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BMLVS – Chapter 10

As evening fell, the wind on the rooftop grew cooler.

“Let’s go back.” Cen Lingqiu pushed her wheelchair downstairs. The elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and she wheeled the person to her apartment door.

Yu Mingjiao wasn’t surprised that Cen Lingqiu knew where she lived; after all, she used to come to her home frequently to cause trouble. She had assumed Cen Lingqiu would leave after bringing her to the door, but she didn’t seem to be in a hurry. Instead, she asked, “What are you having for dinner?”

This question, so much like one between friends, displeased Yu Mingjiao greatly. Her expression was cold, and her words held no warmth.

“None of your business.”

She unlocked the door and, before entering, glanced back at her coldly. “Don’t always speak to me in that tone.”

That peaceful tone, as if they were two people without any history of conflict, calmly greeting each other.

It was false and unrealistic.

“Bang—”

The door was shut.

Cen Lingqiu hadn’t had a chance to tell her that she was her neighbor before the girl’s stiff, icy attitude cut her off.

Forget it.

She’ll find out eventually anyway.

She turned, walked to the opposite door, unlocked it, and went inside.

No one was home; Wen Zhi had gone to the bar. Cen Lingqiu took out some salmon, shrimp, and a few side dishes from the refrigerator.

Since she was eating alone, she casually made herself a pan-fried salmon and seafood rice. She wasn’t used to eating at the dining table, so she sat at the coffee table in the living room to eat.

After she finished eating, she cooked a few more dishes and went across the hall.

She rang the doorbell.

After her shower, Yu Mingjiao had made a glass of iced lemon water and was slowly eating a few slices of toast at her table. She didn’t know how to cook and didn’t like takeout, so she always just ate something simple to stave off the feeling of hunger.

Convenient things like bread, fruit, and occasionally a bottle of yogurt were enough. Most of the time, if she wasn’t hungry, she wouldn’t eat.

The living room was quiet, filled only with the sound of her chewing.

She had eaten a little when she heard the doorbell.

Yu Mingjiao ignored it. Her doorbell never rang, so she figured someone had pressed the wrong one.

The doorbell kept ringing.

It was very annoying.

Yu Mingjiao couldn’t take it anymore. She moved her wheelchair to the door and frowned when she saw the visitor on the electronic screen.

Why hasn’t this woman left?

She didn’t open the door, wanting to see when the woman would finally leave.

Cen Lingqiu didn’t leave and kept ringing the doorbell. She pressed it until Yu Mingjiao’s ears couldn’t stand it anymore, and the door was finally opened.

The first thing she saw was Yu Mingjiao’s beautiful, expressionless face. Cen Lingqiu gestured with her tray of food. “Good evening. Have you eaten?”

“I’ve eaten. Get lost.”

Cen Lingqiu wasn’t the least bit angered by her harshness, merely raising an eyebrow slightly. “So fierce.”

“May I come in?” Cen Lingqiu’s expression was calm. “My hands are getting tired from holding this.”

Yu Mingjiao said nothing, just watched Cen Lingqiu quietly.

There were several dishes on the tray. Perhaps it was a bit heavy; she looked like she was struggling to hold it.

But what did that have to do with her? It wasn’t like she had asked this woman to come over.

Cen Lingqiu had been holding it for a while, and her hands were sore. She didn’t have the energy to play the silent game with Yu Mingjiao, so she made an executive decision. “I’ll take that as a yes. I’m coming in.”

With that, she moved past her and into the living room.

It took a moment for Yu Mingjiao to react. She turned her wheelchair, her voice tight with anger. “Lin Qiu—”

Cen Lingqiu placed the dishes on the table, saw the half-eaten toast and yogurt, and questioned, “Is this what you’re eating for dinner?”

Yu Mingjiao ignored her question. “I didn’t give you permission to enter my home. Get out.”

“I will get out.” No matter how emotional Yu Mingjiao became, Cen Lingqiu’s expression remained as placid as ever. “But aren’t you going to answer my question?”

“What I eat has nothing to do with you.”

Yu Mingjiao remained at the doorway, refusing to move.

Cen Lingqiu was used to her awkwardness and stubborn-as-an-ox temper. She walked over and pushed the wheelchair to the table.

Yu Mingjiao resisted, frowning. “Don’t push me.”

“Stop being angry.” Cen Lingqiu placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s eat. It’s getting cold.”

Yu Mingjiao glanced at the table.

Salmon mixed rice, blanched shrimp, tomato and egg, spicy stir-fried chicken, and a dish of fruit salad.

The colors were vibrant, the aroma was rich, and steam was still rising from the food. It didn’t look like takeout; it seemed freshly made. But where could she have cooked it in such a short time?

She quickly realized and asked, “You live nearby?”

Cen Lingqiu didn’t deny it and even took the opportunity to praise her, “Quick on the uptake.”

Yu Mingjiao’s mind and memory worked fast. She thought of something, and her face grew even colder. “The new neighbor across from me… is you?”

“Mhm.” Having learned from her experience serving her food in the hospital, Cen Lingqiu was afraid she would only eat the dishes directly in front of her again, so she placed a variety of different foods into her bowl.

“Hurry up and eat.”

“Why did you move here?” Yu Mingjiao lifted her gaze, staring straight at her. When she wasn’t smiling, her eyes resembled those of a dark, cold viper.

“You did it on purpose, didn’t you? Deliberately moving in across from me, that’s it, isn’t it.” Her tone was slow, the drawn-out words carrying a long, cold chill. “What do you want? I got your younger brother taken away by the police. Why aren’t you blaming me or hitting me? Why were you afraid I’d commit suicide and ran up to save me? And why… are you cooking for me?”

“Why, Lin Qiu?”

Yu Mingjiao truly didn’t understand.

It was like this at the manor, and it was the same at the hospital. Now that she was back in her own home, this woman still maintained this inexplicably friendly attitude.

She believed that all kindness had a purpose.

It was just that she couldn’t guess Cen Lingqiu’s intentions.

Whether good or bad, she couldn’t figure it out.

Why.

Because I need you to get a chance to live.

Yu Mingjiao, I need you to end my years of drifting in this other world.

None of this could be said out loud to her.

She also knew clearly that Yu Mingjiao was just her mission target. All her kindness toward Yu Mingjiao was impure.

But there was no need to let the female lead know about this business-like kindness.

In any case, as long as Yu Mingjiao could live without so much pain, as long as she was happy, that was enough.

As for the true purpose, there was no need for her to know. It wasn’t important.

So, Cen Lingqiu lied without batting an eye. “Because I was wrong.”

“What?”

“Yu Mingjiao, I’m sorry.” Cen Lingqiu crouched down to her level. She softened the overly placid expression on her face, her gaze gentling slightly.

With her years of work experience, she had played countless roles. Controlling her expression was not difficult for her.

“You and Ning Jia are different. I don’t want to associate you with her anymore. Ning Jia was a kind-hearted person. She wouldn’t like seeing me treat others this way.”

Ning Jia.

The woman who had fallen into the sea and drowned.

It was because of her death that she had been entangled with Lin Dong. And Lin Qiu, as Ning Jia’s best friend, had always believed she was deliberately pretending to be Ning Jia to seduce Lin Dong, which was why she detested her so much.

Cen Lingqiu continued, “And I don’t want you to be with my younger brother, so I took it upon myself to let you go. I’ve thought it through. Even if I tortured you to death, my friend wouldn’t come back. So let’s just leave it at that.”

“But—” Cen Lingqiu tried her best to stick to the original character’s persona to make the lie believable, “I don’t like being indebted to others.”

Having said this much, she believed Yu Mingjiao would understand.

Yu Mingjiao said emotionlessly, “So you feel guilty and want to compensate me.”

“Yes.”

Yu Mingjiao suddenly covered her mouth and started to laugh. Her eyes curved, her laughter rang out clearly, and her shoulders trembled. She laughed more and more intensely, tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.

Cen Lingqiu frowned.

Were her words too false?

Yu Mingjiao genuinely found it hilarious.

Because of guilt, she wanted to compensate.

How could this woman say such things? Why did everyone think that after driving a nail into her, they could just pull it out with a clear conscience, as if their actions would leave no trace?

Her vicious, selfish stepmother was like that, feigning remorse and taking care of her after pushing her down the stairs, when in reality, she just didn’t want to go to jail. Her naive and malicious younger sister also forgot her own disgusting behavior, pestering her with a mouth full of “we’re family,” when she was just afraid of being alone.

And now, even Lin Qiu was like this.

How could all these people forget their own evil?

Why did they all think a simple “sorry” could cover up all the physical pain and mental oppression she endured?

Was her suffering just some trivial amusement in their eyes?

Yu Mingjiao’s smile was strange, her eyelashes damp. It was hard to tell if they were tears of sorrow or a physiological reaction. She kept trembling.

A pair of cool hands suddenly cupped her cheeks.

“Yu Mingjiao, are you very sad? Why do you keep crying?”

Yu Mingjiao’s movements froze. She lowered her hands, revealing her damp, pale face to her.

She stopped crying because of Cen Lingqiu’s words.

She knew she was sad, and she knew she was crying.

She had seen through her hidden emotions.

Looking at her wet, vacant eyes, Cen Lingqiu couldn’t help but sigh softly in her heart.

Perhaps her words had been too harsh, too direct.

She was actually this heartbroken.

But Cen Lingqiu had to say it. If she kept hiding things from Yu Mingjiao, it would only make her think she was plotting some vicious scheme.

If she wanted to get close to the female lead and witness her vulnerability, she had to make the female lead let go of her suspicion and doubt. Although this method was a bit troublesome and hypocritical, making the original path more rugged, as long as she continued down this road, she would eventually reach her destination.

So, I’m sorry.

Yu Mingjiao, for deceiving you.

But—

She looked at Yu Mingjiao’s vulnerable eyes.

In that moment, she truly hoped that Yu Mingjiao could walk out from under the shadow of the original owner.

Regardless, whether through lies or truth, the goal was the same.

“Why should I believe you?” Yu Mingjiao’s voice was a hoarse, cold rasp. “I only wish you would die.”

Cen Lingqiu’s lips curved into a slight smile, and then she gently wiped away her tears with the pad of her thumb.

“It’s okay. I’ll only do what I want to do. It doesn’t matter if you still don’t forgive me in the end.”

“None of it matters, Yu Mingjiao.”

Because in the end, she would die and leave anyway.

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