After Breaking Up, I Married the Dying Tycoon in a Flash-Chapter 391: Long River of Dim Lights (Part 11)

The man lay in bed, his breath weak, his thoughts unknown, until the door opened and a woman in a wedding dress stood outside. Lu Zhonian’s eyes, always ashen, finally rippled with emotion...

He stared intently at Song Nian, his parched lips trembling slightly. After a long while, he croaked, "Why did you come back?"

Song Nian paused briefly at the doorway before walking toward him.

She moved slowly, each step light and hesitant, as if she was making a decision.

Lu Zhonian didn’t know what to think. He guessed perhaps Song Nian was here to tell him she was leaving with Jiang Ci.

Lu Zhonian couldn’t accept this outcome, but at this moment, he didn’t know with what threats to make Song Nian stay.

So the words that came out were cold as ice, "What? Seeing Jiang Ci still alive makes you happy, doesn’t it? Song Nian, do you think you can finally get rid of me? The days spent with me must have been so difficult for you."

He rambled on as if anticipating every word Song Nian might say, blocking off every line of conversation.

He slightly propped himself up, weak to the extreme but still using the last of his strength to grip Song Nian’s wrist.

He looked at her, each word heavy and deliberate, "Don’t even think about it, I won’t let you go."

The bonds between people, if thin as cicada’s wings, ready to break at any moment, all pretenses of strength will reveal their true frailty.

Song Nian saw through Lu Zhonian’s insecurity, so she sat down following the strength of his hand, making no struggle.

The man’s eyes, softened by the lamp light, lacked the usual cold arrogance and untouchable pride, revealing instead a hint of vulnerability.

He gripped Song Nian’s wrist tightly, and even under her compliant behavior, there was no room for negotiation.

Song Nian smiled, seemingly nonchalant, and gently said, "Lu Zhonian, did you think I wouldn’t come back?"

Lu Zhonian’s inner fears were touched, and he was startled. The forced smile at his lips was sharp and strained. He gazed at Song Nian, his words biting, "Even if you run to the ends of the earth, I’ll drag you back to my side."

Song Nian’s eyes were slightly moist, she blinked rapidly to mask her emotions and asked softly, "What if... I stop running? I’ll stay by your side, always." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Lu Zhonian had imagined many responses, but never that Song Nian would offer to stay of her own accord.

"Weren’t you leaving with Jiang Ci? Weren’t you never coming back?" Lu Zhonian slowly released Song Nian’s arm, his brow furrowed, a hint of confusion in his eyes, "Sometimes, I really don’t know what’s on your mind."

"Then just think of me as crazy, as if... I’ve suddenly changed my mind," Song Nian said as she pulled Lu Zhonian’s hand to her face, her gaze bright and pure, like it always was, untainted, and in Song Nian’s eyes, Lu Zhonian saw himself.

He heard Song Nian say, "Lu Zhonian, I’m not leaving, not ever again."

Nobody knew exactly how the two reconciled.

But on that year’s blizzard day, as Lu Zhonian held Song Nian watching the snow through the floor-to-ceiling window, the distant cold between them had melted away.

Song Nian pointed at the snowflakes outside, her voice bubbly, "Let’s go build a snowman on the mountain?"

Lu Zhonian lowered his eyes to Song Nian’s vivid face.

"Sure, what kind of snowman do you want to build?"

"Do snowmen look different?" Song Nian asked, surprised.

Lu Zhonian chuckled, calmly, "Of course, they’re different. Each snowman has its own look."

Song Nian nodded thoughtfully, then with a mischievous smile, "Then I want one that looks the most like Lu Zhonian!"

"Like me?" Lu Zhonian embraced her a bit tighter, his tone distant, with a hint of a sigh, "Nian Nian, if it looks like me, it might not be that pretty."

"Is President Lu not confident in his own looks?" Song Nian teased him on purpose, "President Lu has been handsome since he was little, I’ve seen it for myself."

Lu Zhonian looked at Song Nian amused, "When have you seen it?"

Song Nian claimed she had but wouldn’t tell him.

In truth, it wasn’t until much later that Song Nian, having seen Lu Zhonian before arriving at the Lu Family, would keep this encounter a secret deep in her heart.

In the orphanage’s narrow, dark corridors, the tall walls blocked the view on both sides, leaving only despairing darkness.

Young Song Nian staggered down the hallway, nearly tripping several times.

Until a tender youth with a lighter ignited a candle and handed it to her.

The flame danced between them, and Song Nian saw the aloof face of Lu Zhonian.

He had been aloof since he was young, not just distant and indifferent to everyone after growing up.

Song Nian received the candle, staring at him dumbly, looking very obedient.

"This area is under construction and can’t be accessed. Didn’t anyone tell you?" the young man’s voice was also cool, devoid of warmth.

Song Nian shook her head, looking at him blankly.

Lu Zhonian frowned, "Don’t come this way for now, you might fall. In a few days, I’ll have someone install lights here."

Song Nian was afraid of the dark.

This person was incredible, promising to fill the dark corridor with lights.

Song Nian’s heart filled with admiration, and she nodded gravely.

Lu Zhonian’s gaze softened, "Let’s go then."

And now, Song Nian could keep this ’having seen him’ as a secret in her heart.

The snow outside continued to fall endlessly, Song Nian yawned, "Lu Zhonian, why do you think I was abandoned? Am I not good enough that’s why Mom didn’t want me?"

Lu Zhonian was a bit taken aback, at a loss for words for a moment, simply patting Song Nian’s hair awkwardly.

After a long pause, he seemed to weigh his words, finally saying, "Not all treasures in this world are recognized at first sight. Some are let go by people for reasons beyond their control or due to selfish motives. But Nian Nian, I will not give up on you, no matter when."

Song Nian was moved, her voice husky as she sniffed, "Then I must not be a universally recognized treasure, otherwise, why would only you genuinely care about me after all these years?"

Lu Zhonian watched the tears on Song Nian’s eyelashes, he kissed her eyebrows tenderly, carefully, "Nian Nian, it doesn’t matter if you’re not recognized by everyone as a treasure; to me, you are my one and only treasure."

This New Year, Song Nian and Lu Zhonian did not argue, spending a peaceful and serene holiday together.

The two had never been so in sync before, and so all the previous conflicts had now turned to ashes.

As the New Year’s bells chimed, Song Nian heard Lu Zhonian say in her ear: "Mrs. Lu, Happy New Year."

Song Nian blinked, looking at the brilliant fireworks and also smiling, "Mr. Lu, Happy New Year to you too."