A Glimpse of You, a Lifetime’s Misstep

An inch of longing breeds ten thousand threads, yet nowhere in this world can they be arranged.

The pillar of the Wang Clan used to be Old Master Wang; now, it is William Wang Jinling...

At some point, William Wang Jinling became the Wang Clan's anchoring needle—so long as he was present, even if he did nothing, the family could calm down. In the past, whenever the patriarch faltered, they lost direction and could only watch as rivals suppressed them, worsening the Wang Clan's plight...

As soon as William Wang Jinling returned, everything in the Wang Clan returned to normal; those who were oppressing the family no longer dared to act so brazenly and gradually withdrew their attacks...

Lady Warren's funeral was handled quietly—not because the Wang Clan wished to be frugal, but because they were facing troubles at the time. Patriarch Wang was too grief-stricken to manage affairs, so all responsibilities fell on William Wang Jinling's shoulders.

After arranging Lady Warren's funeral, William Wang Jinling spent three months cleaning up the Wang Clan's problems. Before Patriarch Wang could offer him the clan head seat, William announced he would go to a thatched hut outside the city to mourn his mother.

"You can observe mourning at home; why go to a thatched hut outside the city?" Patriarch Wang was the first to object. His wife's death hit him hard—though he was reluctant to give up the clan headship, he truly lacked the energy to manage things, and with William present, he could finally rest.

"My mind is made up." Once William Wang Jinling decided, he would not change for anyone—not even Patriarch Wang. He had already packed and set up the thatched hut outside the city.

Those who escorted William Wang Jinling saw the hut was so shabby it was worse than the Wang Clan's stables, and felt heartbroken: "Grand Heir, this hut really isn't fit for living."

Aside from not leaking, this hut had no redeeming features. How could the Wang Clan's Grand Heir be expected to live in such a dilapidated place?

I think it's just fine. Whether a grand mansion or a thatched hut, it makes no difference to me. No matter how luxurious the Wang estate, he could not see it; no matter how shabby the hut, it did not affect his life.

A large house means spending more time learning its layout and memorizing every obstacle. Instead of all that trouble, a bed, a table, and a chair are enough for comfort.

William Wang Jinling was very satisfied with the little hut. Ignoring everyone's objections, he insisted on living there, and...

Even under repeated pressure from the Wang family, he refused to go back and showed not the slightest interest in the position of Wang Clan Patriarch. At first, people thought he was just being considerate of his father, but as time passed, they realized he truly disdained the seat.

In the little hut outside the city, William Wang Jinling lived at a relaxed pace, exactly as he wished. Even though he could not see, it did not stop him from enjoying the beauty of the world.

He walked along mountain paths, breathed in the scent of flowers, leaves, and grass, and took his fishing rod to the pond. William Wang Jinling's life was so pleasant that everyone envied him.

Just as he said, even if he could not see, he could still 'see' the most beautiful side of the world.

William Wang Jinling thought this life would accompany him into old age. Perhaps one day, a woman like the one his grandfather described would be by his side, but he would never change his way of life for her.

But in this world, nothing is certain.

He met a woman named Serena Feng. For the first time, someone told him with certainty that he could see again...

After so many years, he had long grown used to darkness, to never seeing. He had accepted that he would never see again in this lifetime, but...

That didn't mean he didn't yearn to see.

He longed to gaze upon this world with his own eyes, to read beautiful words, to see the blue sky, the wild grasses...

That woman named Serena Feng suddenly appeared before him. He couldn't see her face—he could only imagine it from their conversation, sketch her outline in his mind, then ask himself: what kind of woman could create such a miracle?

Yes, to Serena Feng, he was just another patient. She would meet many more like him, but to William Wang Jinling, Serena was different...

Years later, William would ask himself: did he regret meeting Serena Feng?

If he hadn't met Serena Feng, he wouldn't have suffered heartbreak, wouldn't have loved in vain, wouldn't have chased what he couldn't have. But...

William realized that even if his heart bled, he still did not regret meeting Serena Feng.

Had he not met Serena Feng, he would never have seen the world; had he not met her, he would never have known how beautiful it truly was; had he not met her...

He would never have understood the love his grandfather spoke of, nor felt the longing his grandfather had for his grandmother.

Nolan Dongling once said that meeting Serena Feng was the greatest fortune of his life.

For William Wang Jinling, it was no different—only he arrived one step too late.

Serena Feng was unique, and he was just a moment too late.

Sometimes he wondered: if, at that moment, he had offered her the position of his wife, would Serena Feng have married him?

Maybe she would have. But...

If Serena Feng married him, she would not be happy, nor truly joyful. Wang family rules would bind her for life; in this lifetime she would be confined to the small inner courtyard, always the woman behind William Wang Jinling.

William Wang Jinling was confident he could give Serena Feng the best of everything, but he couldn't guarantee that she would shine as brightly as she does now, or become the legend of the Nine Provinces Realm.

"What I lost to Nolan Dongling was more than just a robe. If that day, I had been the one to drape that robe over your shoulders, you still wouldn't have truly been mine..."

Nolan Dongling could be domineering enough to tell Serena Feng that even if life with him was unhappy, she was not allowed to leave. But William Wang Jinling could not do that...

He could not bear Serena Feng's unhappiness, could not accept her sorrow. For her joy, for her happiness, he would do anything.

He would return to the Wang Clan and take up the patriarch's seat...

He would enter court as an official, resign and retire...

He would help raise her son, wander to the ends of the earth...

Even if he longed to see Serena Feng again, if he must not, then he would not...

He did everything within his power, fulfilled every duty he could—except for one thing he could never do: marry.

He had promised his grandfather to marry only a woman he truly loved, never sacrificing his marriage for the Wang Clan. So...

Even if the whole world wished him to marry, he would not. The only woman he ever wanted to marry was Serena Feng. Apart from her, no matter how admirable, other women had nothing to do with William Wang Jinling...

William Wang Jinling was proud all his life, and would never settle—not even in marriage...

Serena Feng, if I cannot marry you in this life, I would rather never marry at all!

Serena Feng, if there is another life—if I am not the Wang Clan patriarch, and you are not the founding empress—would you marry me then?

Sadly, he never asked her this question, even to his dying breath. That radiant woman who brought him light left this world before him, and the proud, domineering man who unified the realm followed her, unwilling to linger even half a moment...

Once again, William Wang Jinling was one step too late.