A Collection of Extras
Rong Ci & Jingyang
It was Liang Lu’s youngest daughter’s first birthday. Su Jingyang and Rong Ci left the little brats behind and went to the banquet together.
After the feast, Su Jingyang and Rong Ci passed by a small waterfall. Su Jingyang was dying from the heat so the moment he saw water, he happily ran over. He stripped off his top and rinsed himself off.
Once he had cooled down enough, Su Jingyang shook his head, flinging water droplets from his hair, wiped his face, pulled his clothes back on, and ran back to Rong Ci’s side. Only to find Rong Ci stroking his chin, those deep clear eyes studying him with a contemplative look.
“…Su Jingyang, a long time ago, did you bathe here once?”
Something clicked in Su Jingyang’s mind. Yes, he really had bathed here before. He’d even felt like someone was peeping at him back then.
At that time, he didn’t know Rong Ci at all. So how did Rong Ci know?
Su Jingyang immediately arrived at a conclusion.
The one who peeked at him back then had to be City Lord Rong himself.
Su Jingyang narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “Society’s really gone downhill, morals have collapsed. Who would’ve thought you, you scheming man, had already set your sights on me back then!”
Rong Ci crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. “I was just passing by. I didn’t look much. I was afraid of getting eye rot. Otherwise, how could I only recognize it now?”
“But you stare at me every night now, and I don’t see your eyes rotting!” Su Jingyang snapped. “So tell me, if you didn’t look carefully, how did you recognize it?!”
Su Jingyang was very strict about this.
Rong Ci thought for a moment. “Probably the way you shook your hair caught my eye immediately. Like… a dog shaking off water.”
“…Could you describe it a little nicer?”
“A puppy shaking off water.”
“………………” There’s really no difference, thanks.
Rong Hua & Ning Que
Ning Que spotted that figure standing by the water from afar. Black hair, red robes, even the silhouette carried a hint of cool melancholy. He leapt over with lightness skill and urgently grabbed the person’s arm. “Rong Hua!”
Rong Hua turned his head and looked at the hand gripping him, speechless. “Why are you so nervous? I don’t even have a boat. With water stretching this far, do you think I could swim away?”
Ning Que felt uneasy and wanted to hold him, but Rong Hua lightly pushed him away.
Rong Hua looked out at the boundless water. “Do you know why I lost my composure back then, when I followed Ning Yu to the Ning family and saw you?”
Ning Que stared at him. “Who do I resemble?”
Rong Hua said, “You look somewhat like an old acquaintance of mine. What’s more, your names sound similar.”
After thinking for a bit, he added, “Though your personalities aren’t alike at all. He was quiet, didn’t talk much, and had a stubborn temper.”
The corner of Ning Que’s mouth tightened for a split second, then he smiled. “I’m not him. I can promise you one thing though. I like you just as much as he did.”
Rong Hua turned his eyes to him and studied him for a long moment. The ribbon in his hair was lifted by the wind, spinning as it fell, brushing against his fair, striking cheek.
“So if I treat you as him, you wouldn’t mind?”
Ning Que said, “You said it yourself. Other than looking a bit alike, we’re nothing alike at all. How would you even imagine me as him?”
Rong Hua curved his lips. “What if I just can?”
Ning Que placed both hands on his shoulders, his stubborn gaze locking onto Rong Hua’s eyes. “You can bury your old acquaintance in your heart. I want to be your new one. I want to marry you.”
An old acquaintance. That single word ‘old’ already meant losing.
He wouldn’t mind it.
Rong Hua held his gaze for a long time. In the end, he withdrew his eyes, lowered his head, and said calmly, “Let me go. Don’t keep me trapped on this island. I really don’t like it.”
Ning Que’s pupils shrank. His grip tightened. Rong Hua continued softly, “Let me go, and I’ll give you a chance.”
“What chance?”
“Three years. I’ll try to settle some things. Come find me after that.” Rong Hua said, “If you can find me, I’ll have no objections. I’ll agree to marry you.”
“You’re giving your word?”
Rong Hua nodded. “Mm. I keep my word with you.”
“Alright!” Ning Que answered decisively. “Three years it is. After three years, I’ll definitely find you and marry you into the Ning family!”
Ling Li & Ming Zhan
Ling Li accidentally fell asleep while keeping vigil by the sickbed. He had a terrible dream. When he woke and was wiping away tears, he discovered that the man who had been unconscious all day had woken up. He was sitting up now, tilting his head slightly, those dark-as-night eyes gazing at him with gentle focus.
Ling Li happily called out, “Your Majesty!” He was about to turn and summon the imperial physicians when Ming Zhan grabbed his hand, his voice hoarse. “Ah Li, sit with me for a bit.”
“But…”
“Come.” Ming Zhan tugged him over. Ling Li leaned, naturally falling into his embrace.
“What did Ah Li dream about? You were crying and calling my name just now.”
“N-nothing.” Ling Li avoided his gaze.
Ming Zhan raised his voice slightly. “Ah Li?”
Ling Li lifted his reddened eyes to him and said sadly, “I dreamed you weren’t here anymore. I really…”
In the dream, His Majesty had passed away at this very age. Ah Xuan ascended the throne, and Ling Li was honored as Empress Dowager, living the rest of his life in lonely desolation.
Ling Li didn’t continue. His voice choked. “Your Majesty, you must take good care of your health. For the sake of this realm, and also… for me.”
Ming Zhan sighed almost imperceptibly and patted his head. “Ah Li has been married to me for twenty years now, hasn’t he?”
Ling Li nodded. Ming Zhan paused, then asked, “Have you ever regretted it?”
Ling Li shook his head hard. “Never.” He truly had no regrets. After twenty years together, no matter what feelings lay in his heart, he couldn’t accept losing this man anymore.
Ming Zhan chuckled softly and kissed the top of his head. “Don’t worry. The imperial physicians already came by earlier. They said I’ve made it through this ordeal.”
Ling Li rose from his arms, disbelief first, then joy so intense he burst into tears. His hands trembled as he clutched Ming Zhan’s. “Really? Ah Zhan, is that true?”
Ming Zhan smiled. “I am the emperor and my word is my bond. How could I deceive, especially to my empress?”
Ling Li’s lips trembled. Tears streamed down, leaving him unable to speak. Ming Zhan pulled him back into his arms. “Stop crying. From now on, II can definitely live another twenty years with the empress.”
Wangyue Manor & Ming Jiasheng
Mu Yun waited outside the delivery room, pacing anxiously. Two days and one night had passed, and the baby still hadn’t come.
He pressed against the door, about to peek inside, when he suddenly heard a baby’s loud wail. Joy exploded in Mu Yun’s heart. Then the midwife called out, “Born, born! Congratulations, Madam, congratulations, Young Master. It’s a young miss!”
Three days after the child was born, the name still hadn’t been decided.
Overjoyed at having a daughter, Mu Yun rushed over impatiently to ask Xu Mei, “Father, have you selected a name yet??”
Xu Mei crossed out another name on the paper and shot him a glance. “Why the rush? The calmest you ever were was those few months right after I gave birth to you.”
Mu Yun had been scolded like this more than once and didn’t mind. He leaned in to look, only to see Xu Mei hesitate for a moment before crossing out the name Mu Ronghua.
Mu Yun said, “Mu Ronghua is pretty good. Why won’t you use it?”
Xu Mei frowned. He did like that name back then too, but now he vaguely felt it wasn’t appropriate anymore.
Not knowing how to explain, Xu Mei put on a stern face and lectured him. “Do I need a reason to not pick a name?”
Mu Yun immediately straightened up. “You don’t. Father acts as he pleases. There’s no need for reasons.”
The Villa Master Mu, reading and sipping tea nearby, couldn’t help laughing. Xu Mei slammed his brush onto the desk. “Laugh, laugh, laugh. Don’t you see I’m busy? Naming your granddaughter, and you don’t even care.”
Mu Jin lifted his book to cover half his face and argued quietly. “You were the one who said I was in the way and chased me over here.”
Xu Mei shot him a look. Mu Jin immediately put the book down. “I’m coming, I’m coming. Madam, don’t be angry.”
At the Hao residence.
A servant hurried in to report.
“Young Master!” The servant said to Ming Jiasheng, who lay on a reclined chair, pale and indifferent. “The young madam of Wangyue Manor has given birth!”
Ming Jiasheng jolted upright, his dark eyes locking onto him. “She gave birth?!”
“Yes,” the servant said. “It’s a young miss. She’s named Mu Rongyan!”
A young miss…
Ming Jiasheng’s face contorted with pain. His hands trembled violently. Something seemed to collapse inside his eyes.
The demonic sect no longer had Lin Que. The imperial palace no longer had Ming Jiasheng. Now, Wangyue Manor no longer had Mu Ronghua.
Everything was gone.
Ming Jiasheng’s cheek twitched. He clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Before losing consciousness, the old City Lord’s words echoed in his mind, spoken before sending him away. “A rebirth without meaning is merely punishment for you. If you insist, I’m willing to grant it.”
The Rong Family & the Ning Family
Su Jingyang originally wanted a daughter, but the fifth pregnancy resulted in twins again. Though Su Jingyang still wanted a daughter, he wasn’t planning to keep having children. Rong Ci also agreed.
After that, even when he got intimate with Rong Ci, he paid attention, carrying a layer of caution in his heart, which meant it was never quite satisfying.
Su Jingyang heard that the Ning family had many secret medicinal formulas. The pill Rong Hua once gave him for back pain had come from the Ning family. When Su Jingyang gave birth for the fifth time, his back pain flared up a bit. Half a pill later, it was gone.
Borrowing the excuse of visiting, Su Jingyang went to find Rong Hua. Rong Hua really did find that pill for him. Taking it once a year was enough. It didn’t harm the body, though full prevention wasn’t guaranteed. Su Jingyang was already very satisfied with the effect and accepted it without ceremony.
This time in Yishui Cheng, Su Jingyang brought the fourth and fifth children with him. After finding Rong Hua and heading back out, he discovered the fourth child had run off somewhere to play. The fifth, Rong Guang, was happily holding a wedding in the courtyard with Rong Hua’s son, Ning Zhi.
Rong Guang was just over three. Ning Zhi was just over four.
Both of their biological fathers stood nearby, watching with great interest and serving as witnesses.
Ning Zhi placed a flower wreath onto Rong Guang’s little head. The little rascal crooked his mouth into a grin and said, “Little brother Rong Guang, from now on, you’re my wife. When you grow up, you can’t marry anyone else, understand?”
Rong Guang looked the most like Su Jingyang. He was adorably clueless and extremely easy to trick. Hearing Ning Zhi say that, he clapped his little hands hard and said excitedly, “Big brother, big brother, then can I kiss you now?”
Before Ning Zhi could answer, Rong Guang leaned in on his own and planted a kiss on Ning Zhi’s cheek.
Ning Zhi chuckled secretly to himself before crisply shouting loudly toward Rong Ci, “Father!”
Rong Ci turned his head aside and smiled. Ning Que was laughing so hard he could barely straighten his waist.
Laughing, Ning Que asked Su Jingyang, “In-law, why are you glaring at me like that?”
Su Jingyang narrowed his eyes. “……” He looked at the Ning family’s little piglet full of cunning, then at his own family’s sweet, silly cabbage. At last, he understood why he found Ning Que inexplicably annoying the very first time they met.
Author’s Note:
Alright, this time it’s really over. Looking back at how many words I typed today, I’m giving myself a cheer first. I probably won’t ever beat this. I’m exhausted.
Move your fingers to bookmark my author column!~ =3=
IsitRo: Thank you so much for reading along with me! As always, please support the author if you’re able~ I’ve got a little guide for you, so dun cha worry coz I gotchu boo ;)
I actually have my own mixed feelings about this story, especially since this is my second time reading. Despite everything, I still really enjoyed it. I won’t get into any of that here though, because this is the final chapter meant to be celebrated! yushh. I’ll be sharing my thoughts and notes after this, kindly read~
See you next time! 🧡
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