Chapter 35: The Past Feels Like a Dream

  In Medicine King Valley, the foundation of the Hai City Wang family, nestled amidst the surrounding mountains, spiritual energy lingered in the air, and the peaks rose in lush yers, resembling a paradise on earth. At the entrance, two massive bronze cauldrons stood proudly on either side of the stone bridge, intricately carved with ancient inscriptions, like a silent epic telling the story of Medicine King Valley’s legacy and glory. The valley was always enveloped in mist, releasing a calming aroma of medicinal herbs. Clear spring water cascaded from the mountain, its soothing sound like the gentle plucking of a pipa, a rainbow appearing in the shimmering light, illuminating the entire valley in a dreamlike glow.

  Sanbao stood on the bridge, squinting as she observed the bronze cauldrons at the entrance. She couldn’t help but mutter to herself, *These cauldrons are probably older than the history of Moling City. Medicine King Valley truly has a long history and immense wealth. Not even the entrance is spared from such grandiose decoration. There must not be many pces like this in the world.*

  She walked down the bridge and saw several disciples of Medicine King Valley crouching in the medicinal fields, carefully watering the spiritual pnts. The fields were filled with rare and precious pnts, their leaves a vibrant green, surrounded by spiritual energy. One particurly rge “Nine-Turned Spirit Mushroom,” standing half a person’s height and glowing with a translucent sheen, caught her eye. Nearby, the disciples were burning incense and praying with an air of reverence, as though they were worshiping a divine entity.

  Sanbao rolled her eyes and whispered under her breath, "They're worshiping mushrooms? The people of Medicine King Valley really are something else."

  Just as she thought this, she heard light footsteps behind her. Xiao Lan, holding a pte of white jade cakes, came running up with a bright smile. "Miss, have some snacks. The cooks in Medicine King Valley are famous in the capital. These cakes are delicious!"

  Sanbao took one and casually bit into it. The cake was delicate and soft, melting in her mouth with a faint medicinal fragrance that made her feel invigorated. She clicked her tongue. "More spiritual pnt snacks. Does the Wang family have any ordinary rice? No wonder they say everyone who joins Medicine King Valley gets fatter. The food here is just too good."

  Xiao Lan couldn’t help but ugh. "Miss, enjoy it. You're going to be the young mistress soon, so everything here will be yours."

  Sanbao rolled her eyes at her. "Don’t talk nonsense. We’re not even married yet, and you’re already calling me ‘mistress.’"

  Xiao Lan chuckled mischievously. "Well, it’s bound to happen soon. Wang Gongzi is so kind, handsome, and considerate. Don’t you like him, Miss?"

  Sanbao fell silent for a moment, her thoughts a little complicated. Wang Suifeng had indeed treated her well, but as for marrying him, it felt too soon.

  At the edge of the Thin West Lake within Medicine King Valley, the waters rippled gently, and the pavilion in the center of the ke stood quietly. Colorful koi swam zily, their movements creating small ripples. Sanbao was standing at the keside, lost in thought when she suddenly heard Wu Yuyu’s voice behind her.

  "Miss, why have you been so distracted tely? Is it because the wedding is approaching, and you're feeling nervous?"

  Sanbao snapped back to reality, smiling faintly. "Nervous? Not really."

  Wu Yuyu blinked, leaning forward. "Then why? Don’t you like Wang Gongzi? Everyone says you two are a perfect match."

  Sanbao sighed lightly. "I do like him, but I’m not ready for marriage yet. Honestly, I have feelings for Wang Suifeng, but it feels too early to talk about marriage."

  Wu Yuyu’s eyes widened in surprise. "Too early? Does that mean you have someone else in mind?"

  Sanbao didn’t respond, instead offering a faint smile as she continued staring at the ke. Her heart felt complicated, and a series of images fshed in her mind.

  She recalled her past life, when she was a man living in a modern city. Every day, he wore a sharp suit, polished leather shoes, rushing through the busy streets. It was a fast-paced city, where everyone was preoccupied with making a living, coming and going. Even at night, the streets were filled with neon lights and the hustle and bustle of nightlife. It was a city that never slept, a steel forest that kept going.

  His first love was his high school cssmate, a short-haired, elegant girl who always wore a smile and had eyes as clear as the ke. At first, he hadn’t noticed her. He only saw her occasionally in css, writing notes at her desk or buried in her books during study sessions.

  Until one day, the css teacher rearranged the seats, and she was pced right in front of him. He didn’t think much of it until she turned around, beamed a radiant smile at him, and said, "Please take care of me from now on!" Her smile was bright as the sun, and it warmed his heart.

  From that moment, the two gradually grew closer. During css, she would often turn around, hand him some review materials, saying it was to help him catch up. He would compin that it wasn’t necessary, but still quietly accepted the papers and studied them at home.

  During breaks, she often dragged him to the pyground, chatting away about funny things happening in css. She loved math but always struggled with physics, and he, who was good at physics, would patiently expin problems to her. She would furrow her brows, muttering, "Why is this so hard?" He would sigh and carefully solve the problems on paper, and she would listen intently, murmuring, "So that’s how it works..."

  In their senior year, they spent most of their time in css, studying together and reviewing te into the night. Occasionally, he would gnce at her as she focused on her books, impressed by her determination. On the day of the mock exams, she nervously wiped her sweaty palms. He handed her a bottle of cold water and said softly, "Rex, you’ll do great."

  She looked up at him, her eyes showing vulnerability and dependence, and smiled, "As long as you’re here, I’m not afraid." Those words made ripples in his heart.

  The night before the college entrance exams, they sat on the school rooftop, watching the sparse stars in the sky. Her voice cracked as she asked, "What if I don’t get in?"

  He reached out, lightly patting her shoulder. "It’s okay, you’re not alone." She turned to look at him, her eyes burning with determination. Suddenly, she stood on her tiptoes and quickly kissed him on the cheek. He was so stunned that he couldn’t react in time. She turned away and casually said, "Don’t think too much about it. I’m just thanking you for your help."

  The afternoon after the college entrance exam results were released, she was accepted into a prestigious university, while he missed it by a few points and ended up at a regur one. On the phone, she comforted him, saying they would still support each other, and that she would visit him when she was free.

  But instead, he received the news that she was going abroad to study. At the airport, he stood amidst the crowd, watching her walk through security. She looked back at him, her eyes glistening with tears, and softly whispered, "I’m sorry."

  He stood frozen, feeling a heavy weight in his chest, realizing at that moment that he had already fallen in love with her, but had never expressed it.

  Afterward, they lost contact. He stayed busy in the city, working and attending to his life, mechanically repeating his daily routines. Occasionally, when he passed the little snack shop they used to visit, he would pause for a moment, reminiscing about the girl with the bright smile and stubborn spirit.

  Time passed, and she became the softest part of his heart. That innocent first love, like a faint afterglow, was etched deep in his heart, something he couldn’t touch but couldn’t forget.

  Later, he met another short-haired girl in a café. Her smile was radiant, and her eyes pyful. One day, she accidentally knocked over his coffee, apologizing frantically. He was about to get angry but stopped when he saw her bright eyes, and instead, he ughed. They became familiar with each other, and she would always ask him to go shopping or have hotpot, always clinging to his arm like a little kitten. She loved taking pictures and would often compin that he wasn’t photogenic.

  One rainy day, she forgot her umbrel. He hurriedly ran to meet her and saw her standing at the bus stop, drenched in her white shirt, looking pitiful. He ran over and put his coat over her. She blushed and stubbornly said, "I don’t need you to care." But her eyes betrayed her gratitude and dependence.

  Another time, they were at the movies watching a clichéd romantic film. She cried while watching the movie, and he quietly handed her a tissue. She gred at him and said, "Can’t you be a little more moved?" He paused for a moment, smiled, and gently held her in his arms, whispering in her ear, "I’m moved by you."

  But those sweet and warm days eventually dissipated like wind-blown petals. They gradually drifted apart due to the pressures of life and differing views, and finally broke up after a heated argument. That day, she stood on the street, shouting at him, "You don’t understand what love is!" He stood still, watching her walk away, unable to move.

  Sanbao stood by the ke, lost in thought. She couldn’t figure out what she was feeling. Was it nostalgia? Regret? Or was it simply that she still hadn’t figured out what love really was? Even now, in this new body and new world, faced with the emotional entanglements with Wang Suifeng and Tang Mingli, she still felt lost.

  "What is love?" Sanbao murmured softly, a self-mocking smile tugging at her lips. She hadn’t understood it in her past life, and now, in this life, she still faced the same question.

  Xiao Lan, hearing her muttering, asked curiously, "Miss, what are you mumbling about?"

  Sanbao shook her head lightly and said indifferently, "Nothing. Just thinking that the fish in this ke are a bit silly, swimming around without knowing what they’re doing."

  Xiao Lan ughed and didn’t think much of it, continuing to feed the fish. Sanbao stared at the ripples forming on the ke, her thoughts as scattered and confused as the waves.

  As time passed, the preparations for the wedding grew busier. The entire Medicine King Valley was adorned in festive decorations.

  Sanbao could see servants coming and going, setting up red ribbons and flowers, even in the spiritual pnt fields.

  But the more time passed, the more uneasy she felt. She began to entertain thoughts of escaping this pce. She knew Wang Suifeng treated her well, but this arranged wedding felt too sudden. Marrying? She wasn’t mentally prepared for it, and that nagging feeling of unease gnawed at her. The wedding, she realized, felt like a giant net enclosing her, making it hard to breathe.

  Wu Yuyu ughed cheerfully, "Miss, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for both the Hai City Wang family and our Xu family. And Wang Gongzi cares deeply for you, of course, it has to be grand."

  Sanbao gred at her and retorted, "Caring deeply? If he really cared, why is he in such a rush to marry me? He hasn’t even asked me, and I haven’t agreed yet!"