Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Recently, there seem to be an unusual number of trending topics on Weibo, but eight out of ten involve Shen Gali and Huanhai Electronics. Since Shen Gali transmigrated into the book, almost every topic has revolved around him and those close to him. Counting on my fingers, this has been going on for eight months.

Today's trending topics, aside from Yu Huaisu and Nan Feiyao both being jailed, are topped by Nan Liujing standing upright at the courthouse entrance. His legs are long and powerful, nothing like someone who has spent over two decades in a wheelchair.

In many people's minds, even if one recovers through treatment, it takes a long period of rehabilitation to stand up again. There's no way they could be like Nan Liujing, striding forward with a gait that seemed to stir up wind and rain.

The haters simply can't accept it. They've called Nan Liujing a "cripple" for years, and now, suddenly, he appears in public with fully functional legs. This wealthy, handsome man no longer has any weak points to attack.

But when they learn that Nan Liujing endured humiliation and hardship for twenty-three years just to wait for today—to personally send his enemy to prison—they can't help but feel a grudging respect for him.

They hated him because, from birth, most resources were tilted in his favor. They were just jealous and couldn't stand it. But after understanding him, their respect was now laced with fear.

This man is not to be trifled with; he's terrifyingly formidable.

They finally understand that no matter how they slandered or injured him online, he never showed up or spoke out—not out of cowardice, but because, to Nan Liujing, they were nothing more than little sparrows beneath his notice.

Once, countless people envied Nan Liujing for marrying someone with godlike looks like Shen Gali. Today, just as many envy the two for their mutual devotion.

"Damn, does anyone know an old, ugly, paralyzed man to introduce me to? I'm willing to take a chance on this blind box."

"Shen Gali is so lucky. One random draw and he got an SSR—a legendary lucky dog."

"Everyone, just go to bed. If you can marry an ugly cripple without knowing anything like Li Bao did, then you can talk about being qualified to open a blind box."

"This ship is amazing, even sweeter than celebrity shipping. I've always said, Nan Feng and Nan Liujing's biological mother are both stunning. The genes are there; the child they produced couldn't be ugly."

"Quiet question: Can Xiao Lizi get pregnant? I can't wait to see what their kids look like."

"Li Bao says: Please don't do this to me."

At the end of December, winter seems to have come earlier this year. The snow that usually appears in the first lunar month fell on the last day of December, covering the earth to usher in the new year and bid farewell to the old.

The redwood sapling in the courtyard, from a tiny seed, had grown into a slender sapling. This had always been a regret for Shen Gali, but today it had finally branched out and was thriving.

However, Shen Gali had no credit for this. He had originally planned to loosen the soil and bury the seed in the courtyard, but as soon as he took out the seed, his hand slipped and scattered them all over. In the process of picking them up, he got sleepier and sleepier, finally falling asleep on the porch railing with a handful of seeds in his hand.

In the end, Nan Liujing loosened the soil and buried the seeds himself, watching Shen Gali's sleeping face and finding it amusing:

"You said you'd help me make up for that regret, but in the end, I had to do it myself. Do you even have a heart?"

Shen Gali has no conscience. Today, it snowed heavily. Nan Liujing and Uncle Li, both in thick padded coats, were outside wrapping the small tree in hemp rope to keep it warm. Shen Gali sat inside the warm house, holding a cup of hot cocoa, lounging comfortably on the sofa. Watching the two of them bustling like laborers, he even made a snide remark that they were too slow.

Their busy figures looked almost unreal, shrouded in the heavy snowfall.

Shen Gali looked up, staring blankly at the swirling snow, suddenly realizing that a year had just ended.

In the original story, after the arch-villain was jailed, the male leads had a grand wedding. The story ended completely with the line, "Under the lights, their hands clasped tightly, no army could tear them apart." After that, the fate of the villain and bit players was never mentioned, or they were concluded even earlier.

The warm cocoa seeped into his palm through the cup. Shen Gali suddenly felt that this scene was too quiet. It was perfect for sleeping, yet his mind began to wander.

How many more snowfalls would he see in this world? Would this year be the last?

He had fulfilled his wish, landed a huge sum far exceeding eight million, enough to buy any luxurious gravesite, but he still felt lost. All his confusion came from the uncertainty of the future.

As he was lost in thought, Nan Liujing came in. He stood by the door, brushing the snow off his clothes and hair, but his eyes eagerly sought out Shen Gali.

"Look what fun thing I brought you," Nan Liujing said, walking over to Shen Gali and crouching down to look up at him with a smile.

Shen Gali looked at him silently, not saying a word.

Nan Liujing exuded a damp chill. He took Shen Gali's hand, clearly feeling him flinch from the cold.

Then, Shen Gali found a little snowman in his hand.

He raised it to look—it was palm-sized, round-headed, round-bellied, with two pebbles for eyes, looking somewhat adorably silly.

"Boring. It's not like I've never seen snow before," Shen Gali said, but his hand secretly tightened around the little snowman.

He complained with his mouth, but inside, he was surprised.

So, Nan Liujing knew everything.

In his original world, Shen Gali was a southerner. In his twenty-two years, he had rarely seen snow, and when he did, it was thin enough to melt with a touch. He had congenital heart disease, so winter was a formidable hurdle for him. Cold could trigger heart failure and myocardial infarction. Every snowy day, he had to stay indoors.

Every time he watched children playing, chasing each other in the snow and building little snowmen, he wondered what snow felt like.

Today, he finally knew. It was cold, wet.

And it would melt all too soon.

He watched the little snowman Nan Liujing had brought in. In just a few minutes, it had lost its shape and was getting smaller. Suddenly, he said, "Let's put it in the fridge."

Nan Liujing laughed at him. "Who puts a snowman in the fridge?"

Shen Gali: "I'm pretty sure you're implying I'm not human."

Nan Liujing took his hand and said softly, "Even in the fridge, it'll melt eventually. If you feel regret, just quietly savor the present moment, and look forward to the next reunion."

Before Shen Gali fully grasped his meaning, Nan Liujing pulled him into the courtyard.

Shen Gali was ready to keel over and be taken to the hospital, but when he came out, he found it wasn't that cold. It turned out his mother had been right: it's not cold when it snows, but it gets cold when the snow melts.

He looked up, his eyes filled with snowflakes swirling and fluttering aimlessly in the cold wind. There was no telling where they would drift next.

When they landed on his hair and clothes, the world fell silent, and he couldn't feel a thing.

Nan Liujing stood to one side, watching Shen Gali almost blend into the snowy white landscape. A thin layer of snow gathered on his eyelashes, easily evoking scenes from Western fantasy movies he'd seen before—in the sacred, beautiful snowscape, there was always someone more stunning than the scenery.

"Shen Gali," Nan Liujing called softly.

Even though their relationship had reached a point where they could use more intimate names, like Jiali or Li Li, Nan Liujing insisted on calling him by his full name. Perhaps he felt that only by gently enunciating every syllable could he be certain that every part of Shen Gali, including his name, belonged to him.

Shen Gali was experiencing snow for the first time and wasn't in the mood to respond. "What?" he asked perfunctorily.

"Will you watch the snow with me next year?"

Shen Gali's eyelashes trembled. He lowered his eyes. "Okay."

"And the year after that?"

"Okay."

"Every year, for the rest of our lives?"

"Okay..."

"You're lying." Nan Liujing's face suddenly turned serious.

Shen Gali: ?

Was this guy raised on deception? He doesn’t believe a word anyone says.

Then he saw Nan Liujing pull a piece of paper from his pocket: "I bet you’re just thinking about watching snow with a muscular hunk."

Shen Gali: ???

He leaned in to look and found it was a flyer.

A flyer for the "Garden of Life Afterlife"…

Nan Liujing pointed at the muscle-bound hunk on the flyer, looking like he’d watched five hundred episodes of Conan, and said, "I found this in your drawer when I helped tidy your room the other day. So that’s why you suddenly wanted eight million for no reason—tell me, what makes this hunk worth eight million?"

Shen Gali: …

He didn’t know what to say. The posing muscle hunk had a burst speech bubble next to him, with bold red letters reading "Eight Million."

There was also a less conspicuous line of small text beside it:

"Buy a grave and get a free paper-mâché muscle hunk team. Romantic garden, love underground."

Seeing Shen Gali’s silence, Nan Liujing softened, realizing he’d sounded harsh: "If you really like a man who looks like a rental apartment landlord, I suppose I could change my image."

Then he added: "I checked your account balance a few days ago—two hundred four million. I didn’t want to say anything, but for you to save up so hard for a guy like that, have you ever considered that he might not be sincere with you and is just after your money?"

Shen Gali: …

Nan Liujing: "I may not be the only one in the world who loves you, but I’m definitely not after your money."

Shen Gali finally reached his limit: "If only you’d look at the back."

Nan Liujing’s crestfallen expression froze, and he quickly flipped it over:

"Glorious Homeland, Underground CBD, crafting the perfect endpoint for your life."

Below was a real photo of a luxurious grand cemetery.

Nan Liujing really hadn’t looked at the back.

That day when he was helping Shen Gali tidy the room, opening the drawer, the first thing that caught his eye was a huge muscle hunk.

In that instant, his mind raced: Why did Shen Gali keep padding his secret stash every day? Why would someone too lazy to eat bother to drive a hundred kilometers to the suburbs for a fresh head of lettuce? Why had Shen Gali never said he liked him?

Because of the muscle hunk.

For this other man, Shen Gali was willing to swallow insults and humiliation right in front of him, even spending his own husband’s money to support another guy.

In a flash, waves of jealousy and fury overwhelmed his reason. He didn’t even glance at the back before running off to check Shen Gali’s account.

Nan Liujing stood frozen for a long time, his tone clearly lacking confidence: "Why do you want to buy a grave? You’re only in your early twenties, for goodness' sake."

Shen Gali shot him a glance: "So I won’t have to listen to people like you prattle on after I die."

Annoying. This was his first time enjoying a snowfall, and such a beautiful atmosphere was ruined by Nan Liujing’s big mouth.

But even so, Shen Gali still found Nan Liujing kind of cute.

Shen Gali had endured over twenty years for revenge, yet the moment he suspected Shen Gali might have a lover on the side, that patience only lasted two days.

In his heart, Shen Gali must be extremely important to him.

Oh well, might as well throw him a bone to soothe his wounded feelings.

*

Late at night, Nan Liujing sat alone by the French window, propping his cheek on one hand, gazing at the snowy scene outside, his brows deeply furrowed.

Uncle Li came over and draped a coat over him, gently reminding him, "Young master, the snow has stopped now, and the temperature is very low at night. Don’t sit here anymore; why don’t you go back to your room?"

Uncle Li didn’t dare to ask. Earlier that day, while binding the redwood trees with rope, he had vaguely heard the two of them arguing, and it seemed Mr. Shen had said something like "So I won’t have to listen to people like you prattle on." They seemed to have had quite a row.

He hadn’t seen his young master so troubled in years. The man who handled everything with ease seemed for once to be stumped.

Not that it was a good thing, but as the head shipper, he allowed himself a small moment of shipping.

After a long silence, Nan Liujing pointed at a flyer on the table and asked Uncle Li, "Do you think I’m more buff, or is he more buff?"

Uncle Li took a look: "?"

"Forgive me for saying, young master, but isn’t asking that question just asking for humiliation? If you were to fight this guy, you’d be on your knees in under ten seconds, pinching his philtrum and begging him not to die."

"These guys just take protein powder to bulk up quickly; they don’t have real substance."

Nan Liujing sighed.

He shouldn’t have asked. That old man never said anything useful anyway.

It was getting a bit cold, so Nan Liujing told Uncle Li to rest and headed upstairs himself.

He stood at the slightly ajar door. Suddenly, he no longer cared about who was more buff. What bothered him was that he had suspected Shen Gali without checking the facts, and Shen Gali must still be upset.

He hesitated for a long time, worried that Shen Gali might be too upset to sleep. Carefully, he pushed the door open and entered, head lowered in a posture of guilt.

Shen Gali was lying straight in bed, which only made Nan Liujing’s heart race more.

He wasn’t asleep—he was staring blankly at the ceiling.

When a lazy person abandons their sleep time, it means things are serious.

Nan Liujing had never bowed his head to anyone in his life, but today, if he didn’t bow his head, he’d lose his wife.

"I’m sorry, I misunderstood you. Don’t be mad anymore. I promise this will never happen again."

As he waited for Shen Gali’s reply, Nan Liujing’s heartbeat shot to two hundred miles an hour.

But Shen Gali didn’t respond. He remained motionless, expressionless.

Nan Liujing panicked, even starting to ramble: "Keyboard or durian—if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll kneel on either."

"How are you going to make it up to me?" Shen Gali finally deigned to speak.

Nan Liujing breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he spoke, there was still room to salvage the situation.

"I’ll buy you a big penthouse in Guanlan Hall in the city center. If any day you’re unhappy and don’t want to see me, you can go there for some peace and quiet." Nan Liujing was utterly sincere. Even a penthouse was nothing; if Shen Gali wanted the stars in the sky now, he’d have to get them.

Shen Gali gave a cold snort: "How much is a penthouse?"

"About twenty million. It has more appreciation potential than a villa. If you’re unhappy someday, you could sell it…"

Nan Liujing’s voice trailed off as he saw Shen Gali’s brow furrow and his expression turning even more grim.

"Twenty million, huh, Nan Liujing, you're something."

Nan Liujing was terrified: "What's wrong... Is it too cheap? But the most expensive house here in Jinhai is Guanlan Hall."

Shen Gali sat up abruptly, his eyes wide, his eyelashes trembling with anger.

Nan Liujing felt he was done for, not knowing which words he had said wrong again; this was the first time he had seen such an expression on Shen Gali.

If he could, he would kneel down crying and beg his wife not to leave.

"Do you remember buying Shen Lanqing a luxury car worth forty million on his birthday?" Shen Gali sneered.

Nan Liujing: Forty million versus twenty million.

Understood, he should die to atone.

"Do you like Shen Lanqing? You gave him such an expensive car, and you threatened to send me to jail for swapping gifts. You could ask Uncle Li to attend such an important council meeting for you, but when you heard it was Shen Lanqing's birthday, your legs went weak and you couldn't wait to see him."

"Do you like him that much?"

Shen Gali's pointed questions came like a barrage; normally he didn't speak so fast, showing how aggrieved he felt about this.

In the original text, Nan Liujing was indeed infatuated with the innocent and pure Shen Lanqing; if not for Shen Lanqing, he wouldn't have exposed his flaws and ended up in prison.

Nan Liujing was about to explain when it hit him.

No, he's jealous.

He's jealous of Shen Lanqing and me.

He cares about me, I'm absolutely sure.

In this tense moment, Nan Liujing's heart felt as sweet as honey; a bitter expression couldn't hide the irrepressible joy on his face.

Shen Gali: "Say something, aren't you usually talkative?"

Nan Liujing: "Let me explain."

Shen Gali: "I don't want to hear it."

Nan Liujing got on the bed, pinning Shen Gali's hands to the bed.

Since I've found your weak spot, you have to listen today whether you want to or not.

He gazed down at Shen Gali: "I'm a bad man."

"No need for introductions, it's obvious."

"Nan Feiyao robbed me of my family, stole everything from me, so I couldn't let it go. I also wanted to take everything from him. I knew he had a special affection for Shen Lanqing. For revenge, I was ready to endure over twenty years, so pretending to like someone I didn't like at all wasn't difficult. I just wanted to make Nan Feiyao experience the same pain I felt."

Shen Gali: As expected of the original story's morally corrupt villain.

"But fortunately you came along, even though you came with the intention of poisoning me."

Shen Gali: "When did I ever want to poison you? If you're going to spread rumors, you need proof, or I'll sue you for defamation."

Nan Liujing chuckled softly: "If it's slander, why would I need evidence? Remember the bowl of herbal soup from our first meeting? Two of those herbs, taken together, are highly toxic."

He hugged Shen Gali tightly and whispered in his ear: "But now, as long as it's from you, I'll accept anything from you, even poison."

Shen Gali: "It was Yu Huaisu who told me to brew it, and she prepared the medicine, but I drank it... How am I not dead?"

Nan Liujing wanted to tell him that if he hadn't been cautious, he would have died plenty of times.

Instead, he said: "Because fate doesn't allow you to die; it wants you to put up with my nagging forever."

Shen Gali's furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

Fate.

So transmigrating into the novel at death's door and meeting Nan Liujing was also fate's doing.

"You still mad?" Nan Liujing asked.

"I'm barely angry anymore," Shen Gali said.

Nan Liujing curled his lips into a bright smile: "After tormenting me for so long, have you considered what price you'll have to pay?"

Shen Gali, in trouble.