Chapter 22: The Gift

The streetlights along the way were dim, and the sound of insects chirping filled the air. Finally, a hint of coolness permeated the summer night, though the man’s body radiated heat, and her tears flowed hot.

Su Ling wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. As she calmed down, she felt embarrassed for crying so openly in front of him.

“Put me down,” she said, her voice still nasal as she pushed against him.

“Don’t be difficult.” He held her effortlessly and asked, “Is there a hotel nearby?”

At the mention of a hotel, Su Ling shot him a look as if he were some villain, clamping her mouth shut and struggling to get down.

Qin Xiao set her down. “Su Ling, you really have no conscience. I carried you all this way, and now you’re turning your back on me?”

Her courage was unusually bold tonight. Flustered and angry, she retorted, “I never asked you to carry me.”

His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Does it matter if I wanted to?”

Her heart still ached, but she turned her face away, unwilling to engage further.

Qin Xiao had gone to Coral Town that afternoon, only to find out the production team was on break and Su Ling had returned home. Her contract included her hometown address, so he came directly here—only to find her crying uncontrollably.

Clearly, this time, her heart had been deeply wounded.

Through the layers of towering buildings and city lights, Su Ling gazed toward her uncle’s house.

It appeared as just a few faint glimmers of light, indistinct in the darkness.

She became lost in thought.

When she was little, Grandma taught her nursery rhymes, carried her up mountain paths, and planted kapok trees with her in the yard. Even during their poorest days, Grandma would go without food herself to ensure Su Ling didn’t starve.

Yet, at times, Grandma seemed incredibly distant. Su Ling remembered vividly falling in the yard at age five, scraping her elbow on a rock. Just as she was about to cry, she caught Grandma’s gaze from afar—cold and indifferent, as if looking at a stranger.

But moments later, Grandma picked her up, sighed, and gently applied medicine to her wound.

Did Grandma truly love her? Su Ling used to believe so, but after reliving this life, she began to question it for the first time.

Perhaps not.

Grandma had never told her how her mother, Yu Qiao, died.

There were countless reasons someone might pass away, but one possibility loomed large: because of Su Ling’s birth, Yu Qiao had died.

Su Ling worked hard to be obedient and unobtrusive, hoping someone would love her and spare Grandma any burden. For this, she sacrificed twenty-four years of her life.

But now, chilled to the bone, the terrifying possibility froze her limbs.

Perhaps the family she cherished so deeply secretly resented her.

Caught between love and hate, she was nothing more than an outsider cast away.

Su Ling looked up at the man before her. “Qin Xiao.”

He glanced down at her, his eyes shimmering like scattered stars across the sky. “Hmm?”

She handed him the card. “Stop following me.” It contained all her acting fees; once filming was complete, the remaining money would also be deposited. She intended to repay everything, principal and interest.

Qin Xiao didn’t take it. He laughed bitterly. Was this meant to dismiss him like a beggar?

“Do you think I care about this measly amount?”

She lowered her head, silent.

Qin Xiao felt his heart twist with anger. After nearly two months of dealing with Chu Zhen, he finally came to see her, only to receive this card.

Without another word, he scooped her up again. Startled, Su Ling cried out, “What are you doing!”

He sneered. “Doing you!”

Flustered and furious, she shouted, “Qin Xiao!”

“How thoughtful of you to call my name,” he teased.

His iron arms tightened around her as he squinted to identify landmarks around them, heading toward a specific location.

Su Ling forgot her earlier distress, startled by his words.

Those two words left her mind reeling. She pinched his arm in retaliation, using all her strength. But Qin Xiao didn’t flinch or stop walking. This man endured pain exceptionally well—in both lifetimes combined, Su Ling had never seen him utter a sound of discomfort.

She grew afraid. “I don’t want to be with you. Let me go.”

Qin Xiao’s tone turned cold. “Too late.”

Su Ling looked around, but the area was pitch-dark. On such a sweltering summer night, even those who took evening strolls had retreated indoors to enjoy air conditioning. Only this madman remained, traveling thousands of miles for reasons unknown.

Panic began to rise within her. He was skilled at forcing others into submission. She knew firsthand that Qin Xiao had no concept of propriety—if it pleased him, even stabbing him wouldn’t deter him.

But making him compromise wasn’t impossible.

Fearing he might act rashly, Su Ling bit her lip and called softly, “Qin Xiao.”

Her voice was sweet and delicate. He raised an eyebrow, curious about what scheme she was concocting.

Blushing furiously, she called again, “Qin Xiao.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed, his dark eyes smoldering. “What? Speak plainly.”

She said, “Don’t talk like that. It scares me.”

A smirk played on his lips. “What did I say?”

Su Ling couldn’t bring herself to repeat those two words. Avoiding his gaze, she murmured, “I’m sad.” Truly, she was heartbroken—not slowly losing something, but realizing she may have never possessed it.

All that remained in this world—the people she cherished and sacrificed everything for—might have been an illusion.

Qin Xiao thought bitterly, I’m sad too. Don’t think I can’t see through your pretense.

Yet his heart softened like putty, and his grip loosened slightly. Fine, why bother arguing with her?

“Su Ling.”

She looked up. He said, “Don’t be sad.” No one deserved to make her feel this way.

Unable to return to her uncle’s house, Su Ling had no choice but to stay elsewhere. That tactic proved effective; Qin Xiao didn’t push further and booked two separate rooms.

She now faced two paths: one was to help her uncle repay his debts and ease Grandma’s worries. The other was to keep the remaining money, pay Qin Xiao back, and focus on finishing university.

In her past life, she chose the first path. This time, she chose the second.

Though soft-hearted, she needed to grow stronger. If Grandma needed her, she would fulfill her filial duties—after all, Grandma raised her and cared for her as a child. But Uncle Ni was different. No one deserved to be exploited endlessly.

After much deliberation, she made her decision and felt lighter.

Su Ling calculated: without her funds, Uncle Ni and Aunt Tian would likely sell the house.

The house could fetch over a million yuan, leaving enough for Ni Haoyan and Ni Jiannan to finish university.

Even if they couldn’t, Su Ling would find a way to ensure Ni Haoyan’s education.

If Uncle Ni could pull himself together, the family would gradually improve. Both he and Aunt Tian had jobs, and Ni Haoyan and Ni Jiannan were grown.

Her mood lifted significantly. Qin Xiao glanced at her.

Now, she resembled a lively nineteen-year-old girl. Though traces of tears lingered on her face, her eyes were red, her lashes damp. Yet her expression was serene and gentle.

So easily hurt, yet so quick to heal.

Her seemingly tender heart concealed remarkable resilience.

As they ascended the stairs, she rubbed her eyes, drowsy and suppressing a yawn. Her watery eyes revealed how exhausted she was. Qin Xiao suddenly remembered she was the type to sleep by nine o’clock—a delicate flower accustomed to routine.

It was nearly eleven now. After crying, she appeared somewhat disoriented.

She swiped her card to open the door, unaware that Qin Xiao followed closely behind.

Just as she was about to close the door, he casually stuck his foot in to block it.

Su Ling blinked, her delayed reaction betraying her fatigue.

Qin Xiao’s lips curved slightly. He’d never seen anyone grow stupider the more tired they became. “Do you still recognize me?”

She nodded. “Qin Xiao.” A faint smile danced in her eyes.

For reasons unknown, this was the first time he’d seen her smile while calling his name. His unruly heart clenched tightly, his breathing growing labored.

“Do you remember when I said I’d give you a gift?”

Her gaze was vacant. Exhausted from crying earlier, she now longed for sleep. She shook her head, then remembered and nodded.

She answered, “I don’t want it.”

“You’ll take it anyway.”

Who acted like this? Too tired to argue, she pleaded, “Can you give it to me tomorrow?”

“Now.” His tone brooked no argument.

With no choice, Su Ling hesitated before nodding and extending her hand.

He chuckled, pulling out a small black box. As the lid opened, a purple crystal anklet caught her eye.

The anklet was clearly expensive, its flawless crystals exquisitely polished. Under the light, it shimmered brilliantly—soft, pure, and seductively beautiful.

Instantly, Su Ling’s expression changed. All signs of drowsiness vanished.

Despite her usually composed demeanor, Su Ling now felt like cursing.

This psychopath’s taste in jewelry hadn’t changed across two lifetimes.

The anklet was identical to the one she wore before. What a lunatic! A madman!

Angry and frustrated, she slammed the door shut without hesitation. Fortunately, Qin Xiao had already withdrawn his foot.

Left outside, Qin Xiao’s amused expression turned icy. “Open the door.”

Silence greeted him from the other side.

Rejected twice in one day, Qin Xiao’s eyes hardened. “Su Ling!”

The young woman remained stubbornly silent, surprising him with her newfound resolve.

How dare she lock him out? Such audacity.

“I’ll give you one last chance. Open the door.”

On the other side, Su Ling clenched her teeth. Forget it, she thought. I’ll die before I let you in. If she wore that thing, there was no telling what he’d do.

After all… after all, she’d already died once. Worst-case scenario—they’d perish together.

Fearful yet determined, she mustered newfound bravery. Without constraints, she didn’t need to yield to him anymore. Let someone else wear it if they wanted—it disgusted her.

Qin Xiao gripped the anklet tightly.

In his twenty-seven years, he pursued whatever he desired, sparing no effort. Even his high school teachers remarked on his wild and ruthless nature.

Locking him out, huh? He vowed to personally fasten the anklet onto her someday. If he failed, he wouldn’t bear the surname Qin.