After breakfast, Liwei's phone rang. It was Bai Ju. He glanced at Xie Ming before he picked up the call. His eyes widened in shock as he wasn't expecting to get this news from the other side.
Xie Ming and others became worried and curious seeing his expressions and waited for him to tell him what Bai Ju had said. They need to find the other hairpin to complete the ritual but other than the hot spring, no place was coming into their mind.
However, they were planning to check the other places for the hairpin such as the swimming pool behind the villa where Xie Ming had slipped into and drowned before. But there are fewer chances for the hairpin to be found there.
Seeing Liwei's expressions, they were not sure if it's good news or not.
After Liwei hung up the call, Xie Ming asked worriedly, " What happened? What did he say?"
He pursed his lips and turned to Ji Cheng and Zhao Ming, his dazed gaze was making everyone confused and worried.
"Bai Ju called to give me the updates about the hairpin. The hairpin-
-
Ji Cheng glanced at Zhao Ming who was standing upright, with her hands clasped in front in politeness. Her face was pale as she was tired from the 2-hour long drive. There was a bitter smile on her face, her teary-eyed expressions were making him see another side of hers.
It was his first time to see how much she loves her mother. The pain in her eyes was making him feel how much she has gone through since she was young.
They came to a mountain to meet her mother, it took them 2-hours to reach through the drive. He looked at the tree at which Zhao Ming was staring and there was a photo on the tree, it was her mother's picture.
There was a little girl standing beside her in that photo, the girl was hugging a pink teddy bear, her hair was styled in two braids. His lips automatically turned into a smile seeing the girl laughing in the photo. It was his first time seeing Xie Ming's childhood photos.
Till now, he knew her as Zhao Ming, but now he not only knows her real name but also how she used to look. There are many mistakes that he has made, but he is ready to change and put effort into their relationship.
Before this, he was hesitant to accept his feelings for her. After hearing Zhao Ming's response the other day, when she told him that she loves Liwei, he was puzzled and lost about his feelings.
He was not sure how he should take this situation. He loves Zhao Ming but he was confused about which Zhao Ming he loves. He was surprised at how Liwei accepted his feelings for Zhao Ming so easily and he didn't waver for a moment even after knowing the truth.
However, after the conversation that he had with Liwei yesterday, while they were searching the hairpin at the hot spring, it made him realize that he was going wrong all along.
It was normal for him to be confused but the problem is he didn't give Zhao Ming a chance to explain and even ignored her. The thing he did wrong was his approach towards dealing with this situation.
" It was not wrong for you to be confused. I was fl.u.s.tered at first as well, but I chose to trust Xie Ming. I let her explain herself, I tried to think from her perspective." Liwei said as he was standing in the hot spring and looked at Ji Cheng who was inside the water as well, bare-chested.
" How frustrating she must have felt when she died and suddenly woke up as someone else. I can't even imagine living in a different world without knowing anyone. Thinking from her perspective, it made me realize how much courage she had gathered when she decided to trust me. I was a stranger to her but she..followed me, loved me, and showed her weakest side to me."
" How can I let her crumble when she showed so much trust in me?" Hearing these words from Liwei, he realized how mature he is.
Liwei chose to face the situation, whereas he chose to run away from it, which made it even more complicated and difficult. If he had tried to think it from her perspective, and had shared his thoughts with her, things might not have turned out as they did.
He was conflicted and was wondering how to talk to her about this after they came back. However, before he could bring out the topic, Xie Ming told him that she is pregnant. His feelings became only stronger after hearing this news.
This woman is going to bear my child, she is leaving her world, her family, everything behind. It was his responsibility to make her happy and give her all the love she deserves.
Zhao Ming placed the bouquet of pink roses that was her mother's favorite on the ground and caressed the tree with a bitter smile, " Mom, it's been a long time, isn't it?"
" See, whom I brought with me to see you? He is Ji Cheng, my husband, and your son-in-law," she said with a quivering voice. She clenched her fists and was doing her best to not let the tears fall.
" Mom, I am going to be a mother, can you believe it?" she laughed and tried to brush off her tears. "Please give us your blessing." she bowed, while tears gathered in her eyes. Ji Cheng rubbed her back and supported her shoulders, he looked at Li Nian's photo and said, " Mother, don't worry. I will take good care of your daughter. I won't repeat the same mistakes again. I promise." he said, making Zhao Ming turn her head to look at him.
" Please give us your blessings. Your blessings will make her at ease." He said, at which Zhao Ming could only smile.
-
At night, Xie Ming was in the car while Zhao Ming was sitting beside her in the back seat. Liwei was driving while Ji Cheng was sitting on the passenger seat. She pulled down the window and looked at the brightly-lit full moon that was following them.
She sighed softly seeing the full-moon. It was the moon that is going to change their lives forever.
However, there was a fear rippling in her heart, what if something goes wrong? What if the curse doesn't end even after doing all this? What if Zhao Ming and Ji Cheng couldn't go back and something happened?
All the bad thoughts were giving her a headache. She let out a tired sigh and glanced at Zhao Ming who had her eyes closed and was resting. She placed a hand on hers and realized how her hands were trembling in nervousness.
" Zhao Ming.." she called her out in a low voice, making her open her eyes. Zhao Ming saw a worried look in her eyes and shook her head, assuring her that she is fine.
She was trying to be fine, but fear was making her hands tremble in nervousness. She is not alone, she has another little-life to take care of now. She remembered that Shen Jia has told her that this ritual is not easy.
It's not only energy draining but can be life-threatening if not executed correctly. I hope everything goes fine. She wondered.
She looked at the hairpin in her hand and took a deep breath, to gather her courage.
-
After getting off the car, Zhao Ming frowned as she looked at the strange-secluded place, where no one could be seen. The area was dark, with no light around. There was only moonlight to show them the way.
She rubbed her hands due to the cold night-breeze and how creepy the whole atmosphere was. She was startled when Ji Cheng placed a jacket on her shoulders from behind and whispered in her ears, " Wear it."
They are now wearing the same clothes that they wore when they came into this world. Since they need to go back, they can't possibly go back in the clothes of this world.
How would people react if they were found to be wearing a short dress, while Ji Cheng in tight jeans and shirt? They will fain out of shock. However, she was surprised that he has the sense to prepare a spare jacket for her, to protect her from the cold.
" What place is this? It's so dark and creepy?" Zhao Ming asked while looking around, it looked like some abandoned-old palace.
" It's Ji Palace. By the time, it has not only lost its grandeur but also got ruined in the long span of time due to wars and invasions." Xie Ming stated as she looked at the palace, which doesn't look royal and exquisite, all left there were ruined walls and debris to see.
Zhao Ming and Ji Cheng looked at each other before turning to the palace, the palace which was built in the center of Ji city and was known for its lavish and grandeur architecture, was nothing but a ruined-palace now.
Seeing the place, no one can say that it was once a palace, which served as the symbol of the power of the Ji Dynasty. The palace that was desired by many kings and sovereigns to live in this palace for a day, was ruined to the point that it cannot be even recognized.
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