Chapter 444: 444. You cannot be irresponsible to me

Translator: 549690339

Qiao Jing arrived at the door and heard Old Mu coaxing Old Bai again.

“Look, the weather outside is so nice, why don’t you go for a walk?”

“My head hurts, I don’t want to.”

“What do you want to do then?”

“I want to smash my head against a wall, maybe that’ll help me regain my memories? Otherwise, what’s the point of living… I don’t know anything, it’s like I’m an idiot, I’ve wasted so many years of my life!”

“Ah, you, why can’t you learn from Xiao Yuan and think more positively? You’re at this age now, just live your life well, what’s the use in thinking about the past?”

“You haven’t lost your memory, so it’s easy for you to say.”

“Enough of that! I think you should just go back to the capital city! It’s pointless for you to stay here, you’re nothing but a downer!” That’s Qiao Cong.

Old Mu quickly said, “Old Bai, it’s not that we’re annoyed with you. If you go back to the capital city, you’ll have your apprentice and your child there, it’s definitely better than here. If it weren’t for the fact that I still have things to do and need to stay here and help, I’d have gone back already!”

“I’m just a useless person… I want to drink alcohol…” Old Bai’s voice sounded utterly disheartened.

“What alcohol? You almost drank yourself to death once before, if you drink again I won’t consider myself part of the Mu family!” Old Mu was also angry.

Listening to the three old men arguing until they almost came to blows, Qiao Jing knocked on the door heavily twice.

Qiao Cong opened the door, snorted softly, “I’m here to take care of business, not to coax him! He’s worse than Zhengzheng and Xiaoshu, even Nuannuan is more sensible than him!” He was about to leave with a flick of his sleeve.

Qiao Jing stopped Qiao Cong, “Grandfather, don’t leave yet, Cheng Yun is here.”

Qiao Cong’s eyes lit up, “Is it a message for me to go home?”

Qiao Jing: …Her grandfather was the one who volunteered to help since he didn’t trust him. But like when he had been in Xuanbei City, he came, but every day he kept complaining about wanting to go home and how he was looked down upon.

“Not that,” Qiao Jing said, “She came to deliver medicine. Su Liang has made an antidote that can help restore memories.”

Old Bai raised his head, instantly reinvigorated, “Really? Where is it? Give it to me quickly!”

Old Mu also breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s great! I knew it, Xiaoliang never disappoints anyone! Hurry up and give Old Bai the antidote, or I won’t be able to hold back from wanting to throw him into the sea to feed the fish!”

Qiao Cong glanced at Old Bai displeased, “Once you regain your memory, we will properly settle the accounts of this period!”

Old Bai, having lived this long, was still a very emotional person. His state during his memory loss was similar to when he used to drink heavily in the past – sometimes lifeless, sometimes overly emotional. If it weren’t for the outwardly irritable but in reality gentle and tolerant old friend Old Mu accompanying and comforting him, Old Bai would have broken down a long time ago.

Qiao Jing cleared his throat, “Grandfather, there’s a small issue with the medicine.”

Qiao Cong frowned, “What’s the problem? Will it cause paralysis after consumption? Or could it even be fatal?”

Old Mu stopped Qiao Cong’s negative talk, “If there were such big risks, Xiaoliang wouldn’t have sent it over at all! You better stop talking nonsense! Let Xiaoqiu speak the truth!”

“It’s not that serious, and there’s no risk. It’s just that after taking the antidote, one can only regain memories from before the memory loss; they will forget what happened during the period of memory loss,” Qiao Jing said, “So when Grandfather wants to talk to Mo Senior about the events during his memory loss, he won’t remember.”

Qiao Cong shook his head, “What Mo Senior? Sounds like calling Mo Yan. I’ve told you, just call him Old Bai.” Old Bai’s real name was Mo Fei, and Old Bai was his alias.

Old Mu urged Qiao Jing to give the antidote to him, “Nothing good happened during this period anyway, so it’s better if it’s forgotten!”

Soon after, Old Bai took the antidote, and his gaze gradually became clear. Then, he passed out.

Old Mu furrowed his brows, but Qiao Jing told him it was a normal reaction. The impact of the returning memories was too much for the brain, so he should let him rest for a while to recover.

“I’ll stay and watch him, you all go and get on with your work,” Old Mu waved his hand.

Qiao Cong and Qiao Jing, the grandfather and grandson, walked out. Qiao Cong asked about Ying Ying, “Has Xiaoying taken the antidote?”

“Not yet.” Qiao Jing shook his head, “Lian Shun insisted on going to watch the sunset with her and said they would wait until they came back.”

“Look at Xiaolian, he knows how to please girls so well! You two are so close, why don’t you learn from him?” Qiao Cong nagged at Qiao Jing again.

Qiao Jing: …Become thick-skinned like Lian Shun? He couldn’t and didn’t want to learn that.

“Hurry and get these trivial matters done, and go back to the capital city to marry Min Rou!” Qiao Cong declared.

Qiao Jing coughed lightly, “Grandfather, the horoscope is still not even a little bit complete…”

Qiao Cong kicked Qiao Jing, “Then hurry up and complete it! Have you written that letter I told you to write to Rou girl? Let me see it!”

Qiao Jing’s face turned awkward. As soon as Qiao Cong arrived, he insisted that he write a letter to Min Rou to get acquainted before meeting. Qiao Jing felt it was inappropriate and had been avoiding it with excuses.

“You’re so stubborn! What’s wrong with it? If you like her, tell her, if she doesn’t want it, it’s over, nothing more! She’s not a stranger!” Qiao Cong was extremely disappointed.

“No one is going to the capital city for now, I’ll wait until someone…” Qiao Jing still wanted to procrastinate.

Qiao Cong interrupted him, “When Elder Bai and Xiaoyuan remember something important, they’ll definitely go back to the capital city to inform Xiaoliang and Xiaogu! Even if there’s nothing, they have to tell them! Then they can bring your letter back! Hurry up and write it, go write it now! Also think carefully about what things are available here but not in the capital city, and send Rou a gift!”

“Tangerines, but it’s off-season.” Qiao Jing blurted out and got kicked by Qiao Cong again.

The sun set in the west, Lian Shun and Ying Ying sat on a large rock on the mountain top, enjoying the magnificent sunset and the peaceful Jiaye City below. This was a place Su Liang and Gu Ling had visited before.

“Are you worried that I won’t agree to be with you after I regain my memory, so you insist on coming here now?” Ying Ying asked.

Lian Shun shook his head, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle, “I’m not worried, I just don’T want to miss today’s sunset. The mood, the view…”

Ying Ying raised her hand and knocked Lian Shun’s forehead, a gesture she particularly enjoyed, “Speak properly, don’t be so pedantic.”

Lian Shun’s lip corners raised, regaining his cynical look, “Ying Xiaoying, let’s leave a memento on this rock for such a beautiful sunset! Let’s carve our names on it!”

Ying Ying shook her head in refusal, “You still lack confidence in yourself.”

Lian Shun sighed, leaned his head on Ying Ying’s shoulder, “To be honest, there is a little bit. The moment you take the antidote, only I will remember our past time together, and I want to cherish it a little longer.”

Ying Ying pinched Lian Shun’s face, frowned in thought for a while, and then made a proposal, “How about we get married today, spend our wedding night, and when I retrieve my memory tomorrow, I’ll already be your wife and can’t run away, how about it?”

Lian Shun was shocked and almost fell off the big rock. He straightened his body and looked squarely at Ying Ying, “Are you serious? You’re not joking with me, are you?”

Ying Ying nodded, “If you don’t make up your mind within three breaths, then forget it. Three, two, …”

Lian Shun’s heart raced, and when Ying Ying counted to the last number, he exclaimed loudly, “I accept your proposal!” Then he grinned cheekily, “It’s a deal, no backing out, or you’ll be a little dog!”

Ying Ying nodded, “It’s settled then.”

“Let’s hurry down the mountain and bow to heaven and earth!” Lian Shun pulled Ying Ying up.

“Shall we do it here?” Ying Ying asked.

Lian Shun’s face instantly turned red, “Ah? Ying Xiaoying, you…you want to do it here, with the sky as our blanket and the earth as our bed… Although there’s nobody else around, but… if you really want to…”

Ying Ying stood up and kicked Lian Shun, “I was talking about bowing to heaven and earth! What were you thinking?”

Lian Shun: …He couldn’t help it; his wife was too domineering, and it was hard not to overthink it.

However, when they went down the mountain, Lian Shun calmed down after a cool breeze and discussed with Ying Ying, “My parents are in the capital city as well as most of your friends. I really want to marry you, but it’s too hasty and unfair to you like this.”

Ying Ying furrowed her brow, “I didn’t think about your family being in the capital city at the time.” After all, she had lost her memory, and they were now in Lian Mansion.

“So, forget it?” Lian Shun said, still feeling a little regretful.

Ying Ying thought for a moment, “If your parents know, will they be unhappy?”

Lian Shun immediately shook his head, “That’s impossible! My parents want me to get married as soon as possible, they’ve been nagging me for years! And they know you and like you very much. Before, they were just worried that you wouldn’t want to be with me! If you were to marry me today, my parents would be overjoyed! As for those rituals and whatnot, I don’t care, I just feel that it’s not solemn enough and unfair to you.”

Ying Ying shook her head, “It’s not unfair, I don’t like those either. I won’t change what I’ve promised.”

Lian Shun’s eyes lit up, “Then let’s just do it today…” As he said, he grabbed Ying Ying’s hand and shouted to the sky, “I’m getting a wife!”

Elder Bai hadn’t woken up yet, and the other antidote was still in Qiao Jing’s hands. He, Qiao Cong, Cheng Yun, and Ying Ye were having dinner together, hearing footsteps coming from the entrance, they knew it was Lian Shun returning.

Then, Lian Shun and Ying Ying walked in hand in hand, with Lian Shun smiling like a flower.

Qiao Jing thought to himself, “He’s going to show off again,” and took out the medicine bottle from his pocket and placed it on the table, “Since you two are back and have already seen the sunset, Ying Ying, you should hurry up and take the medicine.”

Ying Ye looked up at Lian Shun and Ying Ying’s intertwined hands, then lowered his head to continue eating. He liked Lian Shun very much and was no longer afraid of being separated from Ying Ying.

Lian Shun cleared his throat, “I have a big announcement.”

Cheng Yun put down her chopsticks and listened carefully.

“Ying Ying and I have decided to get married today,” Lian Shun grinned.

Qiao Jing stared for a moment, “Aren’t you two being too hasty?”

Qiao Cong tapped Qiao Jing’s head with his chopsticks, “What’s hasty? It’s perfect like this! What do you know? I approve!”

Cheng Yun was surprised, “It’s almost dark.”

Qiao Cong chuckled, “It’s perfect for entering the bridal chamber when it’s dark.”

Cheng Yun silently lowered her head and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating.

Qiao Jing frowned and got up, saying that he wanted to talk to Lian Shun alone.

When they went outside, Qiao Jing sighed, “No one objects to you two being together, but do you really have to get married today? Your parents and sister don’t even know, it seems too hurried and not quite right.”

“I know. But this is Ying Ying’s idea, and she, a girl, took the initiative to say she wants to marry me, not caring about anything. If I don’t agree, am I still a man? Besides, I also want to get married sooner rather than later,” Lian Shun said seriously.

Qiao Jing was stunned, “It was Ying Ying who brought it up? Are you bragging?”

Lian Shun gave Qiao Jing a big eye roll, “You’re incapable, don’t assume everyone else is like you. It’s absolutely true.”

“You’re the one who’s incapable,” Qiao Jing muttered.

Lian Shun chuckled, looking at the rising moon in the sky, “This is like a dream come true for me! In those years when I was always running around outside, I once told my parents that maybe one day I’d meet a girl and get married on the spot. How carefree and unrestrained! When it comes to matters of the heart, when the time is right, you just want to be willful, not caring about anything, and be together today! Ying Xiaoying fulfills all my fantasies, I won’t waste time talking to you, I have to go prepare for the ceremony!”

Qiao Jing watched Lian Shun’s retreating figure, and didn’t go back in immediately. He looked up at the moon, reflecting on whether he had been too bound and rule-oriented from childhood. Qiao Cong said he didn’t understand romance, and indeed, compared with Lian Shun and Ying Ying, he was a rigid person.

Of course, Qiao Jing thought Lian Shun’s approach to relationships didn’t suit him, and it only worked for a bold and independent girl like Ying Ying. But he did learn a few things from it, like expressing himself openly, even if it means failure, at least there are no regrets.

In the presence of everyone, Lian Shun and Ying Ying paid their respects in the simplest way. They agreed to go to the capital city later and pay their respects to their parents properly.

Qiao Jing was happy for them, but still reminded Lian Shun that Ying Ying must take the antidote tomorrow, otherwise it might delay important matters. Lian Shun assured him that there wouldn’t be a problem and that he was mentally prepared.

“Qiao Xiaojing, I’m going to enter the bridal chamber! Haha!” Lian Shun happily rushed into the bedroom.

Qiao Jing smiled and turned around, deciding to go back and think carefully about how to write a letter to Min Rou.

The next day, when Qiao Jing saw Lian Shun again, he was beaming with joy, obviously having had a great time last night.

Old Bai had woken up once yesterday, complaining of a headache. After taking some Calming Medicine, he went back to sleep and hadn’t woken up since.

After breakfast, Qiao Jing took out the antidote again and handed it to Ying Ying.

Ying Ying took it, and Lian Shun sighed. Even though he was mentally prepared and knew it was the right thing to do, he still felt a bit regretful that Ying Ying would forget everything that had happened between them during this time.

Lian Shun handed a warm cup of water to Ying Ying, “Just eat it. I’ll let you know what you’ve forgotten.”

Ying Ying leaned over and whispered in Lian Shun’s ear, “After I regain my memory, I probably won’t let you get into my bed easily again. You’ll have to work hard and impress me, so you can conquer me sooner.”

Lian Shun’s face stiffened, and he saw the teasing in Ying Ying’s eyes. Suddenly, it dawned on him that the reason why they got married and consummated their marriage yesterday was to torture him? His life was going to be so hard if he was just deflowered and then had to abstain from sex. How could he live like this?

“I think our life will be very interesting from now on, my husband.” Ying Ying winked at Lian Shun and swallowed the antidote.

Lian Shun covered his face and lay down on the table: This wife was sent by heaven to torment him… it was too stimulating…

Perhaps it was because Ying Ying was young and had a strong body, her recovery was quite fast. After being unconscious for half an hour due to the medicine, she woke up. Her face didn’t change much, she just had a slight headache.

“Ying Xiaoying, how are you feeling?” Lian Shun nervously held Ying Ying’s hand.

Ying Ying frowned and shook him off, “What are you doing? Who said you could touch me?”

Lian Shun: …Although he had anticipated it, he still felt like he had been stabbed in the heart…

Old Mu quickly pulled Lian Shun away and began telling Ying Ying about what happened after she was rescued.

“Xiaoliang made the antidote? I knew it, she’s so amazing, she can do anything.” Ying Ying’s eyes softened a bit when she mentioned Su Liang, “Xiaoliang and Gu Ling had a daughter? That’s great! Where are they?”

“In the capital city. Can you first think about your experience on Xingluo Island after you arrived? And do you know anything about the forbidden area on the island?” Old Mu asked.

Ying Ying’s eyes narrowed, “I need to see Xiaoliang and Gu Ling as soon as possible and tell them some things!”

“Then let’s go to the capital city!” Lian Shun hurriedly said, “We got married yesterday, and you haven’t met my parents yet.”

Ying Ying looked incredulous, “Got married yesterday? With you? How is that possible?”

“Really, I swear.” Lian Shun raised his hand.

Old Mu laughed, “It’s true, and it was you who proposed that we should get married yesterday.”

“We consummated our marriage.” Lian Shun said weakly.

Ying Ying frowned, “I’m not counting what I can’t remember for now. I need to see Xiaoliang immediately.”

Lian Shun wanted to cry but had no tears, “Ying Xiaoying, you can’t be irresponsible to me like this!”

Ying Ying stared at Lian Shun, “I know who you are and we used to have a good relationship, but now I really want to hit you for some reason.”

Qiao Jing: …Why did he suddenly feel like laughing?

Lian Shun coughed lightly, “In that case, let’s go to the capital city together. We can talk more on the way.” He had already foreseen how fascinating the upcoming days would be, but somehow, he was also looking forward to them…