Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Chapter 1028: Every Piece of Them

Back at De L’amour, Lin Hui did not stay much longer.

It had taken several assurances before Yue Ling finally stopped studying him as though she expected to find an injury he had hidden from her.

”I’m fine, Boss.”

Yue Ling’s bluish-green eyes remained fixed on him.

Lin Hui gave her another reassuring smile.

”Really.”

Beside her, Liu Shan folded his arms across his chest. His expression made it clear that he was not nearly as convinced.

Lin Hui noticed and sighed.

”Stop looking at me like that.”

”Like what?”

”Like you’re planning to find Madam Qin and accidentally destroy her entire family history.”

Liu Shan scoffed.

”I wasn’t.”

A pause.

”Yet.”

Lin Hui shook his head.

Yue Ling’s lips twitched faintly, but the coldness in her eyes remained. She still disliked what had happened.

The thought of someone standing in public and reducing one of her people to his background and supposed social standing left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Lin Hui saw it. His expression softened.

”Boss.”

Yue Ling looked at him.

”It really didn’t bother me.”

Her brows drew together slightly.

”Maybe not but that doesn’t make what she said acceptable.”

”I know.”

He gave her a small nod.

”But I’d rather forget about it.”

Yue Ling stared at him another moment before reluctantly accepting his answer.

”Fine.”

Lin Hui smiled.

”Good.”

”But if she bothers you again—”

”I know.”

His smile widened.

”I’ll tell you.”

Only then did Yue Ling allow him to leave.

Liu Shan watched the door close behind his friend before glancing at her.

”He’s tougher than he looks.”

”I know.”

Yue Ling’s gaze remained on the closed door.

That was never the problem.

Sometimes the strongest people were the ones others assumed they could hurt without consequence.

However, despite Lin Hui trying to reassure the situation, she looked at her assistant.

”Keep an eye on the Qin family.”

Liu Shan chuckles without humor.

”Already done.”

Yue Ling turned away, heading for the door.

”Come on.”

There was something else waiting for her.

The atmosphere inside De L’amour’s design room had completely changed by the time Yue Ling arrived.

Grandfather Ji and Ji Jingxu were already there.

Lian Ni Shang stood beside a long worktable with Ju Suo and the other members of the design team. Liu Shan lingered nearby, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

At the center of the room sat the garment box Grandfather Ji had personally brought from Ji Mansion.

The lid rested beside it.

Inside lay decades of memories.

Yue Ling stood before it in silence.

For a moment, she did not touch the dress.

Her fingers hovered above the ivory lace.

She remembered seeing it for the first time inside the hidden room at Ji Mansion.

It had been beautiful behind glass.

Untouchable.

Almost sacred.

Now she was expected to wear it.

Lian Ni Shang noticed the hesitation in her eyes.

”Boss?”

Yue Ling blinked.

”I’m fine.”

She carefully lifted the dress.

Her expression softened the moment the fabric settled against her arms.

Grandfather Ji watched from several feet away. His smile was faint.

But there was already a sadness behind it.

”Go,” he gently urged.

Yue Ling looked at him.

”Try it on.”

She nodded.

Then disappeared into the fitting room.

Several minutes passed.

Outside, Ji Jingxu could barely sit still.

He shifted once.

Then again.

Liu Shan glanced at him.

”You’re more nervous than Boss.”

”I’m not nervous.”

”You’ve moved six times in the last minute.”

Ji Jingxu stopped.

”I’m comfortable now.”

Liu Shan stared at him.

Ji Jingxu stared back.

Liu Shan wisely said nothing.

Grandfather Ji sat quietly nearby.

Unlike Jingxu, he barely moved.

His cane rested beside him, both hands folded over its handle.

But his gaze never left the fitting-room door.

There was a distant look in his aged eyes.

He knew what waited behind that door.

Not merely Yue Ling.

Memories.

His wife.

His daughter.

A time when the Ji Mansion had been filled with voices belonging to people who were now gone.

He lowered his gaze. His fingers tightened around the cane.

Then the fitting-room door opened.

Everyone looked up.

Yue Ling stepped out.

And the entire room fell silent.

Her first step was hesitant.

Then another.

The ivory skirt whispered softly against the floor.

Delicate floral lace covered her shoulders and extended into fitted sheer sleeves. The high neckline framed her slender neck elegantly, while the structured bodice followed the lines of her figure before flowing into the long skirt and subtle train.

The dress was slightly loose around her torso, temporarily secured with discreet clips at the side.

It didn’t matter.

She was breathtaking.

Lian Ni Shang inhaled sharply. Her hand flew to her mouth.

”Oh...”

Ju Suo’s eyes widened. For once, she seemed incapable of producing a single comment.

Gui Tian Lan and Gui Zhongmin stood behind them and audibly gasped.

Qi Li, Tang Zhonghui, and Shan Sinan watched her with a soft expression.

Even Liu Shan lost his usual playful expression.

His eyebrows rose as he looked Yue Ling over.

Then a slow smile appeared.

He had seen Yue Ling in countless gowns.

She had once been one of the most recognizable models in the industry.

Luxury designers had fought for the opportunity to dress her.

Yet this was different.

It wasn’t simply beautiful.

It belonged to her.

Liu Shan’s expression softened.

”Boss...”

Yue Ling glanced at him.

He shook his head with a quiet laugh.

”Lu Tian is finished.”

A few people chuckled.

But Ji Jingxu did not.

He simply stared.

His eyes slowly widened.

Then his lips parted.

For a moment, Yue Ling could almost see the little boy he had once been.

”Jie...”

His voice cracked.

Yue Ling’s smile faded into tenderness.

Ji Jingxu immediately looked down.

He blinked.

Once.

Twice.

His eyes burned.

He quickly raised one hand and wiped beneath them.

Liu Shan noticed but, for once, did not tease him.

Ji Jingxu swallowed hard.

Seeing his sister standing there had done something to him that he had not expected.

Yue Ling had always seemed indestructible to him.

She was the person who came whenever he needed her.

The person who stood between him and danger.

The sister who never allowed the absence of shared blood to change what he meant to her.

But he knew how much she had lost.

How much pain she had hidden behind smiles.

There had been years when he wondered if she would ever truly allow herself to be happy again.

And now—

She was standing in their mother’s wedding dress preparing to marry someone she loved.

The mother he never got to meet but learned to love from stories told to him.

Ji Jingxu’s eyes filled again.

He tried to blink the tears away.

His gaze shifted to Grandfather Ji.

That only made his chest ache harder.

The wedding was being moved forward because none of them knew how much time their grandfather had left.

Happiness and grief suddenly existed in the same room.

Ji Jingxu pressed his lips tightly together, desperately trying to control himself.

Grandfather Ji was not doing much better.

The old man had gone completely still.

His eyes remained fixed on Yue Ling.

His lips trembled.

His fingers tightened around the handle of his cane.

For a moment, he forgot to breathe.

He didn’t see only his granddaughter.

He saw his daughter.

Ji An Ling.

A memory from decades ago unfolded before his eyes.

His daughter turning impatiently before the mirror while her mother fussed with the lace.

Ji An Ling laughing when her father complained that weddings were too complicated.

Her walking through the garden toward Han Min Joon.

The pride he had felt.

The fear of giving his daughter away.

The joy of knowing she had found someone she loved.

Then came another memory.

A phone notification.

A car accident.

Two people gone.

His daughter never coming home.

Grandfather Ji’s eyes glistened.

Yue Ling noticed.

”Yeye?”

Her voice pulled him back from the painful memories.

His gaze refocused.

The woman before him was Yue Ling.

His granddaughter.

His remaining piece of his daughter.

Grandfather Ji slowly stood.

His knees were weaker than they had once been, but he waved away Ji Jingxu when the boy instinctively reached to help him.

He wanted to walk to her himself.

One step.

Then another.

Yue Ling waited.

When Grandfather Ji finally stopped before her, his eyes traveled slowly over the dress.

Then back to her face.

His lips trembled again.

He reached for her hands.

Yue Ling immediately gave them to him.

His weathered fingers closed around hers.

Warm.

Familiar.

”This dress...”

His voice caught.

He stopped.

Yue Ling’s eyes immediately softened.

Grandfather Ji swallowed before trying again.

”This dress was meant for you to wear.”

His fingers tightened gently around hers.

”Your mother would have been so proud to see you.”

Yue Ling’s smile disappeared.

Pain immediately entered her eyes.

Her gaze dropped.

The lace blurred slightly beneath the tears gathering in her vision.

”I just wish they were here.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

The room fell silent.

Lian Ni Shang and the others lowered their gaze.

Ju Suo pressed her lips together.

Ji Jingxu turned his face away, his eyes burning again.

Even Liu Shan’s smile vanished.

Grandfather Ji’s heart tightened.

He knew that look.

No matter how many years passed, there would always be a part of Yue Ling that remained the little girl who had lost her parents.

He released one of her hands.

His palm slowly rose.

”They are.”

Yue Ling looked at him.

Grandfather Ji cupped her cheek. His thumb gently brushed beneath her eye before the tear could fall.

”You smile the same smile like your mother.”

Yue Ling’s lips trembled.

”And you see the world with eyes like your father’s.”

Another tear gathered.

Grandfather Ji’s hand moved upward, smoothing tenderly over her hair.

”When you become stubborn, I see your mother.”

A watery laugh escaped Yue Ling.

Grandfather Ji smiled through his own tears.

”When you quietly watch everyone around you and think no one notices, I see your father.”

Yue Ling blinked rapidly.

Grandfather Ji’s voice softened further.

”You carry their kindness.”

His fingers trembled against her hair.

”Their stubbornness.”

A faint smile.

”Their tempers.”

That earned another small laugh from her.

Then his expression grew tender.

”Their love.”

He looked directly into her bluish-green eyes.

”You are every piece of them every day.”

Yue Ling could no longer stop the tear that slipped down her cheek.

She smiled anyway.

A fragile smile filled with grief and happiness at once.

”Yeye...”

She tightened both hands around his.

For a moment, grandfather and granddaughter simply looked at one another.

Then Yue Ling glanced down at the dress.

Her expression changed.

Uncertainty entered her eyes.

”Yeye...”

”Hm?”

”Do you think my mother would be disappointed if I...”

She stopped.

Her fingers carefully pinched a tiny section of the skirt.

Grandfather Ji waited.

Yue Ling drew in a breath.

”...alter the dress a little?”

The question came out almost guiltily.

Her brows drew together.

”I don’t want to change what they made.”

She glanced over the delicate lace.

”Grandmother made this with her own hands. Mother designed it exactly how she wanted it.”

Her fingertips brushed the embroidery.

”I don’t want to ruin their work.”

Grandfather Ji followed her gaze.

Then he noticed something.

The bodice was obviously too loose.

Fabric had been clipped at Yue Ling’s side to keep everything properly positioned.

His solemn expression slowly cracked.

A chuckle escaped him.

Yue Ling looked up.

”What?”

Grandfather Ji took one step back.

He looked at the dress.

Then at her.

Then at the clip.

His amusement grew.

”I think your mother and grandmother would be disappointed if you didn’t fix it.”

Yue Ling blinked.

Grandfather Ji gestured toward her waist.

”Your grandmother would come back just to scold us if we let you walk through the garden with your dress falling off.”

”Yeye.”

Yue Ling laughed despite herself.

Grandfather Ji smiled broadly.

”There.”

He pointed at her face.

”That smile.”

Yue Ling shook her head.

Grandfather Ji’s expression softened again.

”Fix it.”

He reached out and lightly touched the sleeve.

”This dress wasn’t created to spend eternity behind glass.”

His eyes briefly filled with memories again.

”Your grandmother made it to be worn.”

His gaze returned to Yue Ling.

”Your mother wore it.”

A pause.

”Now it belongs to you.”

Yue Ling stared at him.

”Really?”

”Really.”

Her shoulders visibly relaxed.

”I won’t change the design.”

”I know.”

”Only the fit.”

Grandfather Ji nodded.

”Then make it fit you.”

Before Yue Ling could respond, Ji Jingxu finally approached.

His eyes were still red.

He stopped beside Grandfather Ji.

”Jie.”

Yue Ling turned.

Ji Jingxu looked her over again.

His expression crumpled for half a second before he forced a smile.

”You’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

Yue Ling’s heart melted.

She reached up and touched his cheek.

Ji Jingxu immediately leaned into her palm.

”Thank you.”

His smile widened.

Then he sniffed.

Yue Ling raised an eyebrow.

”Are you crying?”

”No.”

His eyes were visibly wet.

”Jingxu.”

”It’s allergies.”

Liu Shan looked around the enclosed room.

”To what?”

Ji Jingxu shot him a glare.

”Be quiet.”

Laughter rippled through the room.

Yue Ling smiled and gently wiped beneath her brother’s eye with her thumb.

Ji Jingxu looked embarrassed but didn’t pull away.

For Yue Ling, he would always be her little brother.

After a moment, he looked at the dress again.

”Brother-in-law really is going to forget how to speak.”

Liu Shan immediately nodded.

”Finally, something that can defeat Lu Tian.”

Yue Ling gave both men an unimpressed look.

Liu Shan immediately cleared his throat.

”Beautiful dress, Boss.”

She shook her head.

Then turned toward Lian Ni Shang and Ju Suo.

Her demeanor shifted smoothly back into that of their leader.

She gave them a nod.

The two women immediately approached.

Lian Ni Shang still looked emotional.

She gently touched the fabric at Yue Ling’s waist.

”We’ll keep everything original.”

Ju Suo nodded.

”Only the fit.”

”Exactly,” Yue Ling said.

Lian Ni Shang began taking measurements.

Every movement was careful. Almost reverent.

Ju Suo recorded each number while periodically examining the original seams.

”The waist needs to come in.”

”Mm.”

”The shoulders are nearly perfect.”

Ju Suo crouched slightly to inspect the skirt.

”Length is good with your wedding shoes.”

Yue Ling looked down.

”And the bodice?”

Lian Ni Shang smiled.

”We’ll make it fit like your grandmother made it specifically for you.”

Yue Ling’s expression softened.

”That’s exactly what I want.”

She assigned each member of the team according to their specialty.

Lian Ni Shang and Gui Tian Lan would oversee the overall alteration.

Ju Suo would handle the delicate lace and original stitching.

Tang Zhonghui and Shan Sinan would inspect the fabric for any weakened sections.

While Qi Li and Gui Zhongmin would handle preservation and pressing.

No embellishments.

No modernization.

No redesign.

Yue Ling wanted nothing added.

Nothing taken away.

When she eventually stood before Lu Tian, she wanted to do so wearing the dress exactly as her mother had envisioned it.

Only fitted for her.

After changing back into her clothes, Yue Ling personally walked Grandfather Ji and Ji Jingxu downstairs.

They reached the lobby.

Beyond the enormous glass windows, snow had begun falling.

Grandfather Ji approached the doors.

Then stopped.

Ji Jingxu nearly bumped into him.

”Grandfather?”

The old man didn’t answer. He slowly turned.

Yue Ling immediately noticed the change in his expression.

His eyes had become thoughtful.

Almost hesitant.

”What’s wrong?”

Grandfather Ji looked at her for a long moment. He seemed to debate whether he should ask.

Then he sighed inwardly.

”Have you told them?”

Yue Ling’s expression froze.

The faint happiness in her eyes dimmed.

She knew immediately who he meant.

The people she had left behind in City Z.

People who had once been family in every way that mattered.

People tied to memories she rarely allowed herself to revisit.

She forced a faint smile.

”They know.”

Grandfather Ji studied her.

He noticed the tiny tension around her mouth.

The way her eyes briefly shifted away.

His granddaughter had never been a good liar with him.

She had told them.

But clearly, the conversation had not gone perfectly.

He did not press.

Instead, he asked quietly—

”And him?”

Everything inside Yue Ling seemed to still.

Ji Jingxu’s expression changed.

He knew exactly who his grandfather meant.

Lee Shin.

Yue Ling’s smile slowly faded.

Her gaze lowered.

A familiar ache spread through her chest.

Three years.

Sometimes it felt like another lifetime.

Sometimes it felt like yesterday.

Memories surfaced without permission.

Lee Shin smiling.

His voice.

The years she had loved him.

Then—

His death.

The funeral.

The grave.

Her fingers slowly curled at her sides.

”Not yet.”

Her voice was quiet.

The last time she had visited Lee Shin, she had spoken to him about Lu Tian.

But back then, her relationship with Lu Tian had only just begun.

She had still been afraid of what loving someone again meant.

She hadn’t known whether the relationship would last.

Now—

Lu Tian was the man she intended to spend the rest of her life with.

Grandfather Ji watched the emotions cross her face.

Pain.

Nostalgia.

And finally, peace.

He smiled gently.

”I’m sure he’ll be happy for you.”

Yue Ling looked at him.

She didn’t answer.

She couldn’t.

Grandfather Ji understood.

He gave her one final reassuring smile before turning toward the entrance.

Ji Jingxu lingered. He looked at his sister.

”Jie.”

Yue Ling raised her eyes.

His expression softened.

”Don’t stay too late.”

She almost laughed.

”Shouldn’t I be telling you that?”

”I’m injured. I have an excuse.”

”You’re recovering.”

”Same thing.”

Yue Ling smiled.

”Go home and rest your wrists.”

Ji Jingxu groaned.

”I knew you were going to say that.”

”Then listen.”

He grinned.

”Yes, Jie.”

He hurried after their grandfather.

Yue Ling remained where she was.

She watched the two figures walk through the glass doors.

Grandfather Ji moved slowly, Ji Jingxu instinctively adjusting his pace to remain beside him.

Soon, they disappeared into the falling snow.

Yue Ling did not move.

Her reflection stared faintly back at her from the glass.

The happiness from moments earlier slowly gave way to something quieter.

Her gaze lifted toward the winter sky.

Lee Shin.

The name moved silently through her mind.

Maybe Yeye was right.

Maybe it was time.

She hadn’t visited his grave in a while.

Not because she had forgotten him.

She never would.

But because she had finally learned that remembering someone did not require living beside their grave.

She could love the person he had been.

Mourn what they had lost.

And still move forward.

Her eyes softened.

Perhaps she should visit him one more time before the wedding.

Tell him everything.

Tell him she was happy.

Truly happy.

Tell him about Lu Tian.

About the wedding.

About the future she had finally stopped being afraid to want.

Then another place entered her thoughts.

City Z.

The people she had left behind.

The relationships that remained strained in some way.

The conversations she had avoided because distance had been easier.

Yue Ling slowly exhaled.

Outside, snow continued falling over Imperial.

Maybe it was time to visit Lee Shin.

And perhaps—

Before she walked into the next Chapter of her life—

it was time to visit the ones she left behind.