By the end of the conversation, Lu Xiangyang’s gaze fell on his own legs, a flash of bitterness crossing his eyes before he quickly returned to calm.
Shen Nanzhi did not notice.
A faint smile curled on her lips as her eyes lightly swept across his face—his deep-set eyes, his straight nose—every feature made her heart race.
She swallowed, cleared her throat softly to ease the tension, then spoke gently:
“I’m not playing house with you. The document you signed this afternoon is our marriage application. Grandpa Jiang has already submitted it, and it will be approved tomorrow.
As for children, if you like, we can adopt one from an orphanage.”
Lu Xiangyang was shocked, trying to find any hint of deception in her eyes.
What he saw was only seriousness and determination.
The suppressed emotions he had buried for three years began to stir.
He moved his wheelchair slowly toward Shen Nanzhi.
Reaching the bedside, he stopped.
The distance between them was so close they could almost feel each other’s breath.
His Adam’s apple moved slightly, as if swallowing his excitement and unease.
His gaze locked tightly onto her clear eyes, as though he wanted to pull her into them.
“Being with me means you may face all kinds of gossip, unknown challenges, and difficulties.”
Shen Nanzhi met his gaze without fear.
“I’m not afraid! No matter what happens in the future, I’ll face it with you.”
Their eyes met, time seemed to freeze, leaving only the two of them and their beating hearts.
Thump—thump—thump.
The door to the wedding room was slammed violently, as if it would tear the frame apart.
Jiang Feng’s voice came through, anxious and pleading:
“Zhizhi, stop messing around! Open the door! Listen to my explanation! I came back late because of a big order.”
Shen Nanzhi remained seated on the wedding bed. Hearing the familiar voice outside, a cold smile formed on her lips, hatred surging in her heart.
He hadn’t come back for business at all—he had stolen her nursing school admission letter and given it to Su Mian.
Afraid of accidents, he had driven Su Mian to the city for enrollment, missing their wedding, and even promised her a grand wedding in the future.
But in her past life, she never waited for that wedding—until her death.
“Jiang Feng, there’s nothing to explain,” Shen Nanzhi said through clenched teeth, her voice cold as ice. “I’ve already married Xiangyang. It’s over between us. Leave.”
This wasn’t the time. There would be time later—she would settle accounts with him slowly.
But she would not let Jiang Feng off easily.
“Jiang Feng, tonight is my wedding night with Xiangyang. Every moment is precious. Don’t disturb us,” Shen Nanzhi said loudly on purpose. “Xiangyang, I’ll help you take off your pants.”
“No, that’s impossible!” Jiang Feng roared.
He refused to believe it!
Shen Nanzhi loved him so much—how could she betray him and marry another man?
She must be angry, deliberately using Lu Xiangyang, that “useless cripple,” to provoke him.
He screamed and hammered the door furiously, trying to get in and explain.
But inside, the two of them seemed not to hear him at all.
Shen Nanzhi’s bright eyes stayed fixed on Lu Xiangyang.
Lu Xiangyang felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze. He instinctively tugged at his collar, feeling as though her gaze was fire, burning through his clothes.
His heartbeat quickened.
Shen Nanzhi looked at him with a playful smile, swaying slightly—like a graceful cat teasing its prey.
Lu Xiangyang’s throat tightened, his breathing becoming uneven.
When he looked up again, he noticed her gaze had dropped to his waistband.
“You… what are you trying to do?” he stammered, a strange panic rising in him.
She said nothing, only smiled and leaned closer.
Her fingers lightly brushed his belt, teasing him.
His body stiffened instantly, his face turning slightly red.
His large hand shot out like iron clamps, gripping her wrist.
“Don’t move!”
His voice carried caution, his deep eyes flashing with resistance.
Yet his ears were red, betraying his emotions.
Shen Nanzhi looked at him like a doctor examining a patient, her gaze full of warmth and concern.
“I just want to help you,” she said softly.
Those words seemed to hit his reverse scale. His expression instantly turned cold.
“I don’t need it!”
With that, he abruptly released her hand, turned his wheelchair, and moved toward the desk stacked with books.
As he ran his fingers across the book spines and opened a page, his voice softened slightly:
“You’re tired after a long day. Rest early. Don’t worry about me.”
“Okay,” Shen Nanzhi replied.
She knew men like him—proud, strong-willed, unwilling to accept help easily.
She couldn’t rush things, or he would only resist more.
Outside, Jiang Feng was still shouting and causing a scene, claiming Shen Nanzhi was acting on impulse and trying to manipulate him.
He also insulted Lu Xiangyang as a useless cripple who could never make her happy.
Every word felt like a needle stabbing into Shen Nanzhi’s heart, reminding her: this beast deserved death.
At that moment, Elder Jiang returned and angrily scolded Jiang Feng, ordering him to be taken away.
Before leaving, Jiang Feng shouted:
“Shen Nanzhi, you will only ever be my wife!”
She sneered lightly in response, thinking: Ugly and delusional.
She lay on the bed, turned on her side, staring at Lu Xiangyang, who was reading.
Why was he helping and protecting her?
Thinking this, her eyelids grew heavy.
Lu Xiangyang only moved his wheelchair closer after hearing her steady breathing.
He leaned forward and slowly pulled down her shoulder strap.
Little by little, revealing her fair skin.
Until he saw the faint scar on her upper arm.
He stopped.
His eyes instantly reddened.
“It’s her… it really is her,” he murmured.
Shen Nanzhi slept soundly, unaware.
She was lost in a dream.
In the dream, she was inside a supermarket.
A supermarket much larger than the one she had worked in during her past life.
The shelves were filled with countless goods.
The next morning, Shen Nanzhi was awakened by urgent knocking at the door. Aunt Wang’s voice came through:
“Nanzhi, wake up. Time for breakfast!”
She froze slightly. The supermarket in her dream vanished from her mind, and she didn’t think much of it.
The voice came again. She responded and got out of bed.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a note on the table.
She walked over and picked it up.
It was left by Lu Xiangyang.