Chapter 64: A Glimmer of Hope

When Qin Xiao left the house, Su Ling had already woken up.

She opened her eyes and felt the warmth beside her gradually fade. Su Ling lowered her gaze. She got out of bed and pulled the curtains open just a crack. From above, she could see Qin Xiao starting his car.

She knew he was busy, but she had never seen him work this hard before.

What could it be for?

Su Ling didn’t believe Qin Xiao was avoiding her. To say nothing of his impenetrable thick skin, if he loved her, he wanted to possess her. Even now that she knew about his underhanded deeds, Qin Xiao’s heart wouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt.

His early departures and late returns must mean there were even more important matters at hand.

She thought about it for a moment, then went back to sleep.

In recent days, the only visitor to the villa had been Zuo Yin. The cleaning woman no longer dared to speak to Su Ling now that she had recovered her memory. With no need to hide anything from her anymore, Qin Xiao had someone reinstall the TV. When bored, Su Ling would watch television.

Seeing Ji Chong looking radiant on screen, she mused that even though some aspects of fate had changed, everyone’s life trajectory still revolved back to its original course.

Round and round, he still chose to use forceful means to keep her by his side.

Just like Ji Chong, whose popularity continued to rise. It wouldn’t be long before he once again stood in the position of Best Actor. His life still lacked the naive girl Yun Bu.

Qin Xiao returned home briefly at noon that day. Su Ling rested her chin on her knees, curling herself into a small ball.

She had grown thinner, and he frowned as he watched her for a moment, then reached out to caress her cheek.

Su Ling turned her head to avoid him, but he merely smiled, unfazed.

“Have you come to hate me so much, hmm?”

It was almost as if he was asking despite knowing the answer.

She didn’t want to talk to him, but Qin Xiao’s hand moved to her ankle. Her smooth skin was bare; she had taken off her anklet herself.

Qin Xiao picked up the box on the table. Inside were red coral bead strings and even a diamond anklet.

He sneered, extending the box toward her. “Pick one yourself?”

Su Ling picked it up. She bit her lip, feeling truly aggrieved, and hurled the box directly at him.

The black velvet box hit his shoulder. He didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed. “I’m glad you’re willing to acknowledge me.”

Whether beaten or scolded, as long as her eyes still held him.

Su Ling was so angry she wanted to cry. “You lunatic.”

He chuckled softly. “Hmm.” As if utterly without temper.

She thought for a moment, concluding that if no one came to kill Qin Xiao, he might very well live forever. No wonder villains throughout history often lived long lives. With his twisted mental fortitude, they’d survive until the last episode.

Su Ling wanted to leave here. Sooner or later, she had to leave this place.

Suddenly, she got off the sofa and picked up the bud-shaped diamond anklet. The chain was exquisitely crafted, perfectly fitting her size.

“If I wear this, will you let me see Yun Bu and Wan Bai Bai?”

He lowered his eyes to look at her, making her feel somewhat guilty. After a while, he chuckled lightly, “Are we negotiating business?”

Su Ling looked up at him, her eyes pitiable.

His fingers touched her cheek. Su Ling’s lashes fluttered, but this time she didn’t avoid him.

Qin Xiao said, “Add more stakes.”

“Wh-what?”

“Stand up.”

Su Ling didn’t know what he intended, but sitting on the sofa with Qin Xiao standing on the ground, even when she stood, she wasn’t much taller than him. The soft sofa sank down.

Qin Xiao estimated the height, his arms encircling her waist. He felt her tremble for a moment.

Qin Xiao’s expression remained calm, but his eyes gazed at her. “Kiss me willingly, and I’ll let you see them.”

He thought for a moment, then smiled. “I liked how you kissed me that day.”

Back then, she remembered nothing, joyfully planting a kiss on his cheek. He felt as if he saw flowers blooming across the entire world.

Su Ling was so angry she trembled.

She was furious at her previous “stupid” self and at Qin Xiao’s shamelessness. He truly didn’t care about his own sordid deeds; this man was inherently bad.

This only strengthened her resolve.

Qin Xiao would always yield to gentleness but resist against resistance.

If she didn’t give in, she would forever be trapped here, unable to let anyone in or escape herself. Two lifetimes had given Su Ling enough understanding of him. Even if she threatened him with suicide, he might temporarily relent, but in the blink of an eye, he could hypnotize her again.

This man was a lunatic.

Yet Su Ling valued her life. She had relived a lifetime to fill the gaps of her past life, not to quarrel with him. Winning wouldn’t bear any good fruit either.

After much consideration, she cupped his face and planted a light kiss.

Her cherry lips remained closed, intending to stay motionless.

Amusement flickered in his eyes as he gently pinched her waist. Su Ling was ticklish; while one could control psychological sensations, physiological reactions were another matter. Though she was inwardly furious, she couldn’t help but want to laugh from the tickling.

The instant her lips parted, he surged forward.

Su Ling cried in anger.

The scratch marks on his face had scabbed over, exuding a hint of unruliness and wildness.

He kissed her enough, wiping the corners of her lips and then the tears from the corners of her eyes. He decisively made a call: “Bring Yun Bu and Wan Bai Bai.”

Thus, the tears in her eyes couldn’t fall nor be swallowed back.

He reached out, taking the diamond chain from her palm.

“If you don’t like it, there’s no need to force yourself. I’ll let you see them.”

She couldn’t help but whisper softly, “I dislike you the most.” But aren’t you forcing me too?

He pretended not to hear, tidying the hair behind her ear before hurriedly leaving again.

She wondered if he was overly confident, letting her meet them alone.

Sure enough, Yun Bu and Wan Bai Bai arrived in the afternoon.

As soon as Yun Bu saw Su Ling, she burst into tears: “Ling Ling… waaah… Ling Ling, I’ve been looking for you for so long, but I couldn’t find you. I almost thought you had left the entertainment industry and gone abroad. I thought you abandoned me, that I’d never see you again in this life.”

Wan Bai Bai clicked her tongue. She had anticipated everything. Her gaze towards Su Ling was full of sympathy.

Su Ling gently wiped away Yun Bu’s tears, comforting her for a while.

Yun Bu sobbed and hiccupped: “Your younger brother… is also looking for you, but none of us could find you. How cruel is Qin Xiao? This is illegal detention; it’s against the law!”

Su Ling lowered her eyes, recalling Qin Xiao’s previous words. What did such a person fear about breaking the law?

Wan Bai Bai sighed, looking at Su Ling: “I roughly guessed the situation. Some time ago, I sought Guo Mingyan, but that coward is afraid of Young Master Qin. You didn’t bring us here just to reminisce, but helping you escape… honestly, it’s very difficult, almost impossible. I’m still under Qing Entertainment; Young Master Qin is my boss. With a flick of his finger, he can banish me.”

Wan Bai Bai smiled helplessly. “I don’t have many friends. You’re the first. I’m willing to do a lot for you, but some things, even if done, won’t help you. Instead, they might push you into an abyss.”

“Mm, I know all that. Yun Bu, tell Ni Haoyan to stop looking for me. Tell him I’m fine. Just say I… went abroad to study. Bai Bai, now there’s only one person who can help me. Can you find Director Dong?”

Wan Bai Bai’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea.” She pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “Dong Xu can’t outplay Qin Xiao. Qin Xiao took over the Qin family at eighteen, and over a decade has passed since then. Dong Xu can’t match Qin Xiao’s mind and depth. By allowing us to come, he feels no one poses a threat to him.”

After speaking, Wan Bai Bai looked worriedly at Su Ling. However, at that moment, the young woman appeared calm, with a faint smile. “So I don’t plan to have Director Dong help me confront him. I just want to know what Qin Xiao is hiding. I hope Director Dong can investigate for me. What Qin Xiao fears me knowing, once I know it, it’ll be the breakthrough point.”

Su Ling didn’t want to trouble anyone, but she didn’t want to be trapped here for life either.

Since Dong Xu was willing to seek her out and wanted to help her, this was her last chance.

Watching the composed Su Ling, Wan Bai Bai recalled the timid actress from over half a year ago and suddenly realized how much she had grown.

Wan Bai Bai agreed. This was the best approach. “But how will I come next time?”

“In half a month, I’ll try to ask Qin Xiao again.”

“Alright.”

Half a month—neither long nor short.

Su Ling worried that Dong Xu wouldn’t uncover anything, while also guessing what Qin Xiao was busy with.

Until half a month later, Su Ling employed the same old method. If she grew closer to Qin Xiao, he would fulfill all her requests.

That day, when Wan Bai Bai came, she brought a letter for Su Ling.

After reading it, Su Ling fell silent for a long time. Finally, she tore the letter into pieces and flushed it down the toilet.

Wan Bai Bai felt Su Ling was unusually quiet, causing some concern.

However, Su Ling merely smiled faintly in the end: “Thank you, Bai Bai…” Her voice was low, carrying endless fatigue. “Thank you all.”

She suddenly felt too tired.

Tired to the point of being drained of strength, yet this year, she was only twenty years old.

Qin Xiao noticed that recently, Su Ling slept longer and longer. Sometimes she slept sixteen hours a day. He called in doctors to check, but they found no issues.

Qin Xiao was extremely anxious.

By then, it was June, and early summer had arrived. The roses were in full bloom, heralding a season of romance.

With her hands folded over her abdomen, she slept soundly.

He cradled her in his arms and stayed indoors all day until she woke up.

Her eyes were misty, making it hard to read her thoughts.

He acted as if nothing was wrong: “Hungry? Let’s go eat.”

“Qin Xiao, I had a dream. I dreamed of my past life.”

His fingers tightened.

She tugged at the corner of her lips: “I dreamed that I died, and when you returned from your business trip, you saw my body…”

His forehead pressed against hers: “Don’t say it, please, don’t say it.”

So she stopped talking, only softly asking him: “How long did I sleep today?”

His hoarse voice carried a slight tremor: “Seventeen hours.”

Her eyes held a cruel innocence: “Do you think I originally didn’t belong in this world? Perhaps one day I’ll never open my eyes again. This year of this life, it’s stolen time, isn’t it?”

He couldn’t take it anymore, hugging her tightly: “No… no… don’t sleep anymore.”

His eyes reddened: “I’ll have everyone come to keep you company. Don’t sleep anymore, okay?”

Her voice was soft, tinged with exhaustion: “But I’m sleepy.”

And so, he nearly went mad.

In the following days, Su Ling met various people, laughing and crying at the absurdity. Qin Xiao was truly panicked, even bringing over classmates like Tang Weiwei.

Tang Weiwei was somewhat speechless, rolling her eyes: “I don’t understand what’s better about you than me. You’re sickly weak. What does Young Master Qin see in you?”

At that moment, Yun Bu happened to be there. Hearing this, she glanced at Su Ling’s chest, then at Tang Weiwei’s, giving her a disdainful smile.

Tang Weiwei was almost infuriated on the spot, blurting out: “Damn it, haven’t you heard that big boobs mean no brains?”

Yun Bu: “Ling Ling ranked first in her department.”

“…” If not for others holding her back, Tang Weiwei would have challenged Yun Bu to a duel right then and there.

Tang Weiwei thought to herself, Young Master Qin hadn’t touched me either. Could men really estimate without basis? Did I really lose because of my smaller chest?

The topic completely veered off track. They went to see Su Ling, only to find her asleep again.

Even in sleep, she was beautiful—her lips pink like cherry blossoms, her skin white as snow.

Yun Bu blinked, suddenly feeling a bit sad.

No matter how lively the conversation, Su Ling would smile faintly and then sink back into exhaustion.