Chapter 81.3 – Extra: Wife-Chasing Crematorium (Part 6) 

— STATUS: Unedited —

　　Liang Jingche informed, “I’ve already sent you a list of candidates and their information. These references come highly recommended by individuals within my network, and they have clean backgrounds. They’re retired special forces soldiers with superb prowess and adeptness in counter-reconnaissance techniques. The dossier includes an extensive profile, complete with personal anecdotes and photographs, including specifics like height and weight. So, be sure to look through the documents and update me once you’ve made your choices, so that I can coordinate with them for interviews.”

　　Jiang Dai was well aware of his considerate nature, yet she was taken aback by the swift manner in which he had arranged everything. Barely half a day had passed, and everything was already set in motion. She could not help but feel somewhat embarrassed as she noted, “Did you happen to send me a message on WeChat? I was caught up in something earlier and didn’t get a chance to check my phone. I promise to reply to you as soon as I’ve had a chance to catch up on all the messages.”

　　Yet, Liang Jingche remained mostly silent, and in that silence lingered a faint trace of something out of the ordinary between them.

　　Even for Jiang Dai, she could not quite put her finger on the feeling. Perhaps…… Liang Jingche felt somewhat awkward this evening, or had an unfortunate incident befallen him and affected his mood?

　　Otherwise, he would not have been smoking at her gate by his lonesome. Moreover, the hazy air suggested he had been indulging in more than just a casual puff.

　　Even though Liang Jingche was an occasional smoker, he was far from what one might consider a chain smoker. Hence, his current behavior spoke volumes about the weight of his thoughts, as he would not be like this if something were not preoccupying his mind.

　　With that in mind, Jiang Dai’s curiosity got the best of her as she inquired, “Did something happen? Since I wasn’t in earlier, why didn’t you just enter directly? Didn’t I notify the security to let you in?”

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

　　Nkydt Kkdtnbl’p alzyvksdpbkr okvb bla plnwakvu vlyx pllxle vs pwarypp lhld bla sod, ps kv oyp wdzkjlzu vbyv vblu oswze pvsr bkx okvbswv y hyzke alypsd.

　　Gzvbswtb kv oyp yrryaldv vbyv bl bye blyae bla iwlpvksd, bl xlalzu pvyale yv bla okvbswv tkhkdt yd ydpola.

　　Tkp lulp olal akhlvle sd Kkydt Pyk’p caktbv ale zkrp.

　　Gv vbkp fwdnvwal, pbl bye yzalyeu alxshle bla xyjlwr, vyjld y pbsola, yde nbydtle swv sq bla osaj yvvkal.

　　Jyal-qynle, bla nsxrzlmksd bye y aspu bwl, obkzl bla zkrp nyaakle yd lmyttlayvle vswnb sq aledlpp, yde olal lhld pzktbvzu poszzld.

　　Gqvla bkp cswv sq pkzldnl, Nkydt Kkdtnbl nbwnjzle psqvzu, “Xb, kv’p dsvbkdt. R oyp fwpv csale.”

　　Kkydt Pyk jlldzu pldple vbyv psxlvbkdt olktble sd vbl xyd’p vbswtbvp, ulv bkp alzwnvydnl vs pbyal yde bla sod lmbywpvksd zlqv bla ekpkdnzkdle vs rascl qwavbla. Ekvb vbkp kd xkde, pbl nbspl vs zlyhl kv cl qsa vbl vkxl clkdt, yp vblu nswze yzoyup alhkpkv kv kd y qlo eyup.

　　Ekvb vbyv, Kkydt Pyk bypvkzu alxyajle, “Gzaktbv, vbld. R’x tskdt vs blye vs cle pkdnl R’hl tsv osaj vsxsaaso. Zsw pbswze yzps es vbl pyxl yde pvsr qllekdt vbl xspiwkvslp obkzl pvydekdt blal.”

　　As soon as her last word fell, she turned to take her leave, only for Liang Jingche’s deep voice to halt her in her tracks. “Daidai.”

　　“Hmm?” Just as Jiang Dai was about to turn back, the man’s hand jolted upwards in a moment of panic, his fingers fumbling for something to grab onto. Eventually, they brushed through her soft curls, and her hair slipped through his grasp, disappearing like fleeting whispers.

　　Somewhat taken aback, Liang Jingche’s gaze was fixated on the spaces between his own fingers as he drifted into contemplation.

　　Jiang Dai regarded him with a quizzical expression, as her curiosity piqued. “Is there something on your mind tonight, Liang Jingche? Is there something you’d like to share with me?”

　　Liang Jingche’s pupils trembled so intensely as though a torrent of long-suppressed emotions suddenly broke free.

　　He was well aware that some things were best left unspoken or verbalized directly. Despite that, he could not help himself.

　　“Do you know, Daidai? There’s a masculine scent on you.”

　　Jiang Dai’s initial surprise was quickly replaced by a faint blush tinting her cheeks.

　　She swallowed quietly, instinctively taking a slight step backward. As she met Liang Jingche’s gaze, her mind briefly spiraled into chaos before regaining her composure once more.

　　She initially thought she would have felt very embarrassed by Liang Jingche’s words, but their close relationship dispelled that concern. After all, Liang Jingche had become as close a friend to her as Qiao Jinye.

　　If she were to get back together with Huo Rongshen, it would be a matter of time before they caught wind of it.

　　Despite the initial moments of awkwardness, such feelings could always be overcome. Given that we were all mature adults, there was truly no need to hide anything. Furthermore, she was also someone who disliked feigning ignorance.

　　Once Jiang Dai managed to overcome the sense of awkwardness, she was no longer burdened by her emotions. Without hesitation, she decided to share the truth. “When that person with mental health issues attacked me, Huo Rongshen came to my aid and incurred severe injuries on his right shoulder and arm. So I’ve just returned from visiting him.”

　　Upon hearing that utterance, Liang Jingche swiftly regained his composure. Though momentarily at a loss for words, his intentions were far from malicious, and he had no desire to put Jiang Dai in an uncomfortable position.

　　Following a prolonged moment of silence, he chuckled in self-deprecation, “Considering he got hurt on your behalf, it’s only natural for you to pay him a visit.” 

　　In response, Jiang Dai affirmed with a nod.

　　Casting a glance at her, Liang Jingche spoke with profound seriousness, each syllable dripping with solemnity. “But do you know? I would have also protected you and shielded you from harm if I had been there. My actions would have rivaled, if not surpassed, Huo Rongshen’s.”

　　In uttering these words, Liang Jingche was keenly aware of the significance they held. He understood that opportunities like these once passed by, might never return. Some circumstances were simply meant to unfold as they did.

　　Regardless of his capabilities, he was nowhere to be found when Jiang Dai needed him the most. As such, his absence paved the way for Huo Rongshen to seize an opportunity.

　　However, Jiang Dai’s reaction was nothing like what he had expected.

　　Jiang Dai nodded her head. “I know. Should you have been there in person, your response would have been the same as his.”

　　The exchange left Liang Jingche momentarily flabbergasted, a surprised expression now adorning his features.

　　Yet, Jiang Dai merely smiled and continued, “Nevertheless, I don’t wish for either of you to do so. Since we all have our own destinies, it was inevitable that we would also acquire bouts of bad luck. Were I to find myself in a similar predicament today, I would admit that it was my misfortune and not burden others with it.”

　　Liang Jingche lapsed into silence before a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

　　 “Daidai,” he began, his tone teeming with both curiosity and incredulity, “are you explaining this for my benefit? Are you suggesting that should you get back with Huo Rongshen, it wouldn’t be the result of today’s events or his self-sacrifice in your defense?”

　　 Jiang Dai’s brows snapped together as she replied, “No, I was simply speaking my thoughts without intending to provide any explanations. Yet, what you’ve mentioned holds true as well. I refuse to fall in love with a man solely because his actions have moved me. That’s such an outdated notion and mindset rooted in centuries past.”

　　Once more, Liang Jingche chuckled in self-deprecation, finding a hint of amusement in the situation. When he arrived earlier in the evening, he discovered Jiang Dai’s absence in the mansion, as well as her unread WeChat messages. The writing on the wall was clear; his defeat was already foreseeable.

　　Due to his affection for her, his intuition had grown incredibly keen.

　　For nearly two hours, he remained beneath the sheltering branches of the tree. Because he did not harbor any hope, to begin with, he could not be bothered to enter the house either. Instead, he chose to stand beneath the tree’s embrace, indulging in idle moments of smoking and wandering thoughts.

　　 He had a lingering suspicion that Jiang Dai would not be returning home tonight. Yet, against his expectations, she reappeared, igniting a flicker of hope within him. A hope that had been ruthlessly smothered in the very same moment.

　　Jiang Dai was undoubtedly not one to succumb to love driven by mere sentiments..

　　Noticing his current state, a faint sense of unease stirred within Jiang Dai. 

　　 “Why are you laughing, Liang Jingche?”

　　 He shook his head and remarked, “I can’t quite put my finger on it either. Perhaps, it suddenly dawned on me that I’ve lost.”

　　Jiang Dai grasped the meaning behind his words, and a growing unease settled in her heart. 

　　Nevertheless, she had already come to terms with her own feelings, so she deemed it essential for both of them to address and clarify certain matters between them promptly.

　　After a few moments of hesitation, Jiang Dai began, “To be honest, I’ve yet to come to any decision tonight, but I’ll admit that I’ve experienced some changes in my heart that might influence my decisions regarding my romantic life. If I were to choose Huo Rongshen and you find it difficult to come to terms with, I can totally understand if you wish to break ties with me. I won’t hold it against you since human beings tend to be self-centered. If you no longer wish to see me again, Jingche, I’m more than willing to accommodate that as well.”

　　Upon hearing that, Liang Jingche’s smile deepened as he took half a step forward, closing the gap between them. 

　　In an instant, his hand gently grazed Jiang Dai’s face, a tender gesture that lasted no longer than a heartbeat before he instinctively pulled back.

　　 “Sometimes, Daidai, I really wish you could be a little more scummy. Don’t make your words sound so absolute and leave others a glimmer of hope, alright?”

　　 At this juncture, Jiang Dai was rendered speechless.

　　 Liang Jingche sighed, “I’m just kidding. Even if you’ve found someone else, that won’t make me stop caring about you. I’ll always be your friend who cares for you, so you’re free to follow your heart and love whomever you please. Rest assured, I’ll always support your decisions.”

　　Ironically, his most regrettable trait was his excessive maturity. One might expect a surge of jealousy, a storm of maddening emotions, or even a hint of bitterness.

　　Yet, he was unable to bring himself to do so since he knew what love was. Instead, he would give Jiang Dai his blessing.

　　However, he would always wait for Jiang Dai. Even though he did not express any genuine feelings, that did not mean he did not know what love was. 

　　After all, he had always believed that he was the most suitable choice for Jiang Dai as he was the most clear-headed and mature among all of her pursuers.

　　But this was what love was.

　　If he were the one in Jiang Dai’s heart, he would simply be overjoyed and embrace all that she offered..

　　Yet, even if it were otherwise, his countenance would not falter. Instead, a gentle smile would grace his lips, accompanied by heartfelt blessings.