"I’ve spent eighteen years liking you, protecting you, just hoping that you would come to like me. But eighteen years have passed, even the iron trees have blossomed, yet you still don’t like me. However, I’m not one to give up easily, so I’ve decided to give myself another eighteen years," she said.
She looked at him, her gaze exceptionally bright, "Qiao Yiyang, if after another eighteen years you still can’t love me, I will choose to end my own life."
Qiao Yiyang’s expression shook, he stared at her in disbelief.
"You really don’t have to demean your life for me."
Lu Xiaofan shook her head and smiled, "My life isn’t like others’; it’s been superfluous since the moment I was born. To live an extra thirty-six years for you, I consider that a bonus. If you don’t like me, what’s the use of a longer life?"
"Maybe you’ll meet other men..."
"Impossible!" Lu Xiaofan interrupted him, firmly declaring, "If I’m to change my heart, it would only be in the next life. For this lifetime, I’m poisoned by you and beyond any cure."
Qiao Yiyang’s eyes flickered, and he spoke with a pressed lip, "Let’s not talk about this anymore. You should focus on healing. But I promise you, I’ll stay with you for eighteen years."
This woman had sacrificed too much for him; he indeed owed her a lot and needed to repay his debt to feel he was worthy of her.
"Really?" asked Lu Xiaofan, filled with joy.
"Hmm. In this life, the person I owe the most is you. If I have to compensate anyone, it assuredly has to be you."
Lu Xiaofan suddenly laughed with joy, her laughter resembling that of an innocent little girl.
"It seems that in some aspects, I’ve become your only one. Though I’m not the only woman you love, I am the only woman you owe, and that makes me very happy."
Watching her smile, Qiao Yiyang came to a realization.
Although she constantly professed her love for him, wanting him to like her in return.
Her demands were actually quite simple; all she wanted was to be on his mind.
She didn’t have a strong desire to possess him, nor did she covet much in return. All she sought was a bit of consideration.
She simply hoped that in this world, there was someone who cared about her a little, so that she would feel her existence had meaning.
Qiao Yiyang felt a lump in his throat, and a touch of bitterness in his heart.
In this world, the person who deserved pity wasn’t him; it should be her.
And the person who lived in the simplest manner, was also her.
After several days of blood transfusions for Lin Xinlan, her complexion significantly improved; her skin was rosy, and she was more spirited.
Rong Shaoze suggested returning to B City for treatment, given many things were inconvenient here.
Lin Xinlan agreed to go back, but she didn’t want Xiaocong to know her whereabouts just yet—she didn’t want to face him with her current appearance.
Rong Shaoze didn’t mind how she looked because as an adult, he had the resilience.
Xiaocong, still a child, deserved to have a perfect image retained in his mind; she didn’t want to taint his childhood memories with anything undesired.
Rong Shaoze agreed to her request.
So, their group, which included Qiao Yiyang, Lu Xiaofan, and Tao Hua’s mindless and oblivious Rong Mingyan, embarked on their journey back to B City.
Since Qiao Yiyang had to blood to Lin Xinlan daily, he stayed with her at Tao Hua’s villa.
Lu Xiaofan’s injuries hadn’t healed and Rong Mingyan needed care, so they also stayed at Tao Hua’s home.