Chapter 44 Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Chapter 44

1

Seeing Lin Chenxin making the bed, Doctor Jiang froze for a second.

During this time, Lin Chenxin had been staying in Doctor Jiang's break room, but judging by today, it looked like she was getting ready to leave.

Turning to see Doctor Jiang, Lin Chenxin lowered her eyes and said, "Thanks for all your help these past few days, Doctor Jiang. The Kindergarten Principal will come to pick up Chen'an later, and I'll need you to keep an eye on Chenyi for a while longer."

Doctor Jiang was silent for a while, then noticing Lin Chenxin's eyes had regained their brightness, she said softly, "It's no problem at all. You've paid the medical fees on time; it's just part of our job as medical staff."

They locked eyes and both smiled.

The two little kids huddled together in the hospital room, not wanting to let go.

After finally pulling apart, their matching eyes looked at Lin Chenxin, all teary.

She crouched down, pulled the two into her arms, and looked seriously at her younger siblings' faces. "Big sis is going to do something really important. Just wait a bit longer, and our family will be together forever."

The two tear-streaked faces nodded, stubborn and determined.

"Big sis is the best!"

She smiled in response.

"That's right!"

As she left, she glanced back. The two little ones stared at her with big, tearful eyes, full of reluctance and sparkling support, their tense faces looking especially brave.

She let out a soft laugh, turned, and walked away with determination.

From the open hospital room, the kids' voices rang out.

"Big sis is the greatest hero!"

"You know what a hero is?" Doctor Jiang laughed.

"No, big sis taught us to say that."

Doctor Jiang: "..."

Kindergarten Principal: "..."

They couldn't help laughing.

—

The car only went as far as the main road and stopped.

Lin Chenxin got out and walked alone into the dark, tree-lined path.

As soon as she stepped in, the sweltering summer heat vanished behind her, replaced by a chilling cold that wrapped around her, layer by layer.

She took a deep breath, her eyes blazing with light, and strode forward, determined.

The road ahead was wide and long, dark as a bottomless black hole. The deeper she went, the heavier the eerie chill grew.

Above, dark clouds loomed, blocking out all sunlight, and the wind whipped against her, making her clothes rustle loudly.

Standing there alone, it felt like she'd stepped into hell.

Lin Chenxin didn't stop. Her slender figure walked deeper and deeper until the darkness swallowed her whole.

"Open up! Your Young Mistress is back!"

The loud banging on the door suddenly shattered the days of deathly silence at the Chen residence.

The servants hiding inside cautiously peeked out, looking around, shocked and uncertain.

They exchanged glances, none of them daring to step out.

Truth was, no one had left the Chen family.

This place was like a world cut off from everything. Most people working for the Chen family had no relatives; besides here, they had nowhere else to go.

"Open up!"

The banging got louder, and the girl's clear, lively voice echoed clearly throughout the entire courtyard.

Perhaps because the voice was so resounding, it seemed to chase away some of the cold, stagnant gloom.

In the Longevity Yard, the young master hurried out, gripping the doorframe with one hand, his eyes lit up. "Sister-in-law! It's her!"

The second young lady, carrying a food box, also spun around at the sound.

The noise outside kept going, cutting through the darkness, so real it made hearts race.

"Your Young Mistress is back! Why isn't anyone coming to open the door?"

Then, scattered footsteps echoed in the lifeless courtyard.

Soon, the footsteps turned hurried and chaotic, everyone rushing toward the gate.

Lin Chenxin's arrival was like a valve releasing all the pressure. Her vibrant voice instantly lit up the hearts of everyone, which hadn't completely numbed or rotted yet.

The second young lady also started to move, but quickly stopped dead in her tracks, clutching the food box tight.

The young master, breathing hard, came over and tugged at her. "Sis, did you hear that? It's sister-in-law! It's her!"

Looking at the young master's eyes, brighter than the stars, the second young lady forced out a hoarse voice.

"It's her."

A heavy weight lifted from her heart. Her vision went dark, and she staggered, leaning against the young master.

"Sis! Sis!"

The young master anxiously gripped her shoulders. She buried her face in his thin shoulder, letting out suppressed sobs.

Feeling the wetness on his shoulder, the young master fell silent, then slowly opened his arms to embrace the second young lady's much thinner frame.

—

Facing the crowd's burning gazes, Lin Chenxin walked in with her head held high, her demeanor calm. "What's all this? Nothing to do? Not living life anymore?"

Her scolding wasn't really a scolding—it was as normal as ever, but it was like a spark lighting up the darkness.

"Would the Young Mistress like to have a meal?"

"Should I brew a pot of hot tea?"

"Does the Young Mistress need anything else?"

Lin Chenxin was about to say she didn't need anything, but seeing their uneasy yet hopeful eyes, she paused, sighed to herself, and lifted her chin with a dignified look.

"Alright, go on with your work."

The servants, overjoyed, quickly turned to leave.

She called after them, "Wait, sweep up these dead branches and leaves first. It's filthy—what does it look like?"

"Yes!"

She nodded calmly, but hurried off to the Junzi Courtyard.

Seeing the door still locked, Lin Chenxin stood there silently, while the servant behind her fidgeted nervously.

Then she picked up a sharp stone and smashed it against the lock.

The servant froze, but watching Lin Chenxin's powerful movements and bright, starry eyes, somehow felt their breath quicken, as if a surge of energy swelled in their chest.

"Bang!" The lock broke, and the stone shattered.

She let out a breath and murmured, "I should've eaten a full meal before coming."

She kicked the door open and strode in.

Seeing another locked door, she looked around for a stone, only to have a large one handed to her.

Meeting the servant's sparkling eyes, she took it and raised an eyebrow. "Thanks."

The servant's eyes got even brighter.

After finally breaking the door open, Lin Chenxin's hands were scraped raw and bloody.

And there were still six more doors to go.

She strode to the next door and, without hesitating, smashed the stone down.

Unbeknownst to her, more and more servants were gathering behind her.

Those once-numb eyes now gazed at her with fierce intensity.

Under the thick, dark clouds, they shone like stars.

At the fifth door, the stone in her hand crumbled into pieces.

Her trembling hands were covered in bloody scrapes.

A servant stepped forward. "Young Mistress..."

She raised a hand to cut them off.

"I'll do it."

Taking the stone, she pressed her lips together and struck down hard.

A loud "bang bang bang" echoed through the courtyard.

Suddenly, she lost her grip, and the stone dropped from her hand.

A faint voice came from behind.

"Young Mistress, keep it up."

Their voices carried a glimmer of hope and a slowly strengthening resolve.

At that moment, the Junzi Courtyard was no longer terrifying.

It was just a cage trapped in the depths.

Lin Chenxin took a deep breath, picked up the stone, and struck again.

The voices behind her got louder.

"Young Mistress, keep it up!"

"You got this!"

"Go for it!"

The passionate, surging shouts blended with the sound of the stone hitting.

Lin Chenxin's eyes were resolute and bright.

All the resentment, anger, and bitterness inside her transformed into surging strength.

The fifth door, sixth door, seventh door, eighth door...

"Bang!" The lock and the stone dropped together.

Lin Chenxin bent over, panting hard, her hands hanging at her sides dripping with fresh blood as they shook.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes blazing like two fiery flames.

"It's open."

She let out a low laugh, straightened up, and kicked the door open, breathing hard.

Behind her, it was silent, but countless eyes were fixed on her.

Stepping through the last door, she paused and rasped, "Thank you."

With that, she walked in, not looking back.

—

Nothing inside had changed, yet it seemed wrapped in a gloomy haze.

The peach tree had lost all its blossoms.

The wind chimes ahead clinked and clattered, but they were lifeless and soulless, just banging into each other mechanically.

The two lounge chairs moved to the corridor remained, but they exuded a lonely, aged feel.

Everything around seemed wrapped in gray, reduced to faded, decaying black and white.

Suddenly, she stopped and held her breath, staring at the open study door ahead.

First a branch poked out, then a pair of bare feet in shackles.

At the sight of those hollow, lifeless eyes, Lin Chenxin’s breath hitched, and she clenched her fists.

She stood frozen, staring hard at the white-haired Chen Gujun walking down the corridor.

When he reached the steps straight ahead, Chen Gujun slowed down.

He tilted his head, his steps turning hesitant.

Seeing those vacant eyes, Lin Chenxin pursed her lips, tears pooling in her eyes.

Chen Gujun kept walking, but his steps got slower, and he kept glancing back toward Lin Chenxin every few steps.

Slowly, he tightened his grip on the branch and stopped, unsure.

“Lin Chenxin.”

Amid the tinkling of wind chimes, a familiar voice answered.

“Chen Gujun.”

His breath caught, and his fingers trembled a little.

“Lin Chenxin.”

“Chen Gujun.”

“Lin Chenxin.”

“Chen Gujun.”

He stood there, his throat dry as he rasped.

“Lin Chenxin.”

“Chen Gujun.”

A gentle tug on his hair made him look down, and the ethereal voice was right there, along with a soft kiss and warm breath on his ear.

“Chen Gujun, I’m back.”

He pressed his lips together, snapping the branch in his hand hard.

His voice came out low and raspy: “Lin Chenxin.”

“Mm, I’m right here, Chen Gujun.”

Crimson tears streamed down Chen Gujun’s face, blending with the runes on his cheeks, as if the curse itself were crying in sorrow.

Tears fell from Lin Chenxin’s eyes too. She forced a smile and choked out, “I’m here, Chen Gujun.”

Sometimes, longing isn’t about the time apart, but the moment you’re finally within reach, and it hits you like a tidal wave.