Chapter 83: Reunion Thank you, Miguel Gaoyang, for your generous reward!

While waiting for the beef noodles, I opened QQ and saw a message from Dream Seeker—Jade Lotus. She wrote to me: “Feng, forget about me! Though fate brought us together, it was not meant to be. Your appearance gave me a glimmer of hope, only to plunge me into endless despair. I cannot lose my brother, no matter how much trouble he causes; he is still my brother. Do you understand what I mean?”

I replied, “I understand. Thank you for the help you have given me, and for taking care of my adoptive mother. All I can do now is wish you happiness and joy always.”

To my surprise, Jade Lotus responded quickly. She said, “Feng, thank you for understanding. Even though we cannot be together, you are still the dearest person to me. From now on, you are my little brother, and I hope you find someone better. Your big sister wishes you all the best.”

I said, “Sister Jade Lotus, take care of yourself. Try to look on the bright side—miracles can happen as long as we are alive, even at the very last moment.”

After a moment of silence, she wrote, “Feng, are you still unwilling to let go?” I replied, “Don’t worry, Sister Jade Lotus. I won’t pester you or do anything to hurt you. But I want to quietly wish you well. If you are ever wronged or unhappy, you can tell me—I am willing to share your burdens.”

She answered, “Feng, where are you now? I want to come over and chat for a while.”

I told her, “I’m at the little Jiang’s Beef Noodle shop at the village entrance. If you’re coming, should I order a bowl of noodles for you?”

She replied, “Alright, I’ll be there soon.” I told the proprietress, “One more bowl of beef noodles, please, just like before.”

The proprietress smiled warmly, “Sure, it’ll be ready in a moment.” Soon after, she brought my bowl to the table.

The steaming hot beef noodles were especially fragrant on a winter day, and I began to eat ravenously. I had just finished about a third when Jade Lotus arrived in her car—she must have been nearby.

Just then, the proprietress brought over her noodles as well. Seeing the heaping bowl, Jade Lotus exclaimed in surprise, “That’s so much!”

I said, “If you can’t finish, give me half.”

She laughed, “How about I give you what’s left when I’m done—would you still want it?” Clearly, her mood had improved and she had moved past the gloom of the afternoon.

I smiled back, “No problem—as long as I have room, I’ll definitely eat it.” After a few bites of noodles, she suddenly asked, “Do you want to drink?”

I’d had enough Erguotou this afternoon and wasn’t drunk, so I shook my head, “Not in the mood.”

She said, “How about you have a few more drinks with me?” Seeing she was in good spirits, I didn’t want to refuse. I nodded and asked the proprietress, “What drinks do you have?”

She replied, “Just Langjiu, Jinjiu, Erguotou, and Guyue Longshan—what would you like?”

Erguotou is too strong, and Guyue Longshan is a famous yellow wine from Qianjiang. I said, “Let’s have Guyue Longshan, and a few side dishes to go with it.”

First came the cold-sliced beef tongue, then peanuts, and soon a few hot dishes were brought over as well.

Jade Lotus and I began to drink together. After a few sips, she suddenly asked, “Feng, did you meet that woman called Ayun when you went to Hudou this time?”

I nodded, “Yes.”

She said, “Is this Ayun the same woman you saved at the old temple in Tongshan?”

I replied, “Yes. Why? Your brother told you everything?”

She nodded, “He also said that Ayun is the daughter of a big boss, and she seems to like you—she even took you to a fancy banquet.”

I replied, “First, I don’t know if she really is a big boss’s daughter. Second, I don’t know if she likes me. But after your brother publicly said I was an ex-convict, she started having doubts about my identity.”

Jade Lotus asked anxiously, “Did you admit it to her or deny it?”

I said, “I told her the truth. She suspects something and said she wants to investigate what really happened back then.”

Jade Lotus, uneasy, said, “So she really likes you, and she’s come to Qingxi to investigate the old case. My friend already senses trouble and warned me, so you must not go back on your word. If you do, not only will my brother be imprisoned, but I’ll go to jail for perjury—and many others will be implicated. You were willing to take the blame back then, and I was willing to atone for my sins. We mustn’t drag others down. Besides, it’s all in the past—there’s no point in reopening the case now.”

I responded, “Sister Jade Lotus, I understand your reasoning. I admitted to Ayun that it was me, and I didn’t mention your brother’s involvement. But Ayun is clever—she’s already found many loopholes in the case. If she insists on pursuing the truth, I doubt we can hide it from her.”

Jade Lotus grew worried, “What should we do? Feng, if she uncovers the truth, my brother and I will both end up in prison. All my efforts will be wasted, and it’ll drag down even more people.”

Suddenly, she drank deeply and pleaded, “Feng, I’m begging you—please do whatever you can to stop Ayun from investigating.”

I promised, “Don’t worry, Sister Jade Lotus. I’ll do my best to stop her.”

She said, “So long as you insist that you were the one who tried to assault Ling Xue, then no matter how much evidence she uncovers, she can’t overturn the case.”

I assured her, “I promise, I won’t change my story. I’d rather die than hurt you.”

She breathed a sigh of relief, “With your word, I can rest easy. Here, let me toast you.”

Before we realized it, we’d had quite a bit to drink. I was tipsy, and Jade Lotus was about seventy percent drunk as well.

After paying the bill, we got ready to leave together. Only then did I realize she was in no condition to drive. I asked, “How are you getting home? Should I call a driver for you?”

Jade Lotus leaned on my shoulder, her breath heavy with alcohol. “Feng, where do you live? Take me there.”

With my mind muddled by drink, I led Jade Lotus back to the shabby little room I rented.

For the fastest updates on “Solitary Shadow, Defiant Love” by Mingri Junzailai, be sure to bookmark this page for the next chapter.