Chapter 257 - Two-Hundred and Fifty-Seven: Dreaming
Shi Nian gave it some thought before shaking his head lightly. “I’m not sure; I probably started having feelings for you the first time you barged into my office to exchange terms with me and sign the agreement. I never really looked at any girls aside from my mother and sister, but that day, I suddenly thought you were quite good-looking! That thought scared me; it’s why I deliberately made things difficult for you when I got home.”
Yun Nan couldn’t help but smile when she thought about the first night she moved into Shi Nian’s house.
“After that, I couldn’t help but be attracted to you. I realized that I liked you, and then I fell in love with you. When did it start? I don’t know, but who cares? Either way, I’m in love with you, Yun Nan.” Shi Nian’s words trailed off as he felt his consciousness begin to blur.
Yun Nan subconsciously rubbed the web of skin between Shi Nian’s thumb and forefinger. Shi Nian spoke hesitantly, “Yun Nan, do you… do you like me?” He dreaded she might reject him, but he would rather know the truth.
Yun Nan nodded gently, but then she remembered that Shi Nian couldn’t see it from the angle he was sitting at, so she stopped. Instead, she told him, “Shi
Nian, I have actually been asking myself that same question since we were in Lu Town. I was trying to figure out my feelings for you until you dove over to shield my head when the car crashed… Shi Nian, I think—I think I’ve fallen in love with you some time ago. It’s just that I don’t know how to love someone. But that doesn’t matter now; we’re about to die… You should come find me sooner, in our next life… Then, you can teach me… teach me how to love someone… ”
Yun Nan’s voice gradually sank to a whisper and then stopped. She was so tired. Dragging her injured body and crawling around, holding water in her mouth to pass to Shi Nian had exhausted all her strength.
Shi Nian’s injuries were more serious than hers, but Yun Nan’s last words gave him a boost, allowing Shi Nian to regain his senses for a moment. He delightedly patted Yun Nan’s sweaty head and said, “Don’t worry! We won’t die! Let’s go on a proper date once we get out of here!”
“Hmm, sure.” Yun Nan groggily agreed and fell into a deep sleep. Yun Nan had a very, very long dream. In the dream, her mom and dad were living happily in their small town.
Her mother braided Yun Nan’s hair in different styles every day, which made her classmates jealous, so her mom invited all her female classmates to their house and braided their hair. She would braid each child’s hair differently so no one would be jealous. Yun Nan was so proud of having such an amazing mom. With her mom’s help, all the children liked to play with her.
Mom remarked, “It’s not easy to come to this world, so everyone should be happy and joyful. You must cherish each and every day of your life!”
Her mother also said, “Yun Nan, when you grow up, you have to find a man you love and who loves you back, just like me and your father, and live happily together.”
‘Mom’s hands are so gentle and warm,’ Yun Nan thought. If it was possible, Yun Nan wanted to never grow up because so long as she didn’t grow up, her mother would always be by her side. Yun Nan knew she was in a dream. Her heart couldn’t help but ache, and tears fell down her cheeks as her mother’s face and figure gradually became indistinct.
“Yun Nan, Yun Nan,” she heard someone calling out softly. Yun Nan opened her eyes, but her tears flowed and blurred her vision.
Xiang Yang wiped Yun Nan’s tears with a tissue and sighed in relief. “You’re finally awake,” she uttered. “If you woke up any later, Mom and Grandma would have collapsed in worry!”
Chen Yao had also visibly relaxed and asked with a smile, “Why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare? Did it scare you?”
Yun Nan’s tears fell in large drops as she replied, “Grandma, I dreamt of Mom.” Chen Yao was stunned, and then she also cried along with Yun Nan.
When Xiang Yang saw this, she hurriedly smiled and tried to cheer them up. “Alright, alright, don’t cry, don’t cry. There, there, Yun Nan, don’t cry. Look, you even made Grandma cry. So dry your tears now; that’s enough crying!”
Yun Nan found her clowning around so funny that she burst into laughter. Xu Yun mock-chided, “Really, you two! So naughty!”
Yun Nan was now completely awake, and seeing Chen Yao still crying, she quickly consoled her, saying, “Grandma, I dreamt of Mom. Mom said that she and Dad are doing well and told us to also be happy and well!”
Chen Yao didn’t doubt Yun Nan’s words and repeatedly nodded. “Alright, okay, we will!”
Yun Nan subconsciously shifted her body and was immediately in so much pain that she was gasping. She remembered what had happened and hurriedly asked Xiang Yang, “Where’s Shi Nian? How is he? He had a fever!”
Xiang Yang teased, “Oh, you finally remembered Shi Nian?”
Yun Nan blushed. Xu Yun hit Xiang Yang lightly and scolded, “Stop teasing her.” She then turned to Yun Nan and gently informed her, “Don’t worry, Shi Nian is also no longer in critical danger. The hospital staff will send him here in the afternoon.”
Yun Nan’s face reddened even further. Xiang Yang noticed, coughed lightly, and winked at Yun Nan as she commented, “Looks like someone found love in times of adversity..”