After the tearful reunion, Hua Jing and Xia Lin remained locked in each other’s arms. Neither dared to let go!

The weight of the days they had spent apart—days filled with fear, uncertainty, and grief—pressed down on them all at once.

Tears streamed freely.

They didn’t speak at first. What was there to say? What words could possibly contain the relief flooding their hearts?

Xia Lin clutched Hua Jing’s robes like a child lost and found. She had been truly worried about Hua Jing. When Hua Jing had gone to look for Zhao Yan back then, she had left without a second thought. And with how dangerous everything had been at that time, Xia Lin could only pray she was safe.

And indeed—she was!

"You’re here," Hua Jing whispered hoarsely.

The sound snapped Xia Lin out of her thoughts. She gave a shaky smile through her tears. "You too, young lady... You’re alive!"

The two of them finally loosened their hold, though they were still reluctant to let go. Their eyes were red and swollen, but their smiles—shaken, broken—were very real.

They sat beneath the flowering plum tree in the courtyard. It had only been planted last winter, yet now it had grown tall, its branches strong enough to provide shade. Petals fluttered down, drifting like snow onto Xia Lin’s hair.

Hua Jing reached out and gently brushed one off. "You look thinner," she murmured.

Xia Lin touched her own cheek, then smiled sheepishly. "You are thin as well, young lady. How have you been?"

Hua Jing’s gaze dropped, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. A beat of helplessness settled in her expression.

"Not good," she said honestly. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

It was the truth. Everything that had happened seemed to have drained the life out of her. She didn’t need to explain more—Xia Lin already understood.

While she had been in hiding, she had heard about the prince’s condition. The whole empire had fallen into a somber hush because of it. And Xia Lin had seen first-hand how deeply Hua Jing loved Zhao Yan.

Her heart ached for her lady.

They had been separated for far too long, and the moment they reunited, fate had dragged them apart again. This kind of love—it was cruel. But it was also real.

Xia Lin held in a breath. She didn’t know what else to say. But then she looked at Hua Jing and said softly, "He will become better. He has always come back to you, hasn’t he?"

Hua Jing turned to her.

She thought of the many moments—past lives, past worlds—where they had fought, stumbled, clashed... and somehow found each other again.

In this world, things had shifted. She had seen everything with her own eyes, walked through it with her own two feet, and fallen in love with the same man all over again. But this time—deeper. Entirely.

Still, a heavy premonition lingered in the back of her mind.

She didn’t speak it aloud.

She only nodded softly. "Yes. He will get better. He’ll wake up soon."

She didn’t know whether the words were for Xia Lin or for herself.

Then, as if shaking off a shadow clinging to her heart, she shifted her gaze. "What about you?" she asked suddenly. "What happened? I saw those bandits take you away that day. How did you manage to escape?"

Hearing the question, Xia Lin shuddered as she thought about all the torture she went through that day that she had been taken away by those bandits.

Hua Jing had left and the bandits wanted to know where she had gone to. Everything was dangerous and she could not tell them where her young lady was even if it was death that they were going to give her!

The men had tortured her and even threw her inside the water dungeon. If it was not for the second prince coming just right on time she would have already been dead by now!

Remembering those unpleasant memories, Xia Lin’s gaze turned slowly towards the man who was walking slowly by the garden.

He was tall and his back spoke of and spoken things. It was slumped barely standing as if he was all holding on to a heavy load back there.

Hua Jing quickly followed her gaze and saw Zhao Ling Xu standing by the garden.

He was walking softly, yet there were unspeakable emotions emanating from him.

He didn’t notice their gaze, but he could feel the tingle behind his back—still, he didn’t turn around.

Hua Jing stood still, lost in thought.

Back then, she was the one who had asked him to go and save Xia Lin. And he had done so!

For this, Hua Jing felt there was no way she could ever repay him.

He had also asked her to go and bring Zhao Yan back... and she had brought him back—only for the man to be rendered unconscious once again.

In this manner, she felt as if she had duped the second prince.

She turned toward Xia Lin and said softly, "It is good that you were saved. I’m truly happy that you are here."

Xia Lin nodded, her eyes shimmering with fresh tears.

She looked at Hua Jing with an earnest expression and said seriously, "My lady, the day that I met you was the luckiest day of my life!"

Hua Jing blinked, startled. That came out of nowhere!

She hadn’t been ready for it.

She looked at Xia Lin and wondered—why wasn’t this woman in their original world?

If she ever returned, the only regret she would carry was not seeing Xia Lin there again.

Would fate be kind enough to let her see this face once more?

She sighed deeply, then reached for Xia Lin and brought her into an embrace.

"The day that I met you was my luckiest day as well... Xia Lin."

Xia Lin trembled when she heard that.

And then, her tears flew freely.

This time, she didn’t control them!

After a while, she calmed down, sniffled, and wiped her tears.

They talked a bit more, exchanging smiles and warmth, before Zhao Ling Xu began walking over to them.

Xia Lin suddenly fidgeted and then said softly, "Actually... there was another reason I came here."

Hua Jing raised an eyebrow, surprised.

She turned to Xia Lin and noticed she was blushing profusely.

Even without hearing another word, Hua Jing already knew what this was about.

She glanced at Zhao Ling Xu, who stood quietly behind Xia Lin.

She smiled gently and said, "If you’ve made a decision... then go with it."

Her eyes softened. "I will not stand in your way. The only thing I ask... is that you treat her well."

Both Xia Lin and Zhao Ling Xu were stunned!

They hadn’t expected Hua Jing to catch on so quickly.

Without a word, they bowed deeply to her.

Then, shyly but with determination, they held hands and began to walk away together.

Hua Jing stood there, watching them.

She sighed softly.

Looking at Xia Lin’s back, she couldn’t help but think—

She really is in good hands now....