…
Chu Tianshu dared not bring up Shen Miaoyan in front of Jiang Furong, afraid she would get angry.
But today she was the one who mentioned it—a rare opportunity. He should seize the moment to clarify his stance.
When a couple lives together, they should speak openly about everything. How can you expect someone to fully understand you if you keep things hidden? Who knows mind-reading anyway?
Although the doorway wasn’t the best place for such a conversation, opportunities like this were fleeting.
Chu Tianshu glanced around. The Tang family lived in a small detached house, and the neighbors were somewhat distant, so they probably wouldn’t overhear.
He lowered his voice, his expression more serious than ever before:
“Darling, a lot has happened recently, and I’ve been reflecting on my past life. I realized I was a complete idiot… I have no connection with that woman now—I’ve completely erased her from my heart!”
Jiang Furong looked at him, their dark eyes meeting.
After a moment, she averted her gaze.
Scumbag! So good at pretending.
His eyes were especially good at seducing people.
Chu Tianshu said, “I need to make this clear to you. First, let me explain why I no longer like her. One, it was just youthful ignorance—a vague attraction to the opposite sex during adolescence that I shallowly mistook for love. Back then, I truly didn’t understand what love was.
Two, I pursued her for a long time, and many people knew about it. I invested so much time and… money into it, so of course I was unwilling to let go—it became a kind of inertia. And of course, she was very good at playing hard to get.”
Jiang Furong listened quietly, taking a subtle deep breath to suppress all her emotions.
She was determined to hear what kind of elaborate explanation he could come up with.
Chu Tianshu spoke to her with complete sincerity: “The third point… is because I was somewhat insecure, vain, and inexperienced. I yearned for the big city. She was a young lady from a wealthy family, so she carried a certain aura. I thought I was attracted to her, but in essence, I was drawn to the glamorous world she represented.”
These were things he had only fully understood after being reborn.
He grew up in Su City. Although he was considered urban, it was still just a small town.
It was worlds apart from Hu Shang, that international metropolis.
His family ran a small business, which made Chu Tianshu realize from a young age how useful money could be, and it intensified his longing for the bustling world outside.
Jiang Furong listened, slowly lowering her gaze.
This point, she believed.
When a privileged girl from a big city appeared in a small place, everything about her—her clothes, accessories, and lifestyle—exuded sophistication. Who wouldn’t envy that?
Back in school, there were always boys and girls crowding around Shen Miaoyan, asking her what life in Hu Shang was like.
“She had too much of an aura, making it hard to see her true self,” Chu Tianshu said solemnly.
Jiang Furong reluctantly believed these reasons.
Since they had already spoken this frankly—the first time the couple had communicated their feelings so directly—she felt a bit uncomfortable, but the opportunity was rare. She decided to swallow her pride and ask further, “Even if you don’t like her, there are plenty of other girls out there. So why did you pursue me? Did your conscience finally kick in?”
Seeing his wife’s long eyelashes flutter as she turned away, too nervous to look at him, Chu Tianshu couldn’t help but smile—
So adorable, my wife!
He nodded: “There were indeed reasons.”
He raised one finger: “First, it was absolutely not what you think—that I was looking for a free maid. I could’ve easily hired someone for all those household chores.”
Many men get married just to find a free housekeeper to do chores. But that doesn’t exist in their household.
Chu Tianshu was lazy by nature. His childhood dream was to hire ten housekeepers once he had money!
“Second… I absolutely don’t see you as a backup option either.”
After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke these words.
Though they sounded rather blunt and unpleasant, they needed to be said.
He knew Jiang Furong was sensitive and prone to overthinking. Plus, with her best friend whispering in her ear, encouraging her to imagine all sorts of things…
Being straightforward was more effective.
“Really, it’s not. It’s not because I failed to pursue that woman and then turned to you instead. I was just blind all along!”
Jiang Furong turned her back to him. “Go on.”
“Darling, don’t be upset. Hear me out,” Chu Tianshu continued. “You’re not a backup, nor am I responding out of pity for your years of devotion, and I’m certainly not trying to play with your feelings… I’m telling you, I can guess exactly what Tang Xin has been saying to you. She’s been making wild guesses like that, hasn’t she? Don’t listen to her nonsense.”
With her back still turned, Jiang Furong couldn’t help but let out a very soft laugh.
That was exactly right.
Chu Tianshu also smiled, but his expression soon turned serious again. “I’m pursuing you because I suddenly realized that, at some point, you’ve already taken root in my heart… Darling, I had a dream a few days ago.”
The matter from his previous life had been weighing too heavily on him; he had to speak about it.
“I dreamed that I died, a very tragic death…” Chu Tianshu said.
Jiang Furong’s body stiffened slightly, and her breath hitched.
She held her breath, not daring to make a sound, and listened intently.
Chu Tianshu began fabricating: “I was sent to be cremated, and then you—you abandoned our child and rushed into the cremation furnace. I watched helplessly as you were burned to death. You said you’d hold me even in death…”
Hearing this last part, Jiang Furong felt like laughing, yet she couldn’t bring herself to.
What was he saying? It was too horrifying!
Chu Tianshu couldn’t help but take two steps forward. “I tried desperately to push you away, but you wouldn’t listen. I was so frantic, and then I woke up, only to realize that such agony was just a dream. This dream made me understand how important you are to me.”
“Darling, there’s no other reason I’m pursuing you except that you’re my wife.”
“Sweetheart, I love you.”
Chu Tianshu shamelessly spoke these three words, his eyes growing warm and moist.
Jiang Furong raised her hand to wipe her eyes.
Her emotions were complex, completely stirred, her heart pulled taut.
The thought of him dying was something she couldn’t bear to imagine.
Just the idea made her feel suffocated with sorrow.
Even though she had chosen divorce, she still wished him well.
“Darling, I’m done speaking. Turn around,” Chu Tianshu said softly, stepping forward to gently turn her toward him.
Jiang Furong kept her head lowered, her eyelashes damp and sticking together, her eyes slightly red, and she bit her lip lightly.
Chu Tianshu’s sharp eyes caught her phone screen. “When did you start recording?” Caught, she quickly saved the recording, tucked her phone into her pocket, and turned her face away with an air of aloofness. “Yes! In case you act up again in the future, I’ll have it as evidence.”
“Fine, you’d better keep it safe.” Chu Tianshu laughed.
Good, there was hope!
Ah, it was only because he knew she loved him that he dared to speak so openly from the heart.
Even so.
He still needed to sincerely repent.
Heaven had granted him rebirth, surely for the purpose of atonement.
In this lifetime, he would give her lots and lots of money, and lots and lots of love.
Jiang Furong stole a glance at him.
Her lips were slightly pursed, like rose petals—pink, vibrant, and dewy. They looked incredibly soft and sweet at first glance.
“My dear wife, you’re so beautiful…”
Chu Tianshu stared for a moment, unconsciously licking his lips as he slowly leaned closer.