Life Simulation: My Wife from Another World Became Real - Chapter 9:

Chapter 9: A Song of Black Hair, Eyes Full of Tears!

Two months later, Lu Chen and Jiang Qingyu finally moved into a small courtyard just as they had hoped.

Because the courtyard was located in a more remote area, the rent was only 300 copper coins per month. Though the rent was low, the deposit still cost a whole tael of silver—equivalent to 1,000 copper coins. Lu Chen had to carry bundles for nearly two months to earn that much.

But seeing Jiang Qingyu happily running around the courtyard, beaming with joy, Lu Chen felt it was worth every coin.

Seeing the place a bit messy, Lu Chen rolled up his sleeves and began a deep cleaning. Jiang Qingyu quickly rushed to help out.

Soon, she ran over holding a broken flowerpot, her face full of anticipation as she asked, “Brother Chen, can I grow flowers in the courtyard?”

“Of course,” Lu Chen said with a smile.

A little while later, she came back with a cracked clay jar and asked, “Brother Chen, can I raise fish in the courtyard?”

“Of course you can.”

“Brother Chen, can I plant vegetables in the courtyard?”

“Yes, this is our courtyard. You can do anything you like.”

“Really? That’s great!” Jiang Qingyu thought for a moment, then blinked and said, “Then I want to sleep in the same bed as Brother Chen tonight.”

“Sure… wait, sleep in the same bed as me?” Lu Chen quickly shook his head, “That’s not okay.”

Jiang Qingyu instantly looked aggrieved.

Lu Chen patted her head and said, “Not now. Wait until you grow up.”

“Yay!” Jiang Qingyu clapped and ran off to ‘help’ elsewhere… or perhaps just cause more chaos.

After cleaning the yard, Lu Chen went on to clean all the side rooms one by one. He worked straight until evening, and only then was the full cleanup finally done.

Jiang Qingyu had already cooked a pot of millet porridge and, testing her skills, whipped up a few of her best dishes.

Lu Chen took a few bites and couldn’t help but give her a thumbs up. “This is really good!”

Blushing from the compliment, Jiang Qingyu said, “If Brother Chen likes it, I’ll cook for you every day from now on.”

“Deal!”

That evening, the two sat in the courtyard, cooling off under the night sky. Jiang Qingyu gazed up at the moon and suddenly remembered a song her mother used to hum. She gently tapped the rhythm and softly sang:

“Tonight, what night is it, drifting midstream on an islet…
Today, what day is it, sharing a boat with the prince…
Shamed and clothed in finery, I endure without complaint…
My heart vexed, yet unbroken, having met the prince…
There are trees on the mountain, and branches on the trees…
My heart delights in you… yet you do not know…”

Her voice was like a golden oriole echoing from a valley, so delicate and clear that Lu Chen was entranced.

When she finished, he was still caught in the lingering resonance of the melody.

“Brother Chen, was it good?” Jiang Qingyu tilted her head and asked.

Lu Chen snapped out of it and applauded, “It was beautiful. Absolutely heavenly!”

Hearing such praise, Jiang Qingyu blushed.

“But a song that beautiful couldn’t be sung by just any child from a common family,” Lu Chen said, looking her in the eyes.

After living together for over half a year, it was time to be honest. Hiding things any longer would only create distance between them.

Jiang Qingyu, clever as she was, immediately understood what he meant.

After a brief pause, she softly said, “Brother Chen, you’re asking about my background, aren’t you? Actually, there’s nothing to hide.”

“My father was the magistrate of Luo City, and my mother was the cherished daughter of the Zhang family in the capital. When my father went to the capital for the imperial exams, he fell in love with my mother at first sight, and they quickly vowed to be together. But when my grandfather found out, he was so furious he disowned her.”

“With nothing to their names, they nearly became beggars. Luckily, my father passed the exams soon after and was appointed magistrate of Luo City by the emperor of the Great Yu Empire. That gave them a place to settle.”

“A few years later, I was born. I was doted on endlessly by both my parents. We were a happy family…”

“Until a few months ago, when several rebel forces suddenly breached Luo City… and killed both my father and mother…”

At that point, Jiang Qingyu choked with emotion.

Lu Chen gently patted her back and said, “It’s okay. From now on, I’ll take care of you.”

Jiang Qingyu lifted her head and asked, “Brother Chen, do you really not remember anything from your past?”

Lu Chen replied, “I only remember waking up in that alley, and the first person I saw was you. As for everything before that—it’s all gone. Probably because of a serious head injury.”

Jiang Qingyu furrowed her brow and said, “If… and I’m just saying if—you were the son of a rebel commander, and it was your father who killed my family… what would you do?”

Lu Chen tapped her forehead and smiled, “That’s way too many what-ifs. My father couldn’t have been a rebel leader, and definitely not the one who killed your family!”

Jiang Qingyu pressed on, “But what if he was?”

Lu Chen fell into deep thought for a moment. Then he looked her in the eye and solemnly said, “If that were true, then I’d repay your family with my life.”

“Pfth! Don’t say such things!” Jiang Qingyu quickly covered his mouth. “No talking nonsense!”

Lu Chen said with a scowl, “Weren’t you the one who asked in the first place?”

Jiang Qingyu stuck out her tongue and said, “Alright, alright, I won’t ask anymore.”

She poured him a cup of water and asked, “Brother Chen, do you know how to sing?”

“Sing?” Lu Chen chuckled, “Actually, I know a few songs… but you might not understand them.”

Before transmigrating, Lu Chen’s favorite songs were Black Hair and Lone Brave. During company dinners at karaoke nights, whenever he sang those two songs, he instantly became the highlight of the event.

But this was a different world—lyrics and singing styles here were nothing like what he knew.

Still, Jiang Qingyu hugged his arm and begged, “Please, just sing one for me, Brother Chen.”

With no way to refuse, Lu Chen finally nodded. “Alright, just one.”

“Yay!” Jiang Qingyu clapped excitedly.

Lu Chen cleared his throat and began singing in a deep, steady voice:

“Misty waves, riverbank, fishing boats, tonight the lights are dim…
I still live in a drunken dream, smiling at life’s fleeting changes…
She sighs, endless sorrow of longing, remembering youthful years…
You don’t see, I dance so lightly before you…”

Jiang Qingyu listened intently, completely swept up in the emotion.

When she heard the lines after “You don’t see,” tears welled in her eyes uncontrollably.

By the time Black Hair ended, Jiang Qingyu was already sobbing.

Lu Chen gently wiped away her tears and asked, puzzled, “Silly girl, why are you crying?”

Jiang Qingyu shook her head and didn’t answer.

After a long pause, she suddenly said, “Brother Chen, can you teach me that song?”

Lu Chen patted her head affectionately and replied, “Of course I can.”