Chapter Fifty-Eight: I Love You

“I think we need to talk…” Qin Yu said to Xia Cheng, then set Little Red down beside Zhao Meng before opening the door and stepping out.

Hearing Qin Yu’s words, Xia Cheng nodded, tucked Zhao Meng in, and followed her out.

Inside the room, Chen Mo and the others watched in silence as the small cat, left behind by Qin Yu—perhaps intentionally, perhaps not—curled up quietly.

Outside, in a small corner by the door, Qin Yu looked at Xia Cheng and said, “You know something. Speak.”

Xia Cheng studied the woman before him. In just a few short days, she had developed a restrained sharpness, no longer flaunting her strength as before. Now, she was even more formidable. Xia Cheng let out a low laugh. Qin Yu… this woman… her progress was remarkable.

Seeing Xia Cheng lower his head and hear his laughter, Qin Yu pressed again, “What do you know?”

Only then did Xia Cheng lift his gaze. “What could I possibly know? You and Xiao Meng have spent so much more time together than I have. I can’t be sure I even know all that you do.” Of course, there are things I know that you certainly don’t, he added silently.

Qin Yu laughed at that. “Xia Cheng, I’m no fool. You understand what I’m asking, don’t you? Honesty is best for all of us, especially for Xiao Meng. Otherwise… I can’t trust someone.”

Xia Cheng smiled in turn. “Boss Qin, I truly don’t know what you mean. Ask me directly—I can’t read minds, you know.”

Xia Cheng was certain that whatever strange things had happened to Zhao Meng were intricately linked to Qin Yu. When he’d hypnotized Zhao Meng before, he’d discovered that her deeply suppressed memories revolved around Qin Yu. Xia Cheng didn’t know who that person was to Qin Yu, nor whether Qin Yu was aware of all this, but… whenever he thought that everything Zhao Meng had endured was somehow connected to Qin Yu, he simply couldn’t bring himself to reveal anything.

Qin Yu noted the smile on Xia Cheng’s lips, and the chilling coldness lurking in his eyes, and found herself startled. What exactly does he know, to look at me this way…?

She relaxed a little, leaned against the wall, and lifted her head.

Slowly, she began, “Fifteen years ago, Xiao Meng met me, then only eight years old, and I remembered nothing. She took me home with her. Back then, I was withdrawn, emotionally shut down. She spent five years teaching me to smile, five years transforming me from an autistic child into an ordinary person. I always thought we’d be best friends, soulmates for life.

“Then, in college, I fell in love with Li Mo, gradually neglected her, and made that man the center of my world, giving up so much for him. Xiao Meng would scold me for being foolish, but she could never bear to see me sad. Even if she had to defend her thesis the next morning, she would stay up with me through the night, just to keep me company.

“Later, I gave up my studies for that man and settled into a regular job. Xiao Meng also turned down a chance to study abroad to stay by my side. When I woke from my coma and saw the tears in her eyes, I remembered everything she’d done for me, and I promised myself that I would protect her always. You know the rest.

“I’ve known Xiao Meng for fifteen years. Despite her seemingly careless, easygoing ways, I know better—she’s always been sensitive and attentive. She’s truly a warm and wonderful person.

“All these years, I’ve never seen her shed a tear. Well… maybe just once. The first time she saw me, she cried for no reason at all, just like today. Tears fell endlessly, but she still smiled, a smile warm enough to brighten the coldest winter…”

Xia Cheng listened quietly to Qin Yu’s account of her and Xiao Meng’s story, and when he heard that Qin Yu had no memory before the age of eight, he was inwardly shocked. Fifteen years ago—something must have happened, for he too, as a child, had been forbidden from leaving home and all his studies suspended. He’d secretly rejoiced at the time, finally free from all those dull lessons. But… what had happened? Why couldn’t he remember a thing?

Lost in his own thoughts, Xia Cheng fell silent, while Qin Yu was equally absorbed, recalling all she and Zhao Meng had been through, in this life and the last…

For a moment, the two stood quietly together, only their breathing filling the stillness.

“Are you two finished talking? Zhao Meng is awake—she’d like to see you,” Chen Mo said, coming out of the room to find the two of them lost in silence.

Qin Yu came back to herself, glanced at Xia Cheng, who was still deep in thought, and turned to Chen Mo, replying, “Yes, thank you.”

With that, she followed Chen Mo back inside.

Xia Cheng watched Qin Yu’s retreating figure, a complex light flickering in his eyes, and said firmly, “I would never hurt her!”

Qin Yu’s hand paused on the door handle, but she said nothing.

As Qin Yu entered, she saw Zhao Meng clutching Little Red, rubbing her fur so vigorously that the cat was clearly struggling. Qin Yu laughed, rescued Little Red from Zhao Meng’s grasp, and said, “Xiao Meng, it seems you’re just fine—tormenting my little friend, are you?”

Zhao Meng patted her chest and declared, “Of course! Who do you think I am? Nothing could keep me down! Xiaoyu, let me play with your kitten for a bit—please?”

As she spoke, Zhao Meng reached for Little Red again, but Qin Yu batted her hand away, saying, “You! You’ve already frightened her. Look at her.” She lifted Little Red, and sure enough, the little cat was trembling.

Of course, Little Red wasn’t actually afraid of Zhao Meng—it was just that this feeling of being manhandled and unable to fight back was simply too much to bear!

Zhao Meng pouted, about to protest, when Xia Cheng’s voice rang out, “Well, look at you—full of life! I was worried sick about someone here, but it seems… my affections were wasted… alas…”

Zhao Meng turned to Xia Cheng, noticing his once-neat clothes were now rumpled, his eyes red. She knew he must have been terribly worried about her—just as she had been about him.

She beamed at Xia Cheng, saying, “You’re here, Xia Cheng! See? I’m perfectly fine!”

Xia Cheng stepped closer and pulled Zhao Meng into his arms. Feeling his breath warm against her neck, Zhao Meng blushed bright red.

The others, seeing this, quietly withdrew from the room.

Inside, Xia Cheng held Zhao Meng tightly, his voice hoarse as he murmured, “Xiao Meng, I love you. I love you…”

“I… I… I love you too!” Zhao Meng whispered back.

Xia Cheng laughed softly. “This is wonderful… truly wonderful…”

“What’s so wonderful?” Zhao Meng asked, a little slow on the uptake.

“Mmm… Xia… Xia Cheng…”

In that moment, the room was their private paradise…