After Flirting with the God-Tier Beautiful Tycoon - Chapter 34.1

So, she didn’t dare touch the baby.

At that moment, Shen Xiaojiang took her hand and touched it against the baby’s soft fingers.

Chen Yi felt as if she’d been struck by lightning and abruptly pulled her hand back, shaking her head at Shen Xiaojiang with a slight frown.

“Look, the little nugget’s hand is moving,” Shen Xiaojiang said, still grinning.

Chen Yi followed her gaze. The baby’s fingers moved very slowly twice, as if grasping at something in the air.

Shen Xiaojiang nudged Chen Yi and said in a pinched voice, “The little nugget must be thinking, ‘Which pretty auntie just touched me? I like it so much!'”

Beside them, Sister Meng chuckled.

With encouragement from both Shen Xiaojiang and Sister Meng, Chen Yi extended her finger again. However, she didn’t dare move, simply placing her finger mechanically beside the baby’s hand.

Just then, as if sensing something, the little nugget instinctively and loosely gripped Chen Yi’s index finger.

Chen Yi almost cried out in surprise. To avoid scaring the child, she reflexively covered her mouth with her other hand.

“How is it?” Shen Xiaojiang asked.

Chen Yi turned her head, her eyes showing an unprecedented sense of emotion. So small, so cute.

After getting the CT report and leaving the hospital, the two didn’t call a car immediately but walked side-by-side on the pedestrian path.

“Sister Meng is unfortunate, yet she is also lucky,” Shen Xiaojiang suddenly spoke.

Chen Yi heard her and looked at her profile, not rushing to respond.

The shadows of the lights were dim, and their shadows were pulled long.

Shen Xiaojiang put her hands behind her back and continued: “The little nugget is so cute, so small and soft. It’s a pity the father is an irresponsible scumbag.”

“She has a mother who loves her.” Chen Yi looked down at the two shadows on the ground.

Shen Xiaojiang tilted her head and saw that Chen Yi’s eyes looked like they held crushed starlight. “Mm, Sister Meng is a very good and kind person.”

She released her hands from behind her back. “Do you think, if she hadn’t met that scumbag, or if she hadn’t given birth to the baby, would things be…”

“There are no ‘ifs’.”

Shen Xiaojiang wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but Chen Yi’s voice was trembling.

Chen Yi felt her tone might have been too harsh, so she adjusted and said, “Shen Xiaojiang, do you believe in fate?”

Shen Xiaojiang stared into Chen Yi’s eyes for three seconds and said seriously, “Before I met you again, I didn’t.”

Chen Yi’s gaze flickered for a moment. Shen Xiaojiang clearly saw her blush.

A few seconds later, Chen Yi turned and raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Shen Xiaojiang’s ear, saying earnestly: “When people meet, if they can have long-term companionship, it’s fate. Short-term is a lack of fate. As for those ‘ifs’ you mentioned…”

She paused, using the dim streetlights to trace Shen Xiaojiang’s features. “Actually… everyone’s destiny is different, and the paths they take are different. You can’t say which one is better or worse. ‘Better’ or ‘worse’ is just a choice. No matter the final choice, the person involved will have regrets. What we must do is respect every choice.”

With that, Chen Yi’s hand moved to the front of Shen Xiaojiang’s face, lightly flicking her nose.

“There is no eternal companionship, nor is there any devotion that is taken for granted. No one truly dies because someone left them. Sister Meng she will become her own light.”

Chen Yi’s voice was gentle, yet it carried a firm strength.

Shen Xiaojiang nodded repeatedly. “Wow, Auntie, you’re so right!”

Shen Xiaojiang was born into an ordinary family with kind parents who doted on her. From kindergarten onward, her life seemed planned out. She had never considered whether this path was the right one or if what she was doing was truly good. Being only a sophomore, she hadn’t planned for the future.

Consequently, she had no idea what kind of path she wanted to take in the future.

But after hearing what Chen Yi said, she suddenly understood something. She felt that her life should be held firmly in her own hands. What others said was just a reference, the one who truly made the decisions was herself.

“Shen Xiaojiang,” Chen Yi had already walked ahead, “if I were the ‘bad person’ in other people’s mouths, if the path I walked was a crooked one, would you still think I was right?”

The shadows of the trees swayed, casting a mottled pattern over the two of them.

Shen Xiaojiang caught up to Chen Yi and slowly took her hand, lightly rubbing her palm with her thumb.

Chen Yi’s gaze moved from Shen Xiaojiang’s face to their joined hands. She was silent, as if waiting for an answer, yet not.

“I would.”

The moment Shen Xiaojiang spoke, a flower petal landed on the tip of her hair, carrying a faint fragrance.

“Just like you said, everyone’s destiny is different, and the paths they choose are different. So…” Shen Xiaojiang’s gaze moved from their hands to Chen Yi’s face, tenderly watching her eyes, “I respect your choice.”

“And besides, I don’t think you’re a bad person.”

Chen Yi’s head buzzed. Her heartbeat felt like a fast drum, thumping deafeningly.

“Shen Xiaojiang,” Chen Yi gripped the other’s hand back, “do you… do you really think so?”

“Really.”

Chen Yi blinked rapidly. “Do you… understand me?”

Shen Xiaojiang smiled faintly. “Do you wish to be understood by me?”

A circuitous pull. Both fell silent.

The light was dim, the shadows faint. The temperature was pleasant, and the wind was gentle. Everything seemed like a peaceful moment in time.

Chen Yi raised her hand and used her fingertips to pinch the flower petal from Shen Xiaojiang’s hair. She looked at the petal, infinite tenderness flowing in her eyes.

She released her fingers, and the petal flew away with the wind, leaving a winding, lingering trail in the air.

Chen Yi lowered her eyelashes. When she looked up again, the fingers that had just held the petal now grasped Shen Xiaojiang’s collar, as if wanting to stain the floral scent onto her.

She pulled slightly, bringing Shen Xiaojiang toward her. Her breathing became a bit hurried. “Little one, you’re the first person to ever say that to me.”

Shen Xiaojiang gritted her teeth slightly and looked into Chen Yi’s eyes.

Her life had always been as flat as water, following a set routine. From the moment Chen Yi appeared, everything changed.

It was good.

This world, you only come here once. If you don’t live wildly and boldly, it’s a waste of a life!

Shen Xiaojiang lowered her head, leaning close to Chen Yi’s ear, breathing heat: “What a coincidence. You’re the first person who made me want to say that.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi’s bright eyes flashed with light.

“Shen Xiaojiang…” Her voice trembled even more.

“I’m here,” Shen Xiaojiang smiled.

Chen Yi’s eyes widened, then narrowed, gradually losing focus. “Shen Xiaojiang…”

“Mm,” Shen Xiaojiang moved another step closer to Chen Yi, the distance between them so small they were almost pressed together. She pressed her lips gently against Chen Yi’s forehead, her voice muffled but warm, “Auntie, don’t worry. I’ll always be here.”

Chen Yi closed her eyes, and a single transparent tear escaped her eye.

It wasn’t sadness. It was… emotion.

The emotion of being understood, being affirmed, and being embraced.

After a long while, she spoke softly again: “You… you are different from everyone else.”

Shen Xiaojiang cupped her face and kissed away the tear tracks on her cheeks.

“Auntie, you are different from others, too.”

Chen Yi felt very warm inside, as if she were being tenderly protected by someone. Then, with her eyes closed, she tilted her head slightly, pressing closer into Shen Xiaojiang’s warm palm.

Shen Xiaojiang watched Chen Yi quietly, as if looking at an obedient child, her eyes filled with infinite pity and love.

Chen Yi was like a pitiful person wandering in a cold dark night, exchanging gold for bread. Shen Xiaojiang instinctively wanted to open the doors of a greenhouse for her, letting her stay inside.

She didn’t want her gold, but she was willing to give her all the bread she had.

She wanted to become the shelter for Chen Yi’s soul, to become someone Chen Yi could lean on.

Suddenly, the wind picked up.

Chen Yi shrank back a little, and Shen Xiaojiang instinctively pulled her into her arms, encircling her.

Petals from the trees were blown down, covering the two of them.

Shen Xiaojiang: Wives are meant to be doted on (Hands on hips).