Chapter 53: Barefoot

Her lashes fluttered faintly at his words.

A life of peace and safety sounded so simple, yet it was also so difficult.

She accepted the red envelope, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Thank you, but I’m already an adult. I haven’t received a red envelope in a long time. I’ve been thinking lately that I seem to owe you more and more. I still haven’t prepared your Christmas gift from last time, and now I owe you another New Year’s gift.”

Su Ling’s voice was soft. “You shouldn’t be so good to me. I can’t repay you.”

He chuckled lightly. “Who asked you to repay me? I’ve always been a selfish person. You’re naturally likable—so many people adore you. At the very least, I want to be the one person in this world who treats you the best. Even if you never love me, no one will ever love you more than I do.” His voice dipped lower, almost a whisper. “That way, you’ll never forget me.”

Even if he became a thorn lodged deep in her throat, a pain buried in her bones and blood, or a scar that never faded over the years—she would never forget him.

He was despicable, shameless, hypocritical, and selfish. But he loved her with everything he had, and she would carry him in her heart forever.

Perhaps it was the warmth of the lights, or maybe his words moved her, but her eyes sparkled with a soft smile. “Then you’re truly despicable.”

“Yes,” he murmured, lowering his head, his voice tinged with amusement. “Am I scaring you, Su Ling?”

She answered honestly. “A little.”

After all, he wasn’t exactly what one would call a normal person, nor did he fit into conventional values.

But as the year drew to a close and spring approached, she had gone from fearing him to tentatively accepting this side of him.

If he remained this way for the rest of his life, there was nothing she could do about it.

Had she not met Qin Xiao, perhaps she would have lived an ordinary, unremarkable life—or continued striving endlessly.

He was the sharpest light in her existence, slicing through her perfection and twisting the trajectory of her life. Yet, he offered her a different way of living—perhaps not ideal, but unforgettable for all eternity.

In the distance, the glowing screen illuminated her profile as bold words scrolled across it slowly:

—2014: A Year of Miracles.

That winter, a heavy snowfall cleansed the world of its filth.

She thought to herself: I no longer hate him.

This Qin Xiao, whose temperament was identical to his past life, had not repeated the same mistakes from before.

Perhaps she should try to trust that not everything in this world was as it seemed.

Why had he concealed the news of her grandmother’s death? Why had he tried to keep her confined by his side in the beginning? What about her uncle’s gambling debts, or Zheng Xiaoya’s inexplicable title as fiancée…? And even further back, who was the person responsible for drugging her and sending her to Qin Xiao’s bed?

If none of these things were done by Qin Xiao—or if there were other reasons behind them—then he must have suffered greatly in his love for her in his past life.

At first, he had only intended to play around, but who could have predicted that he would eventually become so attached? He hadn’t set up the game, but in the end, he fell deeply in love with the bait thrown his way, becoming obsessed and entangled beyond reason.

He had once been so strong, without weaknesses, clever and daring enough to entertain thoughts of rebirth. How could he have committed those acts in his past life?

If she no longer hated him, if he hadn’t truly done those terrible things, then she should believe in him.

“Qin Xiao,” she began hesitantly, “do you think you can find out who it was—the one who drugged me and sent me to that hotel?”

A flicker of coldness passed through Qin Xiao’s eyes. “I looked into it back then, but the security footage didn’t reveal anything suspicious.” Initially, he had thought someone had dared to place a woman in his bed, but later, because of how much he cared for Su Ling, he grew increasingly concerned that it might pose a hidden danger. Yet, despite his investigations, he found no trace of anything.

If it wasn’t an accident, then whoever it was must have been exceptionally skilled at lying low.

“I’ll continue looking into it. Don’t be afraid.”

She nodded slightly, though she wasn’t actually afraid. After all, that person had never truly harmed her in her past life. She had died accidentally at Zheng Xiaoya’s hands, which proved that their intention wasn’t to hurt her.

But…

She looked at Qin Xiao, hesitating before asking, “Have you ever considered that they might have wanted to harm you through me?”

Was that invisible hand manipulating Qin Xiao’s emotions?

She had pondered many possibilities.

At that moment, the neon lights dimmed, then abruptly lit up again. His pupils were an intense black, softened by a melting frost of warmth in his smile.

“If that’s true, then I thank them—for letting me meet you.”

The day a treasure descended upon him was a rare dawn in a lifetime.

________________________________________

After the New Year, Su Ling returned to her small apartment. The premiere of The Prisoner was set for April.

It was the second semester of her junior year. Around this time, domestic variety shows began to rise in popularity, propelling previously unknown stars into the spotlight.

Lin Qing, with her sharp instincts, avoided casting Su Ling in low-budget leading roles and instead secured her a spot on a variety show.

When Su Ling saw the name of the program, she froze momentarily.

The show was called Let’s Watch the Sea Together .

In truth, Su Ling knew that this show hadn’t gained traction in her past life—it had flopped spectacularly, leaving barely a ripple. The production quality was poor, with excessive green-screening and no standout moments, resulting in abysmal ratings.

Still, in the end, she nodded in agreement.

Lin Qing was delighted. “You think this show is a good fit too, right? While it may not have explosive elements compared to other variety shows, your personality and image aren’t suited for overly dramatic content either. Just think of it as a vacation.”

Besides, with beaches, beautiful women, and long legs—Su Ling’s stunning looks would surely draw attention.

Su Ling smiled faintly, recalling distant memories.

The last time she had seen Qin Xiao in her past life was one morning. He had finished tying his tie, his smile gentle. “Wait for me to return from abroad, and I’ll take you to see the sea.”

She had lain on her side, showing little reaction.

By then, their relationship had deteriorated to the point of mutual animosity. Even though she could still smile at him outwardly, inside, she harbored deep disdain.

Unaware—or perhaps pretending not to notice—he continued speaking. “They say K Beach has just been developed, with minimal pollution. The sand is golden, and there are crabs and seashells. You’ll like it.”

She blinked, her exposed shoulder bearing faint marks from his fingers and teeth—not too forceful, but she was delicate.

He hadn’t forced himself on her for a long time, but this business trip felt excessively long to him.

The thought of being apart from her made him uneasy.

Yet, Qin Xiao knew he couldn’t continue down this path. Su Ling would only grow to hate him more.

Outwardly calm, his heart was bleeding internally. He didn’t know what to do anymore. He loved her so desperately that he feared even a single look of disgust from her, dreaded the possibility of her leaving.

Wanting to get closer, wanting to prove through possession that she was still his—but she no longer loved him. Her eyes told him as much.

So, with great care, he promised her: when he returned, he would take her to see the sea.

His final words to her were: “Wait for me to come back, Su Ling.” But she never got the chance to see him again. That was their last meeting.

She had even felt relieved at the time—dying without having to see his detestable face again.

This lifetime, when Lin Qing booked Let’s Watch the Sea Together , Su Ling remembered this incident. For reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, she suddenly felt an urge to go.

In reality, Su Ling was a last-minute replacement guest. The original actress had taken a better project and happily gone off to film it.

Filming would begin in three days, and after three episodes aired, they would decide whether to continue based on the ratings.

Tang Zi accompanied her this time.

Tang Zi was utterly dismayed. “Su Ling-ling, are you really going?”

Su Ling nodded. “If I’ve accepted the offer, I have to go.”

Tang Zi grimaced, foreseeing a bleak future. “But it’s by the sea! What if there’s a swimming competition in swimsuits or some couple-related activities…” She shuddered at the thought of Qin Xiao’s cold, mocking face.

Su Ling reassured her. “Sister Lin said it’s a very pure and wholesome show.” She only knew that the program hadn’t been popular in her past life, but she hadn’t watched it herself—only heard a brief summary from Lin Qing. It seemed suitable for young people to enjoy a beach outing.

Pure… wholesome…

Alright, then.

And so, they set off.

But Qin Xiao was far from idle. In secret, he still kept tabs on Su Ling’s every move.

Zuo Yin nearly lost it when he found out. “What the f*** is wrong with this bastard!”

Meanwhile, said bastard calmly called Guo Mingyan. “Bring Wan Baitai along. Let’s head to K Beach.”

Guo Mingyan felt like bursting into tears.

He Qian drove while Qin Xiao reviewed documents in the car.

Wan Baitai leaned close to Guo Mingyan and whispered, “He’s such a psycho. His possessiveness is terrifying. What a lunatic.”

Even amidst his busy schedule, he insisted on going.

And he dragged a whole group of people along to stage a “coincidental” encounter.

Wan Baitai couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Su Ling. Sure, Qin Xiao was a golden ticket, but he was also insane.

Guo Mingyan sighed wearily. “Keep your voice down. Don’t let him hear you.” Having grown up alongside Qin Xiao, he was used to this behavior.

Wan Baitai winced. “I think he already heard.”

Guo Mingyan quickly changed the subject. “Xiao-ge, I heard you had an argument with Madam Wen?”

Qin Xiao didn’t even lift his head. “Mm.”

“What was it about? Haven’t you two always been cold toward each other?”

Qin Xiao shrugged indifferently. “I just didn’t like her attitude.”

Xiao-ge… that’s your mother.

A sudden realization struck Guo Mingyan. “Is it because of Su Ling?”

Qin Xiao finally turned his head, giving him a cold, indifferent glance.

Madam Wen had indeed confronted him earlier. “You disappeared during the New Year. Fine, I suppose you’d rather die wrapped around that little vixen. This Su Ling… hmph, your taste isn’t bad. No wonder you’re smitten…”

Qin Xiao smirked, hurling the glass in his hand with force. It shattered at Madam Wen’s feet.

Calmly, he spoke. “Get out.”

Madam Wen trembled with rage. “I’m your mother! How dare you treat me like this!”

“If you say another word, I’ll reduce your shares in the Qin Corporation by one percent.”

Fuming, Madam Wen stormed off.

Qin Xiao thought to himself, I don’t need a mother like her. Madam Wen should consider herself lucky to be his mother; otherwise, Qin Xiao would have destroyed her countless times by now.

The three of them traveled in silence to K Beach.

From fragments of conversation, Wan Baitai had already pieced together an entire classic novel about a domineering CEO. In a family like the Qins, wouldn’t the next step involve Madam Wen finding Su Ling and saying, “Here’s a hundred million. Leave my son. I’ve already chosen a daughter-in-law for him. You’re not worthy. If a hundred million isn’t enough, feel free to fill out this check however you like.”

Wan Baitai burst out laughing. Then Su Ling should reply, “Thank you, Auntie. Thank you. Though I’d like to leave, turn around—your son is standing right behind you.”

The more she imagined it, the funnier it became. Guo Mingyan rolled his eyes. “Stay away from me, will you? You’re laughing like a madwoman.”

By then, filming had already begun.

Qin Xiao extended his hand, and He Qian handed him a pair of binoculars.

The vast expanse of the sea stretched endlessly, where sky met water in a seamless azure embrace.

Among the three pairs of young men and women, his eyes immediately found her.

She wore a white tank top and pink shorts, her hair tied into a high ponytail.

Because of the tank top, the contours of her chest were unmistakably visible. He had held her countless times, felt her, and nearly touched her there before—he knew exactly how intoxicating it was.

Her waist was slender, leading down to two long, straight, fair legs.

He Qian stood beside him, perfectly embodying the role of a competent secretary. Even if Qin Xiao had said, “Let’s go start a fire,” He Qian would have promptly responded, “Yes, Mr. Qin. Shall I fetch the lighter?”

He Qian squinted, unable to see clearly without binoculars, only making out vague silhouettes.

Qin Xiao had initially remained composed, but as he lowered the binoculars slightly…

He Qian heard him curse under his breath. “Sh*t!”

Damn it, she wasn’t wearing shoes!

On the golden sand, she walked barefoot, moving forward gracefully.

The girl radiated youthful innocence, surrounded by the endless blue of sea and sky. She turned her head, offering a shy, gentle smile.

At that moment, he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, dopamine and adrenaline surging uncontrollably.

Suddenly, Qin Xiao recalled Green Plum, the drama Su Ling had deliberately performed poorly in.

Back then, Dong Xu had asked him how he could write a script.

How could he possibly write a script?

The barefoot woman swinging on the swing in Green Plum had been the wild dream of his reckless youth—a symbol of the untamed spirit he had always been drawn to. But he had never encountered anyone like her in real life.

Until now.

In that instant, he realized something.

If Su Ling had portrayed her true self back then, he would have fallen in love with her at first sight.

Whether it was ten years ago, when he was an eighteen-year-old boy, or now, as a mature man in his thirties—if he so much as glanced at her, he would willingly bow to her.

No matter what.