R70 Chapter 41

I Like You, I’ve Liked You for Two Lifetimes

Looking at Wu Yunzhu’s bright eyes, Yuan Ye gasped heavily.

Xie Yun divorcing Wu Yunzhu—this was something that had never happened in his previous life!

In his previous life, Wu Yunzhu never divorced Xie Yun until the very end. She silently endured her husband’s coldness and betrayal, raising Xie Yun and Cheng Yaoyao’s illegitimate child to be healthy and strong.

But the child she had accidentally conceived with him was frail and sickly.

And he could only stand in the distance, watching that gentle figure grow more haggard day by day.

When he learned that Yunzhu and their child were gone, it was already three days after they had died.

At that time, he had just woken up from his hospital bed.

He had just healed his leg and wanted to walk before her, to tell Wu Yunzhu that he was the man from that night, and the child was his too.

He would take good care of them for the rest of their lives. She and the child were the best gifts this world had given him.

But unexpectedly, he was still one step too late…

After learning that Xie Yun had actually sold her and the child to people engaged in dirty dealings, he had completely lost his sanity, dragging those people straight to hell!

But now it was different! Fate had changed!

Yuan Ye’s heart pounded fiercely, as if it would burst through his chest.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and the back of his shirt was soaked with a large patch of perspiration.

When he had just arrived at the Wu family’s gate, Yuan Ye suddenly realized he had come too hastily—he hadn’t even thought about what to say.

Coming so rashly, wouldn’t it seem too eager?

Would it make the Wu family think he had ulterior motives?

He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his face, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.

But his heartbeat was still unreasonably fast, and his palms were sweating too.

Yuan Ye looked down at his cloth shoes covered in mud and his wrinkled pant legs, thinking somewhat regretfully that he should have at least changed his clothes before coming.

Even in this reborn life, he still carefully guarded Wu Yunzhu’s side, never daring to cross that boundary.

“Creak—”

The sudden sound of the courtyard gate being pushed open interrupted Yuan Ye’s thoughts.

He abruptly opened his eyes and saw Wu Yunzhu standing at the doorway, holding a wooden bucket in her hand—she was obviously going to fetch water.

“Yuan, Yuan Ye?”

Wu Yunzhu’s eyes widened in surprise. Under the moonlight, her eyelashes cast fine shadows on her face.

Yuan Ye’s throat suddenly tightened, and for a moment he couldn’t speak.

He greedily looked at the person before him—she wore a faded blue cloth shirt, her black braid hung in front of her chest, and the ends still had a bit of flour on them.

Her eyes were still so bright, as if filled with starlight.

“I, I…” Yuan Ye stammered, not knowing what to say.

Wu Jianguo’s booming voice came from the courtyard. “Yunzhu, who’s here?”

Wu Yunzhu turned her head and replied, “Dad, it’s Yuan Ye.”

After speaking, she stepped aside to make way. “Come in and sit?”

Only then did Yuan Ye notice that in the courtyard, Wu Jianguo and Sun Hongying were sitting under the jujube tree enjoying the cool air, with a teapot and several coarse porcelain bowls on the table.

He walked into the courtyard awkwardly, feeling like his hands and feet didn’t know where to go.

“Uncle Wu, Aunt Sun.” Yuan Ye bowed properly, even changing his form of address.

His voice was a bit higher than usual. “Have, have you eaten yet?”

Sun Hongying smiled and greeted him. “Xiao Yuan is here, quickly sit down and have some tea. Yunzhu, go get a bowl.”

Wu Jianguo looked Yuan Ye up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on his sweat-soaked shirt and mud-covered pant legs, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. “It’s so late, what’s so urgent?”

Yuan Ye felt a wave of heat rush from his neck up to his cheeks.

He took the tea bowl Wu Yunzhu handed him, his fingertips accidentally touching her hand. He immediately jerked back as if electrocuted, nearly knocking over the tea bowl.

“Sor, sorry.” He apologized frantically, feeling like his ears were burning up.

Wu Yunzhu looked at him strangely and asked softly, “Are you alright? Your face is so red, do you have a fever?”

As she spoke, she reached out to touch Yuan Ye’s forehead, which scared Yuan Ye into quickly backing up a step. “No, nothing! I just, I just…”

His gaze wandered between Wu Yunzhu’s parents and Wu Yunzhu herself, before he finally mustered his courage. “Yunzhu, can we talk alone?”

The courtyard suddenly fell silent. Wu Jianguo and Sun Hongying exchanged a meaningful look.

Wu Yunzhu was stunned for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, wait for me.”

She turned and went inside, quickly coming back out with a thin jacket in her hand.

Yuan Ye noticed it was a men’s jacket, and his heart sank—was it left behind by Xie Yun?

“Let’s go.” Wu Yunzhu said softly, taking the lead toward the courtyard gate.

Yuan Ye said goodbye to Wu Yunzhu’s parents and quickly followed.

The two walked one after the other on the village path, the moonlight stretching their shadows very long.

The night breeze was gentle, carrying the fragrance of the fields.

Several dog barks came from the distance, making the night seem even more tranquil.

Yuan Ye’s heartbeat gradually steadied, but his palms were still clammy with sweat.

“You seem a bit off today, what’s—”

Wu Yunzhu had just started to speak when Yuan Ye interrupted her.

“Xie Yun told me you two got divorced.” Yuan Ye’s voice trembled slightly. “Is it true?”

Wu Yunzhu’s footsteps paused for a moment, then she continued walking forward. “Yes, we handled the paperwork this afternoon.”

Her tone was incredibly calm, as if discussing the most ordinary matter.

Yuan Ye secretly observed her profile and found her expression was also very calm, with only her slightly pursed lips betraying a hint of emotion.

“Are you… alright?” Yuan Ye asked carefully.

Wu Yunzhu suddenly stopped walking and turned to face him.

Under the moonlight, her eyes were startlingly bright. “Yuan Ye, do you know? The moment I signed the papers, I actually felt relieved.”

She looked up at the starry sky and let out a long breath. “Like a bird that’s been caged for so long, finally able to fly.”

Yuan Ye’s heart trembled violently.

He thought of Wu Yunzhu from his previous life, bound by marriage and growing increasingly haggard, and his eyes suddenly felt hot.

“Yunzhu,” he stepped forward, mustering his courage to grasp her hand, “I, I’ve wanted to tell you something for a long time.”

Wu Yunzhu didn’t pull her hand back, just looked at him questioningly.

Yuan Ye took a deep breath, feeling like his heart would jump out of his chest. “I like you. I’ve liked you since a very, very long time ago.”

His voice trembled slightly in the night breeze. “I know it might not be appropriate to say this now, but I’ve been waiting for this day for two lifetimes… no, I mean…”

Wu Yunzhu’s eyes widened even more. “Two lifetimes?”

Only then did Yuan Ye realize he had let something slip, and hastily explained. “I mean, it feels like I’ve been waiting for two lifetimes.”

He gripped Wu Yunzhu’s hand tightly, afraid she would disappear the next second. “I know you might need time now, but please give me a chance to take care of you, okay?”