Mo Lan’s eyes flashed with surprise, "You’ve been through this too?"
"Yeah." Jian Yufei smiled and said, "The old ... wasn’t much different from you."
She shared the past grievances between her and Ruan Tianling but kept the part about her rebirth a secret.
"Back then, I was just like you now. I couldn’t bring myself to face him—every ti I saw him, it felt hopeless. I even thought of running away every single day. So, I truly understand how you feel."
"No, you’re not like ." Mo Lan said faintly, "Mr. Ruan only made mistakes many n might make. Besides, he didn’t have feelings for you back then—it’s understandable that he didn’t like you. My situation is different. Qi Ruigang... he isn’t even human..."
When she ntioned Qi Ruigang, palpable hatred glimred in Mo Lan’s eyes.
Jian Yufei hurried to comfort her, "I know it’s different, but that feeling of despair—I’ve experienced it too. I know exactly how painful it is for you, Mo Lan. That’s why I’ll do everything I can to support you. You’re not alone anymore."
Mo Lan’s eyes trembled. Because of Jian Yufei’s final words, she almost broke down into tears.
All along, she had been strong—for no one but herself.
Was there finally soone willing to be her anchor, soone who cared for her at least a little?
Jian Yufei held her hand tightly, "Trust , I’ll do everything I can to help you."
Not just out of gratitude for saving her life, but also because she didn’t want Mo Lan to suffer anymore.
She understood her pain, and because she could empathize, she wanted to help her, to save her.
Mo Lan revealed a radiant smile, raising her arms to hug Jian Yufei’s body. She said gratefully, "Yufei, thank you. No matter how much you’re able to help , I’ll always be grateful."
"The one who should be saying thanks is . But from now on, let’s not be so formal. If we keep saying ’thank you’ all the ti, it just feels distant," Jian Yufei said with a smile.
Mo Lan nodded, "Alright, we won’t say thank you anymore."
Because gratitude alone couldn’t capture the full depth of their feelings for each other.
With Jian Yufei’s reassurance, Mo Lan’s mood lightened noticeably.
Jian Yufei said, "Tomorrow’s the Mid-Autumn Festival. There are no mooncakes for sale here, so I’m planning to make so myself. Will you help make them tomorrow?"
Mo Lan nodded enthusiastically, "Sure!"
Ruan Tianling’s subordinates were almost all of Chinese descent, and they celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival too.
This year, everyone was displaced and on the run. Jian Yufei planned to make the festival feel more aningful and bring out the holiday spirit a little more.
...
Ansel knew Jian Yufei was personally making mooncakes tomorrow, and he was delighted.
"Mommy, I used to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival before too."
"How did you celebrate it?" Jian Yufei asked, intrigued.
The little boy leaned snugly into her arms, wrapping his arms around her neck. "Grandma used to make mooncakes for every year. On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I had to eat the mooncakes she made. Mommy, tomorrow I won’t get to eat Grandma’s mooncakes, but I can eat the ones you make."
Jian Yufei also started to miss her own mother.
She couldn’t predict just how lonely tomorrow’s Mid-Autumn Festival might feel.
"In all the past years, it was just you and Grandma celebrating together?" Jian Yufei asked.
Ansel shook his head, his little legs swinging in the air, "Great-grandpa and Nangong Xu would join us too, but only for dinner. They wouldn’t eat mooncakes—only I would."
"Grandma didn’t eat them either?" Jian Yufei asked, sowhat puzzled.
"Grandma did eat so, but she mainly made them for . Grandma only ever made two mooncakes a year—one for her, and one for . I know she didn’t want to make them for Great-grandpa or Nangong Xu."
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