Jiang Zhu’s heart was flustered at first—from the moment she heard Fu Shiwen’s voice—but now, it gradually calmed down.
She asked, “You… know… everything?”
“Yes, all of it.” He knew everything.
Jiang Zhu opened her mouth to explain, but found she couldn’t say anything at all. What use was there in saying any of it now?
She could only speak to send him away. “You… go. I’m fine.”
Fu Shiwen lowered his head and bit her lip again, grinding out two words through clenched teeth: “Liar.”
“I’m… not… lying… to you.”
There wasn’t a single truthful word coming out of her mouth. Fu Shiwen placed his hand on the back of her head and pressed her into his embrace. “This time, I won’t let go again!”
Holding her close, he rested his chin on her shoulder and breathed in her scent, his entire being filled with contentment.
If it were possible, letting time stop at this very moment wouldn’t be so bad either.
Under the glow of the setting sun, the two held each other tightly, their shadows stretching long. The frozen instant was like a beautiful oil painting.
“Are you my daddy?” A soft, sweet voice pulled Fu Shiwen back to his senses.
Niannian had come to their side at some point, looking up at his face with wide, curious eyes.
If he wasn’t her daddy, then why was he hugging her mommy?
Only then did Fu Shiwen release Jiang Zhu, but he sought out her hand and forcefully interlaced his fingers with hers. He looked down at the little girl and asked, “What’s your name?”
Niannian was usually very shy around strangers, but at this moment, facing Fu Shiwen, she felt no fear at all. “My name is Jiang Nian. Are you my daddy?” She asked again.
Fu Shiwen answered with certainty, “Yes.”
A flash of joy crossed Niannian’s face, but when she saw her mother’s pale complexion, she restrained her delight and said, “Daddy, let go of Mommy. Mommy isn’t feeling well.”
Jiang Zhu tried to break free from Fu Shiwen’s hand, but the man’s grip was stronger than a pair of pliers—no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t pull away.
Fu Shiwen patted her head and said, “It’s fine.” Then he led Jiang Zhu inside the house, sitting down with more ease than Jiang Zhu herself, the owner of the place.
Niannian also trotted after them and sat down beside her mother, her eyes darting back and forth between her parents with curiosity.
She found this daddy very novel! She had grown up this big without ever seeing her father!
Even though she had been afraid of him when she saw him this afternoon, now that she knew he was her daddy, she wasn’t scared at all!
Fu Shiwen’s gaze rested on Jiang Zhu, unable to look at her enough, unwilling to look away even for a moment.
Jiang Zhu felt uncomfortable under his stare, her palms growing hot and sweaty. She kept struggling to pull her hand free, but it was all in vain.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and face Fu Shiwen with composure.
His hand holding hers felt a bit rough against her skin. She looked down and happened to see the ring on his ring finger. Her heart ached, and her breath caught for a moment.
He was married.
Then what they were doing now was even more inappropriate.
She said, “Let… go of me. Your wife… will… get angry… if she sees.”
Fu Shiwen also remembered the troublesome ring on his hand. He took it off, crushed it flat, and placed it on the table. “It’s just decoration.”
“You’re… not… married?” Jiang Zhu asked.
“No,” he said. “Come back to the capital with me tomorrow.”
Jiang Zhu shook her head without a second thought. “I want… to stay… here.”
Fu Shiwen’s tone was unyielding. “That’s not up to you.”
Jiang Zhu bit her lower lip, looking at the overbearing man before her, trying to reason with him. “You… can’t… force me.”
Fu Shiwen glanced at Niannian beside her and asked, “Can you bear to let Jiang Nian live like this?”
She had struggled to survive alone in the mountains, and now she had to raise a daughter on top of that—it was even harder!
Jiang Zhu’s other hand clenched into a fist. Her nose tingled, and tears quickly welled up in her eyes.
Of course she wanted to give Niannian a better life. Over the years, she had tried her best to make that happen.
But the reality was that her efforts alone weren’t enough to give Niannian a good life.
How could she not ache for her daughter? Niannian was the only person in this world connected to her by blood.
But she had no choice. Her abilities were limited—being fed and clothed was already good enough. She didn’t dare ask for more.
Early the next morning, Fu Shiwen packed up Jiang Zhu and Jiang Nian’s belongings in the cabin while the driver prepared breakfast in the kitchen.
The mother and daughter had lived frugally over the years, so they didn’t have much luggage. Most of what filled the house was medicinal herbs—their usual source of income.
Jiang Zhu knew some medicine. During the day, she would gather herbs in the mountains, dry them, and do simple processing before selling them down in the village for money.
These herbs were ordinary, so they didn’t fetch much. Occasionally, if she got lucky and found something more valuable, Jiang Zhu would be happy for days.
Before long, Fu Shiwen had finished packing, and the driver had breakfast ready.
Jiang Zhu and Niannian sat off to the side, quietly watching them move about.
It wasn’t that Jiang Zhu hadn’t thought about stopping Fu Shiwen, but she was small and powerless—she couldn’t budge him in the slightest.
After breakfast, Fu Shiwen and the driver each took some luggage. Fu Shiwen took Jiang Zhu’s hand, ready to lead her down the mountain.
“I don’t want to. I won’t.” Jiang Zhu’s feet stayed rooted to the spot, a look of grievance on her face.
Niannian stayed close beside her, clutching her hand and calling out, “Mommy.”
Fu Shiwen’s heart softened at the sight of her, but he knew this wasn’t the time to go soft. This time, he had to bring her back to the capital!
“Be good,” he said, pulling Jiang Zhu down the mountain.
Jiang Zhu looked back at the little wooden cabin she had shared with her daughter for years, her heart full of fear and reluctance, yet she couldn’t break free from Fu Shiwen’s grip.
She could tell that Fu Shiwen was determined to take her away—even if he had to force it, he would bring her to the capital!
The thought of leaving her safe haven for an unknown place filled Jiang Zhu with overwhelming timidity and dread of everything unfamiliar.
“Let… go of me. Let go. I want to… go back. I… can’t… go with you…”
No matter how she begged or how many tears she shed, Fu Shiwen showed no sign of turning back.
They made their way down to the foot of the mountain. Halfway there, Niannian grew tired, and the driver carried her the rest of the way.
The child was five years old but very small and thin, easy to hold. The driver wasn’t just a driver—he was also Fu Shiwen’s bodyguard, so he kept up with regular training.
Once they got into the car, Fu Shiwen remained silent, not even glancing at Jiang Zhu beside him, afraid he would soften.
He was forcing himself to be ruthless—ruthless toward her.
Jiang Zhu’s tears had run dry. Her eyes and nose were red, and she could no longer cry.
What was done was done. She couldn’t change it. All she could do was accept the upheaval that was about to come.
She looked at the cold and aloof Fu Shiwen, feeling that he was a stranger, completely unlike the person from six years ago.
That person would smile, wouldn’t keep his face taut and tense, didn’t speak with such iciness, and certainly wouldn’t force her to go down the mountain!
Her thoughts couldn’t help but drift back to six years ago, to the time when she first met him.