Chapter 36: The only person I love is you

Shen Xun accompanied Lin Shutong shopping all day, buying everything from head to toe, and even acted as her porter.

Lin Shutong was thirsty, Shen Xun handed her water.

Lin Shutong's legs were sore, Shen Xun massaged her legs.

Lin Shutong really didn't want to walk, Shen Xun squatted in front of her, carrying her on his back to their new home.

After placing her on the sofa, Lin Shutong tilted her head and kissed the corner of his mouth: "You've worked hard today, Ah Xun."

Shen Xun reached out and rubbed her head, gently saying: "Take a bath and rest early."

Lin Shutong froze; it was only seven o'clock.

"Ah Xun, are you leaving?"

"Been out all day." Shen Xun glanced at his watch—7:10; getting home would be exactly 7:30, and Jiang Lai would also be about home.

He picked up his jacket, draped it over his arm, turned to leave, but his finger was suddenly grabbed.

Lin Shutong said tenderly: "Ah Xun, are you really going to leave?"

"It wouldn't be appropriate to stay." Shen Xun frowned slightly, "I am still husband and wife with Jiang Lai."

Lin Shutong's heart sank, her eyes instantly reddening: "Do you love her now?"

"No." Shen Xun answered quickly, "Shutong, don't overthink it; four years ago I loved you, and four years later I still love you."

"And Jiang Lai?"

"Jiang Lai..." Shen Xun uttered the name, his throat tightening, "I married her, I have to take responsibility for her."

Lin Shutong thought it was a joke—now he's responsible for Jiang Lai again? What does that make her?

"Ah Xun, I know it's my fault; that night I should have stopped you completely, otherwise we wouldn't have developed this relationship." A tear fell from the corner of her eye; Lin Shutong lifted her hand and gently wiped it, looking pitiful.

Shen Xun's heart tightened; he hurried forward to comfort her: "Shutong, it's not your fault... you just need to give me some time."

Lin Shutong, eyes red, asked: "Do you still love me?"

"The only person I love is you." Shen Xun cupped her face and kissed her.

Lin Shutong flung herself into his embrace: "Ah Xun, I'm scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

"My family keeps me under strict control, especially my grandfather; if they found out I was entangled with a married man, they'd surely scold me." Lin Shutong clung tightly to him, "But I can't control myself; Ah Xun, over the four years abroad I never forgot you—I think of you every moment—but I dare not say it, nor can I, because you're married."

"All this time I could only call myself a friend or classmate; on the surface I'm fine, but my heart feels like it's breaking."

Her tears rolled down again.

"I regret it—I regret not coming back; if I had rushed back on your wedding day, would you not have married someone else?"

Shen Xun gently patted her back and said: "Yes."

"It's a pity there are no 'ifs'; we missed four years, but no matter what I can't miss you again." Lin Shutong sniffled, "So even if we can only have this kind of relationship, I can accept it—who made me love you."

Shen Xun's heart melted completely; he held her tight, calling Lin Shutong's name over and over.

In the end, Shen Xun stayed.

After Lin Shutong fell asleep exhausted in his arms, he then took out his phone to ask Jiang Lai how her lessons went today.

Jiang Lai's reply was not perfunctory either; she turned the note images Luo Jiaai had sent into text, then simply adjusted them into a mind map and sent it over.

Seeing how attentively she listened, Shen Xun's eyes softened; he transferred ten thousand to her as a reward for her obedience.

【As long as you stay at home peacefully, being a good Mrs. Shen and a good mother, I'll give you whatever you want.】

【What dishes did you make at home tonight? I had late social engagements, so I didn't return.】

【Don't be angry.】

Just after sending that message, Shutong snuggled into his embrace; he lowered his gaze, then thought of Jiang Lai alone at home, his brows slightly furrowing.

On one side is a man's duty; on the other is the woman he's longed for years; he felt torn for a moment.

If Shutong hadn't confessed her love, and they hadn't had that drunken mishap, he would have continued to silently support and protect Shutong.

But his relationship with Shutong has deepened; must he let his beloved woman remain nameless and without status?

And Jiang Lai—what should she do?

Jiang Lai is obedient, sensible, virtuous, and still cannot do without him.

Shen Xun fell into a dilemma, sleeping poorly all night.

Jiang Lai saw the message in the morning; the breakfast she had just eaten almost made her vomit.

"What late-night engagements preventing him from coming home? He just can't leave Lin Shutong's bed."

Before Lin Shutong returned to the country, Shen Xun would come home no matter how late the engagements, except when on business trips.

If he feared she'd smell alcohol, he'd sleep a night in the guest bedroom.

When she brought breakfast over, just smelling it would let Shen Xun open his eyes.

These four years, aside from not having consummated the marriage, everything else was no different from a real husband and wife.

Jiang Lai thought to herself: Shen Xun is still too good at acting.

She replied: 【Okay.】

In the afternoon, Shen Xun received another class update from Jiang Lai, and felt completely at ease.

Actually, Jiang Lai was standing in the garden, bending over, allowing the matriarch to place the jewelry she had collected onto her, then directing her to turn around to see the effect.

The matriarch is low-key, hardly wearing jewelry, but that doesn't mean she has none.

"These jewels were bought for me by Old Cui after middle age; when he was young he bought me gold—starting with little gold beans, then later gold bars; one day he suddenly brought back a full set of jewelry, saying nowadays everyone wears gemstones and diamonds, and few wear gold outside."

Wang Ruohua looked at the obediently standing Jiang Lai, nodded: "You're still suited to wear pearls; pearls match embroidered lace gowns perfectly—you'll wear this pearl set that day."

"Okay." Jiang Lai breathed a sigh of relief, bent over to put the rest away.

The matriarch again pointed to the jewelry in her hand: "Pick a set of each color, keep them to match other outfits later."

"There are red, green, and blue sets; you can mix and match as you like, plus there's that pink diamond set—soft and pink, perfect for you young ladies."

Madam lay on the recliner, swaying leisurely.

Jiang Lai looked at the jewelry before her, not daring to accept: "Madam, it's too precious."

"It's not a free gift." Wang Ruohua knew this girl had a stubborn streak in her heart, her own persistence.

"I and Lao Cui have never had children; these are for you to later see me off, as an annual thank-you gift when you come to visit me and Lao Cui. If no one remembers, then that's truly vanishing from this world."

"Madam..." Jiang Lai felt a sourness in her nose, "You will live a long life."

Wang Ruohua laughed and said: "Then Lao Cui will have waited long enough for me; let him wait. He also won't rest easy knowing you're all alone."

Jiang Lai was not Lao Cui's most talented student, nor the highest achiever, but she was the hardest working, the one who made both her and Lao Cui feel the most heartache.

Wang Ruohua reached out, pulled her over to sit down, leaned in as if to whisper: "Do you know what Lao Cui's letter to me said?"

Jiang Lai's eyes reddened at the corners, and she shook her head.

"He said, Wang Ruohua, I leave Jiang Lai to you, and I leave you to Jiang Lai; you must look after each other. The child is smart-minded but tongue-tied; if she makes you angry, tell her directly, and never scold her the way you would scold me—this little girl has walked so far on her own..."

Jiang Lai's eyes instantly reddened, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.