Look Forward, Don't Look Back

At that moment, Wang Jingjuan's heart was a tangled mix of emotions. Joy and sorrow blended together. Lao Zhao's death had made her clearly realize that from now on, she too had joined the ranks of single widows. How she chose to live the rest of her life was entirely in her own hands.

Wang Jingjuan could now be considered a modestly wealthy woman.

There was the solid 1.5 million yuan in compensation, plus the one million yuan from the old man's inheritance that Lao Zhao's eldest brother had cashed out for their family a few years back.

The reason was that Lao Zhao's eldest brother had no sons to inherit the estate either, only two daughters. There was no need for him to keep too much property and sour relations with his younger brother's family. After all, he had inherited the family business, and money would keep flowing into his own pocket. That was why he had made such a generous choice.

Wang Jingjuan's salary, Lao Zhao's salary, and the rent from their properties added up to at least ten thousand yuan a month.

So whether Wang Jingjuan chose to remarry or stay home and spend the rest of her life with her two daughters, she would never have to worry about making a living again.

Halfway there, Wang Jingjuan turned the car onto a country lane. Tall sycamore trees lined both sides, and the scorching afternoon sun beat down on the empty, silent road.

The engine was still running, and so was the air conditioning.

"If you want to cry, then cry." Li Yang still held Wang Jingjuan's hand without letting go. He was not yet skilled at reading a woman's mind. He simply thought that she was suppressing her grief over Lao Zhao's passing.

Wang Jingjuan took off her sunglasses, moved over barefoot across the seat, and leaned into Li Yang's arms to enjoy his comfort.

"I don't want to cry. I spent half my life with him. I gave him two daughters and ran the household. Everyone said I was a flower planted in cow dung, but my family circumstances were truly poor. Marrying Lao Zhao was a blessing for me. Back then, Lao Zhao's father was still a village official. There were plenty of girls who wanted to marry up into their family!"

Wang Jingjuan gently told Li Yang about the past. As she poured out what was in her heart, the burden and pressure within her grew incomparably lighter, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Li Yang did not say much. Breathing in the fragrance of the beauty in his arms, he quietly let Wang Jingjuan pour out every tangled feeling in her heart.

When everything finally fell silent, Li Yang's kiss gently landed on Wang Jingjuan's cherry-red lips.

After resting for a while, Wang Jingjuan slowly opened her eyes.

"Alright. Starting tomorrow, I'll belong only to you. For this lifetime too. No matter what happens in the future, I won't give up on this decision."

Wang Jingjuan touched Li Yang, who was truly there before her, as though she were making a major decision in her heart.

"Then I'll marry you."

Li Yang responded bravely. At that moment, his eyes held no one but her.

"Silly. I don't want you to watch me grow old every day. Don't worry, I've thought it through too. I won't marry a second man in this life. I just want to stay in Luoyang and quietly live out the rest of my days."

"I still have to see my two daughters married off." Then she looked at Li Yang with a charming smile, her gaze affectionate and focused.

"You should have your own life too. If you miss me, you can come keep me company anytime. I'll be very happy too."

Li Yang knew Wang Jingjuan was trying to comfort him. If they truly wanted to defy convention and be together without caring what others thought, probably no one could stop them.

But as one of the countless ordinary people in the world, they had to consider many things. The reason people had worries was because too many invisible rules and restraints bound everyone, making them unable to have the people and things they loved.

If Li Yang wanted to marry Wang Jingjuan, the first major hurdle would be both families. Wang Jingjuan's two daughters were already grown and sensible. How could they be persuaded to accept Li Yang as their stepfather?

Li Yang's parents held traditional views. For their son to marry an older widow with two daughters would be nothing short of a fantasy to them.

Compared to that, the strange looks and gossip from those around them were the easiest concerns to resolve.

The two did not dwell on the subject. Their eyes met, and everything was understood without words. Their current relationship was, in fact, the most perfect arrangement.

With all her troubles resolved, Wang Jingjuan regained the vibrant spirit of a beautiful young widow.

Lao Zhao had become part of the past, buried forever in the depths of her heart. A person could not live forever in memories. Look forward, and do not look back...

That was what Wang Jingjuan most wanted to tell herself.

Her two daughters had finished handling the funeral arrangements early and been sent back to school by Wang Jingjuan. After all, the living still had to continue living.

"Come on, take a bath with me." After closing the living room door, Wang Jingjuan gently wrapped her arms around Li Yang and invited him.

"At your command, my precious treasure."

Li Yang also wanted Wang Jingjuan to forget the past and properly welcome a beautiful new life. So whenever they were together, he tried his best to make her happier.

"Rest for a while. When it's not so hot, let's go shopping," Wang Jingjuan said. Li Yang carried her out of the bathroom, and the two went to her bedroom together. Everything related to Lao Zhao had been buried with him that day, except for a black-and-white memorial portrait left in the room where Lao Zhao had lived. Wang Jingjuan had sealed that room away forever.

"Tell me, what are your plans for the future?"

Wang Jingjuan was in high spirits, tracing circles over Li Yang's firm chest with her hand as she asked expectantly.

"Find a beautiful woman like you, with every virtue gathered in one person, marry her, and have children," Li Yang answered sincerely. He also knew that marrying Wang Jingjuan would ultimately remain a fairy-tale dream.

There was no need to keep dwelling on the matter. After all, life had only just begun.

"Hehe, then I wish you find what your heart desires soon. Go to sleep."

Wang Jingjuan mischievously draped her fair little foot over Li Yang, shifted into a more comfortable sleeping position in his arms, and slowly closed her eyes. Li Yang gently patted her back and coaxed her to sleep.

At four in the afternoon, they woke naturally. After getting up and washing, there was still plenty of time. It was not yet the best time to go shopping in summer. Since there was nothing else to do, Li Yang simply helped Wang Jingjuan clean the house again. Other than Lao Zhao's room, which they did not touch, they tidied both daughters' rooms inside and out.

The two were incredibly in sync. Wang Jingjuan casually slipped on a nightgown, revealing her smooth, slender legs. The sight made Li Yang's heart race, and he worked even harder. Wang Jingjuan thoughtfully tied an apron around him. Li Yang was in charge of moving things and arranging items, while Wang Jingjuan wiped and cleaned every corner. They teased each other as they happily cleaned, proving the saying that men and women working together never got tired. More importantly, Li Yang even received Wang Jingjuan's fragrant kisses as rewards from time to time. That was not something ordinary people got to enjoy.

At that moment, Li Yang suddenly remembered that Yang Yanping had called him a few days ago. She had said she had made it clear to Wang Liang that she did not have feelings for him and told him not to waste any more effort on her. Yang Yanping would never do something as shameless as pretending to care just to deceive someone emotionally. With her looks, she could easily have Wang Liang wrapped around her finger, take his money without letting him gain even the slightest advantage. But Yang Yanping was not that kind of person at heart, and she would never do something so harmful and immoral.

Although she wanted to find a suitable boyfriend soon, she could not just take anyone who came along.

Thinking of this, Li Yang busied himself while asking Wang Jingjuan, who was seriously wiping down the tables and chairs, "Precious, do you know any suitable men? I have a female friend who's pretty great. Introduce one to her."

Wang Jingjuan immediately became interested too. Li Yang had stirred up a woman's natural curiosity about playing matchmaker.

"Of course I do. There are lots of young and talented male teachers at our training center. They graduated from art school not long ago and are in their twenties. Whatever kind you want, we have them all—open-minded, reserved, affectionate, innocent. I can give you every type."

When it came to playing matchmaker, Wang Jingjuan was even more enthusiastic than Li Yang. Forgetting all about cleaning, she pulled Li Yang onto the sofa and began asking seriously.

"She's twenty-two. Her family is from a county, either Luanchuan or Song County—I forget which. She's quite pretty and sells curtains over on West Garden Road. If there's someone suitable, try to find her someone from Luoyang with decent financial circumstances." Thinking about Yang Yanping's family situation, Li Yang began considering things for her.

"Then why don't you take her for yourself? What a waste," Wang Jingjuan teased Li Yang cheerfully.

"Stop talking nonsense."

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. When do you want them to meet? Better sooner than later. Let's make it today."

Wang Jingjuan did not mind Li Yang's tenderness toward her at all. Instead, she sat on his lap as though comforting him and smiled gently.

"That works. We both have to go to work tomorrow anyway. I've already taken several days off." If not for Lao Zhao's funeral, Li Yang would not have missed his chance to spend a wonderful night with Yue Xiaodan in Yiyang.

Fortunately, Yue Xiaodan was not the kind of girlfriend who failed to understand reason. When she heard that Li Yang was not coming to see her because of Lao Zhao's funeral, she was even more understanding, telling Li Yang to give Lao Zhao a proper final send-off. The living should not argue with the dead. There would be plenty of opportunities afterward. In a few days, Yue Xiaodan's month-long training would come to a successful end.

"Then I'll listen to you. I'll make a call in a bit and find you a local guy with good looks and good financial conditions. The chances of success will definitely be higher. Just wait and see." With that, Wang Jingjuan kissed Li Yang on the lips for a long time before getting up to fetch her phone and make the call.

Li Yang continued with the unfinished chores.

Before long, Wang Jingjuan returned with the look of victory on her face.

"Little treasure, it's done."

"They've arranged to meet at six tonight by the Music Fountain in the New District. We just need to bring her there. We won't play third wheels then—we'll leave whenever we want and let them get to know each other properly."

After saying that, Wang Jingjuan did not give Li Yang a chance to ask further. She kept everything secret, making him pace around anxiously like an ant on a hot pan.

She laughed so hard she could not stop. It seemed that after setting down the burden in her heart, Wang Jingjuan had become even more alluring and charming than before.

A little after five, they rested on the sofa and watched TV. Wang Jingjuan lay comfortably on the couch watching a drama, while Li Yang sat beside her and gently massaged her feet to help her relax.

"Stop it, don't tickle me."

Wang Jingjuan kicked Li Yang in annoyance, but she kept laughing from his teasing. The two were just like a young couple in love, playfully fooling around together.

"Alright, alright, precious. Let me make a call."

Li Yang stopped Wang Jingjuan from swinging her little feet around, obediently placed them on his lap, and used one hand to call Yang Yanping.

Yang Yanping was almost home when she saw Li Yang calling. She immediately answered with a delighted expression.

"You heartless jerk. A few days ago, when I asked you to hang out, you said you were busy. Now you remember me?"

Yang Yanping asked in a deliberately stern tone, though she was secretly delighted. She liked the feeling of hanging out with Li Yang. It was interesting and fun. Girls liked the emotional pleasure someone brought them, unlike boys, who were complete visual creatures. Put them with a pretty girl, and even if they only sat there watching the stars all night, they would still find it happier than being with an unattractive one. This difference in dating preferences had become an unbridgeable divide for many people in reality.

Why could guys like Li Yang, who were not especially handsome, easily win over some girls as long as they knew how to sweet-talk, flirt, and be a little humorous? The answer could only be found in the words of the girls involved.

"Cut the nonsense and listen carefully. Dress up nicely tonight. At six-thirty, I'll take you on a blind date at the Music Fountain in the New District. You'll definitely be satisfied this time. Remember, I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't cooperate, I won't bother with you anymore. Wait for my call." Without waiting for Yang Yanping to respond, Li Yang domineeringly hung up.

"Hmph, how annoying. Can't you talk to me properly? Keep being so fierce with me."

Yang Yanping stared at her phone and kept complaining about Li Yang, but a warmth suddenly rose in her heart. She believed Li Yang sincerely wanted her to find a good home. Although he did not like her, she could still tell that he had put thought into this for her. If it were someone else, who would bother caring whether she lived or died?

With that thought, Yang Yanping happily skipped back toward her rented apartment, preparing to dress up carefully and eagerly looking forward to meeting the prince charming in her heart as soon as possible.