Chapter 4
Edward Quan ·
10
It was fully dark when we got home.
The moment Song Wanmei saw Chengyi, her face fell.
“Where did you go on your sister's birthday? Making her search everywhere!”
Growing angrier, she raised her hand.
“Do you know Uncle Lin asked about you—”
I caught her wrist.
“Enough! Are you blind? Can't you see he's hurt?
“Your inhuman ex-husband did this!”
She opened her mouth, speechless.
I gave a cold smile.
“And do you remember what day it is?”
She looked blank.
“Your birthday…”
I turned to Chengyi.
Eyes lowered, he stood silently like a wounded fawn.
“It's your son's birthday too.”
His own mother couldn't even remember.
Something caught in my chest.
“Damn it!”
I kicked over a chair and pulled him upstairs.
He needed his injury treated.
I crouched and rolled up his trouser leg.
His calf was badly bruised and visibly swollen.
Dipping cotton in liniment, I carefully applied it.
He called softly.
“Sis…
“Happy birthday.”
I looked up.
He opened his hand.
A silver necklace lay in his palm.
I remembered the price. More than ten thousand yuan.
No wonder he had only three hundred left.
“Lu Chengyi…”
“Yes?”
“You're an idiot.”
He didn't argue.
Only smiled.
After treating his leg, I asked the butler for two cakes and lit the candles with him.
His eyes shone in the candlelight.
“Make a wish.”
He closed his eyes, long lashes trembling.
“What did you wish for?”
He shook his head and wouldn't tell me.
I handed him a slice of cake.
He set the plate down and leaned closer.
A feather-light kiss landed on my lips.
Gentler than any before.
After that brief moment, I instinctively adjusted his shirt collar.
“Sis…”
His eyes reddened again.
So obedient. So pitiful.
I couldn't help softening.
I thought of his parents.
They were always hurting him.
What about me?
All I did was use his secret to make him do what I wanted, teasing him however I pleased.
Lin You.
You're no better.
I quietly fastened his buttons, one by one.
“It's late. Sleep.”
He nodded.
Soon, he fell asleep against me.
Perhaps he was having a nightmare.
His brows stayed drawn.
I gently smoothed them and reached to turn out the light.
Then his phone lit up.
Midnight exactly.
A reminder from his notes app appeared.
I froze.
Day 1000 of liking JJ.
At the same moment, a new WeChat message arrived.
Happy birthday, Lu Chengyi!
Day 1001 of liking you~
I looked at the reminder, then at the sender's name.
I sighed softly.
And quietly made a decision.
11
The next morning, as usual, he waited at my door before university.
When I didn't respond, he put his arms around me from behind.
“Sis…
“Are you testing me again?
“If I don't take the initiative, you'll tell Uncle Lin about my mother.
“Right?”
His chin rested on my shoulder, his voice expectant as a puppy waiting for praise.
“No,” I answered coolly.
His voice immediately grew hurt.
“Are you angry with me?
“Please tell me…”
He tried to come closer.
I drew a deep breath and gently pushed him away.
Keeping my voice calm, I said:
“You don't have to do this anymore.”
He stared.
“What… do you mean?”
“I'm bored.”
A perfectly reasonable excuse.
Wasn't it?
“From today, you don't need to please me.
“You can move back to the dorm.”
He stood frozen, fists clenched.
I knew what worried him.
“Don't worry.
“I promised. I won't tell Father about your mother.”
I turned and went into my room.
I didn't dare look again.
I was afraid I'd see relief.
Or happiness.
All that day, I sent no messages.
I didn't go to pick him up.
I was afraid seeing Pei Jingjing would make me lose control again.
Now that I believed they liked each other, I couldn't bear to spoil something so innocent.
The more I thought, the more I despised myself.
What a terrible person.
I lowered my head and angrily ate several mouthfuls of rice.
Dinner was too quiet, so Father searched for a topic.
At last, he looked at me.
“What happened with that man Aunt Wang introduced you to?”
Shen Du.
Thirty-two.
A senior manager at an investment company. Good family. Good looks.
We'd met once and added each other on WeChat, but barely talked.
That morning, he'd asked me to the cinema over the weekend.
I'd agreed.
“We're seeing a film tomorrow.”
Clang.
Cutlery hit the floor.
I looked up.
Chengyi bent to retrieve it.
“Sorry.
“It slipped.”
His expression made my heart ache.
Perhaps he thought I was finally seeking my own happiness.
That I would stop clinging to him.
12
Father repeatedly urged me to make a good impression.
I got up early, did my makeup carefully, put on heels and perfume, and went to meet Shen Du.
He was even more courteous than I remembered.
He brought white roses, opened the passenger door, offered water at just the right moments. Gentle voice. Impeccable manners.
Honestly, there was almost nothing to criticize.
Yet I was distracted all day.
Even the film I'd been looking forward to passed without registering. I stared blankly at the screen.
That evening, he drove me to the gate.
I unfastened my seat belt and was about to get out when he called:
“Lin You.”
“Yes?”
“May I hug you?”
I hesitated, then leaned over and gave him a brief, polite embrace.
His body suddenly stiffened.
He looked past me and froze.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
He let go.
“See you next time.”
I turned to follow his gaze.
A curtain in the upstairs corridor had just stirred.
I thought little of it, said goodbye, and went inside in my heels.
The living room was empty.
Father and Song Wanmei must have been out socializing.
I kicked off my shoes and climbed upstairs barefoot, wanting only to fall into bed.
Someone stood motionless outside my door.
“What are you doing here?”
I frowned.
Chengyi didn't answer. He stared at my lips, his eyes dark.
Seeing him in a bathrobe unsettled me.
But I couldn't take back what I'd said. Irritation sharpened my voice.
“I told you. You don't need to come anymore.”
“Because of the man downstairs?”
“…Who?”
I stared, not understanding.
“I'm sleepy. Whatever it is, tomorrow.”
I buried my face in the pillow and fell asleep.
I never noticed how long he stood there, like an abandoned puppy.
When I woke, sunlight covered half the bed.
I tried to remember last night.
I seemed to have dreamed that Chengyi kissed me fiercely enough to smear my lipstick.
I sprang up and ran to the mirror.
My face was clean as usual.
Only my lips stung.
A little scrape had formed a thin scab.
“I must have bumped the sink taking off my makeup.”