, going to the client’s preferred, extravagantly priced café.

For some reason, leaving home, Fang Yan, in a Ghost Messenger-like urge, packed the red ball from her bedside cabinet into her backpack and took it with her.