A day later, Cen Lingqiu received a message from Zhang Li. In a few days, it would be the wedding anniversary of her and the original host’s father. She had booked a hot spring resort to celebrate and told Cen Lingqiu to remember to come.
Cen Lingqiu agreed and then asked if she could bring a friend.
Zhang Li was silent for a moment on the other end. “It’s that child in the wheelchair, isn’t it.”
“Yes.”
Zhang Li sighed. “Your relationship with her is surprisingly good. Why do you have to take her everywhere?”
Cen Lingqiu couldn’t explain.
Ever since her identity was exposed, the feeling of impending separation between them had grown stronger. Every day felt like a farewell, like it was their last.
Yu Mingjiao was perpetually unhappy, like a flower withered in winter, devoid of any gorgeous, delicate vibrancy.
Her gaze towards Cen Lingqiu was always gloomy and sorrowful, inadvertently stirring up a cold mist, a sky full of fine, lingering sadness.
Cen Lingqiu’s heart ached with helplessness, but there was nothing she could do.
They continued to interact in that silent, stiff manner.
Yu Mingjiao’s mood was truly terrible, so Cen Lingqiu wanted to take her out to lift her spirits, and this was the perfect opportunity.
In the end, Zhang Li did not refuse. “If you want to bring her, then bring her.”
That night, as they were going to bed, Cen Lingqiu told her about it and asked if she was willing to go.
Yu Mingjiao asked, “Do you want me to go?”
Cen Lingqiu replied, “Of course I do.”
“Then I’ll go.”
She said it without hesitation.
“Sister Lingqiu, wherever you go, I’ll go.” She stared at her, her gaze burning.
That gaze was almost tangible, fervent and obsessive.
It was as if Cen Lingqiu were to die the next second, she would follow without a moment’s hesitation.
Her gaze made the tip of Cen Lingqiu’s heart ache.
“You have to listen to me when we get there.” She avoided Yu Mingjiao’s gaze. “Don’t get emotional.”
Lin Dong would surely be there that day, and she was a little afraid the two of them would start arguing again.
Yu Mingjiao calmly hummed in agreement. “I will.”
Cen Lingqiu smiled, wanting to make a joke to ease the strangely oppressive atmosphere between them. She raised her hand and brushed it against Yu Mingjiao’s cheek. “So well-behaved.”
Yu Mingjiao held her hand, skillfully pressing her own cheek into Cen Lingqiu’s palm. Her lips, intentionally or not, brushed against her hand, light as a feather, yet deeply scratching at the bottom of Cen Lingqiu’s heart.
“If I’m a little more well-behaved, can you not leave, Sister Lingqiu?”
“I really need you, Sister Lingqiu.”
Ever since Yu Mingjiao discovered she wasn’t Lin Qiu, her coquettishness had become even more unrestrained, and her hidden affections were declared with more audacious boldness.
Cen Lingqiu liked her direct emotions, but at this moment, such directness only added to her sorrow.
It was probably the thought that her fervent, intense, and direct feelings would ultimately amount to nothing, like spring water about to melt away, leaving nothing behind.
Just thinking about it was an unbearable pain.
Cen Lingqiu avoided the heavy topic. “You’ll listen to anything I say?”
Yu Mingjiao looked at her and nodded.
“I hope you’ll live a good life,” Cen Lingqiu said, stroking her long, soft hair. “You’ll listen to that, won’t you?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Is that so hard to answer?”
Yu Mingjiao pressed her lips together tightly, her eyelids trembling slightly. “I don’t know, Sister Lingqiu. I don’t know.”
“…I don’t know what I’ll become after you leave me, or if I’ll even have the courage to keep breathing. I really don’t know.”
“I don’t want you to die just like that, Jiao Jiao.” Cen Lingqiu said in a gentle voice. “Do you know, Jiao Jiao? In this world, you’re the only person I care about. I—”
Cen Lingqiu paused, then continued, “In my past, no one ever liked me, and I never cared about anyone. You are the only one. You are the most unique. In this world, only you understand me. Don’t die, okay?”
This was the first time Cen Lingqiu had so directly declared her feelings for her.
It was raining again today, a continuous downpour outside the window.
Yu Mingjiao bit her lip, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Cen Lingqiu extended her pinky finger towards her. “Promise me, okay? Make a pinky promise with me.”
Yu Mingjiao didn’t look at her, her body still shaking.
Cen Lingqiu waited for her with great patience.
One second.
Two seconds.
An unknown amount of time passed. Cen Lingqiu’s arm grew sore from being held up. Just when she thought Yu Mingjiao would remain stubborn to the end, Yu Mingjiao slowly raised her hand, as if she had endured enough pain, and linked pinkies with her with a trembling hand.
Cen Lingqiu smiled. “Thank you, Jiao Jiao.”
Really.
Thank you.
The weather on the day of Zhang Li’s wedding anniversary was excellent. The resort had been booked out by Zhang Li and was decorated with exceptional splendor.
Cen Lingqiu was sunbathing with Yu Mingjiao in the back garden. Lin Dong naturally saw Yu Mingjiao as well. He no longer had many thoughts about Yu Mingjiao; he was gradually realizing that Yu Mingjiao and Ning Jia were different. They were two separate people.
After finishing his socializing, Lin Dong and He Hanzhou came to the back garden.
“Sis.” Lin Dong called out to Cen Lingqiu.
Cen Lingqiu was in the middle of tying up Yu Mingjiao’s overly long hair. Hearing him, she hummed in acknowledgment without looking up.
Yu Mingjiao didn’t even spare Lin Dong a glance, not even lifting her eyelids.
“Lin Qiu, you haven’t been resting well lately, have you,” He Hanzhou said, showing his concern with a playful grin.
The moment He Hanzhou spoke, Yu Mingjiao finally deigned to lift her eyelids and cast a cold glance at him.
He felt strangely uncomfortable under her gaze.
“Busy with work,” Cen Lingqiu replied dismissively.
Lin Dong frowned. “Sis, you have been looking a bit pale lately. I told you, you don’t have to work so hard.”
Cen Lingqiu was mentally exhausted.
She wasn’t tired from work. She was simply losing sleep every night worrying about Yu Mingjiao, constantly suffering from insomnia, which was why she looked so terrible.
But there was no need to tell the two of them that.
“Don’t work so hard, Lin Qiu.” He Hanzhou said in his usual carefree manner. “Want to go to the bar later to relax?”
Before Cen Lingqiu could speak, Yu Mingjiao refused for her. “She’s not going.”
He Hanzhou raised an eyebrow. “You’re not her, how do you know if she’s going or not?”
Yu Mingjiao was being unreasonable like a child, her tone icy. “I said she’s not going, so she’s not going.”
Seeing her getting serious again, Cen Lingqiu patted her head. “Alright, alright, I won’t go. Don’t throw a little tantrum.”
Lin Dong looked at the strange atmosphere between the two of them, feeling a bit awkward and bewildered.
He remembered his sister used to hate Yu Mingjiao, too. How did the two of them suddenly get so close?
So close that it seemed to exceed the bounds of a normal friendship.
While the four of them were chatting casually, Ning Jia stood not far from them, hidden by a rockery, her dark gaze fixed in their direction.
How happy they all were.
Lin Dong, Lin Qiu, the sight of this smiling brother and sister was so infuriating.
Two murderers. What right did they have to smile so happily?
She couldn’t accept it.
A thick hatred surfaced in Ning Jia’s eyes. The resentment in her heart was a raging fire, almost burning away her sanity. She covered her mouth and coughed up blood.
The sound of coughing caught Lin Dong’s attention. He looked over and was startled to see a face that haunted his dreams. His expression changed, and he murmured, “Ning Jia.”
At his words, the gazes of the other three all followed his to look over.
Ning Jia wiped the blood from the corner of her lips and slowly walked towards them.
“Long time no see, everyone.” Ning Jia smiled. “What a coincidence.”
Cen Lingqiu frowned. “Why are you here?”
Ning Jia stopped in her tracks. “I’m one of the investors in this resort.”
Ning Jia was in venture capital and had a keen eye for business opportunities.
Lin Dong grabbed her wrist in shock. “Ning Jia, you didn’t—”
He cut himself off, not daring to continue.
Ning Jia finished for him, “Surprised I’m not dead, are you?”
Lin Dong was silent.
“I’m not dead. How does that make you feel?” Ning Jia covered her lips and laughed, but her eyes were cold. “I heard you even set up a memorial stone for me. You’re so devoted.”
Lin Dong explained in a low voice, “I just missed you a lot.”
Ning Jia sneered. She swept her gaze around, walked over to Cen Lingqiu, and said meaningfully, “Living so happily, Lin Qiu. Gathering together to celebrate with your family on such a warm day.”
“And yet, some people in this world will never have the chance to see this sunlight again. How tragic to think about.”
“What are you trying to say?” Cen Lingqiu said calmly.
Ning Jia just smiled, even smiling until tears welled up.
“You will find out, Lin Qiu.”
“The things you’ve forgotten, you will eventually remember them all.”
“Seeing you all so happy, I feel really great.” Ning Jia tucked her pink hair behind her ear, her eyes curving into a smile. “This is really nice.”
Yu Mingjiao’s eyes were gloomy, her aversion to Ning Jia deepening.
“Ning Jia.” Lin Dong frowned. “How did you become like this?”
Ning Jia shrugged. “I’ve always been like this.”
“Alright, I have to get busy.” Ning Jia wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. “You all enjoy yourselves.”
Lin Dong wanted to follow her, but Ning Jia spoke in a tone of utter disgust, “Please don’t follow me.”
Lin Dong froze in place.
In the moment he was stunned, Ning Jia had already walked far away.
He Hanzhou left the garden and went to the parking lot. Ning Jia was leaning against a car, her head down, smoking.
He Hanzhou took her cigarette. “You’re sick to the point of death and you’re still smoking.”
Ning Jia ignored him and pulled out another cigarette.
He Hanzhou’s mouth twitched. “You really aren’t afraid of dying.”
“Late-stage stomach cancer. How much longer can you live?” Since he couldn’t stop her, he joined her in smoking.
“I don’t know.” Ning Jia exhaled a puff of smoke. “Not many months left.”
He Hanzhou had found Ning Jia on his family’s private island. At the time, she was lying on the beach, on the verge of death, looking as if she were already dead. He Hanzhou had originally intended to throw her back into the sea, but she had suddenly grabbed his ankle and begged him to save her.
He Hanzhou didn’t know what came over him, but he actually saved her. He sent her to a private hospital and only afterward discovered she was the person Lin Dong loved who had supposedly drowned at sea. He wanted to tell Lin Dong, but Ning Jia pleaded with him in a low voice not to.
And so he really didn’t say anything.
Although Ning Jia’s life was saved, it was futile. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and it was already in the late stages. She couldn’t be saved.
Her body was weak, and she spent over a year recuperating and undergoing treatment in the hospital. Finally, unable to bear the daily painful treatments, she gave up and chose to be discharged.
He Hanzhou asked her why.
She said she had more important things to do.
She said she was going to die soon, but she didn’t want to die alone.
After being discharged, the first thing she did was dye her hair pink. He Hanzhou asked her why she chose that color.
“Because she liked pink.”
Who “she” was, He Hanzhou didn’t know.
Even after spending more than a year with Ning Jia, he still knew nothing about her.
“You keep looking for the Lin siblings. What exactly are you trying to do?” He Hanzhou said, blowing smoke rings.
Ning Jia’s eyes were cold, a cigarette held between her fingertips. She said, word by word, “I want to make them remember the things they’ve forgotten.”
“Is that all?” He Hanzhou didn’t understand.
Ning Jia’s lips curved into a slight smile, but she said nothing.
Beyond that, she wanted to destroy them.
