After The System Punished Me to Give Birth

Chapter 32 | Part 2

Draft 
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"No! No!" Xu Mei suddenly got out of the quilt and sat up, glaring at Su Jingyang.

Su Jingyang asked puzzledly: "Why? If you're not with him, shouldn't you allow him to be with others? You'd be too selfish then. Besides, Mu Jin's so good, it won't just be me now; others too will go and try to take him away sooner or later. It'll be too late for you to regret it then."

Xu Mei's eyes suddenly turned red, his expression was full of self-doubt, "I- I've married, I don't deserve him.

"This again!" Su Jingyang asked him with a serious face: "Men that marry a wife and take concubines, haven't they also married multiple times? Why do you think it's right and righteous if they do it, aren't you just looking for someone to love you wholely? You have nothing to be guilty of, why should you feel unworthy? Where are you unworthy?"

Xu Mei's eyes widened, he stared at him for a long time without making a sound.

It took him a long time to change his position and inhale, his expression seemed puzzled and thoughtful. He murmured: "...why do I feel that you're actually reasonable?!"

"Because what I said is the truth." Su Jingyang breathed a sigh of relief. He was very thankful that although Xu Mei had low self-esteem, he could still be reasoned with. He said: "It's natural for people to look for partners. Marriage and divorce are natural cycles, why can't one marry again? What's more, you've already divorced, it's justified!"

Xu Mei slapped the bed fiercely as if he had just woken up from a dream and said angrily: "Yes, after I've left that man I've always been free to marry again. Why have I wronged myself all these years? W-Why did I? Mu Jin likes me and treats me well, why should I refuse, why?" After Xu Mei thought about it, his face turned even darker, looking at Su Jingyang and asking sadly: "The people in my family all thought that I was dismissed and corrupted my family style. It was terrible to scold me. It made me feel that I am not worthy of admiration. I like it today, why, no one tells me this like you?"

Su Jingyang couldn't answer after pondering about it, because this wasn't a problem purely unique to this era. Even in the civilized society where he lives, the Xu Mei who was divorced because of infertility, even if he was beautiful and virtuous, would have no shortage of people thinking he was an embarrassment unable to lift his head. Let alone that Xu Mei wanted to marry a single Young Master from good family background, it was certain he would be criticized.

But if the relationship was firm and worthwhile, these were all nothing. Su Jingyang felt that although Mu Jin was young, his temperament was very stable. He's practised hard for Xu Mei for many years, defeated others, and became the world's number one swordsman. It could be seen that this man really keeps his promises and was worth entrusting. 

What Su Jingyang said probably had some effect. The next day, Xu Mei was indeed a little different. He glanced at Mu Jin from time to time, but whenever Mu Jin looked at him, his eyes would become a little unnatural, subtly avoiding. Mu Jin begged for them to sit together for a meal, he didn't move or say anything, it was acquiescence. 

Su Jingyang could see that Xu Mei must still be distressed and entangled, after all, some thoughts couldn't be dismissed in just a while. But Su Jingyang affirmed that these two people would be able to make it in the end, it was only a matter of time.

Su Jingyang calculated in his heart. The progress bar was now 4.7%, if they really were the protagonists he would be able to get an additional 90%, which adds up to 94.7%. If he continues to help a few more people, going home would totally be possible! It's just that the separation from Ah-Li would inevitably be uncomfortable.

Just then a few acquaintances came, Su Jingyang, immersed in his thoughts and unable to extricate himself, hurriedly got up and went to the reception in person. After greeting them, he was about to go to the back kitchen. He glanced inadvertently but found that he knew the person opposite Lin Ji pavilion. The old beggar was talking to Rong Ci.

Su Jingyang couldn't help finding it unusual. He thought about it and went towards them, wanting to know what Rong Ci was doing.

"I can't find out the truth of this dream, so I want this dream to disappear completely. What on earth do I need to do?" Rong Ci asked with a frown.

The patriarch of the Rong clan was undoubtedly the strongest, but some of his perception abilities wouldn't be awakened until several years later, maybe even till more than ten years. Now he could only ask the Dream Master, but the Dream Master was also helpless in front of his inquiries.

"Patriarch, I've said it before, you just treat it as a simple dream, you don't really need to care too much."

Rong Ci sighed, "Once in every five days, it has never changed. I don't think this can be called simple any longer."

"When the time comes, this dream will naturally disappear."

"How long is that time?"

"The time... it will find you sooner or later, it'll always arrive. I can't tell you much more, I'm not good at talking."

Rong Ci's face turned sullen. Suppressing the faint irritation in his heart, he stood up and saw Su Jingyang walking towards them when he turned his head. Rong Ci turned around and gave the Dream Master a silver coin to thank him. Su Jingyang said in astonishment: "You're too rich, a few pennies at most is enough!"

"I said I'm rich, don't you believe it?"

"Trust and believe, you're a local tyrant." Su Jingyang just followed his rhetoric. After returning to Lin Ji pavilion together, Xu Mei called him over. Su Jingyang left Rong Ci in a hurry and ran over, and the two huddled together and whispered.

Rong Ci was speechless. He knew that Su Jingyang has been making acquaintances with two of the customers in the store recently, and he also knew that he was planning on matching up other people again. Every time he came, he would only say a few words to him.

Rong Ci felt that he was really worried too much.

That day Xu Mei said that he, such a big person, was afraid of the dark, and forced Su Jingyang to stay with him at night. Su Jingyang simply let Ling Li and Ah-Xuan stay as well, anyway, he bought a lot of quilts. Su Jingyang laid on the thick floor, letting Ling Li, Xu Mei and the child sleep on the bed.

Ling Li never talked much in front of outsiders, but when Xu Mei and Su Jingyang chatted before going to bed, he softly interjected, "Actually, you and Master Mu are a good match."

Ah-Xuan, who haven't yet been coaxed to sleep, also followed up with: "It's a good match!"

Xu Mei couldn't help but smile, "You're gonna trick me if you keep on saying that¹."

Xu Mei was upset that night and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't fall asleep anyhow. When a change occurred in the building, Xu Mei was the one to discover it.

He hurriedly got up and pushed Ling Li, Ah-Xuan, and Su Jingyang awake. They all hurriedly put on their clothes and pushed open the box door, only then finding out that thick smoke had already filled the second floor.

Lin Ji pavilion caught fire.

Su Jingyang became sober in an instant. He took Ah-Xuan in his arms. The wet towels they used to scrub the night before were all still there, each of them took a piece and covered their mouths and noses. Ah-Xuan obediently took a towel and covered himself in Su Jingyang's arms, not crying or making trouble. They ran downstairs quickly.

Fortunately, they found out in time. Although the fire had spread on the first floor, there was still room for escape. However, there was fire by the entrance, they could only run to the back entrance— only to find that the back door was also burning red. The flame ran high and they couldn't escape at all.

There was no need to guess on Su Jingyang's situation now, someone deliberately did this and wanted them to die! Before he had time to get shocked and angry, several people coughed hard from the smoke and took a step back. Su Jingyang's mind suddenly scrambled in desperation, and he suddenly remembered something! Ling Li seemed to have thought about it too, his eyes met his.

When Lin Ji pavilion was being set up, Su Jingyang asked someone to chisel a hidden door behind the kitchen. He said that a kitchen was a place where open flames were common, a fire exit should be made just in case. Liang Lu also praised him for his strong sense of meticulousness at the time.

Su Jingyang actually did it on a whim at that time. The hidden door was bolted on normal days. If they hadn't caught fire today, he would've almost forgotten about it.

He hurriedly explained to the other people and ran into the kitchen. Fortunately, the kitchen was at the rear and the fire hadn't yet reached there. They ran in, opened the latch of the hidden door, and squeezed into the laneway behind the hidden door, finally managing to escape the fire albeit in a sorry state!

There was soot on their faces, and they looked at each other solemnly. Finally, they all breathed a long sigh of relief. Fortunately, everyone was fine, the child was a little frightened but there were no big issues.

The laneway was extremely narrow, a person needed to walk sideways to pass. It took a while to turn around to get to the other street. It took almost half an hour to go from that street to Lin Ji pavilion's entrance.

They walked in silence and speeded up their pace as they got closer. Before they even got there, they saw the two-story building become swallowed by fire, blazing high into the sky. The surrounding voices were too noisy and many people were going back and forth, it was the officials who were organizing the masses to carry water to fight the fire.

Su Jingyang felt a chill in his heart. If they hadn't escaped in time, they might have been killed in the flames now. What kind of deep hatred was there to be so cruel! Su Jingyang looked around and searched, trying to see if there were any suspicious people nearby, but suddenly heard a few onlookers shoving around and saying: "They've been inside for a while. Look at this fire, they must be unable to get out. They already said that the people inside couldn't be saved, but they still wanted to rush in and couldn't be stopped! Alas, it's a pity."

Xu Mei's face changed drastically and he hurried over to ask, "Who is it that rushed in?!" 

The onlookers answered: "Man, he's young and looks pretty handsome, it seems that someone he knew was here..." Xu Mei turned around and rushed into the fire, Su Jingyang hurriedly stopped him from running to his death, Xu Mei thrashed around and almost broke free. Su Jingyang became anxious and shouted: "Calm down! ! ! "

Xu Mei burst into tears and cried out, "Mu Jin! Mu Jin!!! You come out, come out!!!"

Xu Mei's eyes reflected the sky full of fire, crying hoarsely, his body was shaking badly. Su Jingyang felt terrible. He never thought he'd be in this situation.

At that moment, Ling Li next to him exclaimed: "Look! Someone came out!" 

To be precise, there were two people. They supported each other, covering their noses with cloth towels, staggering out weakly. Their escape from the fire seemed to be as thrilling as jumping out of the gates of hell! As soon as they came out the beams behind them collapsed immediately, causing the crowd to cry out.

Mu Jin's condition wasn't very good. He fell to the ground without support as soon as he was safe, his eyes tightly closed. Xu Mei froze for a moment with tears on his tears. He broke free of Su Jingyang's slightly loosened grip and ran over to hug him, crying loudly, saying that he should wake up soon, and promised to marry him when he wakes up to fulfil the promise of that year.

Su Jingyang couldn't take care of the situation there anymore. He stared in shock and looked at the person who had just been supporting Mu Jin, hair all burned and curled. He took off the cloth towel and was looking at him like he wanted to flay him alive²! ! !

Su Jingyang just heard them say that someone ran in, he didn't expect this guy to be there!

When Rong Ci saw Su Jingyang standing there intact, as if in a trance, lifted his face slightly and closed his eyes hard. After composing himself, he eagerly strode towards him with an unpredictable expression.

When Su Jingyang saw the man stand in front of him and raise his hand high, he calculated his chances of winning in a fight. Su Jingyang subconsciously thought that Rong Ci was going to hit him and was about to turn tail and run. But he didn't expect the raised hand to finally land on the back of his head and pressed himself into his arms forcefully. Only then did Su Jingyang felt the strength that was being used to hold him.

"It's fine, you're fine..."

Su Jingyang felt the shaky breath on the top of his head. His whole person was shocked and he was so stiff he forgot to struggle.

Ling Li took Ah-Xuan and looked around in a daze. His eyes dodged both of them and picked up the child to go look at Mu Jin's situation.

Rong Ci's voice was a little muffled, he asked Su Jingyang, "You, how did you escape?"

Su Jingyang stammered and reported truthfully. Rong Ci hugged him even tighter, "Stupid thing, you finally became clever."

Su Jingyang felt a little subtle, what was going on with this guy? Even if it was because of worry, he shouldn't have only held him but Ah-Li and Ah-Xuan too!

Su Jingyang was strangled by him bit by bit and wanted to break away, but he couldn't break away at all. He felt like he was about to be embedded into Rong Ci's body.

Su Jingyang said: "Ah-Yi, you let me go first!"

Rong Ci hugged him. He lowered his head slightly, breathing in his ears, and muttered: "I won't let go, I don't want to let go, I can't let you go. "

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Notes:

1- Not sure
2- Not sure either, ten thousand something ehm

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PastTimer: I translated this in a bad headspace, please don't mind the mistakes too much I'll edit them later