Chapter 49: The Reason

"Great! Great! I want spicy skewers, grilled gluten, fried chicken drumsticks, and..." Lin Xuan exclaimed excitedly, listing her cravings one by one, leaving Jiang Xiaofei at a loss for words—she really was a foodie through and through!

Just then, Zhou Shiqin turned to Jiang Xiaofei with a smile and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

Jiang Xiaofei simply replied, "Anything is fine."

"Alright, then let’s have dinner downtown," Zhou Shiqin said, rising to her feet.

But before they could leave, Lin Xuan hurriedly interjected, "Wait a moment, Sister Zhou! I need to change my clothes first."

"Alright, but hurry up!" Zhou Shiqin replied.

Lin Xuan nodded and dashed up to the second floor. Moments later, she came back down, having changed her outfit—and she was truly dazzling. She wore a white blouse and tight black pants that accentuated her already stunning figure, especially her long, shapely legs. Jiang Xiaofei couldn’t help but stare, utterly entranced, his gaze lingering on her legs.

Sensing Jiang Xiaofei’s unusual stare, Lin Xuan huffed, "What are you looking at? Haven’t you ever seen a beautiful woman before?"

Jiang Xiaofei quickly looked away, remaining silent.

Zhou Shiqin laughed at the scene, "Alright, Lin Xuan is the prettiest in our house."

"Sister Zhou, you always know what to say," Lin Xuan replied, no longer sparing Jiang Xiaofei a glance. She headed for the door, calling out, "Let’s go, time for a feast downtown. Dinner’s on me tonight, order whatever you like!"

"Alright," Zhou Shiqin said with a smile, following after her.

Jiang Xiaofei rose and trailed behind them.

Outside the villa, Lin Xuan strode toward a luxurious Land Rover, took the driver’s seat, and called out, "Get in!"

Jiang Xiaofei and Zhou Shiqin nodded and climbed aboard.

"Buckle up and sit tight—I drive fast," Lin Xuan warned, then pressed the accelerator, and the Land Rover sped out of the Fengshan Lake neighborhood.

The city of Sanjiang was beautiful at night. The downtown lights shone brilliantly, the streets were full of life. Walking along the bustling avenues, Jiang Xiaofei couldn’t help but feel a certain awe—this truly was one of the most vibrant cities in the country.

Zhou Shiqin noticed Jiang Xiaofei’s expression and asked curiously, "What is it? Haven’t you been here before?"

Jiang Xiaofei shook his head, "No, I was born in the countryside. I never had the chance to see the splendor of a big city. If it weren’t for you bringing me here, I might never have seen such a beautiful night scene."

Zhou Shiqin nodded gently, "I see. Well, don’t worry—you’ll have plenty of chances from now on."

Lin Xuan chimed in, "That’s right! As long as you want to, I can bring you here anytime."

Jiang Xiaofei was moved. "Thank you both for treating me so well."

"Enough of that," Lin Xuan said, striding boldly toward the food street, her demeanor more like that of a lively, innocent girl than a grown woman.

Jiang Xiaofei and Zhou Shiqin exchanged a smile and followed.

After sampling all the delicacies of the food street, Lin Xuan led them to the amusement park, where they spent the entire night having fun. It was late by the time they drove home.

Sitting in the car, Jiang Xiaofei replayed the evening in his mind, still filled with happiness. He realized he was falling in love with this way of life, especially with how warmly Zhou Shiqin and Lin Xuan treated him, giving him a sense of belonging he’d never known before.

Yet he understood this was all because he resembled that man—a thought that filled him with curiosity. Who was that man? What kind of person could inspire such longing in Zhou Shiqin and Lin Xuan?

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he turned to Zhou Shiqin and asked, "Sister Zhou, can you tell me who that man is?"

Zhou Shiqin smiled. "I’ll tell you when we get home."

"Alright," Jiang Xiaofei replied, nodding.

Soon, they arrived home. As soon as they stepped out of the car, Lin Xuan dashed into the house, tears streaming down her face.

Puzzled, Jiang Xiaofei frowned and asked Zhou Shiqin, "What’s wrong with her? She seems so sad."

"Your presence reminded her of that man," Zhou Shiqin responded.

Jiang Xiaofei’s curiosity only grew. "Who is he?"

"Come with me," Zhou Shiqin said, entering the house.

Jiang Xiaofei followed her upstairs to a bedroom. The room was spotless, containing only a bed and a small cabinet with a framed photograph on top.

It was this photograph that drew Zhou Shiqin’s attention. She picked it up and said, "That man in the photo."

Jiang Xiaofei looked at the photo and was instantly stunned. As Zhou Shiqin had said, he and the man in the picture looked identical—even their expressions matched. Only their clothes were different; if one didn’t look carefully, they would be impossible to tell apart.

"Now do you believe me?" Zhou Shiqin asked gently.

Jiang Xiaofei snapped out of his daze and nodded. "Who is this man?"

Zhou Shiqin asked, "Are you aware that in ancient times, our country produced many extraordinary individuals?"

"I know," Jiang Xiaofei replied, then frowned and asked, "Is he one of those extraordinary people?"

Zhou Shiqin’s face was full of memories. "Yes. In fact, he was the last of them, and perhaps the most legendary. In those days, he outwitted Western vampires, single-handedly foiled their plots, risked his life for friends, and fought valiantly against Maoshan—causing such upheaval that only the arrival of the Eastern Emperor could halt him."

"He was that powerful?" Jiang Xiaofei was astonished, and deeply admiring. He hadn’t imagined such momentous events had taken place in those days.

He then asked, "And what happened after that?"

"He eventually escaped," Zhou Shiqin replied, "but he left this world and went somewhere else."

"I see," Jiang Xiaofei nodded, then tried to comfort her. "Sister Zhou, don’t dwell on the past. There are so many possibilities in life—why cling to just one flower? You still have your life ahead of you."

"But I can’t forget him, or the happiness we once shared. Even though he loved another woman, I’ll always love him, even if my love is never returned."

"Anyway, it’s late. You can sleep here tonight—I’ll go check on Lin Xuan." With those words, Zhou Shiqin turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Jiang Xiaofei withdrew his gaze, looking at the framed photo on the cabinet, a sense of confusion in his heart. He felt as though he had seen this man somewhere before, yet no matter how he tried to recall, he found no clue. It was as if his memories had been lost—or perhaps sealed away.