Chapter Twenty-One: "Love Arises Unbidden, Yet Grows Ever Deeper"

"Ah!" Xiao Zheng woke with a start from a nightmare. Seeing the familiar surroundings, she finally relaxed.

But as she recalled the scenes from her dream, anxiety crept into her chest. Some things didn’t feel like mere dreams, but as if they had truly happened.

Just then, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

Cheng Yunting hurried in, looking at her anxiously. "What’s wrong, Xiao Zheng?"

Leng Zheng shook her head, staring blankly at the man before her.

Cheng Yunting checked her from head to toe. Once he was sure she was unhurt, he sighed in relief and helped her lie back down.

"Tsk, brother-in-law, why are you so flustered? Xiao Zheng probably just had a nightmare and remembered something from it," Qin Yu said, carrying a bowl of porridge as she strolled into the bedroom. "Come on, sister, have some porridge your brother-in-law made for you himself."

Leng Zheng paused. Since Qin Yu was here… it seemed what happened in the dream was real after all.

Qin Yu, seeing Leng Zheng’s realization, smiled faintly. "Alright, I’ll leave you two alone then. I’ll see myself out."

…

After Qin Yu sensibly excused herself, Cheng Yunting propped Leng Zheng up against the headboard, tucking a pillow behind her neck, and fed her spoonfuls of porridge.

Leng Zheng felt uncertain facing his gentle care. She didn’t know if he was aware of everything, nor was she sure whether the things from her dream were true…

…

After a while, Leng Zheng finally spoke, though still hesitant. "Did you… did you find out…?"

Cheng Yunting hesitated for a moment and didn’t answer.

Leng Zheng, seeing his reaction, felt her eyes grow hot with tears as she gazed at him intently.

How could Cheng Yunting bear to see her like that? He grew flustered, worried that his reaction had made his beloved cry. Why had his little girl become like this?

He set the bowl on the nightstand and embraced her. "Xiao Zheng, don’t cry…"

"So you knew…" The certainty was clear in her voice.

Cheng Yunting didn’t reply. He couldn’t bring himself to face the question directly; he could only hold her tightly in his arms…

Leng Zheng didn’t pursue the matter further, quietly curling up in his embrace.

After some time, she looked searchingly into Cheng Yunting’s eyes and once again asked, "Cheng Yunting, why do you love me?"

He paused, then smiled. "Love comes unbidden and grows ever deeper."

"You…"

"Alright, Xiao Zheng, you should get some rest," Cheng Yunting said, stroking her hair as he lay down beside her.

"But I just woke up, isn’t it too soon?"

"I stayed up all night watching over you and haven’t slept yet. Keep me company for a while," he said, hugging her close and closing his eyes.

Leng Zheng nodded and wrapped her arms around him as well, gradually drifting off to sleep.

Cheng Yunting gazed dotingly at the lovely girl in his arms, a pampered smile playing at his lips.

…

Standing at the doorway, Qin Yu listened to the exchange inside and smiled. He knew his brother-in-law would cherish Xiao Zheng well.

After all, in their past life, Cheng Yunting had guarded Xiao Zheng with his life, and she had fought just as hard to protect him…

He hoped that in this life, the two of them could finally be together…

P.S. Who knows what I was thinking, making Qin Yu a reincarnated character… Ah! What a wild imagination I have…

Alright, from here on it’s a series of big reveals~

There’ll be another chapter soon. I’m writing while watching men’s doubles table tennis—just one thing to say: Go, China!

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and I’m still single (இдஇ; )

There’ll be bonus chapters for the Qixi Festival as well.

I’ll write some side stories for everyone.

Reader group: 195168278. You’re all welcome to join the fun~

There’ll be surprise side stories released in there from time to time~

See you in a bit~