Chapter 512 - 450: An Ideal Realized
Chapter 512: Chapter 450: An Ideal Realized
After dinner at the Lu Family’s home, Xiao Man played with Weiwei and his two little cousins for a while. She told them a few myths like *Nezha’s Sea Rebellion*, the *Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea*, and the *Great Sage Equalling Heaven*. After watching Gu Shaojun and Lu Jian Country chat over tea and boiling two kettles of water, she noted that Uncle Lu was already dozing off. He had happily drunk several small cups of the home-brewed wine Xiao Man had brought him—another five-jin jar that she said her uncle had brought back from a family visit to the South before the New Year. His face was flushed red. Seeing this, Xiao Man and Gu Shaojun decided it was time to leave and said their goodbyes.
Gu Shaojun had parked the car at the entrance of the alley. The entire Lu Family wanted to see them off, but Xiao Man waved them off. The wind had picked up, and it was snowing heavily; there was no need for everyone, young and old, to rush out into the cold. Yang Liu’er helped dissuade Uncle Lu, telling Lu Jianling to stay inside and look after the elders and children. Then, she quickly put on her own coat and scarf to walk Xiao Man and Gu Shaojun out of the narrow alley.
The two young women walked side-by-side, speaking in low voices. Not wanting to crowd them, Gu Shaojun walked about five or six paces ahead. To his chagrin, his hearing was superb. The weather was cold, and the alley was quiet with few pedestrians, so he could still hear every word of their conversation.
Yang Liu’er sighed. "My mother once told me she named me Liu’er because willows are so resilient. You can just break off a branch, stick it in the ground, and it’ll start growing after a bit of rain or watering. Her words came true—I’m the kind of person who can make do and survive anywhere. But the truth is, I’m also nostalgic. You could even say I’m lazy. Once I settle down somewhere, I hate to move unless I’m forced out or face a problem so big I can’t solve it. Like in my past life with the Bai Family, I put down roots and refused to budge. I thought I couldn’t survive without them, without Brother Jun Fan. No one ever tried to talk me out of it or even offer a different perspective... Thank goodness I came to you this time. I thought we might become enemies, but instead, I found my guardian angel. If you hadn’t given me that push, I might never have made up my mind. I’d still be lacking the courage to leave the Bai Family, and I never would have achieved what I have today. Manman, I’m so grateful to you, to Jianling, and to the entire Lu Family. You’re like a guiding light above me, and the Lu Family has given me the warmth of a home. And Weiwei... I’m getting so attached to Weiwei. Sometimes, I have this illusion that he’s my poor child from that life..."
Yang Liu’er trailed off, and it sounded like she was starting to cry.
Xiao Man said, "But you were saying such nice things. No one’s ever called me a lamp before. I was just starting to like the sound of it. Why are you crying again?"
Yang Liu’er let out a snort, crying and laughing at the same time. "What’s there to feel? It was just a metaphor! Anyway, I’ll stop rambling. What I really wanted to tell you is that I bought a courtyard house. I’ve fixed it up, and it finally feels like a home. You should come over and see it when you have time."
’She went on that long tangent just to tell me this?’
Xiao Man had long known that Yang Liu’er dreamed of buying a big house. ’Now that her dream has come true and Bai Junfan is back in the country,’ she thought, ’is the next step to build a little home for the two of them?’
"The Lu Family doesn’t know yet, do they? I didn’t hear anyone mention it earlier."
"Yeah, I told Jianling a few days ago, but the others don’t know yet. The courtyard isn’t huge, just a little bigger than the Lu Family’s, but it’s quite far away—about a half-hour bike ride. The original owner had two courtyards, a large one and a small one, and had to sell the smaller one to pay for his son and daughter-in-law to go abroad. I only heard about it by chance from an older woman at my company’s workshop, so I hurried over to buy it. The layout is great, and it was kept very neat and clean. Their son had just gotten married and was using it as their marital home, so it just needs a few more decorations and some new furniture before it’s livable. I asked Jianling not to say anything for now. With the New Year here, I was afraid Weiwei would get upset and throw a tantrum, and then the whole family wouldn’t be able to enjoy the holiday. For the past few days, I’ve been meeting Bai Junfan at the new house. I gave him a set of keys."
’Bai Junfan won’t even acknowledge his status as her fiancé in front of the Lu Family, yet Yang Liu’er still refuses to give up hope.’
"That courtyard is your property. It means you have your own home in Beijing now. So, in what capacity are you letting Bai Junfan move into your home? As your fiancé, or as your ’brother’?"
Yang Liu’er paused before answering. "I can’t think too much about that right now. I just need to make him see that the poor, lowly village girl the Bai Family sees as a burden is actually capable and a very hard worker. For our future, I’m giving it everything I’ve got—going to college for a degree, partnering in a company whose profits are snowballing in a short time, and I’ll only build more wealth in the future! He wants a brilliant career and to climb the ranks, and I can support him forever. I will never hold him back or be a burden. We don’t need the Bai Family to live a good life and achieve the happiness we’ve both dreamed of! I just hope he won’t be swayed by his family, that he’ll stay true to his heart and cherish our love."
Xiao Man: "..."
They had now left the alley and were on a brightly lit main street. No longer concerned for their safety, Gu Shaojun quickened his pace toward the car, tuning out their conversation.
Yang Liu’er and Xiao Man were still talking as they approached the car. They stopped a short distance away and continued to murmur for a little while. Gu Shaojun opened the car door, slid into the driver’s seat, and listened with a blank expression, pulling something from his coat pocket to idly toy with.
Because of Bai Junfan, Gu Shaojun was somewhat biased against Yang Liu’er and tended to take what she said to Xiao Man with a grain of salt. Her last speech, however, made him glance up and give her a second look.
After some hesitation, Yang Liu’er finally told Xiao Man everything about the demands Bai Junfan had made of her. Once she had said it all, the fierce internal conflict that had tormented her for days finally subsided.
’She loved Bai Junfan and would do many things for him, but she wasn’t willing to do anything that would harm Xiao Man.’
’She wanted love, but she had to cherish this rare and precious friendship, too.’
’If Xiao Man hadn’t come today, she would have called to tell her anyway.’
"Manman, the Bai Family is incredibly arrogant and condescending. I know that better than anyone. The reason Bai Qingyue and the others are so clingy and suck up to you is because you’re Miss Tang. If they could get you to marry into their family, they would have everything they’ve ever wanted! In my past life, Tang Yaxuan took your place, bringing the Bai Family power and status, and their influence soared. In this life, with Old Master Bai still around, they’re after something else you have—your medicines and your formulas. I warned you about this before. You have to be careful; the Bai Family is watching you like a hawk! And it’s actually my fault. I told Bai Junfan about that long dream I had... not everything, because he didn’t really believe me, and some parts of it he just couldn’t accept. For instance, when I told him we had a son who grew up only to be killed by someone Tang Yaxuan hired, he just laughed at me. He said it was impossible, that it was just a dream and I shouldn’t take it seriously. But then, two years ago, when Mr. Bai was in the hospital fighting for his life, I told Junfan that the old man was going to die—that very day! He immediately ran off to talk it over with Bai Qingyue. Back then, you had already treated Mr. Gu and Grandma Tang. Even though both families kept it quiet, rumors had started to leak out. Doctor Jia, who visited the Bai Family often, knew the situation quite well, and through him, Bai Qingyue found out about your medical skills and formidable formulas. So, Bai Junfan went straight to your house. I don’t know how he managed it, but he got a pill from Grandpa Tang and saved Mr. Bai’s life. Ever since that day, the Bai Family has been fixated on you. They dream about getting their hands on you and your medicine. Luckily, you’re smart enough not to be fooled by them. But they still found ways to get your medicine—Wu Xiaowen gave some to Bai Lihua. It turns out Wu Xiaowen has been very useful to the Bai Family. And now... it’s my turn!"