MGG - 57

Qin Xiao returned to the villa on a rainy night.

The man walked with his coat flaring, exuding an icy demeanor. The rain soaked his bangs, and his gloomy appearance startled Aunt Ding. Realizing this, she quickly said, “Oh dear, Young Master, how did you end up like this?”

Qin Xiao raised his hand, his voice cold: “Where's Wen Xian?”

Aunt Ding was frightened: “Shh, Young Master, that's your mother. Don't address her by her name.”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Qin Xiao's lips. If he could, he truly wanted to kill her. Just yesterday, for the first time, he contemplated how to silently eliminate Wen Xian.

However, after calming down, he thought of Su Ling and her earnest words urging him to always remain good. This calmed him somewhat.

Aunt Ding handed him a dry towel to dry his hair, muttering: “Madam Wen is upstairs... You should take a bath first; don’t neglect your health just because you’re young.”

Suddenly, Aunt Ding remembered: “By the way, Miss Su came looking for you a couple of days ago.”

Before Qin Xiao could feel any joy, a greater chill enveloped him: “Did Miss Su meet with my mother?”

Aunt Ding nodded: “Yes, they met.”

Qin Xiao tightened his grip on the towel: “What did they say?”

Aunt Ding, being loyal to Qin Xiao, naturally didn’t hide anything: “Miss Su didn’t say much. She just greeted Madam Wen. Madam Wen said Miss Su was impressive. I didn’t quite understand it.”

Qin Xiao grunted, releasing the towel and heading upstairs.

His steps were steady but carried a chilling aura. Wen Xian had been sleeping soundly when Qin Xiao knocked on the door.

“Open.”

Wen Xian felt both smug and slightly terrified as she opened the door. Though she had been waiting for Qin Xiao’s return to verify things, she still maintained her maternal authority: “Look at you, what a mess. Your hair is still dripping water. If you want to talk to me, go and...”

Qin Xiao sneered: “Shut up. Do you know how I’m feeling right now? Don’t push me to accidentally kill you.”

Wen Xian's anger rose momentarily but was quickly replaced by greater joy: “So, you know I wasn’t lying, right? You can’t be with Su Ling. She’s probably your...”

Qin Xiao’s face darkened: “Say those two words and see what happens.”

When had Wen Xian seen her son like this? To be honest, there was no such thing as familial affection between them. Their relationship was terrifyingly cold.

Qin Xiao spoke slowly, word by word: “If I say it’s not true, then it’s not true. If Su Ling has any identity, it can only be as my wife.”

Madam Wen's eyes widened, as if looking at a monster: “Are you insane?”

Qin Xiao's face remained cold, his eyes reflecting a chilling light as he stared at Madam Wen.

Madam Wen muttered: “You’re mad, you’re terrifying…”

Qin Xiao ignored her rambling: “I’ll give you another ten percent of Qin Corporation’s shares. Whatever you shouldn’t say, never say it for the rest of your life.”

Madam Wen laughed: “Shares? I don’t want them. Anyway, you can’t like her. I’ll stick to my previous condition—you marry Zheng Xiaoya. Otherwise, I’ll tell Su Ling. Think about how she’d react knowing how terrifying and disgusting you are...” She knew it wasn’t appropriate to describe her own son this way, but since they had no feelings for each other, she had never lived a day as Qin Xiao’s mother in her fifty-some years.

And as for shares, even if she got them, she couldn’t keep them. Qin Xiao could always find a way to take them back.

“Don’t look at me like that, and don’t think about scheming against me. Do you think I haven’t made arrangements? If something happens to me, Su Ling will know everything. It’s too late now. I don’t want to talk anymore. Consider Zheng Xiaoya’s matter. Otherwise, Su Ling...”

She had grasped Qin Xiao’s only weakness, finally feeling triumphant after decades, and closed the door.

Qin Xiao stood there with a cold expression for a while before letting out an ambiguous laugh.

The truth?

What he believed was the truth. What he desired was the outcome.

Qin Xiao went downstairs and left the house. Aunt Ding looked worried—where was he going at this hour?

Su Ling was half-asleep when she heard the doorbell ring.

It was raining outside. She put on her coat to check who it was, considering this was a residential area for contracted artists where only authorized people or acquaintances could enter.

Through the peephole, she saw Qin Xiao.

The man looked terrible. Su Ling hesitated for a moment before opening the door for him.

The cold air rushed in, making Su Ling shiver.

Qin Xiao frowned, closing the door behind him and shutting out the cold wind.

Seeing that he was drenched, Su Ling became more awake: “Did you get caught in the rain? Do you need to dry off?”

He had been staring at her since entering. Hearing her question, he smiled: “Hmm.”

Su Ling fetched a hairdryer and towel for him. Qin Xiao dried himself casually. His clothes were still wet: “Give me a bath towel.”

Su Ling looked at him, silently refusing.

Qin Xiao masked the emotions in his eyes and spoke as gently as possible: “I won’t do anything to you. I’m just cold, you know. I drove back from L City all night, damn freezing. Later, I’ll answer whatever you ask, alright?”

When Su Ling heard about L City, she bit her lip and finally found a bath towel for him.

Qin Xiao went to take a shower.

Warm water flowed over his body, and he sighed lightly, curling his lips mockingly.

There were things he knew but couldn’t tell her.

After finishing his shower, Qin Xiao came out. Su Ling was sitting on the couch hugging a pillow, lost in thought. Qin Xiao had only a bath towel wrapped around his lower body. Su Ling’s cheeks were slightly red, gesturing for him to wear the spare bathrobe in the living room.

Qin Xiao smiled faintly but didn’t make things difficult for her, putting on the robe.

Su Ling was curious: “What did you go to L City for?”

Qin Xiao showed her the photos he had taken from his wet clothes.

Su Ling was stunned when she picked them up.

The person in the photos was her mother, Yu Qiao, from around middle school to her twenties. Even her grandmother didn’t have these photos. Where did Qin Xiao find them?

Since it was her mother, Su Ling examined the pictures with reverence and curiosity.

Qin Xiao’s gaze lingered on her cheeks.

Perhaps because she had been sleeping soundly earlier, the warm flush still lingered on her cheeks after he woke her up.

Delicate and charming.

“Why do you have these photos?”

Qin Xiao calmly lied: “I went to L City to sign a contract and thought I’d surprise you along the way.”

Su Ling found it strange, but she couldn’t think of any reason for Qin Xiao to investigate her mother Yu Qiao. Thus, she reluctantly accepted his explanation.

Su Ling carefully put the photos away, looking at Qin Xiao expectantly: “Can I keep these?”

Qin Xiao curved his lips: “Of course.”

She was delighted, treasuring the set of photos as she stored them.

Qin Xiao masked the coldness and mockery in his eyes.

This world was full of malice.

Su Ling sat back, remembering the recent event: “Qin Xiao, is Zheng Xiaoya really going to become your fiancée?”

Qin Xiao didn’t actually know about Zheng Xiaoya’s Weibo post, but Su Ling’s question allowed him to deduce the cause and effect.

He was in a dilemma. He had barely managed to soften Su Ling’s heart, and this hard-earned progress could easily be destroyed by fate's overwhelming malice.

He wouldn’t gamble with her.

Qin Xiao’s tone was calm: “She isn’t.” She wouldn’t be. He would think of other ways; he didn’t necessarily have to agree to Madam Wen’s demands, although currently, he had no ideas.

Su Ling received an unexpected answer.

She had assumed Qin Xiao would say yes, allowing her to finally inquire about the perplexities that haunted her through two lifetimes. However, Qin Xiao said no.

It felt like being on the verge of uncovering the truth, only to be told, sweetie, you're wrong.

Huh?

Is Zheng Xiaoya crazy?

Her confused expression pleased Qin Xiao. He knew there was one more solution.

If Su Ling loved him as intensely as he loved her, then no matter what happened, Su Ling would endure. Regardless of the situation, she wouldn’t leave him.

Unfortunately, she didn’t love him.

There might be gentleness, perhaps pity, but far from love.

An uncontrollable surge of violence arose in his heart.

He knew; he had never been a good person.

“Lingling,” his low, raspy voice sounded near her ear. “I love you so much.”

“Hmm?” Su Ling noticed he was too close and instinctively wanted to retreat. Moreover, Qin Xiao’s declaration was direct and frightening, making her ears turn red. She softly said, “Alright, stop coming closer.”

Since she was at home, she only wore a pair of dark green slippers.

This color complemented her pale skin well.

Those feet were white and cute, perfect for playing with in his hands.

Qin Xiao craved her—not just physically but also due to the unrest in his soul.

If only she would be a little more obedient, love him a little more. He wouldn’t resort to extreme measures. When he drove back to B City today, in a bad mood, he bought something she definitely wouldn’t like.

But he liked it.

Right now, that item was in his car—a silver ankle cuff embedded with red agate. The only key in the world was in his pants pocket.

He looked at her shy and uneasy expression, unsure whether he felt more cold or more warmth.

Innocence and naivety were truly wonderful. In her current state, she couldn’t hear his anguished cries or see his dark, despicable dead ends.

She could even sleep sweetly and wake up the next day to continue pursuing her dreams.

Just a few short days ago, he could have waited patiently for her, deceived her, or coaxed her. He originally thought he had a lifetime to wait for her affection.

But this trip to L City told him he couldn’t.

He could lose her at any moment.

His tenderness was about to break.

Lingling, I love you so much.

Love to the point of despair. Would the item in his car become his final recourse?