Against the Light - Chapter 181
Chapter 181: Finale
In the room, Gu Xinran sat on the sofa, poured a cup of tea, and shot an annoyed glance at the door. Peeking through the crack at the bottom, she could still see the silhouette of a person outside. It was already eleven o'clock. These people were still eavesdropping!
Bai Yilan yawned, her eyelids so heavy they felt like they were fighting each other.
"Hey, Yilan, don't fall asleep. How about you have some tea to wake yourself up?" Gu Xinran was eagerly anticipating her wedding night, but with those people outside, they couldn't do anything. The wooden door didn't offer much soundproofing…
"I want to sleep." Bai Yilan couldn't stay awake any longer and turned to crawl into bed.
"Hey, don't!" Gu Xinran quickly hugged her. "Good Yilan, just wait a little longer. I refuse to believe they won't go to sleep. Are they really going to stand there all night?"
"…Then wake me up after they leave."
"Aww, come on~" Gu Xinran immediately started acting cute and whiny, making Bai Yilan roll her eyes in exasperation, wishing she could give her a good smack.
"Wouldn't it be the same if we just wait until they leave tomorrow?"
"How could it be the same? This is our wedding night!"
"Oh my, well, your precious wedding night only has twelve minutes left."
Gu Xinran fell silent for a moment. "As long as we don't sleep, it's not over!"
"…"
"At the wedding today, didn't a certain someone solemnly swear that she wouldn't let me suffer any grievances or make me angry? And now, she won't even let me sleep. I feel so wronged. How can I go on living like this?" Bai Yilan sniffled, her performance incredibly convincing.
"I…" Gu Xinran was at a loss for words, burying her face in Bai Yilan's chest. "It's all their fault!"
"Alright, let's go to sleep then. But I want…" Gu Xinran's lips curved into a harmless smile.
In bed, Gu Xinran held her naked little wife, one hand resting on her chest, restlessly brushing against it and earning a soft cry of protest from Bai Yilan.
"Don't you dare move!" Bai Yilan warned fiercely.
Gu Xinran was very obedient. She stopped moving and blissfully drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, while the two were sound asleep, a knock came from the door.
"Mommy, time to get up and eat! Mommy!"
Gu Xinran groggily got up to open the door, then turned and dove right back under the covers. Just as she wrapped her arms around Bai Yilan, she snapped wide awake the next second.
She whipped her head toward the door. Thankfully, it was only Xiao Ye.
"Close the door, quickly," Gu Xinran said urgently. The moment the words left her mouth, she was kicked by Bai Yilan. "How many times has this happened!" Bai Yilan hissed.
"…"
"Ahem, Xiao Ye, be a good girl and wait for Mama outside, okay? Mama… will just change her clothes and be right out." Gu Xinran looked at the little one with some embarrassment.
Xiao Ye sighed, raised a hand to cover her eyes, and turned her back to them. "Hurry up and get dressed."
"…"
Bai Yilan's pretty face flushed. Did this little one know a bit too much?
"Ahem." Gu Xinran didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She got up, scooped the little girl into her arms, and held her with her back to Bai Yilan. "You little thing~"
"Aiya, Mama! That tickles!"
"What delicious food did Grandmother make?"
"Noodle soup."
"Has Xiao Ye eaten already?"
"Mhm, I'm all done. It's just you two left. Grandmother said skipping breakfast is bad for you, and that you two should eat before you… mess around again." Xiao Ye relayed the message earnestly.
…Mess around? What was there to mess around with in broad daylight!
"Where are your godmothers?"
"Eh?"
"Hm? What's wrong?" Hearing the little one's confused tone, Gu Xinran paused.
"Godmothers? They left a long time ago!"
"What??"
"Yeah, they left last night. But I don't know who put a few chairs outside your door."
"???"
Gu Xinran froze completely. So the silhouettes she had seen under the door last night were actually… the shadows of chairs???
"…!!!"
Gu Xinran's vision went black with rage. Her wedding night! Ahhh!!
Hearing this, Bai Yilan laughed at her without mercy.
"Mama? What's wrong? Are you okay? Quick, sit down." Xiao Ye quickly helped Gu Xinran to the sofa, patting her chest to help her calm down, her face full of worry.
"Mommy, come take a look!"
"Mhm, I see her. It's nothing, Xiao Ye, don't worry." Bai Yilan came over and stroked her daughter's head, glancing at Gu Xinran while trying to suppress a laugh. Those people were brilliant!
During breakfast, Gu Xinran was listless, like a machine that had been unplugged.
"What's wrong with her?" Ye Nan asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing, don't mind her," Bai Yilan said with a smile.
Gu Xinran shot her a slightly resentful look. "Aren't you laughing a little too much?"
"Hm?" Bai Yilan flashed another beautiful smile at her.
"What? Is your world for two not harmonious? That can't be, right?"
"…" Gu Xinran took a deep breath and looked at Ye Nan. Wasn't she just touching on a sore subject?!
"What are you doing?" Shi Qing walked over at the sound of her voice and shot Ye Nan a subtle glare.
Ye Nan gave a sheepish smile and turned to leave.
"How many times have I told you not to tease them about those things?" Shi Qing hauled her little assistant into the bedroom and shut the door to lecture her.
"I didn't… I was just asking casually. I mean, she had such a long face first thing in the morning, what else could it be about~"
"Tsk."
"Alright, alright, I won't say it. I'll stop." Ye Nan immediately raised both hands in surrender.
After breakfast, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan went into the courtyard and saw Lin Yuqing and the others cleaning up trash on the lawn from a distance.
Gu Xinran looked at the group: Lin Yuqing, Xue Yuexian, Fang Yi, Su Yu, Jiang Boyan, and Lu Qing. It was the exact same group of best friends she and Yilan had in their past life.
In her past life, she had once said that after she retired, she would build a manor and reserve a room for each of them so they could gather often. She never expected that a wish unfulfilled in her past life would be realized in this one.
"This is so nice," Bai Yilan said, smiling with contentment.
Bai Yilan glanced into the distance, then suddenly let go of Gu Xinran's hand and ran over.
"Sister." She linked her arm with Jiang Boyan's. "What have you been up to lately? Why have you been so busy? If it weren't for the wedding, would I not have seen you at all?"
Jiang Boyan looked at her with a complex expression and pursed her lips. "The hospital sent me out for further training. It's been a bit busy."
"Oh, honestly. I asked you to be a bridesmaid, but you refused. I asked you to sit with the family, but you wouldn't do that either. Why are you suddenly acting so distant with me? We grew up together. You shouldn't hide things from me."
"I'm not. It's nothing." Jiang Boyan forced a very strained smile and avoided her gaze.
Yilan stared at her back for a while, feeling that something was off. Ever since she and Xinran had remarried, Sister Yan had often avoided her. During holidays, she would invite Sister Yan and her mother to celebrate with them, but the two were always either traveling or visiting relatives back in their hometown. The number of times they had met in recent years could be counted on one hand.
"Sister Yan, what's really going on? Did something happen? You used to tell me everything."
"Hm? No, not at all. You have your own family and your own life now. I… it's not convenient for me to interfere too much."
Bai Yilan narrowed her eyes, thinking for a moment. "Sister, Xinran is bullying me. Aren't you going to stand up for me?"
"Her? She wouldn't. She dotes on you too much. How could she bear to bully you?"
Eh?
That didn't sound like something she would say!
The confusion in Bai Yilan's eyes deepened, and a bold guess began to form in her mind.
"Yilan." Jiang Boyan turned back to look at her.
"Aiya!"
A soft cry came from nearby. The two turned to see Lu Qing, who seemed to have bumped into the corner of a table and was unsteadily holding onto it.
Jiang Boyan immediately dropped the plastic bag in her hand and hurried over, helping her into a chair. "What's wrong?" She knelt to examine her ankle.
"I just bumped it accidentally. It should be fine," Lu Qing said.
"That's not right, Teacher Lu~ At a time like this, shouldn't you be saying, 'Aiya~ It hurts so much~ Is my leg broken? Dr. Jiang, you have to take a good look for me!'"
Bai Yilan stood behind them, mimicking Lu Qing's tone with deliberate, cutesy exaggeration, which gave Lu Qing herself goosebumps.
Lu Qing shivered and shot her a disdainful look. "You're terrible!"
"I'm about to become your sister-in-law. Shouldn't you be nicer to me?" Lu Qing said, intentionally glancing at Jiang Boyan to see her reaction. However, Jiang Boyan gave no reaction at all—no confirmation, but no denial either.
A hint of a smile appeared in Yilan's eyes. Knowing Jiang Boyan, no objection was as good as agreement!
But then again, they had been together for seven long years. With Lu Qing's deep devotion, even a heart of stone would have been warmed by now.
"Mhm, but my family has a rule too. In our family, the little sister is the most important~" Bai Yilan smiled and knelt beside Jiang Boyan, wrapping an arm around her neck and tilting her head at Lu Qing, as if declaring her sovereignty.
Lu Qing was speechless. "Your family has a rule like that??"
Jiang Boyan chuckled softly and turned to look at Yilan.
"Don't listen to her nonsense."
"Hey, Sister! You can't forget your little sister just because you have a wife!"
"Does it still hurt?" Jiang Boyan asked.
"No… It hurts! Of course it hurts! Wouldn't you be in pain if you got hit like that!" Lu Qing's tone shifted, and she immediately started playing the victim.
Jiang Boyan glanced at her, smiled faintly, and then stood up and swept her into her arms.
"Whoa~" Cheers immediately erupted from the crowd.
"I want that too~" Su Yu was green with envy. She suddenly turned her head and saw Fang Yi trying to sneak away.
"Fang Yi? Where do you think you're running?" The moment Su Yu spoke, Fang Yi ran even faster.
Watching the two chase each other, everyone burst into laughter.
Gu Xinran put her arm around Yilan. "Look at them. No matter how old they are, they're like children in front of the one they love."
Yilan smiled, looking at her, then at Jiang Boyan's retreating back.
"Xinran, I think Sister Yan, she…"
"Mhm," Gu Xinran hummed noncommittally.
"Hm? Do you know what I mean?"
"You're trying to say that you think she also has memories of her past life."
"Yes. The way she looked at me just now was strange, a little evasive. And she was uncharacteristically complimentary toward you."
"??"
Gu Xinran was silent for a moment. Although the words were a bit unflattering, it was indeed suspicious. Thinking back on her interactions with Jiang Boyan over the past two days, her attitude had certainly been abnormal.
"Yilan, if she really has remembered things from our past life, let's just pretend we don't know anything."
"Hm?"
"I hope she can move on from the past life. In that life, Lu Qing waited an entire lifetime for her. I hope in this life, she can cherish her and not let her slip away again."
"Mama!" Xiao Ye shouted as she ran toward them.
"Mhm, what is it, baby?" Gu Xinran bent down and lifted the little girl high into the air.
"There's a firework, a really, really big firework!" Xiao Ye pointed behind her excitedly.
"Oh?" Gu Xinran paused, then remembered that she had indeed prepared fireworks for the wedding yesterday. But she had been so eager for their wedding night that she had returned to the room early and forgotten all about setting them off.
"Then later, when it gets dark, Mama will set them off for you."
"Okay!"
The couples cleaned the lawn, bickering playfully all the while. The scene was incredibly heartwarming.
After waiting with great anticipation, the sky finally darkened.
After dinner, the little one couldn't wait any longer and pulled everyone out to the lawn. Even Shi Qing and Ye Nan were dragged out by the little girl to watch the fireworks.
"Xiao Ye, slow down." Watching Xiao Ye and Little Xue Bao run and play freely on the lawn, Ye Nan reminded them worriedly. After all, these two little ones were truly precious.
"Okay!" Xiao Ye replied, obediently slowing down.
Lin Yuqing brought out two boxes of fireworks, setting them up one by one and pulling out all the fuses for easy lighting.
Gu Xinran found a torch and told everyone to step back. Then, she walked over to the arranged fireworks and ran quickly from left to right.
One after another, the fireworks were lit by the torch. Each set erupted into a waterfall of sparks half a person high. With six or seven sets ignited at once, they formed a veritable wall of fireworks, a dazzling sight.
"Wow!" Xiao Ye's mouth fell open in amazement, her big eyes reflecting the brilliant display.
Little Xue Bao was also dumbfounded, her little mouth agape as she pointed at the fireworks. After a long moment, she managed to say, "Pretty!"
Lin Yuqing stood behind Xiao Ye. Seeing the little girl so captivated, she dotingly ruffled her hair.
Xiao Ye looked up at Lin Yuqing and gave her a sweet smile. She turned and opened her arms, and Lin Yuqing lifted her high into the air. Just as she was watching the fireworks with the little one, she felt a tug on her shirt. Lin Yuqing paused and looked down to see Little Xue Bao looking up at her with pleading eyes, her little hands stretched out, begging to be held.
Lin Yuqing chuckled and picked that little one up as well.
"Wow! It's even prettier!!" Little Xue Bao clapped her hands excitedly, overjoyed.
"What's wrong?" Hearing only Little Xue Bao's cheers, Lin Yuqing glanced at Xiao Ye. The little girl was pouting slightly, looking a little unhappy.
Xiao Ye shook her head. "Nothing, it's fine." She turned back to watch the fireworks, but her earlier excitement was clearly gone.
Lin Yuqing smiled knowingly, realizing what the problem was.
"Does Xiao Ye want to put her arms around Auntie's neck?" she asked softly.
"Hm?" Xiao Ye blinked at her, then nodded emphatically. "Mhm!" She wrapped her small hands around Lin Yuqing's neck and nestled her head affectionately in the crook of her neck. Only then did she seem happy again, watching the fireworks with delight.
Lin Yuqing found it amusing and smiled, not pointing out the little vinegar pot's jealousy.
"Ah, I also…" Little Xue Bao heard their conversation and tried to wrap her arms around Lin Yuqing's neck too.
But the next second, one look from Lin Yuqing made her lose her nerve. She pouted her little lips and didn't dare to move.
"So fierce…" Little Xue Bao muttered under her breath.
Hearing this, Xiao Ye immediately nodded. "Right, Auntie Lin is super fierce!"
"…" Lin Yuqing's face darkened. This little rascal, wasn't she a bit too cunning?
"Strange, why does this scene feel so familiar?" Lu Qing frowned, looking puzzled. The wall of fireworks before her gave her a strong sense of déjà vu.
"Hey! Me too!" Fang Yi immediately chimed in.
Xue Yuexian thought for a long time and nodded. "I think I've seen it before too."
The few of them looked bewildered, each trying their best to recall the scene.
Those who knew the truth exchanged glances and smiled secretly.
"Maybe it was in a past life. Maybe we were all good friends in a past life, too," Yilan said, looking at them with a gentle smile.
"Mhm," Jiang Boyan smiled faintly.
Fang Yi thought for a moment. "Wow, that would be so fateful~ Boss, seeing as we're so fated, can you give me a few extra days off~"
"Oh? What for?"
Fang Yi snuck a glance at Su Yu. "Um… to go traveling!"
"Boss, I'd like to ask for a few days off too~" Lu Qing joined in the fun.
Gu Xinran glanced at the two of them. "Sure. Have the one in charge of your household come talk to me."
"Pfft…"
"…"
"Hey Boss, can I ask for a vacation too?" Ye Nan suddenly sidled up to Shi Qing and asked in a low voice.
"What for?" Shi Qing raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing much, I just want to get out and see the world. I'm already this old and I've never really had fun. Every business trip is for work."
"Going alone?"
"Ah, can I?" Ye Nan looked at her expectantly.
"No."
"Why not!"
Without even looking at her, Shi Qing turned to walk back. "The one in charge of your household doesn't agree."
"…???"
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