Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 405: More Afraid of Being Forgotten Than Disappearing

Chapter 405: Chapter 405: More Afraid of Being Forgotten Than Disappearing

She pushed open the door. The sun was high in the sky—a beautiful day.

Song Lianhe stretched. It felt as if she had been asleep for ages.

"Princess Consort? Princess Consort!"

As soon as Manager Meng walked in, he spotted her. He was so excited he didn’t know what to do with his hands. "Princess Consort, you’re finally awake! You have no idea how worried we were! Princess Consort..."

Before he could finish, someone who had rushed over at the sound of his voice bumped him aside.

Xuan Mei ran up to her, carefully looking her over from head to toe, afraid something might be wrong.

Song Lianhe took her hand. "I’m perfectly fine."

Only then did Xuan Mei truly look at her. She seemed to want to say something, but she just pressed her lips together and looked away. "The heavens watch over the virtuous, Princess Consort."

It was rare to hear such an auspicious phrase from her, and Song Lianhe smiled and nodded. "Then I’ll take that as a blessing, Sister Mei."

"Sister!!"

Ah Jun burst into the backyard like a whirlwind. The moment he saw Song Lianhe, his face crumpled and he started to cry. "Sister, I thought I’d never see you again... Waaah..."

Before he could throw himself into Song Lianhe’s arms, someone grabbed him by the collar and tossed him aside. Then, Song Lianhe was ushered into the room, and the door slammed shut with a BANG, leaving the others outside to stare at each other in bewilderment.

Manager Meng was the first to react. He turned to the others. "Alright, let’s disperse. We still have so many patients waiting outside."

Xuan Mei, ever perceptive, followed Manager Meng out.

Ah Jun protested, "But..."

The Shadow Guard cheerfully slung an arm around his shoulder and guided him away. "But what? The husband and wife are having a private conversation. What are you meddling for? Let’s go! Come out and help!"

Ah Jun was still indignant, but he had no grounds to object. Frustrated, all he could do was let out a couple of exasperated shouts.

Hearing the conversation outside, Song Lianhe couldn’t help but blush.

The man beside her, however, was perfectly composed. He pulled her down to sit on the bed and reached for her clothes.

"Wh-what are you doing, undressing me?"

Her face flushed beet red with embarrassment, and she clutched the front of her robes.

He glanced up at her. "I’m checking your wound."

Even though she was now back from the dead and seemed perfectly fine, the memory of that punch from Yan was still terrifying.

"I’m fine now!"

She covered her chest and turned her back to him. "Don’t forget, I’m a doctor. When I say I’m fine, I’m fine."

"No."

His brow furrowed as he insisted, "I must see for myself that you are unharmed."

"You..."

He was too close, and Song Lianhe grew flustered. "F-fine, I’ll do it myself."

Only then did he stop.

Song Lianhe loosened the front of her robe, revealing one shoulder. Face flushed, she turned back to him. "Th-there. You can look."

The woman before him had skin as fair as cream, a blush gracing her cheeks, and her eyes swam with affection.

When Zhou Cangyan’s gaze fell upon the spot where she had been injured, his breath hitched.

If before he had simply wanted to check her wound, his intentions now were no longer so pure.

But he cherished this woman who had just returned from death’s door.

And so, Zhou Cangyan suppressed the desire stirring deep in his eyes and raised his hand to examine her.

Song Lianhe’s body tensed, her eyes widening. ’Shyness was one thing, but they were a proper husband and wife, formally wed. They had done all sorts of intimate things. This wasn’t enough to make me push him away.’

As if oblivious to her thoughts, Zhou Cangyan used his fingertips and palm to check the area, his brow furrowed slightly as he examined her sternum inch by inch. "Does it still hurt here?"

"N-no, it doesn’t hurt anymore..."

He would occasionally apply pressure with his palm. The force wasn’t great, but it was practically the death of her!

’Who could possibly stand this?’

"What about here?"

His expression was grave, and he wouldn’t allow her to be dismissive.

"I’m really okay now."

She quickly grabbed his hand to stop him from examining her further.

Staring at her cheeks, he paused. Then, as if he’d realized something, he let out a barely audible chuckle.

"Heh." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"What are you laughing at!"

Song Lianhe lifted her flushed face and glared at him. Her charmingly indignant look made his mouth go dry, and his body felt like it was being roasted over a fire.

And yet, he couldn’t touch her.

At this rate, every extra glance was torture.

Zhou Cangyan nodded. "It seems you’ve made a full recovery."

Seeing that he finally believed her, Song Lianhe proudly patted her chest twice. "Naturally!"

He caught her wrist, gently lowering her hand. Then, he readjusted her robes for her, his movements both tender and patient.

Song Lianhe looked up at him, her heart starting to race.

From her angle, his slightly tousled hair fell across his forehead, partially obscuring his eyes. When his gaze swept over her, his eyes shimmered, and his cool, refined beauty was enough to make one’s heart skip a beat.

Once her robes were in order, he met her gaze and lifted a hand to cup her chin. "From now on, no more reckless adventures."

She hastily agreed. "Don’t worry, I value my life more than anything!"

Zhou Cangyan snorted. "Value your life? Inspiring an entire city of people to spontaneously pray for you—is that what you call valuing your life?"

"They..."

Song Lianhe lowered her head, unable to keep a smile from her lips, though she feigned humility. "Oh, I didn’t really do anything. There’s no need for them to be so kind."

"You didn’t do much. You only threw your life away."

As Zhou Cangyan spoke, his eyes turned dark.

How could he allow her to risk her life for others? He wouldn’t permit it even for his own sake!

"B-but they’re also grateful to you, Prince Qing! You were the one who brought the army to save them. That’s how they were rescued!"

Song Lianhe made sure to flatter him as well.

But Zhou Cangyan just looked at her and said with deep meaning, "They should indeed thank you. Not just them, but the Nanchen Army as well."

"But..." Song Lianhe’s gaze fell, her expression turning somber. "If I hadn’t been so insistent, Jintang and Yin Huan wouldn’t have died..."

Zhou Cangyan pulled her into his arms. "If there is a debt to be paid, it is mine to bear. It has nothing to do with you."

Song Lianhe buried her face in his chest, her voice thick with emotion. "Biwu, I had a dream. I dreamt that they were in another world, living the lives they always wanted. Maybe... maybe they really are there."

’Another world...’

Zhou Cangyan looked down at her, the questions he wanted to ask catching in his throat.

The fear of losing her at any moment was like a seed, planted deep in his heart.

Zhou Cangyan’s eyes narrowed. He suddenly grabbed her chin and kissed her fiercely.

"You’re sure you’ve fully recovered?"

"You... you..."

"Mm."

He was her husband; this was perfectly normal. But Song Lianhe still felt shy.

"I-I’m fine..."

"...Good."

With that one word of assent, Zhou Cangyan laid her down on the bed.

It was as if this was the only way he could confirm that she truly belonged to him—that she wasn’t just a figment of his imagination, or a dream.

"Biwu..." Song Lianhe clung to a final thread of reason. "Have you really remembered everything?"

Zhou Cangyan lifted his head, his flushed eyes locking onto hers. "Yes. Everything about you... I remember it all."

Song Lianhe suddenly smiled. She took the initiative, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing his cheek.

"I think... I’m more afraid of you forgetting me than I am of disappearing from this world."

Zhou Cangyan held her tighter, hiding his tear-filled eyes from her view...