Lin Qingmeng didn’t dare delay either, and hurriedly drove to Xianwu Mountain Villa.

Because Lin Qingmeng often came to the villa, the people guarding outside all recognized her car, so they didn’t stop it, and the three of them passed through smoothly.

Seeing the lineup outside, Su Changfeng found it a bit strange and asked, "What’s going on out there? Everything was fine before, why are there so many people guarding the place?"

"It was Zhu Lie’s order. Right now no outsiders are allowed to enter or leave Xianwu Mountain. Everyone unrelated has been moved out. He’s just worried someone in Jiang City will spread news of Han Xue’s condition," Lin Qingmeng explained.

Hearing this, Su Changfeng felt his heart leap into his throat. So that meant Shen Hanxue’s situation was indeed serious; otherwise, Zhu Lie wouldn’t have gone this far.

You had to know, the people living at Xianwu Mountain were all figures with status and faces; making them move out temporarily was bound to offend some of them, yet Zhu Lie still did it. He didn’t dare imagine what state Shen Hanxue was in now.

"What exactly is Han Xue sick with?" Su Changfeng asked anxiously.

"Progeria," Lin Qingmeng said.

Progeria?

Instinctively, Su Changfeng thought of everything that had happened back in Tuo Shi’s House. After he saw Yang Ling, Yang Ling’s body had withered at a speed visible to the naked eye until he turned into a skeleton, and in the end even became a bead. Could there be some connection between the two?

If there really was a connection, then the talk of past and present lives might make sense.

In the end, the three of them arrived at the villa. Su Changfeng pushed the door open and got out of the car. In the front yard, Zhu Lie and Shangguan Sichen were both there.

When they saw Su Changfeng, they both froze for a moment, because Yang Junming had just said that Su Changfeng had a mission to do and his whereabouts were uncertain. So how had he suddenly come back?

"Chang Feng, y‑you’re back? Didn’t Yang Junming say you had an important mission and he didn’t know where you were?" Zhu Lie looked at Su Changfeng with a strange expression.

Mission?

The main reason Yang Junming had gone back to Jiang City was to tell them the news of his "death," right? So why had he claimed he couldn’t reach him?

Glancing at Shangguan Sichen, Su Changfeng understood. Yang Junming was probably afraid that once news of his death got out, Shangguan Sichen would stop helping him look for his daughter. He was just being selfish and had made that choice.

But this was fine too; he would be spared from having to explain it over and over again.

"I’m going to see Han Xue," Su Changfeng said.

Zhu Lie nodded and stepped aside.

Back in the house, Ji Hong, Ye Qingtian, Huo Tian and the others immediately crowded around.

"Chang Feng, you’re finally back. Han Xue’s been shutting herself in, she won’t even see the doctor."

"Yeah, Chang Feng, hurry and think of something. If anything happens to Han Xue, what am I supposed to do?"

"Alright, alright, don’t panic. I’ll go take a look first." After offering a few simple words of comfort, Su Changfeng went to the room.

He stood outside and knocked on the door.

Very quickly, Shen Hanxue’s voice came from inside. "I’m going to sleep. If it’s something, talk about it later."

"Han Xue, it’s me. I’m back," Su Changfeng said.

Inside the room, Shen Hanxue’s tears fell at once. Ever since she got sick, the defenses in her heart had become extremely fragile. She could just barely hold herself together and not show it in front of others, but Su Changfeng was different—he was the person Shen Hanxue cared about most.

Yet right now, he was also the one she least wanted to face. She couldn’t bear to show up in front of him like this.

After a long silence, Shen Hanxue spoke in a low voice, "Chang Feng, I...I don’t want you to see what I look like. You...you’ll be scared."

"Silly, don’t talk nonsense. Everyone gets old, no one can stay young forever. No matter what you look like, the one I love most is you," Su Changfeng coaxed her gently.

Upon hearing this, Shen Hanxue’s tears flowed even harder. She was clearly at the best age for a woman, yet she had grown old ahead of time. She didn’t have the courage to face Su Changfeng, and she didn’t want to show this side of herself to him.

"You...you’ll be scared. I...I look awful now," Shen Hanxue said.

"Han Xue, trust me. I have a way. Believe in me, alright?" Su Changfeng said.

When he first got that bead, Su Changfeng had already suspected there might be some sort of connection between it and Shen Hanxue. He’d only been worried that Yang Ling’s memories would affect her in some way. But now, he had no other choice.

Footsteps sounded inside the room, and he heard the lock being turned, but the door in front of him still didn’t open.

Su Changfeng didn’t rush her. He could understand how Shen Hanxue felt. Sick and fragile as she was, she was still his wife—the wife he had to treat with patience and gentleness.

"Han Xue, believe me. I have a way," Su Changfeng said softly.

The door in front of him slowly opened. What first entered his line of sight was a head of silver hair. Shen Hanxue kept her head lowered, nervous and humble, and Su Changfeng felt a sharp ache in his chest.

He didn’t say anything extra, and simply pulled Shen Hanxue into a tight embrace. This was the person he loved most, and would always love. No matter what Shen Hanxue became, he would never be afraid; he would always protect her.

Wrapped in his familiar scent, Shen Hanxue couldn’t help but hug Su Changfeng back.

"Chang Feng, you don’t know how scared I was...scared I’d never see you again, scared Niannian would have no mom." Shen Hanxue couldn’t help but start sobbing. Now that Su Changfeng was back, she no longer had any reason to keep forcing herself to be strong.

After closing the door again, Su Changfeng and Shen Hanxue sat down.

From beginning to end, Shen Hanxue never once lifted her head. She didn’t have the courage to face Su Changfeng with this face.

Su Changfeng reached out and gently lifted Shen Hanxue’s chin, insistent but gentle.

Shen Hanxue froze for a moment, but soon gave up resisting and, following his movement, raised her head.

"Han Xue, I feel very happy," Su Changfeng said, his brows and eyes full of a smile.

Shen Hanxue looked at Su Changfeng with confusion all over her face and asked, "Happy? Why?"

"I didn’t expect my wife’s future look to be this pretty too. My taste is really something, huh," Su Changfeng said as if it were only natural.

Shen Hanxue couldn’t help but laugh. Even though she knew full well that Su Changfeng was deliberately coaxing her, her heart still felt sweet.

"What have you been up to lately? You actually picked up such a slick tongue," Shen Hanxue said, pretending to glare at him in anger.

"You wrong me. I’m telling the truth," Su Changfeng said with a face full of grievance.

"Really? Even if I’ve become like this, your love for me won’t change?" Shen Hanxue looked at him skeptically.

Su Changfeng gazed earnestly into her eyes, pressed a gentle kiss on her red lips, and said with a smile, "Of course. In this lifetime, I, Su Changfeng, have only one wife—Shen Hanxue. If I don’t love you, who else would I love?"

Shen Hanxue gave a soft snort. Since she’d fallen ill, today was the day she’d felt the most at ease, and the happiest.

...