Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Li Qiong had already prepared what she wanted to say, so she spoke without hesitation. ”Mr. Hua, I could sense there were feelings between you and Nuanyue. But a little while ago, Guo Dongmei showed up claiming to be your fiancée. From what I overheard of your conversation, I confirmed it. I don’t care if you have feelings for Guo Dongmei or not, but I suggest you clean up your own messy engagement and relationship problems. Only then should you get together with Nuanyue. It would be better for her that way.”

Hua Yusen was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Li Qiong to talk to him about Nuanyue.

Though it was awkward, he had to admit Li Qiong was right. Until he had dealt with all that messy business, he truly couldn’t get too close to Nuanyue.

”Thank you,” Hua Yusen said quietly. ”I know your advice comes from a good place, for both me and Nuanyue, and I accept it. But some things aren’t what you think. What you’ve seen is just the surface. Since you care so much for Nuanyue and are such a good friend to her, I’ll tell you this in all seriousness: I will not let her down.”

Hearing this, Li Qiong understood that there might be more to Hua Yusen’s situation than she knew. Seeing that he seemed to be a man of his word, she chose to trust him. She nodded and said, ”Good. Nuanyue is so wonderful, so kind and smart. She deserves to be treasured. Please, treasure her.”

”I will,” Hua Yusen nodded, returning her goodwill.

Hua Yusen had business to attend to and hurried over to the livestock brigade.

Li Qiong started her afternoon work, feeling much more at ease.

When Hua Yusen arrived at the livestock brigade, he saw the old men were managing well. He helped out for a little while before leaving.

While he was there, Hua Yusen informed Gu Qingyu that Nuanyue had already swapped out the poison.

Gu Qingyu’s mind was put at ease. He figured their plan could now proceed very soon.

That evening, Hua Yusen and Nuanyue met and went to the cave to make flatbreads and fried flour paste for the old men.

”Hua, I think Wang Yuan is going to make her move during the Moon Festival,” Nuanyue said as she rolled out the dough. ”You and Elder Gu can rest easy. I’ve already switched the poison. I made sure it’s just plain water!”

”You did a great job this time,” Hua Yusen nodded. ”It’s only about two weeks away. When the time comes, we’ll do our best to play along with Wang Yuan and encourage her to act quickly.”

”Right,” Nuanyue nodded. ”This afternoon, I supported her suggestion to have a proper Moon Festival celebration. I was hoping it would push her to act sooner, so we can move forward with our own plan.”

”Yes, everything is in place. All we need now is the right moment,” Hua Yusen said with a sigh. ”The work units in the county seat have reached a delicate equilibrium, so things are relatively calm, and Nianqiao Village is peaceful for now. Even Li Siming and Wang Dadan don’t dare to stir up trouble anymore.”

Nuanyue nodded. ”Yes, it would be wonderful if it could stay this peaceful. Most of the year is already gone. Time flies.”

”I agree. Even in these trying times, having you by my side makes the time fly by,” Hua Yusen chuckled, looking very happy. ”Oh, by the way, when I left the Dragon King Temple this afternoon, Li Qiong caught up with me. She told me not to hurt you and to sort out all my messy affairs before being with you.”

Hearing this, Nuanyue was surprised for a moment, then she smiled, relieved. ”Li Qiong can be very blunt, and she isn’t as tactful as Wang Yuan. She also likes to gossip about this and that, but deep down, she’s a good person.”

”Yes, she is. A good friend, worth keeping around,” Hua Yusen agreed. ”I know it’s not right to talk about Wang Yuan and Li Qiong behind their backs, but comparing the two, Li Qiong is definitely more straightforward. Wang Yuan is rather gloomy. It probably has to do with what happened to her last year. That’s why she’s so desperate to leave this place, to escape and go back to Jincheng City. And that’s why she was so easily bought by Guo Dongmei!”

”Exactly!” Nuanyue nodded. ”What Guo Dongmei offered her was everything Wang Yuan ever dreamed of—leaving this place, returning to Jincheng City, and getting a good job. She couldn’t refuse. I don’t blame her for that; I understand. Here in Nianqiao Village, even though we don’t go hungry, her situation is far worse than mine or Li Qiong’s.”

Seeing Nuanyue’s crestfallen expression, Hua Yusen looked up to comfort her. ”Nuanyue, everyone has their own reasons and makes their own choices. You don’t need to feel sad or blame yourself. What you think is the right thing to do might not be what someone else would choose.”

”Yes, I know that. I’ve already come to terms with it,” Nuanyue chuckled lightly. ”Even if I feel a little disappointed, I can get over it quickly. In life, you come across so many forks in the road. If you choose the right path, it’s smooth sailing. Choose the wrong one, and it’s a path of thorns. I believe the path I’ve chosen is the right one, and I have no regrets.”

”No regrets,” Hua Yusen nodded. ”Wang Yuan will probably give Elder Gu the so-called poison on the day of the Moon Festival. Elder Gu will then play along with the plot, gradually growing weaker and appearing to fall ill. By the end of the year, I’ll probably have to leave Nianqiao Village.”

”What?” Nuanyue froze. ’If Elder Gu is weak, he’ll have to leave Nianqiao Village. He’ll most likely go back to Jincheng City.’

’As Elder Gu’s guardian, Hua Yusen would naturally have to go back too.’

’But what about me?’

’I’m just a normal person. Where would I go? What would I do?’

’Go back to Jincheng City with Hua Yusen, or stay here?’

Nuanyue hesitated. She thought of her brother, Nuanyang. He was doing better, but according to the Little Red Carp, he hadn’t fully recovered yet.

”After I go back, I’ll have your and Nuanyang’s household registrations transferred back too. I’ll arrange jobs for both of you,” Hua Yusen said earnestly. ”And as for your stepfather, you don’t have to be afraid. He won’t dare bully you. Because you have me!”

Because you have me!

Those simple four words carried an immense power, giving Nuanyue’s wandering, uncertain heart an anchor, a place to finally rest.

”Thank you,” Nuanyue said, full of gratitude. ”Thank you. I mean it, thank you so much!”

”Don’t thank me,” Hua Yusen chuckled. ”You’re the love of my life, the woman I will always love most. I have to make you happy. I know you’re worried about Nuanyang, but please, rest assured. Once we’re in Jincheng City, I’ll find the best psychologist for him to help him recover. As for the Little Red Carp, since you’ve taken it in, I’ll treat it like my own little sister.”

To love her was to love everything about her.

This was the promise Hua Yusen made to Nuanyue in his heart, a promise he was determined to keep.

Nuanyue was deeply moved. She couldn’t help but hug Hua Yusen tightly, burying her face in his chest and soaking in the warmth of his embrace—the very embrace she had longed for day and night.