As Long As You’re Alive

After Feng Ji left, Gao Lan Mei went outside the room into the garden. She sat on a chair next to the plum tree. The sun would soon rise and this would be the first one she would see with her own eyes. 

In her previous life, she was only able to see most of the things that others take for granted, like the view of sunrise only from her puppets' memories. She didn't know when she started wanting to see it personally. And also to be able to touch interesting treasures and eventually own them. 

"Was it because of him?" She didn't remember how he looked like. It was a very distant memory from her previous life. She remembered his interesting stories, like how cold snow was or how the sun was not hot enough to burn him. 

There were a lot of stories and she did not remember all of them, just like how she couldn't remember what his face looked like. 'Will I be able to see him here?' It would be for the best if she did not since the fading memory was her choice in the first place. 

Her line of thought was interrupted when she heard footsteps coming closer. She looked at the direction where it came from and saw Gao Chu, her personal maid. 

"Young miss!" Gao Chu exclaimed in surprise. Since it was still too early, the maid thought that she was still dreaming. 'The young miss was severely injured, so how could this woman sitting next to the plum tree be her? She couldn't even talk yesterday!'

"You…you..." Gao Chu didn't know what to say. She just pointed her finger at Gao Lan Mei and went closer. "Young miss, you…you…are fine now?"

"Yes," Gao Lan Mei replied as she curiously peered at the maid. Even though Gao Lan Mei confirmed it, it was still unbelievable so Gao Chu pinched her own arm. "Ah!" It was painful, hence Gao Chu confirmed that she was not dreaming.

She then looked at her young miss. Her face was full of scars and claw marks. Gao Chu was the one who cleaned the fresh wounds yesterday but now, there were just scars. No more blood. It's like the scar was a wound from a long time ago. "How… How..?" The maid asked in disbelief, unsure of what to say next. 

"You're not happy?" Gao Lan Mei forgot that her healing so quickly should be impossible. She could not say that the rebirth pill that she used for her quick recovery was stolen from the second prince's treasure house before it was burned down.

"I'm happy ! Young miss! We were so worried about you!" Gao Chu burst into tears and fell to her feet. The crying was so loud in the quiet morning that it even attracted Madam Gao's attention.

"Mei'er!" Li Mao was surprised when she saw her daughter. She couldn't believe that her daughter seemed to be fine. She was outside and there was no trace of blood on her face. This was simply a miracle!

Due to her emotions, Li Mao suddenly embraced Gao Lan Mei, who stiffened upon contact. She is still getting used to the affection this family gave her, much less with any sudden physical contact. 

"What's wrong? Is something painful?" Li Mao noticed her daughter's strange reaction.

"No…It was too tight mother…" Gao Lan Mei lied. She is not used to being embraced.

"Oh. I am sorry. I was just so happy! The wounds are completely healed. How did this happen?" Although thankful, Madam Gao still wanted to know who their benefactor was.

"Is it true? Mei'er is better?" They heard a man's voice. The voice sounded weak but hopeful.

Li Mao was surprised to see Gao Qi, who was still wearing sleeping robes as he approached them, trying to know what the commotion was about. "Husband!" Madam Gao went towards her husband to assist him.

Gao Lan Mei approached the pair and told them, "Father, I am sorry, I made you worry." She knew that this man would give his all for his family. It felt strange to be treated this way. She was not the original Gao Lan Mei, but it felt nice to have a mother and father's love.

Gao Qi embraced Gao Lan Mei. She was now prepared for intimate contact and did not stiffen in response. Her vision blurred, and tears fell from her eyes. She never cried in her previous life. Despite that, she knew that it was not wrong because the feeling was pleasant. 

 "As long as you're alive. Do not think of anything else."