69. Extra 3: Brother

After being discharged from the hospital, Ji Qiuchi moved into a small apartment owned by Lin Xingzi.

She began looking for work, seemingly intent on living a good life. On weekends, she would buy a ten-yuan flower to bring home, and she would take several bus transfers to meet Lin Xingzi for meals and shopping. But she consistently avoided Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi rented an apartment downstairs from her and brought his mother from their hometown.

If he waited at the elevator at 8 AM, she would leave at 6 AM.

If he knocked on her door before she left for work, she would take the entire day off and stay at home.

Lin Xingzi didn’t start her maternity leave until her seventh month of pregnancy, leaving her with plenty of free time each day. When she went to Jiang’s mother’s house for meals, she would also check on Ji Qiuchi, who made desserts that were even more exquisite than those sold in stores.

Ji Qiuchi was making fruit tea to go with the cake. Lin Xingzi looked at her back, recalling the doctor’s words from a few days prior: Only the one who tied the bell can untie it.

She gave everyone the impression that she was starting a new life, but in reality, she was moving in the opposite direction.

“Qiuchi, let’s talk, mm... let’s talk about Jiang Yi,” Lin Xingzi was always direct.

Two people who truly loved each other, having endured countless trials and overcome life and death, finally saw the light after the storm, yet they were both trapped in the past, unable to find release. It pained her to see.

Ji Qiuchi’s body stiffened, almost scalding her hand.

“He was undercover for you for ten years... Of course, not entirely for you, but you were the one who supported him through those ten years. Ten years, he only went to Jiang Yan’s school to see him once from afar, but he clearly remembers your college roommate’s name. Imagine how many times he secretly watched you without you knowing.”

“And you, these years, you’ve also been doing it for him,” Lin Xingzi knew Ji Qiuchi had been with Zhan Tianxiong when she first returned to the country.

In certain circles, when someone mentioned the person beside Zhan Tianxiong, their gaze and words would always carry some insinuation.

Lin Xingzi was an outsider; she couldn’t truly empathize. She had once misunderstood Ji Qiuchi, thinking she had willingly fallen into depravity for money.

“You two are different from Jiang Yan and me. You’ve never doubted each other’s feelings for a second. Now that he’s returned from the brink of death, why won’t you see him?”

It was a rainy season, and a continuous gloomy rain had been falling for a week, filling the air with moisture.

Ji Qiuchi lowered her head, her neck forming an arc, her gaze diffused as she stared blankly at the teacup. Loose strands of hair obscured her face. Outside, the sky was turning blue, and Lin Xingzi couldn’t see her expression.

She spoke softly after an unknown amount of time.

“When he wasn’t around, it didn’t matter what happened to me. Being a mistress, selling my body, being called a ‘whore’ and a ‘prostitute’... it didn’t matter. In these years, I actually rarely dreamed of him. My biggest wish used to be to get into a good school and leave that home with him, the farther the better. But after something happened to him, I wanted to go back more than once, back to the place where we grew up together. Even if Ji Qiang beat and cursed me every day, I would be willing to stay there forever.”

“When I found out he was still alive, I once thought these years were all a dream, but... luckily it was a dream, luckily... now the dream is over, he’s back, but I, but I...”

Her voice was choked and hoarse, her eyes hollow as she stared out the window, tears falling one by one, almost unable to continue.

“I’m truly... too dirty.”

“He should be with a better girl, get married, have children...”

Not only was she dirty, but because her private parts had been ravaged by various things, she couldn’t have children anymore.

Ji Qiuchi forgot Lin Xingzi’s presence, rambling incoherently, her voice growing softer and softer.

She seemed to be on the verge of falling.

“Qiuchi.”

Who was calling her?

She searched for that light in the misty jungle, walking and walking, pricked and bleeding, until she finally found the source of the voice.

Jiang Yi took off his hat and mask, his facial scars starkly exposed before her eyes.

Some were dark, already blackish-brown. Some were light, like vines extending from below his eyes to the corners of his mouth. Not a single part was unblemished.

Only his eyes, shining with light.

“Qiuchi, look at me. I don’t have much money, and I’m terrifyingly ugly. Anyone who sees me at night would think they’ve seen a ghost. And I’m not young anymore. I’ve lived under someone else’s identity for ten years, have no proper job, and was even addicted to drugs.”

He smiled and asked her, “What good girl would want me?”

Ji Qiuchi seemed to awaken from a dream, stung by Jiang Yi’s feigned carefree smile. Her expression was flustered, unable to even conceal it. Her vulnerable side and tears were exposed before Jiang Yi.

She couldn’t let him continue.

“I’m going to sleep, you...”

“Qiuchi,” Jiang Yi gripped her shoulders with both hands, not letting her escape.

There was a roaring in her ears, yet Ji Qiuchi could still clearly hear his voice.

“Qiuchi, I’m also incomplete. I’m not good either. I’ve done disgraceful things, and I have lives on my hands. How can someone like me have children? With Jiang Yan and Xingzi, it’s enough for my mother to have grandchildren. Whether they’re mine or Jiang Yan’s, it’s all the same.”

“A good girl won’t want me. Will you, this bad girl, want me?”

“We’re both not good. Together, we’ll be complete.”

The gloomy dark clouds scattered, and the sky brightened.

It had been raining a few minutes ago. After the sun came out, a rainbow appeared in the sky.

Jiang Yan took out his phone to photograph Lin Xingzi. She stood on the balcony, backlit, her pregnant belly clearly outlined by the light. From the silhouette of her profile, one could tell she was smiling.