Jiang Ruolan vaguely remembered that her mother liked to take her and Jiang Yijun went out into the wilderness when they were a child. At that time, her mother would sit there all afternoon with a piece of white paper in her hand. Jiang Ruolan was very young, so she didn't understand what her mother was doing.
Jiang Ruolan looked back at the oil painting. Although oil painting was very popular 20 years ago, but to be able to paint professionally, one must have studied it abroad.
So this painting was likely to be painted by her mother and her mother ever studied abroad? To be able to go abroad and learn elegant things at the time, this meant her mother wasn't from an ordinary family.
Jiang Ruolan suddenly recalled what Senior Zhou had told her before, as well as her and Zhou Shufen's similarity. Could it be that her mother really had something to do with the Zhou Family?
However, when she looked at the painting again, she saw that the woman in the painting had a sorrowful feeling.
Zhou Qingling, huh… Who will guess you will be fated like this. If only you hadn't met Jiang Guanyu at that time. Why did you have to sacrifice a lifetime of happiness for him? Why did you have to show your dream and hope in this painting?
Xian Zihao's breathing hit Jiang Ruolan's ear as she felt warmth on her shoulder. "Your feet are hurting again?" he asked softly.
Jiang Ruolan turned her head to look at him. She didn't say anything, but instead placed her forehead lightly on his chest and quietly inhaled his smell. The warmth and serenity feelings in his arms, as well as the happiness of being treated and cared for gently by Xian Zihao, made her heart bloom.
No matter what her mother's past had been like and no matter how much of it she didn't know, with Xian Zihao by her side, Jiang Ruolan would always be at ease.
Xian Zihao patted her shoulder lightly. When she still wanted to crawl into his embrace, he spoke with a serious tone as if he was scolding a child, "Don't move. Let me see."
Jiang Ruolan could only sit on the chair without moving. Xian Zihao bent down and carefully held her foot. He used two fingers to pinch a sore spot on her ankle gently. He did not put too much strength into it, but Jiang Ruolan hurriedly pulled her foot back just as he squeezed.
Xian Zihao immediately frowned. "This is my negligence. Your feet are still not healed and I should not have taken you anywhere." He sighed, his eyes filled with heartache. He rubbed her ankle gently and asked, "Is it still hurt as before?"
Jiang Ruolan shook her head, "It's fine now. It's still painful, but not that painful. Don't worry. I will be fine."
Xian Zihao sighed. "Although a sprained ankle is only a minor injury, if we don't pay any attention to it, there will still be repercussions. Since when did it hurt today?"
"It didn't hurt when we were in the auction hall. Maybe I was standing for too long, that's why it hurt a little, or maybe because this shoe is not comfortable?" Jiang Ruolan answered truthfully. After she finished speaking, she even laughed twice.
"Don't go out again. In two days, we will return to H City. It will be the Spring Festival soon; you have to be well on that day." Xian Zihao looked at her in amusement. He got up and asked the staff to prepare some medicine. After that, he helped her walk back to their room.
Back in their room, just as Jiang Ruolan sat down, the staff brought in a bottle of safflower oil. Xian Zihao knelt down and took off her shoes. He rubbed her ankle lightly with his finger before applying the oil.
Xian Zihao's fingers were long and well-defined, with no calluses on his palms. He held her feet in his warm palms and gently rubbed his fingers against the skin on her delicate yet tense ankles.
Jiang Ruolan had to admit that her heart trembled slightly. She was so shocked that she almost retracted her foot. She just watched his tender care and suddenly felt grateful.
****
The next day…
Jiang Ruolan couldn't stay in their room any longer, she was bored! She coquettishly tugged at Xian Zihao's sleeve, acting like a spoiled child, saying that she wanted to go for a walk.
Jiang Ruolan had never had the chance to visit Beijing before, and even if she can't go to the palace like the Great Wall of China or 13th Mausoleum, she should go for a walk.
Old Man Xian had a meal nearer the mosque in Beijing today, so he called them to come over. Jiang Ruolan immediately snatched Xian Zihao's phone and agreed on his behalf.
When she saw his helpless expression, she smiled and leaned into his arms, saying, "My ankle is fine now, it doesn't hurt anymore."
After meeting some of Old Man Xian's old friends, they went to the mosque. Jiang Ruolan had never known that such a place existed in Beijing. She had always thought that this thing was only found in Tibet.
Maybe today was not a day of pilgrimage because there were only a few tourists when they entered the mosque.
Jiang Ruolan had no religious beliefs, and Xian Zihao naturally did not either. They were both atheists, so to her, the only thing that could be lamented was the exotic architecture of this place.
Xian Zihao held her hand as they walked through this solemn area.
Monks passed by, their words and actions bearing a family member's dignity.
There were souvenirs for sale nearer the mosque as well. As they strolled along, Jiang Ruolan would always be attracted by something along the way and would occasionally stay for more than ten minutes.
"There are a few snack bars over here, let's go try them out later." Since Jiang Ruolan had just eaten very little, Xian Zihao spoke softly into her ears.
Jiang Ruolan nodded and looked around until she saw the 990th floor of the steps in front of the mosque. She stopped and smiled. "Zihao, let's not go abroad for our honeymoon. We don't need to go to Thailand or Maldives. Look, in our own country, there is this exquisite mosque. I know there are many more places we can visit. So there is no need for us to waste our money abroad."
Xian Zihao looked at her quietly. "Want to save money for your husband?"
She looked down and stroked her belly. "I want to save money for my child. I want to buy the most expensive and best powder milk for him."
A smile blossomed on Xian Zihao's face, shining like the sun in the sky. "You don't have to save money for this. Your husband has not gotten into such a miserable state yet."
Jiang Ruolan chuckled.
Xian Zihao kissed her lightly on the forehead. When she was in his arms, she had always felt like she had become his treasure.
There was a park nearby. Both of them walked side by side across the paths until they came to a lake where two or three children were playing games next to it. One of the children ran too fast and directly hit Jiang Ruolan's leg. She almost stumbled down, but Xian Zihao immediately caught her.
"Luckily you didn't fall." Xian Zihao looked at Jiang Ruolan with concern. Jiang Ruolan smiled and steadied her foot. She then looked at the mischievous brat that had run away after knocking her.
She couldn't help but glare at the child and pretend to be angry as she said, "You mischievous brat! If you mess around like this, your mommy will spank your butt and you won't be able to get out for three days. Y–"
Before Jiang Ruolan could finish her sentence, Xian Zihao's lips had already landed on her's, interrupting her words. In the instant that she was stunned, Xian Zihao took this opportunity to kiss her deeply.
Jiang Ruolan's face immediately reddened. With all the kids around them, Xian Zihao was not slightly afraid of teaching them bad things. She pushed him away in panic and said angrily, "There are a lot of people here. There are kids and parents, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Xian Zihao ignored her, instead pulled her face closer, and didn't give her the chance to escape before kissing her once again. As Jiang Ruolan struggled weakly, the kiss became even more impudent.
Xian Zihao tightly hugged her waist, pressing her slim body against his chest.
Eventually, Jiang Ruolan couldn't hold on any longer. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck, hugging him tightly as a response to his enthusiasm.
The rays of the afternoon sun reflected on the water in the lake and sprinkled bits of gold onto the two people who had completely forgotten where they were now. The gentle breeze blew the leaves on the tree and a rustling sound could be heard.
Some adults on both sides of the park stared enviously. It was rare to find a calm and mature man like Xian Zihao, accompanying his wife to a place like this and added to the bonus, he was so loyal to her. Since the clothes Jiang Ruolan wore today were a bit loose, some can see her little belly.
Such a blissful couple was indeed to be envied by others.
