Jiang Lai’s answer was instantaneous.
“Of course.”
Shen Ruxue couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. They streamed down her face as her fingertips trembled slightly, but she steadily lifted Jiang Lai’s left hand.
“Jiang Jiang, this time… will you still marry me?”
Jiang Lai’s knuckles flushed pink from the surge of emotion. When Shen Ruxue bowed her head, the tips of her hair brushed lightly across Jiang Lai’s hand, carrying a warm breath.
She carefully aligned the ring with Jiang Lai’s ring finger. The diamond refracted tiny specks of light under the lamp. This was Shen Ruxue’s careful selection, and she held immense hope in her heart that Jiang Lai would like it.
The ring slid perfectly onto the base of her finger.
Shen Ruxue raised her hand and gently stroked the surface of the ring, then tightly clasped Jiang Lai’s hand—the one now wearing the ring.
“It fits perfectly.”
Her voice was still a little choked up, but her smile was exceptionally tender.
She reached up to wipe away the tears on Jiang Lai’s cheeks. Just as her fingertips brushed past Jiang Lai’s eyes, they were soaked by fresh tears again.
“What’s wrong? When we’re supposed to be so happy, why are you crying so hard?”
“It’s precisely because I’m so happy that I can’t help the tears. I’m really, truly too happy…”
Jiang Lai didn’t want to cry, but her body seemed disobedient, and the tears flowed even more fiercely.
Fortunately, it seemed Shen Ruxue had rented out the entire restaurant. There were no other guests around, and even the waitstaff wouldn’t disturb them unless called. Crying a little messily right now was okay.
Jiang Lai lifted her hand and clasped Shen Ruxue’s in return.
She had a sparkling ring on her own finger, but what about Xiao Xue?
“Xiao Xue, your hand is empty… Isn’t there a matching one?”
“When we get married, we’ll buy a new pair together.”
Thinking back to the wedding rings they’d picked when they got married before, Shen Ruxue wondered if they’d still fit her finger now. If possible, she really wanted to find a chance to try them on. But that would have to wait until she’d settled everything here and returned home.
“Sure, we’ll go pick them together then.”
When they finished eating and walked out of the restaurant, the evening wind blew in, carrying the dampness of the river.
Jiang Lai breathed in the fresh air outside. Under the moonlight’s glow, she raised her hand and looked at the ring on her ring finger.
Moonlight fell upon the ring’s surface, refracting tiny specks of light.
Even in the night, it was still dazzling.
She really liked it, but wearing a ring like this out in public was a bit too flashy. Still, since it was a gift from Shen Ruxue, she definitely planned to wear it every day.
“Tomorrow… I’ll take you to the high-speed rail station!”
“Sure.”
Jiang Lai turned her head to look at Shen Ruxue.
Light from the streetlamps filtered through the car window, falling across her face. Jiang Lai could see the guilt and reluctance deep in her eyes.
“Actually, I could stay for two more days. I’ll just let Ying Yu and our daughter know.”
Seeing how miserable Xiao Xue looked, Jiang Lai’s heart felt as if something had suddenly clenched it.
The joy that had just filled her was instantly replaced by a sour ache.
They had only just re-entwined their hands, only just made a promise for the rest of their lives.
Jiang Lai herself didn’t want to be separated so soon.
“No need. The closer it gets, the more I’m afraid I won’t be able to let you go.”
Shen Ruxue’s voice trembled slightly.
She clenched her fingers tightly, the tips turning white from the pressure, but she didn’t dare raise her head to look into Jiang Lai’s eyes—afraid that seeing the reluctance there would make her own reluctance even harder to bear.
Jiang Lai reached out and took Shen Ruxue’s hand, gently prying apart her clenched fingers. She tenderly rubbed the red marks on her knuckles.
“It’s okay. It’ll go by quickly. I’ll be back soon.”
“Xiao Xue…”
“I will come back.”
Shen Ruxue nodded but didn’t speak. She just held Jiang Lai’s hand tightly and led her toward the parking lot.
When they got home, Jiang Lai and Shen Ruxue quickly took their showers.
The two of them lay in bed. Shen Ruxue gently pulled Jiang Lai into her arms, her chin resting on the top of Jiang Lai’s head.
Jiang Lai leaned into her embrace, listening to her heartbeat, and suddenly felt an immense sense of peace.
She reached out and took Shen Ruxue’s hand, her fingertips lightly stroking her knuckles.
“Xiao Xue, will taking me to the station tomorrow interfere with your business?”
“No, I don’t have much to do tomorrow. I’ll go deal with work after seeing you off.”
Shen Ruxue gently patted her back, as if coaxing a child to sleep.
“Go to sleep. Today I just want to hold you like this while we sleep, okay?”
Jiang Lai nodded and closed her eyes, but couldn’t help opening them again.
“Xiao Xue, I’m going to miss you so much when I’m back.”
Shen Ruxue tightened her arms, holding her even closer, her voice carrying a hint of a sob.
“Me too. From now on, I’ll always be by your side, with you, Xiao Yu, and our daughter. After this, our family will never be separated again.”
Jiang Lai gradually fell asleep in her arms, her breathing becoming steady.
But Shen Ruxue didn’t sleep much.
She looked at the sleeping Jiang Lai in her arms, her eyes full of reluctance and cherishment.
She gently stroked Jiang Lai’s hair, silently promising herself that once things were stable here, she would never be apart from Jiang Lai again.
She would make up for the more than ten years they had lost, bit by bit.
Moonlight from outside the window streamed through the gap in the curtains, falling on their intertwined hands.
The diamond ring and the silver ring’s light mingled together.
The next morning, Jiang Lai woke up to the sunlight.
She opened her eyes and found that Shen Ruxue was already awake—she didn’t know how long she’d been awake for. She was looking at Jiang Lai with gentle warmth in her eyes.
“Awake?”
Shen Ruxue reached out and brushed the stray hair from Jiang Lai’s forehead.
“Sleep a little longer. It’s still early, we can afford another half hour.”
“No, I want to spend more time with you.”
Jiang Lai wrapped her arms around Shen Ruxue’s neck, leaned in, and gently kissed her cheek.
“Sleeping would be a waste of time.”
Shen Ruxue froze for a moment, then burst into a smile.
She turned over and pinned Jiang Lai beneath her, then lowered her head and kissed her on the lips.
But she didn’t deepen it—it was just a simple, light peck.
A tender kiss, like a feather, landed on her lips.
Jiang Lai closed her eyes, her fingertips lightly clutching the hem of Shen Ruxue’s shirt. She held her breath, savoring the softness that came from Shen Ruxue.
By the time they finished getting ready and left, it was almost eight.
At the entrance to the high-speed rail station, Shen Ruxue stopped and reached out to straighten Jiang Lai’s collar.
“Jiang Jiang, send me a message when you get home. Take care.”
“Okay, I know.”
Jiang Lai nodded, her eyes a little red.
“Xiao Xue, you take care of yourself too. Don’t overwork, remember to eat on time. I’ll come visit you from time to time, and you have to wait for me obediently.”
Shen Ruxue reached up and wiped the tears from the corners of Jiang Lai’s eyes. Her voice trembled a little.
“Okay, I will.”
She hugged Jiang Lai tightly, her chin resting on the top of her head, holding on for a long time.
Only when time really couldn’t be delayed any longer did she slowly release her arms.