Chapter 41.8
The Second Night
[Ji Lianbing]’s POV:
“Ah, ahaha.”
An awkward laugh erupted after a few seconds of silence. Juncheng’s hands trembled, making his entire body shake.
“Don’t just laugh, Juncheng. We’re in this situation now, don’t you have any reaction?”
“Are you guys serious?”
Did Juncheng think we were still joking because Lan Hua and I had staged a scene of rivalry earlier?
No, that’s not right. Judging by Juncheng’s expression, he already understood our intentions. This is him confirming.
Then, let’s make our thoughts clear to him once more.
No matter how many times it takes, we’ll tell you clearly.
“Yes, we’re serious.”
“Hoo, don’t ask if we’ll regret it. It’s precisely because we’ve ‘crossed that line’ that we’re telling you to your face, Juncheng.”
You’re really brave to say that. The dialogue about rivalry earlier was a mix of truth and falsehood. And before I made peace with Lan Hua this morning, the situation wouldn’t have unfolded like this at all.
But it’s true, the fact that this has really happened means we’ve truly overcome our past hurdles.
A moment of coordination, leading to a sense of harmony.
You could call it a meeting of minds, or a simultaneous decision.
But saying our hearts were connected would be a bit disgusting. It’s only because we let go of ourselves and decided to prioritize Juncheng that this scene has come about.
Hehehe, this is a rare and perfect opportunity.
If we miss it, such a chance might never come again.
I asked this question with a playful tone, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
“Well, it feels like I’m about to become public enemy number one for all the guys in school.”
“Heehee, if you’re talking about that, Juncheng, you already are. After my live broadcast last time, you even topped the ‘Most Wanted Guy to Beat Up’ ranking in the entire school!”
“Waaah! To be this hated… Even as a zombie, I’m not ‘meat,’ am I?”
“Don’t worry, Juncheng, I won’t let those guys get close to you.”
“That’s right, I’ll protect you too, Juncheng.”
“Cough… You guys are making me sound like the damsel in distress. Isn’t the role reversed?”
“But at critical moments, you always come to save me, don’t you? You’ve never disappointed me.”
“Heh~ That’s nice. I haven’t been saved by Juncheng yet. But I have been rejected when I confessed.”
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to rub it in. And if anything, I was saved by you at your place last time.”
At your place? Was that after the day you sent Zi’ai An home? I did hear about it from Shirley… but I don’t know the specifics.
I felt too reliant on Shirley, so I stopped asking her about Juncheng.
Although this puts me one step behind Lan Hua in terms of information, I can make up for it in other areas.
“No, I really didn’t do enough. So, from now on, come to me first with anything.”
Juncheng plucked an Azure orchid and placed it in Lan Hua’s hair before closing his eyes and saying.
“For now, let’s just enjoy this peaceful moment, okay?”
“Hmph… I thought we were going to have ‘action’ next…”
“We’re not doing it here because Juncheng is thinking of us, right?”
“Eh? Th-this…”
“That’s true. I wouldn’t want our first time to be in a flower field like this either.”
“Right? And I wanted to keep the bedsheets as a souvenir.”
*Mmm…*
Hehehehe~ So cute. He’s showing that troubled expression again~
Seeing him flustered by something so unexpected reminds me of the first time I saw Juncheng.
It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like so much has happened. It really was like Ruansui said, I’ve finally accepted these feelings.
So, when will you come back?
The afternoon passed quickly. The time spent lying together in the orchid field was peaceful and comfortable. Hehehehe.
After dinner, the main event was about to begin.
Both Lan Hua and I have mentally prepared ourselves.
We have to do it today; I don’t want to drag this out any longer.
If Lan Hua hadn’t always interfered, we would have reached the final step long ago. I can’t hold back anymore either.
These feelings of love have brought about this desire. It wasn’t very obvious initially, but the longer I spend by his side, the more unbearable it becomes. Hmm, I suddenly remembered Shirley’s knowing smile when she changed the sheets this morning. So annoying.
Although I always teased Lan Hua for being a shameless woman, I don’t think I have the right to say that anymore.
Published simultaneously by Duyi Light Novel.
However, to my surprise, Juncheng avoided me.
When I went to his room to find him, he wasn’t alone. Phil and someone else were there.
“If you’re looking for Juncheng, he hasn’t been back since dinner?”
“So, Phil, do you know where he went?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe by the sea?”
Disheartened, I left Juncheng’s room and walked down the hallway, feeling like everything around me was darkening.
Why doesn’t Juncheng want to be with me? Did he run away because of that?
No, it shouldn’t be like this. Juncheng wouldn’t run away. He’s someone who faces everything head-on, a righteous person. He wouldn’t escape, even in this situation.
Then, is it me?
Is it because it’s me that it’s not okay?
Would Ruansui be more to your liking?
Right, you like her more, don’t you? She was the one who loved you the most, and Juncheng’s favorite was her.
She is the perfect Ji Lianbing. No matter how you look at it, she’s a better match for Juncheng, because she’s full of love.
Then, I really should disappear. I should…
I hugged myself tightly, realizing for the first time how heartbroken I would be if Juncheng didn’t love me.
The extreme sadness felt like losing everything. That feeling was even deeper than death.
Then, maybe…
“Calm down.”
That was my voice.
Is it?
In my confusion, I called out her name.
“Hey! Calm down!”
When I came to my senses, I found that the person in front of me was actually Lan Hua.
“Honestly, what’s with this sudden outburst? If you had continued, this island might have turned into Death Island!”
I covered my forehead and lowered my head. Did I unconsciously use my abilities?
“Where is Juncheng now? You must know.”
“Of course, I know. I was planning to look for him alone, but then I saw you acting like this. Usually, you’re so elegant and composed.”
“To think you’d turn into this just because you suspected you might be abandoned? Your heart is even more fragile than mine.”
“R-really? Is that so…?”
I can’t be without him.
I felt it clearly, or rather, I understood it once again.
An Juncheng is so important to me. He has become a part of my being, an indispensable existence.
“How is it? Feel that sense of abandonment? I’ve experienced it long ago ‘because of you.’ I’ve already climbed out of it. There’s no reason for you to fall into it, is there?”
“Ah, honestly… Then let’s go look for him together! Really, you need Juncheng to comfort you? How much of a damsel are you inside?”
I didn’t answer. My mental state was still unstable. That feeling of losing everything lingered, making me somewhat afraid.
If Juncheng were to say he didn’t need me, I would definitely want to die. And at the same time, I would destroy everything around me.
Lan Hua took my hand, and after walking along the beach from the hotel for a while, we found Juncheng sitting by the sea, lost in thought.
“Lianbing?! Why would you know… Blue-”
“Ah, sorry. You guys came looking for me because I wasn’t in my room, right? Whoa!”
Before I knew it, I had rushed over and threw myself into his arms.
“Why, why…”
I didn’t ask what I was asking. Perhaps it was because subconsciously, I was afraid of hearing the answer.
“Why? It really feels like something’s not right.”
Lan Hua also walked over and asked.
“Not right?”
“Yeah. I had already made up my mind before, to accept you guys even if everyone opposed it. But this situation, no matter how you think about it… It’s not like I’m the only man in the world, right? It’s not some novel-like special circumstance where I have to sacrifice myself for the country or the entire human race. We still have the freedom to choose now, don’t we?”
“No, it’s not like that at all!”
“Precisely because we have the freedom to choose, we chose you!”
I couldn’t help but shout.
Juncheng, although he was talking about grand principles, ultimately felt he owed us something.
I felt the wetness on my cheeks. Was I crying? Ah…
Ah, honestly, how could I cry? Oh well, I promised. I would definitely keep smiling in front of Juncheng.
“Sorry, these are tears of frustration, aren’t they? And for you to do this with me, it means you’ve conceded. You, Lianbing, are so proud. It’s precisely because I knew this would happen that I felt it was unfair to you both.”
“No, there’s no such thing. I felt that as long as I could be with you, Juncheng, I could accept anything else. That’s why I took the initiative with Lan Hua.”
“I originally only wanted to choose Lianbing alone.”
Only choose me alone?
“And I was prepared for that. Even if Lianbing only wanted my corpse, I would respond. But in the end, I couldn’t abandon the others—Xueqing, and Yu Lan Hua too.”
Heeheeheeheehee.
Tsk, alright, Juncheng. Look at that woman’s expression, she’s about to drool.
“Eh?”
Eh? Why am I smiling…? Ugh, I can’t control it. I just want to… Ah, this smile isn’t ladylike at all.
This is just like Lan Hua.
“Honestly, once I learned about Juncheng’s original choice, my mood immediately improved! Hmph.”
“Eh? Ai?!”
“Mmm. I can’t hold back anymore. Let’s start here and now. Hehehehe~”
I pushed Juncheng down face-first. Taking off my sandals, I stepped onto the soft sand.
But it couldn’t cool the temperature of my body.
It’s going to get hotter from here.
“Since it’s come to this, we have to go all out!”
“Hey, no jumping ahead!”
The scene that follows is not for children.
This first time in this kind of place doesn’t fit my status as a Ji family’s daughter at all, but so what?
Discarding dignity, embracing the moment.
This is love.
