DXXZL - 43

When Zhu Xingyao stepped out of the duck blood vermicelli shop, her chin was buried in her scarf. Her large eyes were red and wet, making her look pitiful and fragile. She walked to the roadside and hailed a taxi, unsure of where she wanted to go.

Finally, she told the driver to head to the People’s Hospital. She was going to find Ding Yu.

Sitting in the backseat with her head bowed, memories began flooding uncontrollably into her mind—memories of Jiang Tu. She recalled every detail of their time together: his family’s debts, the multiple part-time jobs he worked, the way he silently endured being misunderstood by the entire school…

Jiang Tu must have liked her, right? Suddenly, it dawned on her. His feelings weren’t just simple affection—they were deep, profound, and overwhelming. Only such intense feelings could explain his restraint, his composure, and his rationality.

Zhu Xingyao thought about how he had skipped class to hang those starry lights, the fierce way he had beaten Zhang Sheng, the desperate struggle etched on his face as Chen Yi and his gang pinned him down, and how he had lied to everyone, claiming it was just a car accident. She remembered his tight embrace at the airport when he said goodbye—a farewell cloaked in another form. She wondered how much pain he must have endured while telling all those lies. How strong must his heart have been to hide a thousand wounds behind his cold, hard exterior?

Staring out the window, she bit her trembling lips, her eyes growing wet once more.

Her senior was right—pain was far more unforgettable than happiness.

Now, whenever Zhu Xingyao thought of Jiang Tu, her heart ached unbearably. After getting out of the taxi and entering the hospital, she kept her head down, her face hidden in her scarf, too embarrassed to wait for the elevator. Instead, she headed toward the emergency stairwell.

Occasionally, a few people passed through the stairwell. When Zhu Xingyao reached the third floor, she looked up and froze.

Chen Yi was leaning against the door of the stairwell, smoking. A little girl approached him and said innocently: “Uncle, you can’t smoke in the hospital.” The girl’s parent quickly pulled her away.

Chen Yi looked annoyed. Then, spotting Zhu Xingyao, he seemed genuinely shocked.

Zhu Xingyao had always considered herself a refined and composed person. She had never imagined hating someone so intensely that seeing them would instantly ignite an uncontrollable surge of anger within her. Nor had she ever envisioned herself losing control to the point of near irrationality.

But now, as she stared at Chen Yi’s face, she vividly recalled the scene of him grinding Jiang Tu’s dignity into the ground.

She couldn’t fathom how desperate Jiang Tu must have felt at that moment.

Chen Yi only saw Zhu Xingyao walking toward him with tear-filled, red-rimmed eyes. He hadn’t seen her in person for three or four years, but he had seen photos of her online. He had to admit, she truly looked like a fairy, especially now, with her tearful and vulnerable appearance—it was almost impossible to look away.

But when Zhu Xingyao reached him, she suddenly grabbed her bag and began hitting him with it, each strike harder than the last. Her bag was heavy, filled with items that added weight and sharp edges, making it quite painful.

Chen Yi was stunned, enduring several hits before reacting. He grabbed her bag and frowned at her: “What’s gotten into you? Wha—” His words cut off abruptly as he noticed Zhu Xingyao crying uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. He was momentarily taken aback.

Taking advantage of his shock, Zhu Xingyao snatched her bag back and continued lashing out, using all her strength. Her hair became disheveled from the exertion.

Chen Yi couldn’t hit her back—he could only dodge, shielding his head with his arms. “What’s wrong with you, girl? Why are you suddenly attacking me…?” He suddenly remembered something and grabbed her bag again. “Are you doing this for that punk Jiang Tu?”

He sneered: “Well, he deserved it. Borrowing money and still acting so tough. How dare he hit me in public—I had to teach him a lesson…”

The next second, his face was struck again.

Suddenly, Zhu Xingyao was pulled back by a woman who angrily shouted: “Hey, what do you think you’re doing? How dare you hit my boyfriend?” Zhu Xingyao, lost in her emotions, was in a state of extreme tension.

By now, a crowd had gathered at the stairwell entrance, murmuring among themselves. Zhu Xingyao regained some clarity, swallowed hard, and glared coldly at Chen Yi. She pulled her scarf up to cover her face and turned to leave. However, Chen Yi’s girlfriend wouldn’t let her go, grabbing at her scarf and hair. In her panic, Zhu Xingyao yanked her scarf free. Chen Yi’s girlfriend lost her balance, stumbled backward, and missed a step, falling down the stairs.

Chen Yi couldn’t catch her in time and watched helplessly as she tumbled downward, screaming in pain.

The onlookers gasped in shock.

Zhu Xingyao stiffly turned around. She watched as Chen Yi ran halfway down the stairs to catch the woman, who clutched her abdomen in agony. “I… my stomach hurts… the baby…”

Zhu Xingyao’s face immediately drained of color, turning deathly pale, while her eyes reddened. She looked extremely fragile.

Chen Yi picked up the woman and glanced at Zhu Xingyao, his brows furrowed but silent. He then rushed toward the obstetrics department, shouting for help: “Doctor! A pregnant woman has fallen!”

Nurses quickly arrived with a stretcher, and Chen Yi gently placed the woman on it.

Zhu Xingyao felt as if all her strength had been drained. With her face still buried in her scarf, she staggered weakly toward the operating room.

Her mind was blank. She didn’t know what to think or what to do.

After a long while, she prayed silently in her heart, filled with dread.

Chen Yi stood outside the operating room, glancing back at Zhu Xingyao.

Zhu Xingyao leaned against the wall, her head lowered. After a moment, a cool hand grasped hers. She looked up dazedly to see Ding Yu gazing at her with concern. Ding Yu rubbed her cold, numb fingertips, pulled her into an embrace, and softly consoled her: “It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t panic…”

Zhu Xingyao opened her mouth but couldn’t utter a word. She didn’t understand how everything had spiraled out of control so suddenly.

Soon, Zhu Yunping also arrived.

Not long after, the woman was wheeled out of surgery and transferred to a ward.

Zhu Xingyao was taken to Ding Yu’s office, where Ding Yu placed a hot water bottle in her arms to warm her up. She then went to check on the condition of Chen Yi’s girlfriend. Zhu Yunping handled the surveillance footage first, ensuring that this incident wouldn’t ruin his daughter’s reputation if it got out.

Once everything was settled, Zhu Yunping found a place to talk with Chen Yi.

Years ago, Zhu Yunping had confidently reported Chen Yi to the police, sending him to the station and demanding that he avoid Zhu Xingyao at all costs. Never had Zhu Yunping imagined that he would one day have to lower himself before a thug like Chen Yi.

Chen Yi spoke bluntly: “No need to say more. I just want money. If you pay up, I won’t pursue this matter further.”

Zhu Yunping exhaled in relief. If it was just about money, then this was manageable.

…

For the rest of the day, Zhu Xingyao stayed in Ding Yu’s office. She barely ate anything, sitting quietly behind the curtain, her face pale and her lips marked with uneven bite marks. Ding Yu entered the office, placing a bowl of warm porridge on the table. She stroked her daughter’s hair and gently urged: “Won’t you eat something? You haven’t eaten all day.”

“Mom...” Zhu Xingyao suddenly raised her head, tears filling her eyes. Her entire body was trembling, and her voice quivered as she asked, “Does this... does this mean I’ve killed someone?”

Ding Yu’s eyes reddened as well. She pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. “No, don’t think like that.”

Zhu Xingyao choked on her sobs, her voice fragile. “But... it was a life, a small life...”

Her whole body felt cold.

As if she had fallen into an icy abyss.

Ding Yu suddenly didn’t know how to comfort her. Although Chen Yi had agreed to take the money without hesitation, they hadn’t said they were giving up the child. Her daughter, who had always been kind and innocent, was undoubtedly devastated by this. Ding Yu was terrified of saying the wrong thing and pushing her further into despair.

Unable to find the right words, Ding Yu gently patted her daughter’s head and whispered, “You stay here and sit for a while. Mom will go out for a bit.” She needed to talk to her husband about what to do next. She didn’t know how to reassure her daughter—her husband was better at handling these situations.

Zhu Xingyao sat there in a daze for a moment before standing up and walking out of the office toward the ward.

The woman’s name was Jiang Yue, 27 years old, and she had been placed in a private room. Zhu Xingyao pushed open the door. Jiang Yue was already awake, sitting on the bed lost in thought. As soon as she saw Zhu Xingyao, her emotions flared. “How dare you show your face here?!”

Zhu Xingyao stood stiffly by the bedside, her pale neck bowed as she struggled to say, “I’m sorry...”

“Is ‘sorry’ enough? Can you give me back my child?” Jiang Yue suddenly grabbed the phone from the bedside table and hurled it at her. Zhu Xingyao didn’t dodge, and the phone struck her forehead with a loud thud, immediately causing a red, swollen bump that looked like a horn growing out of her head.

Zhu Xingyao felt like a sinner burdened with unforgivable guilt. Tears slid down her cheeks from the pain, but she still managed to whisper, “I’m sorry...”

Jiang Yue seemed to lose control, throwing everything she could grab from the table at Zhu Xingyao.

Chen Yi burst into the room, restraining Jiang Yue. His voice was stern as he asked, “What’s gotten into you?”

Jiang Yue glared at him through tear-filled eyes, pointing at Zhu Xingyao. “Are you just going to let this slide because she’s pretty? Let me tell you, it’s not over! I—”

“Five million. Will that do?”

“I...”

Jiang Yue sniffled, suddenly freezing as she looked up at Chen Yi.

Chen Yi shot an impatient look at Jiang Yue before turning to Zhu Xingyao. He noticed the wound on her forehead and the stains on her elegant coat, his brows furrowing slightly. “You can leave now. Don’t come back. The money your father gave us is more than enough.”

Jiang Yue snapped out of her daze and started crying again. “Money? Can money bring my child back?”

Chen Yi’s tone hardened. “Shut up!”

…

On the winter night streets, pedestrians hurried along their way. Zhu Xingyao, most of her face buried in her scarf, dragged her legs stiffly against the biting wind. She squinted through her swollen, red eyes at the street signs. She hadn’t expected there to be places in Jiangcheng even more run-down than Hexi Lane. The roads were difficult to navigate, and after wandering aimlessly for half an hour, she still couldn’t find the address the uncle had given her—the place where Jiang Tu now lived.

She no longer had the luck she’d had in her first year of high school, when she’d encountered Jiang Tu and he’d led her away.

Zhu Xingyao stood at the old intersection, gazing around in confusion.

In the cold wind, she sniffled, her eyes bloodshot. She took out her phone, intending to call or message Lin Jiayu. She found the number but hesitated. Instead, she opened QQ. The signal was weak, so she walked a long way before it improved.

Zhu Xingyao clicked on Jiang Tu’s chat window. She had so much to say, yet at that moment, she couldn’t find the words.

In the end, she sent only two characters.

Star in the Distant Sky: “Brother Tu...”

Suddenly, two middle-aged women passed by, chatting.

“Isn’t your son Jiang Tu coming home for the New Year this year either?”

“Alas, no.”

“He didn’t come last year either. Is he really that busy?”

“Mm...”

Zhu Xingyao’s heart skipped a beat. She abruptly looked up, the wind blowing her bangs aside, revealing the swollen bump on her forehead.

The two women turned to look at her. Shu Xian noticed how beautiful she was, clearly a young lady from a wealthy family, though she looked disheveled and injured. She paused, softly asking, “Young lady, what’s wrong? Are you looking for someone here?”

Zhu Xingyao looked at the middle-aged woman before her, vaguely recognizing some resemblance between her and Jiang Tu. Her throat tightened, and she lowered her lashes, burying her face in her scarf as she murmured, “No...”

After speaking, she turned and left.

So Jiang Tu wasn’t coming home for the New Year?

Then where would he spend it?

What would he eat during the Spring Festival?

Zhu Xingyao had cried too much that day, and her eyes were badly swollen. She climbed into a taxi and texted her mother: “Mom, I’m coming home now. Don’t worry about me.”

At ten o’clock at night, Zhu Xingyao stumbled through the door, looking utterly miserable. Ding Yu and Zhu Yunping were frantic with worry. When Ding Yu saw her daughter in this state, tears streamed down her face. When had her daughter ever endured such hardship or humiliation?

Ding Yu took Zhu Xingyao into the bathroom, helping her clean her face and dry her hair. She then removed her dirty coat.

Zhu Xingyao looked up at her and whispered, “Mom, let me do it myself.”

Ding Yu hesitated, unwilling to leave her alone.

But Zhu Xingyao insisted, saying she was fine.

Zhu Xingyao spent nearly an hour in the bathroom before emerging. Ding Yu had waited outside the entire time and now led her to the living room to apply medicine. Zhu Xingyao moved stiffly, like a doll, allowing her mother to tend to her without resistance.

At midnight, Zhu Xingyao lay in bed.

She picked up her phone and checked QQ. Jiang Tu still hadn’t replied. Clutching her phone, she stared at the screen, waiting until she eventually fell asleep. In the middle of the night, Ding Yu entered the room to check on her and found her daughter asleep, still gripping her phone. Carefully, she tried to take it from her hand.

As soon as the phone left her grip, Zhu Xingyao jolted awake, as if startled.

She gasped for air, on the verge of tears.

Ding Yu quickly turned on the bedside lamp. The soft light illuminated her daughter’s swollen forehead. Heartbroken, she pulled her daughter into her arms, gently patting her back and whispering, “Did you have a nightmare?”

“Mm...”

Zhu Xingyao swallowed hard.

Ding Yu gently combed her fingers through her daughter’s hair, massaging her scalp and offering soothing words. “It’s okay. It’ll get better in a few days. Don’t be afraid. If you’re scared, Mom will sleep with you tonight.”

“No,” Zhu Xingyao breathed, her voice hoarse. “I’ll be twenty-two after the New Year.”

Ding Yu looked at the wound on her forehead, her heart aching. “Does it hurt a lot? We should go to the hospital tomorrow to get it checked.”

Zhu Xingyao shook her head, her red-rimmed eyes brimming with tears. She remembered the dream—Jiang Yue’s legs stained with blood. She remembered Jiang Tu ignoring her, walking ahead no matter how much she called out to him.

She chased him, but he ran faster.

She could never catch up to him.

Zhu Xingyao curled her legs up and buried her face in her knees, sobbing brokenly. “It hurts, Mom... it hurts so much!”