Chapter 138: All My Emotions and Desires Are About You (Dedicated to Allie830414)

As soon as we stepped inside, Guan Ersong immediately had me sit beside him and began looking me up and down continuously, as if I were some antique he had just bought at a high price from an auction house. I was genuinely afraid he might hang me on the wall in the next second.

"Oh, my! The moment your great-aunt told me about what happened that day, I took a liking to you. A young woman who dares to stand up to that stubborn old man must be exceptionally wonderful."

Having been scolded by Commander Guan in the past, I still harbored lingering fears regarding anyone from the Guan family. Being praised so lavishly by Guan Ersong felt rather unfamiliar to me.

His wife could not hide her smile. "It's a good thing you met Ange first. If your second uncle had laid eyes on you first, he surely would have dragged you off to be set up on a blind date with our son. You have no idea—he simply adores young women like you who don't wear heavy makeup."

I smiled as well. "Is my aunt indirectly calling me wild and unrefined?"

She waved her hand dismissively. "No, no, not at all. A young woman chosen by Ange must be exceptionally wonderful."

Guan Ersong added flatly, "In our family, aside from that stubborn old man, everyone finds Yuan Shengxiao unbearable."

I nodded. "Second Uncle, are you indirectly telling me that I have a great many supporters?"

He chuckled. "Ah, now I finally understand why that stubborn boy insists on having no one else but you."

Yet, I truly felt happy, as if a heavy stone in my heart had finally settled. Gradually integrating into their family, I began to feel as though we belonged together all along.

On the night before leaving for Taiwan, I stayed at the hospital to take care of Luo Ange. The two of us lay on that absurdly large hospital bed, pressed tightly against each other. Neither of us spoke; we simply remained in silence.

He suddenly asked me whether I had packed my things and if my stomach medicine was ready. When I told him I had prepared everything long ago, he asked again, "Your period is coming soon, right? Have you packed sanitary pads?"

I burst out laughing. "Why on earth do you remember such details?"

"Your endocrine system is in disorder," he said. "When you return, I will have a specialist help you regulate it."

"Why would I need regulating? There is nothing wrong with me."

"Nonsense. How can you get pregnant without regulating it?"

I simply adored this deadpan, serious side of him. I turned slightly to embrace him, and he let out a muffled groan. "Don't tempt me, my self-restraint isn't that great. Be careful or I'll punish you so thoroughly you won't be able to leave tomorrow."

I teased him deliberately. "Tell me, have you ever touched Yuan Shengxiao? Don't tell me that by the time I get back, you'll already be a father?"

He let out a cold snort, clearly finding my question childish. "Whether I've touched other women or not, don't you know?"

I mimicked a dramatic tone: "Darling, where are my panties?"

Pinning me down with one arm, he said fiercely, "Yi Lanshan, are you doubting me?"

That matter had always stuck in my throat like a fishbone. I knew that before me, he must have had women; his first time either belonged to someone else or his own two hands. I was merely heartbroken that just days after our breakup—while I was still drowning inextricably in the past—he had appeared in the public eye with another woman.

I was not trying to impose moral shackles on him, nor was I interested in discussing chastity. I was simply harboring the selfish wish that, both in body and spirit, once we found each other, we would be each other's absolute unique exception.

After we tangled in a prolonged, intimate kiss, Luo Ange said a long while later, "Do not worry. Having you is enough—truly, I only want you."

I took the initiative to deepen the kiss. Luo Ange, with those words from you, I am more than enough, truly.

I insisted that Luo Ange not come to see me off at the airport. After all, being a public figure wrapped up like a mummy at the airport, I was afraid he would cause a commotion.

To my surprise, he came anyway. Just as I was sitting in the departure lounge with Elder Zhou, I suddenly received a call from Luo Ange: "Look at the entrance."

I raised my head. Amidst the endless flow of coming and going passengers, I somehow managed to recognize that single figure instantly.

Wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a face mask, draped in a beige trench coat, he stood at the entrance supported by A Mu.

I abruptly stood up, wanting to fly straight into his arms, but he said, "Don't move, you'll cause a scene."

We simply stood there, holding our phones, looking at each other, listening to each other's breathing, and then smiling foolishly.

The broadcasting speakers announced the boarding call for passengers heading to Taiwan. Luo Ange said gently, "Go on, go on. I'll watch you leave."

Looking back at every third step as I went through security, Luo Ange's figure grew increasingly blurred. I began to weep, softly calling his name.

"Do not worry, I'll wait for you to come back."

Suddenly, I regretted it. I was far too selfish; perhaps he had seen how badly I wanted to go and purposely lied to me by saying he had matters to attend to.

As a sick man, what matters could he possibly need to handle?

Even though I would only be gone for a week, without me by his side, would he be alright? Would he eat properly and sleep well?

I desperately wished I could turn around and sprint wildly back to him, but at that crucial moment, Elder Zhou asked me, "Have you translated the materials I gave you?"

Coming back to my senses, I nodded and followed him. Very satisfied with my work efficiency, he offered a few words of praise.

Upon boarding the plane, I fell fast asleep. Arriving in Taipei, we headed straight to the hotel, grabbed a quick bite, and immediately set to work preparing for the events of the following day.

While soaking in the bathtub, Luo Ange called. His very first sentence was, "Are you very exhausted?"

I whined coquettishly, "Yes, yes. If I had known, I wouldn't have come."

He comforted me, "A week will pass in a flash, and I'll come pick you up then."

"Luo Ange, I miss you. I miss you so much..."

He chuckled. "I miss you too. Be a good girl and perform well; who knows, perhaps in the future you'll become a national treasure-level figure like Elder Zhou."

I sighed. "It's unseemly for a young woman to thrust herself into the public eye. I only want to be your personal national treasure."

My shamelessness made him burst out laughing. "Giant pandas are meant for public exhibition, but the mere thought of anyone else casting a glance at you makes me feel like someone is trying to steal you away."

We chatted affectionately until the phone grew burning hot, and Luo Ange finally ordered me to sleep.

For some reason, after this reconciliation, I grew exceptionally clingy toward him, as if afraid he might run away. Even though I knew it wasn't good, I simply couldn't help myself.

Early the next morning, we set off in the organizers' vehicle. The scenery along the way was breathtaking, and as I busied myself taking photos, Elder Zhou teased, "You like it? If you like it so much, you should marry into Taiwan."

I giggled. "Hmph, don't think I don't know what you're plotting. You claimed you were taking me as your final closed-door disciple, yet the moment we arrive in Taiwan, you're already trying to ditch me here."

Everyone in the van laughed, and Elder Zhou chuckled as well. "Oh, you. My reputation in my later years is completely ruined, falling entirely into your hands."

The first segment of the symposium opened with a speech by the chairman. Sitting in the rows behind us were several foreigners holding copies of The Analects of Confucius, listening with rapt attention.

The subsequent speakers were all elite figures in their respective fields, naturally including representatives from the Confucius Institute.

It felt as though I were witnessing the magnificent spectacle of a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred schools of thought contending. Especially when Elder Zhou took the stage to speak about oracle bone inscriptions, my heart surged with boundless emotion.

Several college student-looking youths afterward eagerly asked for my contact information, saying they were enthusiasts of oracle bone script and hoped to exchange insights with me in the future.

During the intermission, Elder Zhou brought me along to converse with several French scholars regarding Sino-French culture, and I acted as the interpreter in the middle—it was both fulfilling and joyous.

I ate quite a hearty lunch, having been starving with my stomach pressed against my back. Taiwan offered such an abundance of delicacies that I found myself completely unable to resist the temptation.

Elder Zhou, who had always advocated for a vegetarian diet, watched me devour my food and gently reminded me, "Didn't you say your stomach was acting up? Eat a little less, or you'll end up feeling uncomfortable again."

I complained to him, "It's truly exhausting, I'm dying of exhaustion."

He replied, "Those who lack the qualifications to stand on this platform wouldn't even have the opportunity to be exhausted."

I immediately engaged in self-reflection. "Master's reprimand is correct. This disciple knows she was wrong and will never dare do it again."

"My child, do you know why I advocate for young people to endure hardships? Because only when your abilities match your ambitions do you earn the qualification to say NO to everything, every person, and every matter you dislike or look down upon."

What an absolute pearl of wisdom. I conceded in utter defeat.

Reflecting upon it, this sentiment applied equally to Luo Ange and me. Only when the two of us achieved a seamless, deeply devoted union would outsiders be left with no opportunity to tear us apart.

During our video call that evening, I relayed this saying to Luo Ange. He mocked me, "You flatterer. Did Elder Zhou get so thoroughly fooled by your sweet talk that he lost his bearings?"

I refused to admit it. "Not at all, he is extremely strict with me."

On the screen, he was flipping through documents. "I had a massive row with my father today. I nearly made him pass out from anger."

My heart instantly went out of control. "What happened?"

He gave a light cough. "I am firmly determined to cancel the engagement ceremony. Feeling he had lost face, he scolded me thoroughly. I told him that if he forces me to marry Yuan Shengxiao one more time, I'll shave my head and become a Buddhist monk."

I burst out laughing. "Becoming a monk requires severing all earthly desires. Could you bear to do that?"

He barked back, "All my earthly desires are tied up in you, and you still have the nerve to ask?"

"Fine, fine, fine, it's my fault. When I get back, I'll make it up to you."

He hummed threateningly. "Just wait until I devour you down to your very bones."

Starting the next day, we entered a high-intensity mode. Beginning at half-past eight in the morning and wrapping up at noon, followed by a brief nap after lunch and resuming at two in the afternoon, sometimes rolling straight through with evening roundtable discussions as well—yet with Elder Zhou acting as the center of attention, poor me, juggling the dual roles of assistant and interpreter, was worked to the bone.

Every night when I returned to the hotel and massaged my swollen calves, I lacked even the slightest desire to speak.

With such a grueling schedule, my stomach naturally protested, forcing me to double my intake of stomach medicine. As a result, a week's supply was completely wiped out in just three days.

Seeing how hard I was working, Luo Ange felt a pang of sympathy, cutting short our chats to order me to sleep.

By the fourth day, I finally hit my limit. My throat became inflamed, making even speaking a challenge. Fortunately, I had prepared all the necessary materials during the first three days, so it didn't cause any major disruption.

Being considerate of my condition, Elder Zhou excused me from the evening discussion and told me to rest at the hotel.

When the doorbell rang, I assumed it was room service, only to discover it was Long Jue.

The moment I laid eyes on him, I was ecstatic, throwing my arms around him in tears. Standing there completely flustered, he stammered, "Hey, hey, hey, don't hug me like this. If Third Brother sees this, he'll surely murder me."

Only then did I let go and ask him why he had come.

He rolled his eyes at me twice. "I came for a vacation, only to be temporarily dispatched by Third Brother to deliver medicine to you. Little sister, aren't I fiercely loyal?"

I recalled Luo Ange mentioning before I left that someone would protect me, and realized he must have meant Long Jue.

The medicine he brought truly possessed miraculous effects. After taking some, spraying some, and letting some dissolve, ten minutes later my throat felt significantly less painful.

Long Jue placed two medicine bottles on the table. "There. These are your stomach medicine, entrusted to me by Third Brother."

I carefully tucked them away, and he let out a sigh. "Oh gosh, seeing the two of you make up has finally allowed the rest of us to breathe a sigh of relief. You have no idea—during the time you two were apart, Third Brother was sulking and making life miserable for me every single day. I was practically tortured to death by him."

I teased him, "Why didn't you go pour your grievances out to Yuan Shengxiao instead?"