10

As the evening deepened, the wind on the rooftop grew colder.

"Let's go back." Cen Lingqiu pushed her wheelchair downstairs. The elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and she wheeled her to the door of her apartment.

Yu Mingjiao wasn't surprised that Cen Lingqiu knew where she lived—after all, she used to come to her place often. She expected Cen Lingqiu to leave after dropping her off, but instead, she asked, "What are you having for dinner?"

The question, casual like something between friends, made Yu Mingjiao uncomfortable. Her expression turned cold, and her voice carried no warmth.

"None of your business."

She unlocked the door and glanced at Cen Lingqiu with a cold side-eye before entering. "Don't talk to me in that tone."

It was too calm, like they were two people who had never had any conflict, politely greeting each other.

It was fake and unrealistic.

Bang

The door slammed shut.

Cen Lingqiu didn't even get a chance to tell her she was now her neighbor before the girl's cold and stiff demeanor cut her off.

Oh well.

She'll find out soon enough.

Cen Lingqiu turned around, went to the apartment across the hall, and unlocked the door.

No one was home; Wen Zhi had gone to a bar. Cen Lingqiu took out the salmon, shrimp, and a few side dishes from the fridge.

Since she was eating alone, she made a simple pan-fried salmon seafood rice. She wasn't accustomed to eating at the dining table, so she sat in front of the coffee table in the living room instead.

After eating, she prepared some more dishes and headed across the hall.

She rang the doorbell.

After her bath, Yu Mingjiao made herself a cup of iced lemon water and took a few slices of toast to eat slowly at the table. She couldn't cook, nor did she like takeout, so she usually ate whatever was convenient to stave off hunger.

Bread, fruit, and occasionally a bottle of yogurt were enough. Most of the time, if she wasn't hungry, she wouldn't eat at all.

The living room was quiet, the only sound being her chewing.

After eating a little, she heard someone knocking at the door.

Yu Mingjiao ignored it. Her doorbell hardly ever rang; it was probably someone pressing the wrong doorbell.

The doorbell kept ringing.

It was annoying.

Unable to bear it any longer, Yu Mingjiao moved her wheelchair to the door and looked at the visitor through the electronic screen, frowning.

Why hasn't this woman left?

She didn't open the door, waiting to see when the woman would leave.

Cen Lingqiu didn't leave; she kept pressing the doorbell. It rang until Yu Mingjiao's ears couldn't take it anymore, and she finally opened the door.

In front of her was Cen Lingqiu, her beautiful face expressionless. Cen Lingqiu gestured to the tray in her hands, "Good evening, have you eaten?"

"I've eaten. Now leave."

Cen Lingqiu wasn't bothered by her harshness, just raised an eyebrow slightly, "So fierce."

"Can I come in?" Cen Lingqiu asked calmly, "My hands are getting tired."

Yu Mingjiao said nothing, just quietly stared at Cen Lingqiu.

The tray had several dishes on it, and it did look heavy—she seemed to be struggling a bit.

But what did that have to do with her? It wasn't like she asked the woman to come over.

Cen Lingqiu's arms were growing sore from holding the tray so long, and she didn't have the energy to play the silent game with Yu Mingjiao. So she made an executive decision: "I'll take that as a yes."

With that, she brushed past her and entered the living room.

It took Yu Mingjiao a moment to react. She turned her wheelchair and spoke in a voice tinged with anger, "Lin Qiu—"

Cen Lingqiu set the dishes on the table, noticing the half-eaten toast and yogurt. "Is this all you're eating for dinner?"

Yu Mingjiao ignored her question. "I didn't give you permission to enter my home. Leave."

"I will leave." Despite Yu Mingjiao's fluctuating emotions, Cen Lingqiu's expression remained calm and quiet. "But won't you answer my question?"

"What I eat is none of your concern."

Yu Mingjiao stayed by the door, refusing to come closer.

Cen Lingqiu, used to her stubbornness, walked over and pushed the wheelchair to the table.

Yu Mingjiao resisted, frowning, "Don't push me."

"Stop being so temperamental." Cen Lingqiu pressed her shoulders gently. "Eat before it gets cold."

Yu Mingjiao glanced at the table.

There was salmon rice, boiled shrimp, tomato and egg stir-fry, spicy chicken, and a fruit salad.

The colors were vibrant, the aroma was rich, and the dishes were still steaming. It didn't look like takeout—it seemed freshly made. But where did she have time to cook this?

She quickly realized something and asked, "Do you live nearby?"

Cen Lingqiu didn't deny it, even praising her, "Quick thinking."

Yu Mingjiao's reaction was sharp and fast. She put two and two together, her expression growing colder. "Are you the new neighbor across from me?"

"Yes." With the experience of feeding her in the hospital, Cen Lingqiu feared she might only eat the dish in front of her, so she filled her bowl with a variety of dishes.

"Eat up."

"Why did you move here?" Yu Mingjiao looked up, staring straight at her. When she wasn't smiling, her eyes resembled the cold, black eyes of a venomous snake.

"Did you do it on purpose? Moving across from me on purpose, is that it?" Her voice was slow, dragging out the cold words. "What do you want? I got your brother taken away by the police—why don't you come to blame me or hit me? Why are you afraid I'll kill myself and rush over to save me? And why… did you cook for me?"

"Why, Lin Qiu?"

Yu Mingjiao was genuinely baffled.

It was the same in the manor, in the hospital, and now even after she returned home, this woman continued to show her inexplicable kindness.

She believed that every act of kindness had a purpose.

But she couldn't figure out Cen Lingqiu's intentions.

Whether it was good or bad, she couldn't guess.

Why?

Because I need you to gain a chance at life.

Yu Mingjiao, I need you to end my years of wandering in a foreign world.

But she couldn't say any of this.

She was fully aware that Yu Mingjiao was just her mission target, and all her kindness toward her was insincere.

However, there was no need for the female lead to know this sort of professional courtesy.

In the end, as long as Yu Mingjiao could live with a little less pain, that was enough. As long as she was happy.

The real purpose didn't need to be known—it didn't matter.

So, Cen Lingqiu calmly lied, "Because I was wrong."

"What?"

"Yu Mingjiao, I'm sorry." Cen Lingqiu crouched down to be at eye level with her, softening her usually indifferent expression.

With years of experience playing countless roles, controlling her expressions was not difficult for her.

"You're not the same as Ning Jia. I don't want to associate you with her anymore. Ning Jia was a kind person; she wouldn't have liked seeing others treated this way."

Ning Jia.

The woman who drowned after falling into the sea.

It was because of her death that she was entangled with Lin Dong, and Lin Qiu, Ning Jia's close friend, had always believed that she had deliberately pretended to be Ning Jia to seduce Lin Dong, which made her despise Yu Mingjiao.

Cen Lingqiu continued, "I also don't want you to be with my brother, so I decided to let you go. I've come to realize that even if I tortured you to death, my friend wouldn't come back, so let's just leave it at that."

"But I—" Cen Lingqiu tried her best to align with the original character's persona to cover her lie, "I don't like owing people."

She'd said enough to make Yu Mingjiao understand.

Yu Mingjiao responded emotionlessly, "So you feel guilty and want to make it up to me."

"Yes."

Suddenly, Yu Mingjiao covered her mouth and burst into laughter. Her eyes curved, her laughter clear, her shoulders trembling. The more she laughed, the more tears welled up in her eyes.

Cen Lingqiu frowned.

Was her story too unconvincing?

But Yu Mingjiao genuinely found it funny.

Feeling guilty, so she wants to make amends.

How could this woman say such things? Why did everyone think that after driving nails into her, they could just pull them out and feel at ease, as if their actions would leave no trace?

Her evil, selfish stepmother was the same. After pushing her down the stairs, she pretended to apologize and take care of her, but it was only because she didn't want to go to jail. Her naive, vile sister also forgot her own disgusting behavior and clung to her with talk of "we're family," simply because she didn't want to be alone.

And now even Lin Qiu was doing this.

How could these people forget their own cruelty?

Why did they think a simple apology could cover up all the physical pain and mental anguish she had endured?

Was her suffering just a trivial amusement in their eyes?

Yu Mingjiao's smile twisted into something strange, her eyelashes wet, and it was unclear whether she was crying or if it was just tears from laughing too hard. She was trembling all over.

Suddenly, a pair of cold hands gently cupped her face.

"Yu Mingjiao, are you hurting? Why are you crying so much?"

Yu Mingjiao froze, letting her hands fall away to reveal her pale, tear-streaked face.

She stopped crying because of Cen Lingqiu's words.

Cen Lingqiu knew she was sad. She knew she was crying.

She saw through the emotions Yu Mingjiao had tried so hard to hide.

Cen Lingqiu looked into her damp, confused eyes and couldn't help but sigh softly in her heart.

Maybe she had spoken too harshly, too directly.

It had hurt her so deeply.

But Cen Lingqiu had to say those things. If she kept hiding the truth from Yu Mingjiao, it would only make her suspect that she was plotting something malicious.

If she wanted to get close to the female lead, to see her vulnerable desires, she had to make Yu Mingjiao lower her guard and stop doubting her. Though this method was a bit troublesome and hypocritical, making the path more difficult, as long as she continued down it, she would eventually reach her goal.

So, I'm sorry.

Yu Mingjiao, I lied to you.

But—

She looked at Yu Mingjiao's fragile eyes.

At that moment, she genuinely wished that Yu Mingjiao could emerge from the shadow of the original host.

In the end, whether it was a lie or the truth, the purpose remained the same.

"Why should I believe you?" Yu Mingjiao's voice was hoarse and cold. "I just wish you were dead."

Cen Lingqiu smiled faintly and gently wiped away her tears with her thumb.

"It's okay. I'll do what I want to do, and even if you never forgive me in the end, that's fine."

"It's all fine, Yu Mingjiao."

Because eventually, I'll be gone from your life anyway.