Chapter 63: Remembrance

After securing Qin Xiao’s promise, she let out a sigh of relief and revealed a faint smile.

Qin Xiao lowered his eyes, not letting her see his expression. That night, Qin Xiao couldn’t sleep. She was sleeping in his arms, and though it was nearly June, the night air was as cool as water. The villa was built on a hillside, making summers quite pleasant.

His hand enveloped her small one; she rested her head on his shoulder, her ink-black hair cascading like a waterfall, sleeping soundly.

He was someone desperately trying to hold onto sand, but the grains kept slipping through his fingers. He feared that one day, when her memory returned, she would completely despise him, or that someday she might leave him.

Dong Xu was a hidden danger, as were Yun Bu, Wan Bai Bai, and Ni Hao Yan. There was also Su Ling’s father, whom they had never met, and Wen Xian—all of them disapproved of his love. Every moment he spent with her felt like fighting against the world.

He lay awake all night. As dawn approached, Qin Xiao made a decision.

When Su Ling opened her eyes the next morning, she saw him smiling at her. Qin Xiao’s fingers brushed over her hair. “Good morning.”

Her vision blurred for a moment, then she managed a smile. “Good morning.”

Qin Xiao gazed at her for a while, finally pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Su Ling.”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s go get our marriage certificate.”

The drowsiness from waking up vanished completely. She looked at him with surprise and fear. “Qin Xiao, you... don’t joke around like this.” She knew her place—she was his lover, doing what a lover should do.

Su Ling always thought that when Qin Xiao got tired of her or found someone younger and prettier, she could leave.

“I’m not joking.” His eyes were warm. “I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life, alright?”

She hesitated, then shook her head.

Qin Xiao’s eyes darkened with a hint of danger, but he still smiled. He flipped her onto her back, pinning her down with his arms on either side.

Su Ling was somewhat frightened. “Qin Xiao... Marriage is something we should be serious about. Acting on impulse...”

His kiss silenced her remaining words.

She was wearing only a silk nightgown, white and soft.

His kisses traveled downwards, parting her clothes, revealing a large expanse of her chest. Su Ling panicked, pushing at his head.

Ignoring her resistance, he bit her shoulder with some force.

“It hurts,” she whimpered softly.

He chuckled lightly. “I’m sorry.”

But his actions showed no sign of remorse. His lips moved to her chest, kissing through her nightgown.

Su Ling trembled slightly, biting her lip to stifle any sounds. But she was scared, almost to the point of tears.

By the time Qin Xiao removed her pants, her body had stiffened unnaturally.

He held her wrist with one hand, and Su Ling flinched. This confrontation needed to end. “Qin, Qin Xiao.”

He didn’t look up, his eyes filled with coldness and desire.

She clenched her legs together, finally afraid. “No.”

He raised his head, eyes filled with desire, his pupils black as ink. His hand gently gripped her chin. “Why not? Since you think of yourself as my lover, shouldn’t you do what lovers do?”

She looked on the verge of tears, pitiful like a flower about to be plucked, which only fueled his urge to dominate.

He chuckled, his fingers sliding inward.

Su Ling kicked him with her leg. He caught her delicate ankle with one hand and kissed the top of her foot. The amethyst on her ankle shimmered, her feet breathtakingly beautiful.

She shivered, her voice finally carrying a hint of icy coldness. “Qin Xiao.”

His smile faltered, and he lifted his eyes to look at her.

“Su Ling, you remember.” His voice turned cold, not phrased as a question. How ironic—he had spent the entire night thinking, wanting to seize this moment to get the marriage certificate, but she had remembered.

Her lashes were wet, her gaze now tinged with hatred. She couldn’t bear it anymore. “Qin Xiao, you madman! You hypnotized me! Yes, I remember everything now. I hate you, you psycho! No one will ever love you.”

The faint hope in his heart shattered into pieces, piercing him with pain.

Qin Xiao’s eyes grew colder. “If you remember, why do you continue to endure and pretend with me?”

Su Ling turned her face away, unwilling to look at him.

After remembering last night, she had hoped Qin Xiao would confess on his own. She had said she would try to accept him, so why did he have to do this?

She felt angry, sad, and a sense of indescribable injustice.

She pulled her hand free, tears brimming in her eyes, her heart aching as she crawled toward the edge of the bed.

He watched coldly.

Her voice still carried a sob, whimpering as she cursed him. “Liar, big liar!”

He didn’t stop her, but his heart felt as if pierced by countless needles.

Su Ling ran downstairs barefoot.

She opened the door, put on her shoes, wiped her tears, and ran outside.

It was late May, and the morning was shrouded in mist. Clusters of roses, adorned with dew, glowed with vitality in the morning light.

She glanced at them, sadness and anger intertwining within her.

Su Ling ran to the gate, where the lead guard quickly signaled. A dozen men surrounded the entrance.

The leader forced a smile. “Madam, what are you...”

Qin Xiao walked over slowly, his voice cold and authoritative. “Come back.”

Su Ling turned around. Her tear-washed eyes shimmered with a moist glow, devoid of the previous dependence, much less any intimacy.

A sharp pain and bitterness overwhelmed him.

Qin Xiao’s tone softened. “Come back.” I love you.

She shook her head, ignoring him, intent on running out. Why hadn’t she confronted him last night? Because she was more afraid. Now that Qin Xiao knew about her rebirth, he would never let her go.

Deep down, he was a madman.

When she discovered he had hypnotized her, she felt an icy chill.

Holding onto her last shred of hope, she asked him not to lie to her, but he remained a liar.

Yet despite knowing all this, she couldn’t confront him directly. She had hoped he would lower his guard so she could escape. But Su Ling hadn’t anticipated Qin Xiao’s sharp instincts—he almost instantly saw through her, forcing her to confess.

The consequence of confession could only be one thing...

This madman would openly imprison her.

The guards blocked her path, careful not to touch her. After all, everyone knew she was Qin Xiao’s precious gem. Their hesitance allowed Su Ling to run several meters away.

Qin Xiao, with a cold face, came over and hoisted her up over his shoulder.

This time, Su Ling truly hated him, kicking and hitting. When he brought her back, he kicked the door shut.

The door slammed loudly. Qin Xiao, with a cold expression, placed her on the sofa.

He was gentle, not wanting to hurt her. But Su Ling was merciless, scratching a long wound across his face.

Blood seeped from the wound. He squatted before her, wiping away her tears.

“Don’t cry.” The man’s face was stern, the wound making him appear even more fitting of his twisted personality.

She swallowed her sobs. “Imprisoning someone is illegal.”

He sneered. “Hmm, so what?”

A person who wasn’t afraid of death wouldn’t fear breaking the law.

His fingers still bore her tears. “Shall I kill Zheng Xiaoya, hmm?”

She gritted her teeth, a wave of sorrow washing over her.

He rested his chin in the crook of her neck. “Don’t look at me like that, please? I won’t... I won’t kill anyone. I need to stay alive to spend my life with you. I remember everything, to be a good person so you’ll like me.”

“But you also promised not to force me. You...”

“Shh...” He tightened his embrace. “Be good, don’t say anything.”

She inwardly sneered. Are you afraid too?

Qin Xiao knew she didn’t want to see him. Ignoring his wound, he hurried out the door.

As he left, he issued a strict order: keep an eye on Su Ling.

Su Ling hugged her knees despondently, not understanding how things had suddenly turned this way.

In this new life, she had changed many things, yet in the end, he still chose to confine her to his side, binding her tightly to him.

Things had been fine until recently. What happened to make him feel so insecure?

At noon, she refused to eat, having no appetite.

In the afternoon, Zuo Yin arrived.

Zuo Yin wore a deep gray suit and gold-rimmed glasses.

Su Ling disliked him now. As Qin Xiao’s friend, he was surely cut from the same cloth. Moreover, the man was highly skilled—he could forcibly hypnotize her, making her wary.

Seeing her unfriendly gaze, Zuo Yin gave a bitter smile. “Miss Su, I apologize for the previous incidents. But you know Qin Xiao’s character better than I do. If not me, it would just be someone else.”

She was silent for a moment, accepting this reasoning. “Then, Doctor Zuo, can you help me deliver a message?”

“That’s not possible. Qin Xiao wouldn’t show mercy to me either.”

She didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

“I’ve come to check your health. The previous hypnosis caused memory confusion; are you feeling unwell?”

Su Ling silently shook her head.

She wouldn’t torment herself or act overly dramatic. Being healthy meant she could live longer.

Zuo Yin asked her a few questions, preliminarily estimating that her health was fine. He sighed in relief but reflected on the current situation, feeling deeply troubled.

Qin Xiao was ruthlessly dealing with Wen Xian. Where Wen Xian was concerned, she was no match for Qin Xiao, these past few days leaving her frantic and disoriented. Yet she couldn’t see Su Ling, her efforts futile.

Wen Xian wanted to use public opinion to make Qin Xiao cautious, but Qin Xiao had already sealed off that route.

With Su Ling still by his side, as long as she knew nothing, he was an invincible man—killing gods and destroying Buddhas.

At this rate, it wouldn’t take two months for Wen Xian to be rendered powerless by Qin Xiao.

And who knew what Qin Xiao had done to Zheng Xiaoya. Recently, Zheng Xiaoya suddenly announced her retirement from the entertainment industry, probably too scared to appear in Qin Xiao’s life again. The title of Mrs. Qin eluded her, and she ended up losing herself instead.

Zuo Yin was quite curious. “Is there really such a thing as reincarnation? Did Zheng Xiaoya push you off a building, and then your soul came here?”

Su Ling didn’t want to satisfy his curiosity. She pursed her lips and remained silent.

Zuo Yin clicked his tongue. Alright, this was guilt by association—disliking Qin Xiao extended to disliking him too.

Zuo Yin smiled. “I brought you a gift when I came.”

It was actually prepared by Qin Xiao—photos of Su Ling’s grandmother when she was young. Su Ling paused, then took them to look at.

The deep wrinkles were gone; the woman in the photo had delicate eyebrows and fierce eyes, exuding strength and determination.

Zuo Yin remarked meaningfully, “Looks like quite a formidable predecessor.”

He didn’t disturb Su Ling further and excused himself.

Qin Xiao was working at the company when Zuo Yin entered. He looked up.

Zuo Yin said, “She didn’t eat, but she was willing to cooperate with the health check, indicating it’s just a lack of appetite due to mood.”

Qin Xiao pursed his lips, his eyes lowering.

The pink rabbit still sat on his desk.

Zuo Yin had seen Qin Xiao’s unruly youth, knowing he wasn’t a good person. But after treating Qin Xiao, Zuo Yin couldn’t help but feel pity for him now.

Being a psychologist, Zuo Yin had a rough assessment of Su Ling’s mental state.

Though Qin Xiao’s methods were extreme, Zuo Yin agreed with one point: Su Ling shouldn’t know about her past.

Having lived two lifetimes, her stubbornness and desires naturally outweighed those of ordinary people. However, all she cherished and worked for was merely part of someone else’s game. Knowing the truth could easily lead to a mental breakdown. Such situations seemed trivial to outsiders, but unless you were in her shoes, you’d never understand that visceral pain.

It wasn’t something mere resilience could describe. Zuo Yin thought, if he were controlled for two lifetimes by the person he trusted most, and the person who loved him was a possessive, almost obsessive psychopath with a slight blood relation, he wouldn’t be able to bear it either.

“Comfort her, treat her well. Look at you, working day and night. In half a year, you’ll have everything settled. Slowly find a way to make her accept... Sigh... She’s both angry and... hates you. Stay out of her sight?” Zuo Yin thought, he was quite the family ethics master now.

When Qin Xiao returned to the villa, the stars were scattered across the sky.

After freshening up, he gently pushed open her bedroom door. The moonlight softly fell on her, tiny droplets of water still clinging to her eyelashes, a small patch of the pillow damp.

He gazed at her features, recalling her earlier words—I’m not very smart. If you deceive me, I probably won’t notice. But if I ever find out, I’ll be lost and sad.

His heart ached, as if crushed by someone.

He lay beside her, gently pulling her into his arms, placing her small hand on his waist.

For the past half month, she had fallen asleep in his arms every night—innocent, pure, shy, and endearing.

But now, her tears hadn’t dried, fully aware of what kind of person he was. Would she never like him again in this lifetime?

At five in the morning, he quietly slipped out.

Qin Xiao tucked her in, watching her for a while before silently walking out.

The moon hadn’t disappeared, and the sun hadn’t risen yet. Looking around, everything was still dark.

Only his figure stood lonely and solitary.