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He said it didn’t hurt, but Su Ling still worried. Even a falling egg could leave a dent if dropped from a great height.
Not to mention, she had just seen the sharp-edged rocks tumbling down that slope earlier—it wasn’t particularly high, but the jagged stones were enough to cause serious harm.
Just thinking about it made her wince.
Qin Xiao took the umbrella from her and held it over them, his face showing no signs of pain.
Su Ling was still concerned for him. She needed to take him back home first.
The villagers had already left, leaving Su Ling and Qin Xiao walking silently through the snow-covered path.
After some thought, she decided to ask the question weighing on her mind: “How did you end up here?”
Qin Xiao chuckled faintly. “You already know the answer.”
Su Ling felt uneasy. Yes, she did know. In her past life, Qin Xiao had promised to let her return home alone, only to renege on that promise and follow her secretly.
She had initially thought that after last night at the Yi Mi Awards, when Qin Xiao smiled and wished her a happy new year, he might have changed.
But this unexpected incident today made her realize with growing unease that Qin Xiao hadn’t changed at all.
Deep down, he was still the same obsessive man from her past life. What was even more terrifying was that he had learned how to disguise himself.
Perhaps because in this lifetime, he hadn’t managed to win her over right from the start—she wasn’t dependent on him anymore—he couldn’t afford to be as domineering as before. Instead, he had tried to rein himself in.
Her thoughts chilled her to the bone. Whether it was the cold or the fear brought by the man beside her, she felt a faint chill creeping up her spine.
He had been lying to her—and for a long time.
Long enough that she had almost believed Qin Xiao’s obsession with her had lessened.
What should she do?
Qin Xiao’s heart sank as well. If Su Ling hadn’t been in danger, he wouldn’t have revealed himself. Even without her saying anything yesterday, he had guessed where she would go. She couldn’t return to the Ni family, and with her grandmother having passed away this year, it was obvious she would head to the small village of her childhood.
He had worked so hard to lower her guard, and now she knew everything.
The two walked in silence, Su Ling feeling increasingly restless.
After a while, they arrived at the house her grandmother used to live in. Qin Xiao discreetly glanced at it. The black-tiled roof, the cement walls, and the traces of wear and tear gave the structure an aged appearance. It was a rural building from twenty years ago, neglected and dilapidated.
In front of the yard stood two kapok trees, their branches bare, covered in a layer of snow.
Qin Xiao had never seen such a rundown place.
His family had always been wealthy, and Qin Xiao lacked any sense of empathy for such humble living conditions. All he felt was disdain.
Yet, even if told to leave, he wouldn’t budge.
As long as Su Ling was here, he’d rather sleep on a barren mountain than leave. There was one person he wanted to stay by until his dying breath.
Su Ling took out her keys and opened the door. Dust fell from above, making her cough. Qin Xiao frowned slightly.
She turned to him and said, “No one has lived here for many years, so it’s quite dirty. I’ll clean it up later.”
Qin Xiao masked his expression and forced a smile. “It’s fine. I think it’s good.” Like hell.
Su Ling almost laughed. She knew exactly what kind of person he was. He wasn’t a good man by any stretch of the imagination, and his admirable qualities were few and far between.
Yet, he insisted on pretending to be one, and she wasn’t going to call him out on it.
Inside, there was a chair. She grabbed a cloth to wipe it down and gestured for Qin Xiao to sit. Then she prepared to step outside.
Qin Xiao grabbed her wrist, his gaze darkening. “Where are you going?”
Su Ling replied softly, “You’re injured. The medicinal wine at home has been sitting too long and can’t be used. I’m going to borrow some from Auntie Chen’s house.”
He hadn’t expected this answer. Su Ling had always seemed repulsed by him, and she had never shown any concern for him before. Though he was indeed difficult to deal with, no one dared to provoke him.
But Qin Xiao had always assumed that given her aversion to him, even if he died, she wouldn’t shed a single tear.
For the first time, he was grateful for the kindness inherent in human nature.
Though he himself lacked it, thank heavens she was a good person.
Qin Xiao chuckled softly. “Let’s go together.”
His hand slipped downward, brushing against her fingertips. Instinctively, he wanted to hold her hand, but in the next moment, he casually withdrew it.
Restraint was infinitely harder than indulgence.
Su Ling decided to visit Xiao Han’s house. Auntie Chen lived closest to her grandmother’s house, which was built in a remote area. The small village was sparsely populated, and her grandmother’s place was practically the only house around.
When she arrived, every household was busy preparing lunch, and the children weren’t running around outside. After Xiao Han’s accident, every child had learned a lesson and would likely be kept under close watch by their parents for a while.
The few people who occasionally encountered Su Ling and Qin Xiao curiously stared at them.
Since starting school in L City, Su Ling hadn’t had time to return to the small village, and her grandmother hadn’t come back either. As she grew older, she became more beautiful, her features breathtaking. Few could associate her with the once obedient but frail little girl from years ago.
Auntie Chen was at home. Xiao Han was fine—just cold and frightened. The village doctor said there was no need to go to the hospital.
Just as Su Ling was about to knock, Auntie Chen happened to open the door.
Upon seeing Su Ling, she beamed. “I thought it was you, Little Ling. Earlier, I was too worried about Xiao Han to recognize you. But something felt off, and I was planning to come see you.”
Auntie Chen was still holding Qin Xiao’s black overcoat. She thanked him profusely. “We owe everything to you. Otherwise, Xiao Han would have…” She then turned to Qin Xiao with a smile. “Is this Little Ling’s boyfriend? Look at his demeanor—he’s so handsome!”
Su Ling felt awkward. “No, he’s not.”
Auntie Chen quickly dropped the subject.
Aside from his good looks, Qin Xiao’s unruly and aloof demeanor made it impossible for anyone to mistake him for a nice guy. Upon hearing the word “boyfriend,” followed by Su Ling’s denial, he smirked faintly.
Auntie Chen knew it was this man who had carried her grandson back. She expressed her gratitude again. Without Qin Xiao, she would have faced the tragic loss of her grandchild.
However, when Auntie Chen handed over the overcoat, Qin Xiao narrowed his eyes and hesitated to take it.
Auntie Chen quickly explained, “My husband said this coat is very expensive and needs dry cleaning, but we don’t know how to do that. We’re afraid of ruining it…”
Su Ling looked up at Qin Xiao, her clear eyes filled with sincerity. Qin Xiao immediately took it, though his voice remained cold. “It’s fine.”
Su Ling’s heart softened unexpectedly.
For some reason, she suddenly recalled Wan Bai Bai’s words—some people are naturally good, but others become good because of you.
Even though he was domineering, stubborn, and unreasonable, riddled with flaws—
He could still be tender.
Su Ling knew Qin Xiao despised the coat he had draped over Xiao Han, now covered in mud.
When they returned, they carried rice, flour, vegetables, oil, and salt. Qin Xiao, his face icy, carried the items while Su Ling held a bottle of medicinal wine.
She suggested visiting the village doctor to check Qin Xiao’s injuries, but he refused. “No.”
With no other choice, they headed back home. She stopped and took his overcoat from him. “Give it to me.”
He raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Su Ling asked, “Won’t you be cold without a jacket?”
He smiled. “Yes.”
Su Ling hesitated. “But you won’t want to wear this, and I can’t wash it for you right now. It won’t dry quickly, and there’s nothing else for you to wear at home.”
There was no electricity, no hairdryer—nothing convenient like that. Her grandmother’s old cotton-padded jackets wouldn’t suit him unless he stopped being Qin Xiao.
Her soft, moist eyes betrayed her genuine worry. “What should we do?”
He looked at her and chuckled lightly. “Why don’t you give me a hug? Even if I freeze to death, it’s fine.”
Su Ling pressed her lips together, blushing faintly with embarrassment.
He snorted. “Just kidding.”
The two went back home, and Su Ling planned to tend to his wounds.
The injury was on his back, and he refused to let the village doctor examine it, leaving her to handle it.
She froze for a long moment, her ears turning red. Qin Xiao chuckled. “Are you going to help me or not? I’m in so much pain I might die. Seriously, it hurts.”
He alternated between saying it hurt and denying it, making her think he was joking. However, Qin Xiao promptly removed his shirt in front of her.
He worked out regularly, and his physique was impressive—broad shoulders, narrow waist, with visible abs.
Knowing Su Ling’s tendency to blush, Qin Xiao turned around.
Su Ling saw the large bruise covering his back.
Almost every inch of his skin was discolored.
He chuckled faintly. “I’m not lying, is it? It really fucking hurts.”
Her eyes blinked, and she felt tears welling up.
She remembered how Qin Xiao had instinctively shielded her earlier. These injuries should have been hers, and later, he had carried Xiao Han for such a long distance.
It must have hurt so much.
So much.
In the cold winter, Su Ling, fearing he might catch a chill, hurried to apply medicine to his wounds.
Unable to hold back, she said, “Qin Xiao, let’s go to the hospital. It looks pretty serious.”
“I’m not going to die,” he said. “Do you understand what it means to be a man?”
She didn’t understand. Being a man doesn’t mean one doesn’t feel pain.
“Su Ling, are you moved?”
She didn’t answer, and he chuckled softly.
Su Ling steeled herself and carefully applied the medicinal wine to his back. Her movements were gentle.
Suddenly, Qin Xiao picked up the overcoat from the chair and draped it over his legs. He no longer seemed to mind its dirtiness.
Su Ling quickly said, “Alright, put your clothes on quickly.” She thought he was cold, but after Qin Xiao leisurely put his clothes back on, that much-disdained piece of clothing still covered his legs.
She glanced at it, confused at first, not realizing immediately. Then, suddenly remembering something, her face turned beet red.
Seeing that she understood, Qin Xiao laughed boldly. “Keep looking, huh? Keep looking and I won’t be able to hold back.”
Su Ling was both angry and embarrassed, utterly speechless towards this man. She really couldn’t understand Qin Xiao. Let him die in pain! Qin Xiao crossed his legs. “If you touch me and I don’t react, that would be abnormal.”
“I didn’t touch you!” Her face flushed completely red.
He just smiled, his grin carrying a hint of wildness. “Alright, if you say you didn’t, then you didn’t.”
Su Ling gritted her teeth and went to the kitchen. She was too lazy to argue with him. She took out the things she bought from the villagers and started cooking. Without electricity, she could only light a fire.
Qin Xiao got up to watch her.
Her profile was serene; she truly was very gentle. Like the most ethereal smoke in the world, like water slipping through fingers, or like sunlight in March.
After watching her for a while, Qin Xiao suddenly asked, “Is my cooking really that bad?”
Su Ling had just started the fire and instinctively wanted to nod.
But a moment later, her heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head to look at him. The man stood against the light, his eyes deep and dark. Seeing her look over, he smiled brilliantly.
Su Ling’s heartbeat missed a beat.
“You... why are you asking this? I haven’t eaten your cooking.”
Qin Xiao walked over. She sat on a small stool, the warm yellow light illuminating her face, giving her an almost suffocating beauty.
He squatted down in front of her, his fingers gripping her chin. Their eyes met.
He suddenly smiled. “Su Ling.”
“Hmm?” She wanted to push his hand away; such actions made her feel ashamed and awkward.
But his next words froze her in place. Qin Xiao slowly asked, “Do you remember what you said when you were drunk at Yun Shang Xing Kong?”
She froze, her heart racing. She vaguely remembered saying some outrageous things.
However... due to being drunk, her memory wasn’t clear.
He had let it go before, but unexpectedly brought it up now.
“I don’t know, I was just talking nonsense.”
Qin Xiao lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with an emotion that made her fearful. He spoke word by word, “You said I always lie to you, telling you my cooking is good when it’s actually terrible.”
Her face turned pale.
Qin Xiao narrowed his eyes. Initially just a random suspicion, but now it seemed there might be truth to it. However, he wasn’t entirely sure; several guesses lingered in his mind.
His finger pressed against her lips. She was too frightened to resist this time. Qin Xiao chuckled lowly, “You said... when was that? Why don’t I remember?”
Su Ling lowered her eyes, her voice small. “That was me talking nonsense. I was drunk; I didn’t know what I was saying.”
He chuckled. “Then how did you know Yun Bu would get into trouble?”
Su Ling abruptly raised her head to look at him, her heart turning half-cold.
Qin Xiao slowly said, “Are you going to say it was just a coincidence?”
She didn’t speak, her eyes pitiful. She couldn’t fabricate someone else telling her about the faulty wire, because if there was such a person, Qin Xiao would definitely find out.
Qin Xiao sneered. “Then why? You’ve always detested me since we first met. That stage play ‘Green Plum,’ you intentionally acted badly, right?”
His tone carried laughter. “With such a beautiful face, why did you wear such ugly makeup? How did you know I liked women like you? Hmm? I never told anyone that.”
Su Ling hadn’t expected him to connect so many dots. This man was terrifying.
He chuckled. “Don’t look at me like that. What are you afraid of?” He paused. “I’m easy to fool too. Or you can tell me you love me now, and I won’t ask anything else. Lie if you want.”
His movements were lewd as his thumb repeatedly caressed and pressed against her lips.
Su Ling’s face turned white. She avoided his gaze. “No, definitely not.”
Qin Xiao sneered. “Not willing to talk? Alright, tell me something to make me happy, and I won’t ask anymore, okay?”
Her face flushed red. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “Qin Xiao.”
“Hmm?”
Enduring her embarrassment, she said, “You’re the best.”
A trace of amusement flickered in Qin Xiao’s eyes. “Then show me a little affection. Look at how great I am. Do you have any taste?”
She thought he was shameless.
But she feared Qin Xiao continuing to ask even more.
She had considered many terrifying outcomes. For example, what would Qin Xiao do if he knew she had died once? He feared this possibility even more than she did. Rebirth necessarily meant dying once.
If it were someone else, they might cherish her more out of love.
But Qin Xiao wouldn’t.
Out of fear, he would try to control everything.
Out of obsessive and unnatural love, he would embed her into his very bones and imprison her by his side.
He might even prevent potential threats by killing Zheng Xiaoya, becoming a murderer. He would become mad, cruel.
She had always been afraid to guess what Qin Xiao would become if she died. This was the reason.
Really... very scary.
So, he shouldn’t confirm this matter in this lifetime.
She lowered her eyelids, pulling his hand down and placing her small hand in his palm.
The fire in the stove had gone out, the cold light was bright. Her eyes were tender as she gently held his hand.
Her tone was gentle, naturally soft. “Qin Xiao.”
“Hmm?”
“Then promise me, always be this good.” She bit her lip, enduring her shyness, and finished her sentence. “Don’t scare me, don’t force me, and don’t become a... a bad guy.”
Hearing her list these ridiculous and unreasonable childish conditions, he found it amusing. But her next words made his heart skip a beat—
“I will try to... like this version of you, okay?”
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