33

By the time Cen Lingqiu brought Yu Mingjiao back to the hotel, it was already night.

Yu Mingjiao remained unusually quiet the entire way, her whole being hollow and empty as if her soul had been crushed, leaving only a cold shell.

Cen Lingqiu wasn't doing much better. Her heart was still beating in anxiety, unable to shake the fear of what might have happened to Yu Mingjiao—a person with limited mobility—going to such a dangerous place.

"Are you hungry?" Cen Lingqiu knelt in front of her and asked softly.

Yu Mingjiao didn't respond. Her eyes, swollen and red from crying, were cast down, her long, thick eyelashes clumped together with tears. She kept her head low, saying nothing.

Seeing her still trembling hands, Cen Lingqiu gently took one of them in hers. Yu Mingjiao's hands were no longer warm.

In the silent room, Cen Lingqiu looked directly into her eyes and asked, "You were worried about me, so you went to that place. You couldn't reach me because your phone ran out of battery, right?"

Yu Mingjiao's eyelashes fluttered, and tears started to fall again.

Cen Lingqiu quickly pulled her into a hug, both pained and helpless, softly comforting her, "Why are you crying again? You'll hurt your eyes."

Cen Lingqiu thought about how frightened Yu Mingjiao must have been, repeatedly calling her in a state of fear and uncertainty, only to be met with silence. And then, despite her own limitations, going to a crime scene like that alone, ignoring all the dangers, just because she was worried about her.

Cen Lingqiu was deeply shaken by her recklessness and desperation, but she also felt a wave of relief and tenderness.

Luckily, Yu Mingjiao was safe.

She would never be able to forget the image of Yu Mingjiao silently weeping amidst the chaos and devastation, a memory etched into her heart like a lightning strike, leaving scars that would never fade.

Finally, Yu Mingjiao wrapped her arms around Cen Lingqiu's waist, holding on tightly as if trying to grasp her bones, her shoulders trembling with fragile sobs.

The faint, weak whimpers were like the despairing cries of a forsaken young animal.

Cen Lingqiu felt a tightness in her chest, but she forced a small smile, "So many tears... I never knew you were such a crybaby."

Yu Mingjiao didn't speak, only tightening her grip.

She had always been someone who cried easily, often finding tears flowing uncontrollably even when she didn't want them to. But she hadn't cried much in recent years—not because she was strong, but because she had buried her emotions after enduring so much pain for so long. She had become numb, indifferent.

Before she met Cen Lingqiu, she had almost forgotten what it felt like to cry.

But after meeting her, she had discovered a new kind of pain.

Cen Lingqiu was like a disease, a new source of torment.

And so, she cried. She shed tears.

Cen Lingqiu gently stroked her hair, listening quietly to her sobs.

As the minutes ticked by, the only sounds in the room were the ticking of the clock and the soft sound of her crying.

Yu Mingjiao didn't cry for long. She soon calmed down, and Cen Lingqiu, seeing that she was starting to feel better, ordered room service to bring them dinner.

The service was quick, and the food was delivered promptly, though it was all Western-style dishes.

"Just eat a little something. I'll cook for you when we get home." Cen Lingqiu heated up some milk and handed it to her, "Drink something warm first; your hands are cold."

Yu Mingjiao took the milk and sipped it slowly, refusing to let go of Cen Lingqiu's hand even for a moment.

Cen Lingqiu sighed, "How are you going to eat if you're holding my hand?"

Yu Mingjiao's voice was muffled, "With my left hand."

Cen Lingqiu had forgotten that Yu Mingjiao was ambidextrous.

Yu Mingjiao was still fragile, so Cen Lingqiu indulged her.

Neither of them had much appetite. The emotional turmoil had left them with little desire to eat.

Cen Lingqiu stopped eating after a few bites, using the mealtime to explain why her phone had been off.

"It won't happen again." Cen Lingqiu insisted that Yu Mingjiao finish her meal, "You'll always be able to reach me."

The unexpected promise soothed Yu Mingjiao's anxiety. She slowly nibbled on her sandwich, her lips trembling.

"You can't get hurt."

Cen Lingqiu smiled, "I'll do my best."

"You mustn't."

"Alright, alright." Cen Lingqiu agreed, "I will, so no more crying."

She gently touched the red corners of Yu Mingjiao's eyes, "Your eyes are so swollen. It'll be uncomfortable when you wake up tomorrow."

The skin around her eyes was sensitive, and when Cen Lingqiu touched her, Yu Mingjiao's eyelashes fluttered involuntarily, her eyelids closing reflexively.

This unintentional sensitivity made her pale face appear even more delicate, like the fragile wings of a butterfly.

Cen Lingqiu didn't withdraw her hand, and as if guided by some unknown force, she let it move from her eyes to her elegant nose, her full lips, and her fair cheeks.

Each touch felt like a crack in the ice of spring, releasing a flood of emotions, filling the air with the warmth of a blossoming spring.

Yu Mingjiao gripped her cup tightly, her eyes closed as she let Cen Lingqiu's hand linger on her face.

Realizing how bold she was being, Cen Lingqiu started to pull her hand back, but Yu Mingjiao caught it and pressed it against her cheek, nuzzling it affectionately before raising her moist eyes to meet Cen Lingqiu's gaze.

Her expression was direct, vulnerable, yet stubbornly calm.

Cen Lingqiu's heart pounded like a drum, almost deafening in her ears.

_

The events of the day left them both unable to sleep, so Cen Lingqiu suggested they finally finish watching "Black Flowers" in the hotel.

Yu Mingjiao just wanted to stay close to Cen Lingqiu, not caring much about what they did.

Throughout the movie, Yu Mingjiao barely paid attention, instead holding Cen Lingqiu's hand and resting her head on her shoulder, savoring her presence and scent. This was far more captivating than the film.

In the movie, one day, while visiting an old acquaintance in prison, Vilya unexpectedly encountered Greer, who had been waiting for her there for three years.

When their eyes met, Greer's gaze was steady and calm. He asked, "Your Highness, are you here to take me out, or should I wait for you a little longer?"

Vilya had already married someone else and was far from free.

"How long can you wait?"

"A long time, until death."

"Why?"

"Because I love you deeply, Your Highness."

These words caught Yu Mingjiao's attention, and she couldn't help but watch.

"Love..." Yu Mingjiao murmured, "Cen Lingqiu, what is love?"

Cen Lingqiu couldn't answer her.

After the movie ended, Cen Lingqiu finally began to feel sleepy, and they decided to go to bed.

That night, Yu Mingjiao was especially clingy, holding onto Cen Lingqiu from behind, her grip tight like a sticky adhesive.

Cen Lingqiu couldn't shake the feeling that their closeness seemed a bit strange, not quite like how friends usually behaved. But she didn't have many friends, so she wasn't sure what was normal. She just assumed it was okay, thinking that Yu Mingjiao was simply different from others.

Besides, she didn't mind Yu Mingjiao's closeness, so she didn't push her away.

"Cen Lingqiu."

Yu Mingjiao suddenly spoke up in the dark.

Cen Lingqiu turned around, her drowsiness dissipating, "What is it?"

"I'm scared," she said.

"Scared of what?"

"I keep thinking you'll leave me again." Yu Mingjiao whispered, "I'm so afraid you'll disappear like before."

"You won't, right?" Yu Mingjiao's unblinking eyes stared into Cen Lingqiu's.

"You won't leave me, will you?"

Faced with this question, Cen Lingqiu could only fall silent. She couldn't make any promises, couldn't give her the reassurance she desperately wanted.

After all, she herself was uncertain.

Instead, she asked, "If I were to leave, would you be unhappy?"

Yu Mingjiao blinked slowly, responding with silence.

Cen Lingqiu continued, "If I were to go, would you keep living well, every day?"

Yu Mingjiao's tone turned cold and hard, clearly unhappy, "Why do you keep asking these hypothetical questions? I don't want to hear it."

Cen Lingqiu smiled softly.

"Alright, then we won't talk about it." She spoke gently, "It's late, and we have an early flight tomorrow. Let's get some sleep. Overthinking will keep you awake."

"Okay."

_

After that day, Yu Mingjiao became even more attached to Cen Lingqiu. If she didn't respond to messages within an hour, Yu Mingjiao would start bombarding her with texts, only stopping once she got a reply.

Not only that, but Yu Mingjiao also insisted on sleeping with Cen Lingqiu every night, holding her close as if to confirm that she was still alive.

It seemed that the events of that day had left a deep scar on her.

Cen Lingqiu felt a mix of helplessness and melancholy.

The more Yu Mingjiao depended on her, the more anxious Cen Lingqiu became.

She feared that if she ever left this world, Yu Mingjiao wouldn't be able to cope. The longer this went on, the deeper the emotional ties and burdens became.

It was like walking towards a foggy abyss, unable to see the path ahead. Though the journey seemed safe, there was always the looming fear of a sudden fall into the unknown.

This fear only deepened as Yu Mingjiao's almost obsessive dependence grew stronger.

Cen Lingqiu even found herself forgetting the original purpose of her mission in this world. One night, she couldn't help but ask again, "Jiao Jiao, if I were to leave, you would still live well, wouldn't you? Every day."

Yu Mingjiao just held onto her tighter, unable to understand why Cen Lingqiu kept bringing up this possibility, as if she really intended to leave.

Yu Mingjiao's voice was strained with suppressed emotion, "Why do you keep talking about leaving? Why are you so worried about whether I live or not? What are you trying to tell me?"

Cen Lingqiu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Yu Mingjiao clung to her with an almost desperate strength, as if trying to break her bones. Cen Lingqiu felt like she was being crushed.

Yu Mingjiao's voice carried an edge of barely controlled madness, "Do you want to know? Then I'll tell you—if you leave me, I'll die."

Cen Lingqiu felt like she couldn't breathe, unsure if it was because of Yu Mingjiao's tight hold or some other, inexplicable reason.

She knew that her repeated questions were making Yu Mingjiao uneasy, even resentful, but she was simply anxious.

She was terrified of Yu Mingjiao's fate.

She was afraid Yu Mingjiao would revert to the state she was in when they first met. She genuinely wanted Yu Mingjiao to be happy—not just because of the mission, but out of a personal desire. Cen Lingqiu wanted Yu Mingjiao to live well.

There was nothing more important than living, and as someone who had died young, Cen Lingqiu knew better than anyone the preciousness of life.

She didn't want Yu Mingjiao to end up like her.

She wanted Yu Mingjiao to have a good ending.

But somewhere along the way, something had gone wrong.

Ultimately, it was her fault, wasn't it?

Cen Lingqiu thought with a mix of helplessness and sorrow.

She had crossed the line.

Yu Mingjiao's emotions were spiraling out of control, and Cen Lingqiu couldn't find the right words to comfort her. No matter what she said, it felt empty.

She simply continued to stroke Yu Mingjiao's hair as she always did.

Her long, misty eyes stared distantly at some unseen point, filled with an inescapable sense of confusion.

For the first time, Cen Lingqiu felt completely lost.

She felt like a cowardly traveler, unsure of which way to go.

It seemed that no matter which path she chose, it would lead to disaster.