bookbashuk Chapter 373 Don't you want me anymore?
Chapter 373 Don't you want me anymore?
Meanwhile, in the capital city.
Ming Xiangyang, who had taken over Lu Sheng's body, panicked completely after discovering that "Lu Sheng" (his original body) had disappeared.
What made him even more anxious was that Shen Li hadn't called her at all in the past few days; all contact had been through Zhao Qing. This made him increasingly uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.
He gripped his phone, his fingers turning white, and dialed Mingcheng's number, his voice filled with impatience: "Feed..."
"Master," came Mingcheng's voice, tinged with a hint of guilt.
"Have you found the person?" Ming Xiangyang pressed, his tone urgent.
Not yet...
"What have you been doing all day? You can't even keep an eye on one person!" Ming Xiangyang couldn't help but get angry, his tone stern.
Mingcheng remained silent, offering no explanation.
None of them expected that "Lu Sheng" would suddenly disappear in Xiangjiang, a place they were completely unfamiliar with, and he didn't have much money to begin with, so they had no idea where he could go.
Ming Xiangyang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and his tone became urgent again: "Send out more people, no matter how much money it costs, find him at all costs! The Xiangjiang River is too chaotic, we absolutely cannot let anything happen to him!"
"Master, I understand. I will arrange for people to expand the search area immediately."
Even after hanging up the phone, Ming Xiangyang's heart was still pounding, his mind filled with the image of "Lu Sheng"—he absolutely couldn't be hurt!
With that in mind, he went to the military base early the next morning to ask for leave.
Shen Li is due to give birth in a little over a month, so he simply took three months off to be with her.
Fortunately, he usually performs well, so the leave application went smoothly.
As soon as the leave was approved, he packed his things and rushed to Shenzhen without stopping.
He had already contacted Zhao Qing and knew where Shen Li and the others were staying in Pengcheng.
On the other hand, after Shen Li returned to Pengcheng, she stayed in the courtyard every day, seemingly eating, drinking, having fun, and doing nothing. However, Lu Cheng could tell that she had something on her mind.
She had clearly lost weight, and the light in her eyes had dimmed; her eyes often revealed a dull and unclear weariness.
That day, Lu Cheng held her hand and sat on a wicker chair in the courtyard, his voice gentle yet full of heartache: "Lili, don't think too much. You still have me, and the baby in your belly. Don't always bear your sadness alone. Think about it, at least he's still alive, right?"
Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Shen Li's pent-up emotions instantly broke down.
Tears welled up in her eyes: "But why did he lie to me?"
"Why fake your brother's death?"
"He knew perfectly well how much pain I was in during that time..."
Lu Cheng remained silent, then gently pulled her into his arms.
He could roughly guess that perhaps it was that unrequited love that caused the real Ming Xiangyang to lose his mind.
That's why he made such a selfish decision—he only wanted to keep Shen Li by his side, but he never thought about how much harm this lie would cause to Shen Li and his older brother.
As for whether his elder brother's amnesia was his doing, that still needs to be investigated.
During this period, Shen Li did not answer Ming Xiangyang's calls.
She really didn't know how to face the person who had deceived and hurt her older brother.
She lowered her head and touched her stomach, her eyes filled with guilt.
Previously, the babies in my belly were always very active and would kick me often, but lately, perhaps sensing the decline in my health, the little ones have become much quieter.
Looking at her, Lu Cheng was extremely worried.
She's pregnant now, and her emotions are already sensitive and fragile. If she keeps overthinking like this, her body definitely won't be able to take it.
All he could do was hold her tightly, offering her a little comfort in his own way.
Seeing Lu Cheng's anxious expression, Shen Li suppressed the bitterness in her heart and gently comforted him, "Second Brother, don't worry, I know everything."
Lu Cheng raised his hand, his fingertips gently stroking her cheek, his voice full of concern: "You've lost weight."
The person in his arms lowered their eyes gently, but Lu Cheng sighed inwardly.
Even though Shen Li was certain about the soul swap, he still wasn't entirely sure.
After all, the eldest brother has no memory of the past, so all of this is ultimately too illusory.
On the fifteenth of September, the autumn sun shone brightly.
Ming Xiangyang finally arrived in Pengcheng.
Shen Li was leaning against a wicker chair in the courtyard, basking in the sun. The warm sunlight shone on her head, but it couldn't dispel the faint sorrow in her eyes.
A soft knock came from outside the courtyard gate, and Feng Ye quickly went to open it.
Upon seeing who was standing at the door, Feng Ye was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, Ming Xiangyang's gaze had already passed over her and landed precisely on Shen Li in the courtyard.
His heart tightened, and he quickly shoved the suitcase he was carrying into Feng Ye's hands. He hurried toward Shen Li, his voice filled with barely suppressed urgency: "Li Li..."
Shen Li looked up and his gaze fell on that familiar face—it was the skin of his elder brother Lu Sheng, but inside it was the soul of Ming Xiangyang.
Her eyes were complex and unreadable; there was no joy, only silence.
This unusual silence made Ming Xiangyang uneasy, and his brows furrowed involuntarily: "What's wrong?"
As he spoke, he subconsciously reached out, wanting to take her hand and get close to her as he used to.
But Shen Li seemed to have anticipated this and dodged the hand.
The moment his fingertips missed their mark, Ming Xiangyang's heart sank—his intuition was right, Lili was indeed angry with him.
What happened?
Or...did she discover something?
"Lili, what's wrong with you?" His voice softened, tinged with a helpless confusion.
"Did I do something wrong? Don't be angry, okay?"
Just then, the kitchen door was pushed open.
The real Lu Sheng (wearing Ming Xiangyang's face) came out carrying a plate of freshly made snacks, his tone natural and gentle: "Lili, the snacks are ready, come and have some to tide you over."
The real Lu Sheng looked at Ming Xiangyang next to Shen Li, his face full of unfamiliarity—he didn't recognize the person in front of him at all.
When Ming Xiangyang looked at the face that was exactly the same as his own, he was struck dumb, frozen in place, a cold sweat broke out on his back, and his hands and feet felt cold.
If there's anything else you don't understand, Lili knows the truth.
He didn't know whether to be happy that he was alright or panicked, his lie had finally been exposed.
He staggered and squatted down, his voice trembling: "Li...Li Li...please let me explain..."
Shen Li slowly turned her head to look at him, her eyes reddening, but she desperately held back her tears, her voice trembling slightly: "Okay, I'll listen to your explanation. Explain clearly that you are Lu Sheng and have never lied to me."
Ming Xiangyang opened his mouth, but his throat felt blocked by something, and all his words ultimately turned into silence.
He couldn't defend himself, because every word she said exposed his most hidden lie.
He lowered his head, instinctively reaching for Shen Li's hand, his heart filled with immense panic—was the love he had stolen destined to be short-lived from the very beginning?
Since Heaven has already been kind to him, allowing him to stay by her side as Lu Sheng, why can't it be even kinder to him and let this false happiness last a little longer?
He knew he had done something despicable, but how could he bear to give up this hard-won love?
He just wanted to be with the person he loved.
Unbeknownst to her, a hot tear fell onto the back of Shen Li's hand.
Shen Li looked down at the teardrop, her heart skipped a beat, and then she abruptly withdrew her hand, stood up, and walked back to her room without looking back.
Ming Xiangyang watched her resolute back as she walked away, his voice hoarse and choked with despair: "Lili, don't you want me anymore?"