Li Qiyu looked at Song Yi'an, who was oozing a silly air all over, and her heart began to waver.
At this moment, Song Yi'an was still seriously speaking his heartfelt words.
"Whether it's one life, two lives, or countless lives, your position in my heart, Li Qiyu, will never change. I'll live to follow you. You'll always be the one I'll choose above all else, the one I'd give up everything for."
"What if... I can't reciprocate your feelings in the same way?"
"I'm sorry I'm not your top priority, but I'll respect your decision. Because my goal is to make you happy, not to make you love me."
Li Qiyu no longer had the slightest doubt that Song Yi'an was Zhou Donglin.
Because only Zhou Donglin could say such silly words seriously.
But it was this kind of silly, simple, and clumsy sincerity that she found extremely precious and invaluable after experiencing the hardships of life.
"You fool," Li Qiyu said, grinning with red eyes.
"You're the closest person to me now." Although Li Xiangping and her elder brother looked exactly the same as their ancient counterparts, Li Qiyu knew clearly in her heart that they weren't her real relatives. Her elder brother might still have some feelings for her, but those were for Li Xiyu, not for her, Li Qiyu.
As for Li Xiangping, it went without saying. He had once personally killed Li Xiyu. If it weren't for the interest bond now, he would probably push her into the fire pit without blinking an eye.
Whether Song Yi'an was Zhou Donglin or not, for Li Qiyu, in this world, the closest person was Song Yi'an, who had led her step by step to get familiar with the world.
Li Qiyu imitated Song Yi'an's silly look and said, "Now, you're my family and my top priority."
After hearing this, Song Yi'an felt as if he had been thrown into a honey jar. For a moment, he was so sweet that he didn't know what to do.
And the name Li Qiyu called him next made him break down in an instant.
"Little Donglin, you've worked hard these days."
This was what Li Qiyu had wanted to say to Zhou Donglin in her previous life.
Yes, she and Zhou Donglin had grown up as childhood sweethearts. Whether the person in front of her was him or not didn't need any evidence at all. All they needed was a feeling.
When Song Yi'an said he was Zhou Donglin before, Li Qiyu didn't believe it because the feeling was wrong. But now, even though Li Qiyu had presupposed that the person in front of her wouldn't be Zhou Donglin, her feeling still led her to think that he was Zhou Donglin.
Li Qiyu thought she should respect her own feeling.
Song Yi'an didn't even notice that his tears flowed down the corners of his eyes when he heard the words "you've worked hard".
At this moment, Song Yi'an and Zhou Donglin merged into one person in front of Li Qiyu. She lovingly wiped away the tears on Song Yi'an's face.
Song Yi'an thought the plaster on his body was in the way. He really wanted to take it off. How he wished he could hug Li Qiyu! This had been his dream for several lifetimes.
Li Qiyu saw his restlessness and understood what he meant. She took the initiative to reach out and hug Song Yi'an.
Song Yi'an was like a pot of boiling and restless water. The moment he met Li Qiyu, he calmed down. The unwillingness and pain he had experienced in these lifetimes all turned into sweetness at this moment, seeping into his heart bit by bit with a lingering aftertaste.
For someone who had suffered a lot, a little bit of sweetness was enough.
Hugging through the plaster, Song Yi'an was afraid of hurting Li Qiyu. He stretched out his unbound hand and wanted to push her away. Unexpectedly, Li Qiyu hugged him even tighter.
"Let me tell you, don't even think about pushing me away. You're my creditor now. From now on, it's my turn to take care of you and protect you."
Hearing this, Song Yi'an was both touched and amused.
"You don't owe me anything. Everything I did was voluntary."
"You fool," Li Qiyu was already in tears without even realizing it.
She had once hated God's unfairness and once questioned God why he had to make her suffer the pain of her family's destruction. But now it seemed that God was still fair. While giving her the heaviest blow, he also left her a way to catch her breath.
"I'm also voluntary. Willingly and without any regrets."
Li Qiyu was from ancient times, so she didn't know that the look on her face when she said this was just like that when making wedding vows at a wedding, solemn, sacred, extremely serious, and extremely careful.
But of course Song Yi'an could tell. He was both touched and loving. Even with just one hand, he hugged Li Qiyu even tighter.
Li Qiyu choked with sobs. She really wanted to ask Song Yi'an what was going on. Why was he Zhou Donglin? Had he traveled through time like her? But it didn't seem so. She didn't have Li Xiyu's memories after traveling through time, but the person in front of her was clearly both Song Yi'an and Zhou Donglin.
She moved her lips but still didn't ask. When Song Yi'an was hospitalized, she could only visit him while wearing thick anti - bacterial suits. Not to mention hugging him, even standing there and talking to him for a while would make the nurses urge her to leave quickly.
At that time, she thought, when would he get better? If he got better, she would definitely hug him and tell him about her worries.
Just as the two were sharing this warm and heart - to - heart moment, a sudden and urgent ringing interrupted their time together. It was Li Qiyu's phone ringing.
After all, it was a special time now, so Song Yi'an could only reluctantly let go of Li Qiyu.
Li Qiyu also let go. She reached out to get her phone but found her hand was trapped. Although Song Yi'an had let go of her, he didn't release his grip. Li Qiyu smiled helplessly and reached out her other hand to get the phone.
The call was from the chief secretary. As soon as Li Qiyu answered, the anxious voice of the chief secretary came from the other end.
"Hello, Madam. Have you seen Mr. Song? Mr. Song is missing. He's not in the hospital. Before I went out for dinner, Mr. Song was still sleeping soundly in the hospital. How could he be gone when I came back?"
Li Qiyu looked at Song Yi'an beside her in surprise: "He doesn't know you're back? The chief secretary must be extremely worried."
Song Yi'an stuck out his tongue like a child who had been caught doing something wrong and said, "I wanted to see you. He, the doctors, and the nurses all tried to stop me. I just couldn't bear it anymore, so I had to resort to this. When I got to the hotel, I just remembered that your family was also there. I was afraid of ruining your plan, so I quickly asked the manager to arrange a secluded villa for me and told him to keep it a secret."
Hearing this, Li Qiyu was both heart - broken and angry.
"You've been led astray by Zhou Donglin. How could you act so recklessly!"