Chapter 257: Love is Seeing

Qiao Suisui was caught between laughter and tears. It wasn't that there was anything unspeakable between her and Lan Ze, but what she was about to do might come as a bit of a surprise.

She was about to ask Ka'er to leave when she heard Lan Ze speak in a very good-natured tone: "It doesn't matter. It's the same wherever we talk." He looked at Qiao Suisui with those hollow, azure eyes and said gently, "If it can put him at ease, I don't mind anything, as long as I can speak a few words with you."

These words made Ka'er frown immediately, but Qiao Suisui was the first to burst into laughter.

Seeing her laughing and shaking her head, Ka'er asked in confusion, "What did he say that made you laugh like this?"

She hadn't noticed it before, but listening to Lan Ze's words now, there was always a thick "tea-flavor" to them. She wondered if this counted as growth? She was actually capable of identifying "tea" now.

Qiao Suisui wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes. Feeling that stating the reason in public would embarrass Lan Ze, she ultimately found an excuse to brush it off.

Then, she took the Five Senses Amplification Potion from the system and handed it to Lan Ze: "Drink it."

Lan Ze didn't hesitate for a second; he took it and drank it straight down.

"Aren't you afraid that what I gave you is some kind of poison?"

Lan Ze just looked at her and smiled, saying, "I'm afraid, but I would still drink it."

"Why?"

"Because it was given by you."

Ka'er let out a "Tch" from the side and commented, "Love-struck fool."

Qiao Suisui smiled and glanced at Ka'er, feeling that he didn't really have the right to judge others.

Next, she said earnestly to Lan Ze: "This is a potion that can restore your senses. Lan Ze, are you ready to welcome a brand-new world?"

Lan Ze froze abruptly, his hand still holding the medicine tube trembling.

"Are you... serious?"

"Mm." Qiao Suisui looked at him solemnly and said, "The effects will manifest within two hours. There are no side effects and no time limit."

Lan Ze's heart felt like it was about to jump out of his throat!

He was so excited he became incoherent: "Then, then I... I can see you!"

"Not only can you see, but you will also be able to smell the fragrance of flowers, taste flavors, and feel pain, without relying on mental power to hear or see. I didn't give it to you before because I hadn't confirmed the effects, and I didn't want to get your hopes up for nothing."

This Five Senses Amplification Potion was a reward she had obtained in the first timeline. She had actually considered giving it to Lan Ze back then, but too many things happened later. Plus, she was determined to go back and change things, so she had to wait for a completely stable timeline before giving it to him for it to have any meaning.

Now, she could finally make up for Lan Ze's regrets.

Lan Ze clearly hadn't recovered from the shock of this huge surprise. He said slowly and doubtfully, "Sui Sui, why... I, I..."

He felt that this significance was so great that he couldn't possibly offer any reward or repayment. For a moment, he stood there at a loss, his eyes brimming with mist.

Although he didn't say it, Qiao Suisui immediately perceived his near-shameful emotions, so she deliberately let out a long sigh of relief and said, "That's great. Giving this potion to you really completes a very, very big wish of mine. I can finally sleep well. Thank you, Lan Ze."

"Thank... me?"

"Yes. Do you remember? When we came back from the small building, Zongfang did something very excessive to you..."

Lan Ze's expression was a bit dazed, then he understood she was referring to the time Zongfang broke his legs.

"Although your legs are healed now, my guilt hasn't lessened. Being able to help you like this, my guilt has finally lessened a lot, so I have to thank you." Upon hearing this, Lan Ze was completely speechless. The moisture swirling in his eyes turned into heavy tears. At this moment, Lan Ze smiled as he shed silent tears.

He looked at Qiao Suisui, his eyes filled with gratitude, being moved, and helplessness.

What kind of exquisite, crystal-clear heart must one have to be able to care for his emotions while bestowing such a great favor upon him, not letting him feel even a shred of embarrassment or pity?

Lan Ze lowered his head, tears falling one by one, hitting the tops of his shoes.

This was the person he loved even when he was paranoid enough to go down the wrong path... He had fallen in love with such a good person. How could he destroy her happiness? How could he skillfully maneuver among her men and make things difficult for her?

Lan Ze realized that after this moment, all the plans he had envisioned should be impossible to carry out.

Qiao Suisui didn't know about his complex inner journey; she only felt that she had finally repaid some of the feelings Lan Ze had shown by tirelessly searching for her. She knew very well that what she felt for him was only friendship; feelings that couldn't be repaid in other ways would have to be compensated for in this way.

She remembered the conversation between her and Lan Ze at the bottom of the Xuyan Canyon in the first timeline... Qiao Suisui raised her eyes, wearing a smile of relief, and said to Lan Ze, "You have already done very well. You did everything you could; there are no regrets. Lan Ze, let go."

Lan Ze looked at her fixedly. This wasn't the first time he had heard this sentence from her. The last time she said this was more than ten years ago, when Qiao Suisui came to question him if he had instigated the relationship between Zongfang and her. At that time, she had also said this. He had wanted to let go, but at the time, he only felt a sharp pain in his heart, and a greater sense of unwillingness constantly tormented him.

However, today, at this very moment, hearing her say this again, Lan Ze felt his heart suddenly loosen, and hot tears rolled down. But what moved him wasn't the "let go," but her saying, "You have already done very well."

So, from the beginning until now, what he wanted was to be seen.

And the essence of love is seeing.

Regardless of whether this love was about romantic feelings, Lan Ze felt his heart was greatly comforted at this moment.

Because he was seen, he didn't need to compete for superiority in the relationship;

Because he was seen, he didn't have to become "someone" to her, or insist on a result.

From the second she clearly saw his sensitivity, his loss, his incompleteness, and his persistence, he suddenly felt his world become vast.

Qiao Suisui saw that the brow Lan Ze had originally furrowed with light sorrow had relaxed, and the sadness in his eyes had turned into a moving brightness. He had been crying, but as the tears flowed, they turned into a smile through tears. She also began to smile, and they looked at each other under the veranda. Neither of them spoke, but she knew Lan Ze had let go.

The originally dissatisfied Ka'er was now leaning against a veranda pillar with his arms crossed. Sensing the change in atmosphere, he was uncharacteristically quiet and didn't say any mocking words. Ka'er's gaze was fixed on Qiao Suisui, and watching her smile, he couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips as well.

The two finally parted ways with Lan Ze. By the time they reached the reception hall, all the younglings were waiting in great tension.

Seeing Qiao Suisui at the door, Hawisi, who had been lying lazily on the sofa, jumped up in the next second, standing there like a soldier.

"Mo... Mother."

The other children also saluted Qiao Suisui one after another, their voices, whether green or childish, all very earnest.

Qiao Suisui's spine felt a bit stiff.

Four timelines later, she still wasn't used to being a mother, and a mother to so many cubs at that.

Seeing her expression, which was even more nervous than the children's, Ka'er found her cute. He smiled, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Why are you so nervous?"

"I'm not very good at..." she said with a guilty conscience.

Ka'er's eyes rolled, he curled his lips into a smile, and his large hand wrapped around her waist. The temperature of his palm made Qiao Suisui tremble. She heard the man's low, ambiguous voice in her ear: "I'll give you a remedial lesson tonight."

(End of chapter)