Unexpected Second Chance at Love

The following morning, Imperial awoke beneath a clear winter sky.

Sunlight glistened across the snow-covered streets as a black Maserati Levante Trofeo made its way toward Ji Mansion.

Lu Tian was behind the wheel, while Yue Ling sat beside him. In the back seat, Inu had settled comfortably, his fluffy white head occasionally appearing between the front seats whenever something outside caught his attention.

”Someone seems excited.”

Lu Tian remarked, glancing at the rearview mirror.

Yue Ling turned to look at the Samoyed.

”Inu, are you excited to see Yeye?”

The moment they left the house, the little guy did not react much. He laid down most of the way then as if sensing they were close to their destination, he had stopped moving from window to window.

At the sound of the familiar name, Inu lifted his head.

Yue Ling smiled.

”I’ll take that as a yes.”

Lu Tian couldn’t help but shake his head.

They had decided to visit Ji Mansion that morning to speak with Grandfather Ji about their wedding plans.

After their conversation with Madam Lu the previous day, Yue Ling had spent much of the evening thinking about how she wanted to approach her grandfather.

She could already imagine his reaction.

He would likely be surprised.

Perhaps emotional.

But she hoped he would agree.

She looked out at the passing scenery.

The thought of marrying Lu Tian in the same garden where her grandparents and parents had exchanged their vows filled her with a quiet warmth.

It was a place that held generations of memories.

And she wanted to add one more.

Meanwhile, at Ji Mansion, Ji Jingxu was spending his morning in the game room.

The large television displayed a fast-paced shooting game, its sound effects echoing through the room.

Gu Ting sat on the couch, completely absorbed in the game, his fingers moving rapidly across the controller.

”Left! Left!”

Ji Jingxu called.

”I see him.”

”Then shoot!”

”I’m trying!”

A burst of gunfire sounded from the television.

Then the enemy character fired back and before Gu Ting’s character could take cover, he was hit.

The screen dimmed and the red words ’You lose!’ appeared on the screen.

The room turned silent.

Ji Jingxu stared in utter disbelief.

”I told you to shoot left. Why didn’t you listen to me?”

Gu Ting had yet to recover from his shock when he heard Ji Jingxu. He huffed a puff and glared at the boy.

”I did. That’s why I died!”

The two had grown considerably closer since Gu Ting began living in the detached building reserved for soldiers who had no family to return to.

What had started as occasional conversations had gradually turned into a comfortable friendship.

Whenever Gu Ting had free time, he would visit Ji Jingxu, and the two would spend hours playing games, watching movies, or simply talking.

For Ji Jingxu, who was still recovering from his injuries, the company was welcome.

And for Gu Ting, who had endured more than someone his age ever should, the friendship had given him something resembling an ordinary life again.

Ji Jingxu sat in a recliner beside the couch, watching Gu Ting restart the game with growing impatience.

His gaze drifted toward the other controller.

He wanted to play.

Badly.

But his wrist had not fully healed, and the last time he had tried holding a controller for too long, the old man had caught him.

He had received a lecture that lasted considerably longer than the game itself.

Ji Jingxu glanced at his wrist.

Then at the television.

He sighed.

Gu Ting noticed.

”Want me to put on a movie?”

”No.”

”You’ve been staring at the controller.”

”I’m admiring your skills.”

Gu Ting gave him a doubtful look.

Ji Jingxu leaned back.

”Fine. I want to play.”

”Your sister and grandfather said no.”

”I know.”

”Then don’t.”

Ji Jingxu groaned.

”You’re starting to sound like them.”

Gu Ting smiled and returned his attention to the game.

Just then, the faint sound of tires crunching over the snow-covered gravel reached the room.

Ji Jingxu turned toward the window.

A vehicle was approaching the mansion.

He rose from the recliner and walked over to look outside.

The moment he recognized the black Maserati, his face lit up.

”Jie!”

Gu Ting glanced over.

”What?”

”My sister’s here!”

Without another word, Ji Jingxu hurried toward the door.

”Hey! Your wrist!”

Gu Ting called after him but Ji Jingxu was already gone.

By the time Yue Ling and Lu Tian reached the front steps, the mansion’s doors suddenly swung open.

”Jie!”

Yue Ling looked up.

Ji Jingxu stood in the doorway, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Before he could approach her, Inu strolled forward like a king.

”Inu!”

Ji Jingxu immediately crouched and rubbed the Samoyed’s fluffy head.

The dog happily leaned into his hand, his tail wagging.

”Look at you! Did you miss me?”

Inu gave an enthusiastic bark.

Ji Jingxu laughed.

Yue Ling approached and gently patted her brother’s head.

”Hello, Jingxu.”

He looked up at her.

”Hi, Jie!”

Her expression softened.

”How are you feeling today?”

”Good.”

She raised an eyebrow.

”Just good?”

”Very good.”

Lu Tian stepped beside them.

Ji Jingxu straightened.

”Brother-in-law.”

Lu Tian acknowledged him with a polite nod.

”Jingxu.”

The three entered the mansion, with Inu following closely behind.

Yue Ling removed her coat and handed it to a waiting attendant.

”Have you been resting properly?”

Ji Jingxu nodded.

”Yes.”

”And your wrist?”

”Still attached.”

She gave him a look when he hung his hands in front of her.

He grinned.

”I’m kidding. It’s getting better.”

”What were you doing before we arrived?”

”Watching Gu Ting play a shooting game. I heard your car and came to check.”

Yue Ling glanced toward the staircase.

Just then, Gu Ting appeared at the top.

He had followed Ji Jingxu out of the game room and was looking down at them.

When their eyes met, he smiled and gave her a small wave.

”Hello, Miss Han.”

He would never get over the fact that his idol was standing in front of him.

Yue Ling smiled back.

”Hello, Gu Ting.”

The simple gesture warmed her heart.

She remembered the withdrawn boy he had once been, the quietness that had settled over him after losing his parents because the very system meant to protect him had failed.

Seeing him smile so naturally now was reassuring.

He was opening up again.

Learning to trust.

Finding companionship.

It meant he was doing well.

Yue Ling turned back toward her brother.

”Is Yeye home?”

Ji Jingxu nodded.

”He’s in his study.”

At the mention of Grandfather Ji, Inu’s ears perked up.

Before anyone could react, the little guy bolted toward the staircase.

”Inu!”

Yue Ling called.

But he was already halfway up. His entire fluffiness was filled with determination.

Gu Ting, who had just begun descending, barely managed to step aside before the fluffy white dog rushed past him.

”Whoa!”

He grabbed the railing.

Ji Jingxu burst into laughter.

Yue Ling shook her head.

”Inu!”

The white fluff ball did not even look back.

He was on a mission and no one can stop him.

He disappeared down the upper hallway.

Lu Tian sighs.

”It seems he knows exactly where he’s going.”

Gu Ting looked after the dog, amused.

”He’s fast.”

”Only when he wants to be.”

Yue Ling replied then turned toward Ji Jingxu.

”Go back to what you were doing. I’ll find you afterward.”

He nodded.

”Okay.”

She glanced up at Gu Ting.

”You too. Have fun.”

”Alright.”

The four made their way upstairs.

At the landing, Ji Jingxu and Gu Ting turned right toward the game room, while Yue Ling and Lu Tian headed left.

Grandfather Ji’s study was located at the far end of the hallway.

As they approached, a familiar sound reached them.

Laughter.

Deep, warm laughter.

Yue Ling slowed her steps.

The study door was open.

She stopped at the entrance.

Grandfather Ji was seated on the couch near the window.

Inu had somehow managed to climb onto his lap, his large, fluffy body sprawled comfortably across the old man’s legs.

Grandfather Ji laughed as he rubbed the Samoyed’s head.

”You little rascal. Have you come to stay with this old man again?”

Inu rested his head against Grandfather Ji’s chest.

”Oh? Now you’re acting obedient?”

The old man chuckled.

Yue Ling stood quietly in the doorway, watching them.

Inu had never been particularly sociable.

He tolerated most people, but affection was something he offered selectively.

Yet with her grandfather, he behaved differently.

He sought him out.

Stayed close to him.

And occasionally seemed to prefer his company over hers.

A faint smile touched Yue Ling’s lips.

Then a thought suddenly occurred to her.

After Lu Tian proposed to her at the lake, Inu had remained at Ji Mansion for quite some time.

She had assumed he was simply comfortable there.

But now...

Her gaze settled on the Samoyed resting peacefully against her grandfather.

Was it because of Yeye?

Had Inu sensed something she had not?

Animals were often sensitive to changes people overlooked.

Had the little fellow somehow known that her grandfather’s time was limited?

Was that why he had wanted to remain beside him?

The thought caused an inexplicable ache in her chest.

”Ah Ling?”

Grandfather Ji’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She looked up.

The old man was smiling at her.

”When did the two of you arrive?”

He glanced toward the doorway.

”Why didn’t anyone tell me you were coming? I would have waited for you downstairs.”

Yue Ling smiled.

”We wanted to surprise you.”

”Well, you’ve certainly done that.”

He gestured toward the other couch.

”Come in, come in.”

Lu Tian greeted him respectfully with a simple nod.

”Tian, come sit.”

As the couple entered, Grandfather Ji looked between them.

”What brings you here so early? Is everything alright?”

Yue Ling nodded.

”Everything’s fine, Yeye. I wanted to see you and Jingxu.”

She paused.

”And there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

”Oh?”

Grandfather Ji arched a brow. Curious to know.

”What is it?”

Yue Ling and Lu Tian approached the couch.

But just as they were about to sit down, Grandfather Ji suddenly coughed.

Once.

Then again.

His expression tightened.

He reached for a tissue from the nearby table and quickly covered his mouth.

The coughing grew harsher.

”Yeye?”

Yue Ling immediately moved toward him.

Lu Tian stepped around the couch.

Grandfather Ji bent forward, his shoulders trembling with each cough.

Yue Ling sat beside him and began gently patting his back.

”Yeye, breathe slowly.”

Lu Tian stood on his other side, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder.

”Inu, down.”

The Samoyed immediately slipped from Grandfather Ji’s lap. He didn’t move far, watching anxiously.

The coughing continued until he started dry heaving.

Seconds stretched into nearly a minute before the old man finally managed to catch his breath.

His shoulders gradually relaxed.

Yue Ling kept her hand against his back.

”Yeye?”

”I’m alright...”

His voice was hoarse.

He slowly lowered the tissue from his mouth.

Yue Ling’s hand froze.

There was blood.

A small but unmistakable stain of red against the white tissue.

For several seconds, she simply stared.

Then her gaze rose to her grandfather.

”Yeye...”

Grandfather Ji followed her eyes.

He glanced at the tissue before giving her a faint smile.

”It’s nothing, child.”

”Nothing?”

Her voice trembled.

”You’re coughing up blood.”

”It’s alright. It happens sometimes.”

Yue Ling’s expression changed.

”Sometimes?”

She looked toward Lu Tian, then back at her grandfather.

”We’re going to the hospital.”

Grandfather Ji shook his head.

”Ah Ling—”

”No. You need to see Dr. Dong.”

”I know my body.”

”Then you know this isn’t normal.”

Her voice was sharper than she intended.

Grandfather Ji looked at her quietly.

Then he reached over and gently covered her hand with his.

”My child.”

Yue Ling pressed her lips together.

”I know you’re worried.”

”Then please, Yeye.”

He sighed.

”I’ve spent enough time being examined, tested, and treated.”

His gaze drifted toward the sunlight beyond the window.

”I don’t want to spend whatever time I have left trapped in a hospital room.”

Yue Ling’s heart clenched.

Grandfather Ji looked back at her.

”I want to be here. In the comfort of my own home. With my family.”

His voice softened.

”I want to hear Jingxu laughing upstairs. I want to sit in the garden when the weather is pleasant and take care of it so when I meet your grandmother again, I can proudly tell her how well I took care of it. And I want to enjoy the days I still have.”

Yue Ling lowered her gaze. She wanted to argue.

She wanted to insist that he go to the hospital, that he receive whatever treatment might help him.

But she remembered their conversation from last time.

He had already told her what he wanted.

And she had promised herself that she would try to respect his wishes.

Even if doing so hurt.

After a long silence, she nodded faintly.

”Alright.”

Grandfather Ji smiled.

”Good girl.”

She took the bloodstained tissue from his hand and rose to dispose of it.

Lu Tian remained beside the couch, watching her quietly.

Grandfather Ji followed his granddaughter with his eyes.

A sadness passed over his face.

He knew how difficult this was for her.

And he wished, more than anything, that he could spare her the pain of what was to come.

When Yue Ling returned, she sat beside her grandfather and took his hand in hers.

Grandfather Ji gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.

”Now, what was it you wanted to ask me?”

Yue Ling glanced at Lu Tian.

He gave her a reassuring nod.

She turned back toward her grandfather.

”Yeye, Tian and I have decided to cancel the engagement party and the wedding preparations.”

Grandfather Ji froze.

His eyes widened.

”What?”

Yue Ling opened her mouth to explain.

But before she could, the old man’s gaze snapped toward Lu Tian.

His expression darkened.

”You!”

Lu Tian raised an eyebrow.

Grandfather Ji straightened.

”What have you done?”

Yue Ling blinked.

”Yeye—”

”After everything you promised me, this is how you treat my granddaughter?”

Lu Tian stared at him.

Then the corner of his mouth twitched.

Grandfather Ji’s glare intensified.

”Do you find this amusing?”

”Grandfather—”

”Do you not want to marry her anymore?”

The old general’s voice carried the same authority that had once commanded soldiers on the battlefield.

He had never feared anyone.

And he certainly was not about to be intimidated by Lu Tian.

”You told me you would take care of her!”

Lu Tian slowly straightened his posture.

His expression remained composed.

”I love your granddaughter.”

Grandfather Ji narrowed his eyes.

Lu Tian met his gaze without flinching, unafraid of voicing his love for his wife.

”Even if you had said no in the beginning, I would still have married her.”

Yue Ling turned toward him.

A faint smile tugged at her lips.

Lu Tian glanced at his wife before looking back at the old man.

”I only need your blessing because Yue Ling needs it.”

Grandfather Ji opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

For once, the old general found himself without a suitable comeback.

He stared at Lu Tian.

”You...”

Lu Tian smiled faintly.

Grandfather Ji huffed.

”Arrogant brat.”

Yue Ling could no longer suppress her laughter.

”Yeye.”

She gently squeezed his hand.

”Tian and I are still getting married.”

Grandfather Ji turned toward her.

His brows furrowed.

”Then what did you mean by canceling everything?”

”We canceled the engagement party and the elaborate wedding preparations.”

”Why?”

Yue Ling smiled.

”Because we don’t want to wait that long.”

Grandfather Ji looked between them.

His confusion deepened.

Lu Tian moved to sit beside Yue Ling.

She took his hand before turning back to her grandfather.

”It’s why we’re here, Yeye.”

Her voice softened.

”We want to ask for your approval to have our wedding here.”

Grandfather Ji blinked.

”Here?”

Yue Ling nodded.

”At Ji Mansion.”

She glanced toward the window, where the winter sunlight illuminated the snow-covered garden beyond.

Then she looked back at him.

”In your garden.”

The old man went still.

Yue Ling held his hand a little tighter.

”The same garden where you married my grandmother.”

Her smile grew tender.

”And where my mother married my father.”

For several seconds, Grandfather Ji said nothing.

His gaze slowly shifted toward the window.

Beyond the glass lay the garden that had witnessed some of the happiest moments of his life.

The place where he had married the woman he loved.

Where he had watched his daughter begin her own family.

And now...

His granddaughter wanted to marry there too.

Yue Ling watched him quietly.

”I want you to be there, Yeye.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

”I want you to see me marry Tian.”

Grandfather Ji looked back at them.

His eyes had grown misty.

Yue Ling smiled through the ache in her chest.

”So... will you let us have our wedding in your garden?”

He patted her hand holding his other hand and nodded his head.

”My garden would be honored to host your wedding.”