Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The first glimmer of light in the morning dispelled the silence of the night. The curtain of the morning lifted, and an intoxicating golden soft light quietly appeared on the horizon. The soft light became more and more brilliant, quietly falling on the clean floor-to-ceiling window, the floor in front of the window was silent with a large softness.
When Dongfang Liuyun woke up, the seat beside her was already empty.
She got out of bed and washed up at a leisurely pace. When she finished cleaning up and went downstairs, the sofa in the living room was also empty. Usually, Qi Lei would sit on the sofa and read the newspaper while waiting for her to have breakfast.
“Good morning, Missus!”
Mama Wang had just prepared breakfast. When she saw Dongfang Liuyun coming down from upstairs, she greeted him warmly.
“Good morning. Where’s your Master?”
Dongfang Liuyun asked with a frown as she walked down the stairs.
“Master drove out early in the morning. He said he would be back soon. He asked Missus to have breakfast first. There’s no need to wait for him,” said Mama Wang.
“He went out? What’s he up to?”
Dongfang Liuyun asked with some doubt as she walked over to the dining table. She silently pulled out a chair and sat down.
“I don’t know, Master didn’t say. There must be something urgent. But he should be back soon.”
Mama Wang explained as she poured some milk for Dongfang Liuyun.
Dongfang Liuyun nodded. “I’ll do it myself. You can go ahead.”
“Okay, Missus!”
Only then did Mama Wang leave.
However, when Dongfang Liuyun was halfway through, the sound of the car stopping could be heard from outside. Not long after, familiar footsteps could be heard as well as Mama Wang’s greeting.
“You’re up?”
Qi Lei walked in with big strides. He took off his coat, unbuttoned his sleeves, and folded them slightly. He sat down across Dongfang Liuyun. He took a wet towel from the side and wiped his hands, his gaze naturally fell on Dongfang Liuyun’s clear and indifferent face.
Dongfang Liuyun did not respond to him. Instead, she reached out and poured him a glass of milk as she said, “Where did you go so early in the morning?”
“It was about work. I expected you to be awake soon, so I rushed back.” Qi Lei explained simply.
“I thought you were planning to let me go over by myself.”
Dongfang Liuyun naturally did not forget what they had agreed to yesterday.
“When have I ever flaked? Besides, I have to go over every week. Even if you don’t go, I have to go over.”
Qi Lei said these words indifferently before lowering his head and quietly enjoying his breakfast. There was no expression on his handsome face.
Dongfang Liuyun looked up at him and saw that he was eating elegantly. She thought about it and lowered her eyes while cutting the food on her plate, she said, “I know that the knot in your heart will stay for a while. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you really don’t want to go, I don’t have to go. I would hope that you’ll be happier and more relaxed.”
When she finished speaking, Qi Lei paused for a moment before quickly turning to her, “It’s not because of this. Of course, I hope that you can go. It’s just that I’m worried that seeing the Qi family in such a state will only add a sense of desolation to your heart. At least, every time I calm down and think about it, I would feel that way.”
At this point, Qi Lei paused and thought for a moment before continuing, “You haven’t been to the Qi family’s old mansion. When Grandfather and Grandmother were still around, the house was very lively, but now… it’s no different from a dead manor. It’s empty and quiet there, and even I feel a little oddly afraid when I walk in. I hope that you won’t have to get involved with everything in the Qi family. After all, it’s in the past, and it’s all unpleasant things.”
“You’re quite thoughtful. I don’t want to drag you into the depths of the Dongfang family too, but aren’t you implicated now? And it seems that I feel quite at ease. When you finally have the same realization as me, that would make you a qualified husband.”
As Dongfang Liuyun spoke, her hands reached across the table and passed the fried egg on her plate to him. She had eaten two last night and was a little tired of them.
“I don’t have to worry about this. You’re different from me.”
Qi Lei glanced at her. He was not accepting it as is.
“Do you really not like your father, and hate being part of the Qi Family?”
Dongfang Liuyun took a sip of milk and asked calmly. She did not look at him. Instead, she quietly looked at the food on her plate.
Qi Lei was silent for a while before he said quietly, “Not really. I had high hopes for him in the past, but later, I became numb to it. To be honest, when I saw him lying in my arms covered in blood, I did feel some sadness. Qi Feng died in my arms too, and I even saw my mother die in front of me. After experiencing so many life and death situations, I should have been able to let it go a little.”
Thinking about these unhappy past, Qi Lei could not help but feel a little uncomfortable. However, even though there was still a lump of bitterness in the depths of his throat that he could not swallow, he could calm himself down now. It was not like how he was in the past…
“Sometimes, you’ll suddenly feel that the world is just so quiet. There’s nothing to look forward to, and there’s nothing to be nostalgic about. You’ll become a lonely person, and you’ll be alone.”
Qi Lei’s tone was indifferent, and no emotions could be heard.
However, Dongfang Liuyun could easily catch a hint of disappointment in his eyes, as if he had accepted his fate. Of course, that acceptance of fate was not the kind of decadent acceptance of fate, but the kind of nonchalant relief. She just watched him, and for some reason, it made her feel a hint of sadness.
“Why a lonely person? I’m not lonely, and neither will you be. Let’s be partners. I’ve given you my back. You don’t have any expectations, but you can’t make me not have any expectations too. I can’t lose, and your responsibility is to not let me lose. Do you understand?”
Dongfang Liuyun did not try to comfort him, but what she said was especially pleasing for Qi Lei to hear.
Sometimes, it was not that comforting was more effective. Dongfang Liuyun seemed to always be able to find his weakness. Even he had to admit that perhaps, in this world, the only person who was in tune with him and who truly understood him was this woman called Dongfang Liuyun, his legitimate wife.
At this thought, Qi Lei could not help but feel that he might be able to touch a sliver of luck. If she could always stay by his side and grow old together with him, it would definitely be the most beautiful thing that fate had given him.