The night was quiet. Although it was already midsummer, the night after the rain still carried a hint of coolness.
Ruan Jiu sat alone in the pavilion. She watched the raindrops trickle down the eaves, creating small puddles on the bluestone slabs. It was so quiet all around that every drop could be clearly heard.
"Why are you sitting here alone?" Xie Jingchu's deep voice sounded from behind. Then, he took out a thin shirt and draped it over Ruan Jiu's shoulders.
Ruan Jiu didn't turn around. Still watching the raindrops falling from the eaves, she said, "Look, they fall from the sky and then into the dust. They seem lonely, but they all have their own destinations."
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu slightly opened his mouth, then pursed his lips and remained silent. He wanted to say that he was her destination, but he knew it wasn't the same.
"A Jing, I've been living a good life these years and never expected to find my parents. But do you know? When I saw... saw Lord Shen and Lady Shen sparing no expense to save Shen Ruoxi, for the first time, I had expectations. During those days in bed, for the first time, I seriously thought about what my parents would be like. Would they feel sorry for me? Would they also spare no expense for me? But why! Just when I had expectations, they told me that Shen Ruoxi's parents were my own! The people who called me malicious and uneducated turned out to be my own parents!"
At this point, Ruan Jiu's nose twitched, and her eyes turned red. After a pause, she continued, "I can't forgive them for indulging Shen Ruoxi to almost take my life. I really can't!"
Xie Jingchu saw the pain on Ruan Jiu's face. He lovingly held her hand and said, "You've done the right thing!"
Ruan Jiu looked at Xie Jingchu with her big, watery eyes and asked, "Really? I thought you would think I'm heartless for cutting off all ties with them."
Xie Jingchu smiled. He knew that with Ruan Jiu's vengeful nature, sparing Shen Ruoxi already meant cutting off all the ties with the Shen family. He reached out his hand and lovingly ruffled Ruan Jiu's hair, saying, "A Jiu, you don't have to care about anyone's feelings, including mine. Do what you want. As long as you're happy."
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu pouted and said, "But I still feel so sad." She looked extremely aggrieved.
Xie Jingchu felt so heartache that he immediately pulled her into his arms. How could he not understand her sadness? No one was born cold - hearted. It was just that the disappointment in their hearts had accumulated to the extreme. Then, he lowered his head and gently kissed Ruan Jiu's forehead.
"A Jiu, you don't have to envy anyone. From now on, I'll be your destination." Xie Jingchu's words were firm. Along with his strong heartbeat, they reached Ruan Jiu's ears.
"Xie Jingchu, if you ever betray me in this lifetime, no matter in heaven or on earth, I'll never forgive you." Ruan Jiu's voice was soft.
Xie Jingchu's lips curved up, his eyes full of smiles. He gently replied, "Okay."
Life is short. Without you, there's no joy.
Not far away, two old eyes witnessed everything that happened in the pavilion.
"Sir, Young Master Four and Miss Biao have been on good terms since childhood. After what happened to Miss Biao, I'm sure Young Master Four is just comforting her," Steward Li said awkwardly.
Old Master Xie's gaze sharpened. He had lived for decades. How could he not understand? Xie Jingchu's feelings for Ruan Jiu were written all over his face.
Old Master Xie heaved a long sigh. "Forget it. Let them be."
Now that his own body was failing, why should he be the bad guy who separated the lovers? He turned around and walked away slowly, looking extremely lonely.
-
In the water dungeon, Shen Ruoxi slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the familiar surroundings, she was shocked. This was... the water dungeon! Just like what she had done to Ruan Jiu that day, she was now tied to a wooden stake. The only difference was that there was no water around. The air was eerily quiet. She didn't understand why she, who should have been in prison, had woken up here. Complex emotions flashed across her eyes one by one: confusion, fear, and helplessness.
Just then, a trickle of water slowly flowed into the water dungeon through a water channel. Shen Ruoxi panicked and started shouting for help. But in the empty water dungeon, only her voice echoed. After struggling for several times, it was still in vain. Although the water was flowing slowly, it gradually reached her ankles.
"Is there anyone? Come and save me!" She kept shouting at the top of her lungs.
Slowly, the water had reached her waist. The icy coldness had seeped into her whole body.
"Come on! Save me!" By now, her voice had become hoarse. Her eyes were full of fear. But the water still slowly flowed into the water dungeon. Watching the water level rising bit by bit was like having her flesh cut off piece by piece. The smell of death was getting stronger and stronger.
Until the water had reached her chest, a strong sense of oppression made it difficult for her to breathe. Suddenly, the water flow increased. The suddenly surging water created a huge wave that hit her face. She didn't have time to react, and the water directly choked into her nose and mouth. It almost made her out of breath.
She was so scared! She didn't want to die! The fear in her eyes gradually turned into despair. She watched helplessly as she was about to face death but was powerless. She tried to stand on her tiptoes to buy herself a little more time. She, who never believed in gods and Buddhas before, now begged all the gods and Buddhas in the sky.
Just then, the door of the water dungeon was opened. Seeing the figure walking in from the door, hope ignited in her eyes again. After blinking her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things, she immediately exclaimed, "Brother! You've finally come to save me!"
Shen Yu stopped and raised his hand. The water flow stopped immediately.
Shen Ruoxi finally breathed a sigh of relief. After surviving the disaster, big tears of surprise fell from her eyes. "Brother, Xier was so scared!"
"Scared?" Shen Yu's cold voice made Shen Ruoxi feel strange. But she didn't have time to think. She just wanted to leave this place quickly.
"Brother, save Xier quickly! Xier is so cold!" Her innocent eyes looked extremely pitiful.
A cold smile curled up on Shen Yu's lips. Then he ordered someone to bring a black box. Just like that day with Ruan Jiu, there were dozens of snakes coiled in the black box, each with their mouths open and tongues flickering.
Shen Ruoxi was so scared that she trembled all over. Looking at Shen Yu in confusion, she asked, "Brother, what do you mean?"
Shen Yu didn't say a word. He just took the black box and personally poured all the snakes into the water dungeon. What followed were Shen Ruoxi's continuous screams.
Listening to Shen Ruoxi's painful screams and watching the pool water gradually turn red, Shen Yu frowned tightly, clenched his fists until his fingertips turned white. The veins on his forehead bulged. His heart felt as if a piece had been cut out, with a stabbing pain! Was this what A Jiu had suffered that day?
"Young Master, Miss... Miss Shen has fainted," a voice said.
Hearing this, Shen Yu opened his eyes and rubbed his temples. His eyes were full of exhaustion. Couldn't she even bear this? Then, his cold voice sounded again. "Drain the water and wake her up."