Chapter 254: Extra: Missing You, Madly Missing You
In the spacious hospital room, on the sofa by the curved floor-to-ceiling window, Lian Li sat properly as a servant poured her a cup of warm water.
She held the water cup with both hands, the bright sun piercing the glass cup and refracting within the clear liquid, forming a light golden trace.
Lian Li tilted her head to look at the woman opposite her, who was wearing a patient uniform but still couldn’t hide her stunning beauty.
Sunlight shone on Ji Tan’s face; her skin was sickly pale, and her dark eyebrows and eyelashes appeared lighter under the light, making her look even more frail and broken.
“Lili.” Ji Tan’s voice was slightly hoarse. “I told you it was nothing serious, but Hansheng insisted I be hospitalized. I’m sorry to trouble you to come over.”
Lian Li now examined Ji Tan’s appearance and realized her own eyes and brows resembled Ji Tan’s. No wonder Madam Lu had held her hand and said she reminded her of her younger sister.
“I was just passing by.” Lian Li unclasped the bracelet on her left wrist and placed it gently on the coffee table. “I came this time to return this to you.”
Since the red jade pendant was Old Madam Zhong’s relics, it rightfully belonged to the Zhong Family Members.
Ji Tan had been trying to remain calm, but the moment she saw the bracelet, it was as if all her pent-up emotions erupted. Her eyes instantly turned red. Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably as she reached out and picked up the red jade pendant bracelet.
“You…” Ji Tan knew she had failed her daughter and understood that no matter how many reasons she had, they couldn’t erase the pain her daughter had suffered, so she always found it difficult to speak.
Lian Li spoke first: “I am very grateful that you brought me into this world.”
Her tone was unhurried, her voice clear and melodious: “Without you, there would be no me. In this regard, I have no reason to hate you.”
She paused, then continued, “In other aspects, I also have no reason to resent you.”
Lian Li couldn’t fully empathize with Ji Tan’s helplessness, suffering, and grief, but she could understand a part of it.
Not all parents deeply love their children; only children constantly beg for their parents’ care and love.
“Similarly,” Lian Li looked directly into Ji Tan’s eyes, her voice very faint, “apart from the bond of childbirth, I have no reason to acknowledge you.”
Her mother knew of her existence but did not acknowledge her. Even if they acknowledged each other now, creating a facade of a perfect reunion, this one event would become a rift between them in the future, constantly reminding Lian Li that her mother didn’t love her that much, and also reminding Ji Tan of those past events with Lian Jingcheng.
Blood connected them, and they both knew neither of them could let go of this matter.
In an instant, a sourness surged from Ji Tan’s chest. Her eyes filled with tears, which gathered into droplets and fell, landing on the fully red jade pendant. It looked like a vibrant, dewy red rose, beautiful yet delicate and easily broken.
Lian Li’s eyes felt slightly sore. She blinked her eyelashes, suppressing the emotion, and took out a sticky note from her pocket.
The sticky note bore the six digits 100109.
“This is the password for the door lock at the house on Qing Teng Road. You should know the specific location. MyFather’s belongings are all preserved intact. If you’re interested, you can take a look. You can also move any items from the house if you wish.”
Lian Li stood up and bowed slightly to the tearful Ji Tan, her attitude respectful: “I hope every day in your future is peaceful and prosperous.”
“From now on, if there are no other matters, please do not contact me again, Lu Family Member.”
The farewell was completely over. Her heart felt as if a piece had been dug out, leaving it empty and silent, or perhaps like clearing out clutter, leaving a little space for her future self to fill.
She turned and left, her steps neither hurried nor slow, never looking back. Ji Tan was left behind, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
Lian Li walked out of the hospital room, feeling a bit down. Before she even reached the living room, she heard sounds of playful banter.
Lu Yan Ying spread her arms, blocking her own older brother and preventing Lu Hansheng, who was rolling up his sleeves, from approaching Jin Shi Yue.
Meanwhile, Jin Shi Yue leaned casually against the back of the sofa, like a pampered ancestor, his posture languid and extremely casual.
Seeing Lian Li return, Jin Shi Yue straightened up and walked towards her.
“Did you finish talking?” He observed her expression, which was still relatively calm and composed.
“Yes.”
Lian Li glanced at the siblings over there and roughly understood that the Eldest Young Master had been sharp-tongued again, annoying Lu Hansheng.
Lu Hansheng and Lu Yan Ying noticed Lian Li and immediately quieted down, stopping their bickering.
Lu Yan Ying smiled brightly and cheerfully: “Lili.”
Lian Li also smiled and greeted her: “Yan Ying.”
Lu Yan Ying: “Did you come to see Aunt?”
“Yes, I’ve finished. I have a flight later, so I won’t be staying long. Goodbye.”
Without waiting for them to say more, Lian Li pulled Jin Shi Yue away.
Lu Yan Ying watched their retreating figures, her gaze sweeping over Lian Li’s left hand, where something flashed, and she suddenly focused.
“Then… she…”
Lu Yan Ying turned and asked her older brother, “Are they engaged?”
Lu Hansheng rested his palm on the back of his neck, stretching his muscles in a nonchalant manner. “There’s no news from the Capital City.”
“Lian Li is wearing a ring on her left middle finger,” Lu Yan Ying said, raising her left hand to show Lu Hansheng. “Wearing a ring on the middle finger usually signifies engagement.”
Lu Hansheng drawled, “Oh. Silly sister, you can give up now.”
Lu Yan Ying immediately got defensive: “Don’t call me silly!”
…
After walking some distance from the hospital room, along the clean corridor, Lian Li turned to look at Jin Shi Yue and asked, “Do you often have girls protect you?”
“Hmm?”
“I saw Lu Yan Ying protecting you, and she seemed quite adept at it.” Lian Li recalled, “It wasn’t just her protecting you; you protected her too. Before, at the temple, she even hid behind you.”
“Junior Sister.” Jin Shi Yue raised his hand and rubbed her head, smiling, “I’ve already signed a contract to sell myself to you, and you’re still jealous?”
Lian Li looked at him calmly: “Can’t I be jealous?”
Her expression was serious. Jin Shi Yue’s dark eyes held a deeper smile. He clasped her wrist and pulled her directly into the elevator.
Lian Li’s back hit the elevator wall. Before she could react, his long fingers pinched her chin, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
It was a very brief kiss, lasting about three seconds.
Lian Li’s tongue felt slightly numb. She raised her hand, and before she could push Jin Shi Yue away, he had already withdrawn from her lips.
“We’re outside!” Lian Li looked at Jin Shi Yue, unable to be serious at all, and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Isn’t it what you want if someone sees? One more witness to know I’m yours.” Jin Shi Yue’s voice was lazy. He stepped aside and pressed the elevator floor button.
Lian Li held his hand and looked up: “Is your logic to put a black pot on my head?”
“Don’t you know what my logic is?”
“No.”
Jin Shi Yue’s lips curved into a lazy smile: “Do you know about idealism?”
“I do,” Lian Li said. “But you don’t seem like an idealist, nor a materialist.”
He was so arrogant, he was probably a solipsist.
The elevator reached the floor. Jin Shi Yue led her out of the car and said casually, “There’s another kind: you-centricism.”
Lian Li was stunned for a moment, then suppressed a smile at the corner of her mouth and replied indifferently, “Oh.”
Lian Li did not return to the Capital City. She parted ways with Jin Shi Yue at the airport and flew directly from Shanghai to the United States on a private jet.
Graduate studies are divided into Master’s and Doctoral programs. After graduating from Jing University, Lian Li skipped the Master’s stage and went to Princeton to pursue a doctoral degree, entering as a direct doctoral student.
Doctoral programs at Princeton involve in-depth professional knowledge acquisition, extensive research, and the writing of high-quality academic papers. In most cases, the program takes four to six years to complete.
However, there are exceptions. For instance, the American mathematician John Nash completed his dissertation in just one and a half years while pursuing his doctoral degree at Princeton University.
Lian Li communicated with her professors and initially planned her study schedule. Haste makes waste; she wasn’t rushing to graduate but focused on her personal growth and professional development.
Sunrise and sunset, day and night alternate.
In December, Jin Shi Yue came to the United States to cultivate his feelings with his girlfriend, so she wouldn’t spend all day with those younger male students on campus and forget him.
Li Shuangjie drove Lian Li back to the villa. As usual, she opened the door and got out of the car. Her movements were unhurried. Her feet touched the ground, and as she looked up, her eyes suddenly lit up.
Lian Li leaped into Jin Shi Yue’s arms. He embraced her, looked down, and clicked his tongue: “Haven’t seen me for a few days, miss me this much?”
“Don’t you miss me?” Lian Li pretended to struggle. “Then don’t hug me.”
“You’re getting more temperamental, Lili.” Jin Shi Yue pulled her closer into his embrace, not allowing her to leave.
“You have a bad temper too,” Lian Li pulled him down. “We’re two of a kind.”
Jin Shi Yue smiled and said lazily, “Am I good enough for you?”
She also smiled: “Barely.”
Entering the Main Building, Lian Li walked ahead. The man behind her unexpectedly grabbed her wrist, pushed her against the wall, and gave her a passionate kiss.
Lian Li panted, her heart beating rapidly. Her hands instinctively hooked around his neck.
Jin Shi Yue looked into her eyes and said hoarsely, “I miss you.”
He lowered his head, gently biting her soft lips, and continued, “I miss you like crazy.”
