Two people sharing similar circumstances embraced each other like wounded little animals, licking each other’s wounds.
To be precise, it was the injured creature named Jiang Sixian who peeled back her outer layers and enveloped Jiang Yi within herself. Through Jiang Yi’s hidden, unknown scars, she seemed to have touched the depths of her heart.
Jiang Yi reached out and tightly returned Jiang Sixian’s embrace. She knew she should have survived, and she was grateful she did—only then could she see those she loved and those who loved her.
But what about Sister Xu? Sister Xu could never appear alive before Yu Yu again. No matter how much she had done, no matter that she had saved Xu Meng’s life, Sister Xu still couldn’t return.
This was an unsolvable knot. No matter how Jiang Yi tried to make amends, she couldn’t erase the guilt in her heart, couldn’t live in this world with unreserved honesty, couldn’t justify her existence.
This remorse—she would carry it for the rest of her life.
Jiang Yi knew this, and so did Jiang Sixian.
Because Jiang Sixian carried the same kind of remorse. From the day Jiang Yi disappeared until now, and even in the future whenever she remembered, it would always be this way.
But she was luckier than Jiang Yi—the person she loved had ultimately returned.
Even if she had lost her memories, lost her youth, lost her bright future and prospects, she had still crawled back from hell. Jiang Sixian still had a chance to make amends, but Jiang Yi no longer did.
Unable to bear it, Jiang Sixian hugged her tightly and said, “Jiang Yi, do you remember what you once asked me to tell you?”
“You have to be happy every day and live a long life.”
Even if she had to live with guilt forever, it didn’t matter. Just as Ning Wenying had once comforted Jiang Sixian: Your life was saved by her. She wanted so much for you to be well, so you must live well.
Jiang Sixian repeated these words to Jiang Yi. Hearing them, Jiang Yi broke into a teary smile.
She raised her hand, wiped away her tears, and cupped Jiang Sixian’s face, gazing at her. “Of course I know. I wanted to say the same to you.”
“I was just too sad. It’s been bottled up for too long, so I needed to cry.”
Jiang Yi used her thumb to wipe away Jiang Sixian’s tears and said, “We have to live well—especially you. You need to recover quickly, and then we’ll get married. If you still want a child by then, we’ll have one—like you, and like me.”
“Did you know? When Sister Xu was still around, she wanted to arrange a marriage between our children. She thought Sister Yu Yu was beautiful, so her child would definitely be good-looking.”
“And then she thought I looked like some pretty boy, so my kid wouldn’t be ugly either. That’s how she set her sights on me.”
Jiang Yi laughed, though tears still lingered in her eyes. She pulled Jiang Sixian into her arms, pressing her head against her shoulder, and whispered, “Jiang Sixian, that wish can never come true now. But I can still be happy…”
“You’re right. My life was saved by her, so I’ll pull myself together. I’ll take care of her family for her—and myself too.”
Jiang Yi leaned down and kissed Jiang Sixian’s cheek. “And you, Jiang Sixian. I don’t need you to make up for anything or compensate me. I saved you willingly because I cared about you more than myself.”
“So if you recover and live happily, that’s more precious to me than any compensation.”
Jiang Sixian felt that the wound in her heart, now filled with Jiang Yi, seemed to have stopped the blood gushing out. The wound began to heal, and she gradually felt better.
Though she couldn’t completely let go, with Jiang Yi’s forgiveness, she felt much better than before.
Jiang Sixian loosened her hold on Jiang Yi, cupped her face, and gently licked away the tears on her cheeks. Then she lifted Jiang Yi’s hand and asked softly, “Does it hurt?”
Jiang Yi’s fingers had begun to scab over. She shook her head. “Not anymore. It was treated in time.”
Just like that embrace, after venting, she felt much better.
Jiang Sixian sniffled. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t let you cook, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Jiang Yi found this both funny and exasperating. “How is it your fault? Why not blame the onion?” She pinched Jiang Sixian’s cheek and smiled. “Do we have any band-aids at home? Let me put one on. The food isn’t even done yet—aren’t you hungry?”
Jiang Sixian nodded. “I am. Then I’ll get up and get you a band-aid.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Sixian started to stand, but her legs had gone numb from squatting too long. Dizzy, she swayed and collapsed against Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi reacted swiftly, catching her with a startled cry. “Careful!”
She held Jiang Sixian, but Jiang Sixian’s body had gone weak. Her hand slipped and landed heavily on Jiang Yi’s thigh, sliding painfully between them.
Jiang Yi sucked in a sharp breath, cold sweat instantly beading on her forehead from the pain. She quickly pulled Jiang Sixian onto her lap, curling forward to cradle the injured area.
“It hurts…”
Hearing her pained gasp, Jiang Sixian immediately looked down at Jiang Yi, flustered and panicked. “Jiang Yi… I… Does it still hurt?”
“What can I do to make it better? I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Should I… kiss it or hug you? What would help?”
Jiang Yi took a moment to recover from the excruciating pain before straightening up and pulling Jiang Sixian into her arms. “Just hug me. A hug will do.”
Jiang Sixian rested against her shoulder until the numbness in her legs faded, then asked cautiously, “Jiang Yi, should we go to the hospital?”
She had heard that alphas were particularly vulnerable in that area. Even though Jiang Yi was a female alpha and didn’t rely on it as much, it could still cause significant damage.
Jiang Yi’s ears turned red with embarrassment at the suggestion. “No need. I’ve been hurt there before—it’s not a big deal.”
Jiang Sixian was curious. “Before? How did it happen?” Her tone wavered slightly, a hint of insecurity creeping in. “Was it… because of an omega?”
Jiang Yi shook her head. “No, I got kicked there while arresting someone. Ended up hospitalized for two days…”
It was pretty humiliating. She had lain in bed for two days while her teammates, under the guise of visiting her, all took the opportunity to get free minor surgeries.
As for what kind of surgeries… Jiang Yi decided it was better not to elaborate.
After recovering on the floor for a while, Jiang Yi gently pushed Jiang Sixian off and struggled to her feet. “Jiang Sixian, help me treat the wound.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Sixian used Jiang Yi’s body to steady herself as they helped each other to the living room. She rummaged for iodine and band-aids, clumsily tending to the injury.
Jiang Yi looked down at her, watching the focused expression on her profile, the awkward way she applied the medicine, and felt a strange, secret warmth rise in her chest.
This feeling was similar to what she had experienced as a teenager, every time she saw Jiang Sixian in heat. Back then, watching the way others looked at Jiang Sixian—those bold or covert confessions—she couldn’t help but think:
What’s the use of your feelings for her?
I know what she’s like in heat. I know how soft and clingy she is in private. You think she’s cool and beautiful, but have you seen how adorable she is?
No, you know nothing. Only I do.
This secret, self-satisfied thought had eventually wrapped around Jiang Yi, dragging her into the abyss of desire named “Jiang Sixian.”
She should have realized it sooner—just how wonderful Jiang Sixian was. Falling for her was inevitable.
Jiang Yi reached out, stroking Jiang Sixian’s cheek as she gazed at her intently.
Jiang Sixian was applying the band-aid when she noticed Jiang Yi’s stare. She looked up, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
But when she met Jiang Yi’s eyes, she froze. It was hard to describe the look in Jiang Yi’s gaze—like a calm, deep lake, yet also like a blazing fire.
Intense, profound, overflowing with emotion.
The way she no longer hid her feelings was as straightforward as the pheromones she occasionally leaked, as if every second was screaming I love you.
Jiang Sixian was stunned for a moment before leaning in to cup Jiang Yi’s face and kiss her. Jiang Yi accepted the kiss, pulling Jiang Sixian onto her lap and devouring her lips, desire surging uncontrollably in her chest.
That desire quickly took physical form. When Jiang Sixian noticed the unmistakable reaction, she broke the kiss, panting, and looked at Jiang Yi in surprise. “Jiang Yi… you’re fine?”
Jiang Yi had been in agony just moments ago. For her to recover so quickly was astonishing.
Jiang Yi sighed, glancing downward before looking back at Jiang Sixian with utter seriousness. “It still hurts, but you know how it is—it’s just so shameless. The second you tease it, it surrenders.”
Her tone was so grave that Jiang Sixian could hear the resignation and self-deprecation in it. She found Jiang Yi unbearably cute and couldn’t help kissing her again, whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility for it.”
Jiang Yi grabbed her hand to stop her. “No, no responsibility right now. It really hurts—let it rest for a bit.”
Carefully, she lifted Jiang Sixian off her lap and said, “I should finish cooking for you first.”
“You’re the hero today. I can’t give up halfway because of this.”
Jiang Sixian didn’t say anything discouraging like your hand is hurt, you should rest. She knew how stubborn Jiang Yi was, so she just smiled and said, “Okay. But be careful with your hand. I’ll be waiting for your feast.”
Jiang Yi nodded. “Mm.”
She turned to leave, but Jiang Sixian’s sparkling eyes held her in place. After a moment’s thought, Jiang Yi leaned down and pressed a kiss to Jiang Sixian’s cheek.
The kiss lingered, as if marking Jiang Sixian as hers. Feeling the warmth against her skin, Jiang Sixian instinctively gripped Jiang Yi’s arm.
After a long while, Jiang Yi finally pulled back, looking at her earnestly. “Xianxian, thank you.”
“In every possible way, I’m grateful to you.”
Thank you for loving me, for accepting me, for being my support, for giving me stability. Thank you for letting me know that besides Mom, I have another place to belong.
Jiang Sixian looked up at her and smiled. “That’s what I should be saying to you.”
“Jiang Yi, every second of every day, I want to tell you—thank you, and I love you.”
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