Was it you that night?
Chapter 121 - 119: No Time to Love You

Chapter 121: Chapter 119: No Time to Love You

Shen Qinghe knew Dongfang Wuya was often busy with official matters, but whenever he was at home, he personally took care of the child.

As a father, he was very competent, devoting all his paternal love to the child, and was the one to care for the baby during night-time cries.

Even though he had no feelings for her, whenever she was unwell, Dongfang Wuya frequently kept her company, and the medicinal soups were always prepared by his hands before being brought to her.

As a husband, he was very diligent; the backyard was kept clean and tidy. Even when she was ill and unable to fulfil marital duties, he never sought other women.

He seemed cold and distant on the surface, but beneath that façade, he was attentive and tender.

Such a man, of course, made her heart flutter.

The more time Dongfang Wuya spent with Shen Qinghe, the more he understood her temperament. Her illness was a consequence of childbirth, sometimes causing pain that kept her awake all night; yet she never complained or expressed suffering.

In Shen Qinghe, he saw many admirable traits: optimism, gentleness, courtesy, and tolerance towards the servants, along with pouring all her love into their child—all these qualities attracted him.

The two developed an imperceptible affection for each other amidst the tranquility of everyday life.

Regrettably, Shen Qinghe’s health continued to deteriorate. She knew her days were numbered and certainly couldn’t reveal her feelings to Dongfang Wuya at such a time.

Dongfang Wuya, on the other hand, was sincerely anxious, worried that one day he would lose his wife and his daughter, her mother. He spent each day seeking medical help.

He sought countless renowned physicians but could only watch helplessly as Shen Qinghe’s health faded away.

As Shen Qinghe lingered between life and death during the severe winter, a significant snowfall blanketed the ground.

Shen Qinghe too was aware her end was near. She kissed her child’s face reluctantly, feeling that her years married to Dongfang Wuya, though uneventful, had been filled with happiness.

It was only after giving birth that she began to develop indescribable feelings for Dongfang Wuya. Sadly, her time was running out and she couldn’t voice these sentiments.

She never revealed her true feelings to Dongfang Wuya nor left any last words; she simply passed away peacefully in his arms.

It was only after Shen Qinghe’s life had slipped away in his arms that Dongfang Wuya belatedly felt a sharp pain.

He hadn’t had feelings for her when they first married, and by the time he began to feel affection for her, her days were already numbered. He hadn’t had enough time to fully fall in love with her before she was gone.

Dongfang Wuya thought he’d get over his grief in half a month, but it was later that he realized he had unknowingly fallen in love with his wife without recognizing that what he experienced was love.

Love for a person might take just a moment, but letting go of someone could take a lifetime.

For the rest of his life, he remained alone, never remarrying.

By a strange coincidence, later his daughter married into the Yan Family and became the niece-in-law of Yan Changsheng.

The day after his daughter’s wedding, he went to the tavern to drown his sorrows and met Yan Changsheng and Xiao Chen there, who also happened to be drinking their cares away.

A decade earlier, Yan Changsheng had divorced Nan Sheng, and by that time, Shen Qinghe had been deceased for many years.

In the moment he saw Dongfang Wuya, Yan Changsheng was reminded of his niece-in-law from the day before, who bore a striking resemblance to Qinghe.

Qinghe had been gone so long, he had almost forgotten what she looked like. It wasn’t until he saw his niece-in-law that everything about Qinghe became vivid again.

Xiao Chen also attended the wedding feast the previous day and he, too, struggled to remember Shen Qinghe’s face, until he saw her daughter.

Xiao Chen had been married for many years and knew of Shen Qinghe’s passing. Secretly, he felt it served her right.

If Shen Qinghe had chosen to marry him back then, she might not have left the world so soon.

The three men found themselves suddenly face to face in the tavern, all experiencing a moment of bewilderment.

Just then, snow began to fall softly outside the tavern, growing heavier with time, as if it intended to engulf the world...

Shen Qinghe awoke on a morning filled with birdsong and blooming flowers.

It happened just as the morning sun burst over the mountaintops, illuminating the entire world and casting a warm yellow glow across the grass.

This was the first time she had formally watched a sunrise, and although she found it breathtaking, she also felt very insignificant.

She stared blankly at the sunrise in the east, and suddenly thought of Dongfang Wuya’s name.

She still remembered the things from her dream, but she didn’t understand why Qu Nian would send them such a dream. Apart from the plot where she married Dongfang Wuya, everything else had taken place in the Illusory Realm.

Of course, most of it was also from the story in the book.

She didn’t even understand why in the dream she married Dongfang Wuya and bore him a child, and even developed romantic feelings towards him.

In reality, she wouldn’t dare harbor any disrespectful thoughts toward Dongfang Wuya.

Fortunately, she did not confess her feelings to Dongfang Wuya before she died in the dream. Otherwise, once Dongfang Wuya awoke, he would definitely think she had improper thoughts about him.

She wondered what happened to the three male leads after her death in the dream and why they were taking so long to wake up.

Lost in the beauty of the sunrise, Shen Qinghe was bathed in the warm sunlight, her whole body gilded, a sight so warm it was heartbreaking.

The moment Dongfang Wuya awoke, he saw Shen Qinghe and her silhouette bathed in the morning sun, like something out of a dream, making it hard for him to tell whether he was still dreaming or back in reality.

Yan Changsheng and Xiao Chen also woke up and stared blankly at Shen Qinghe’s silhouette in the distance.

Perhaps there are no good dreams, for on seeing Shen Qinghe, they didn’t have the heart to disturb her.

As the sun grew hotter and more dazzling, Shen Qinghe finally noticed the anomaly behind her.

When she turned around and saw Dongfang Wuya, her eyes lit up, and she immediately approached and asked him, "Uncle Master, are you okay?"

She instinctively ignored the other two male leads.

Xiao Chen and Yan Changsheng saw that Shen Qinghe spoke only to Dongfang Wuya and remembered that in the dream, she married Dongfang Wuya and gave birth to his child.

Qu Nian said he gave them a dream, but what was the significance of that dream?

It was utterly absurd.

Who doesn’t know that Dongfang Wuya is devoted to his Taoist pursuits and disdains women? Why would Shen Qinghe marry no one but Dongfang Wuya?

Of course, Dongfang Wuya also remembered that in the dream, he married Shen Qinghe, even fell in love with her, and ultimately lived a lonely life for her sake.

He originally didn’t want to pay attention to Shen Qinghe, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Chen and Yan Changsheng staring in his direction, and he extended his hand toward Shen Qinghe.

Understanding the gesture, she stepped forward and helped Dongfang Wuya up, then asked with concern, "Uncle Master, is everything okay?"

In the dream, she died early and suddenly she wanted to ask about their daughter.

But as the words came to her lips, she felt it was inappropriate.

After all, that was just a dream, and everything in it should not be taken as real. That so-called daughter was also not real. If she mentioned her, Dongfang Wuya would probably get angry.

"I’m alright," Dongfang Wuya said looking at Shen Qinghe’s face.

He felt a tightness in his chest at the thought of how she had died before him in the dream.

Shen Qinghe didn’t understand the meaning behind Dongfang Wuya’s gaze, nor did she dare to ask.