42

The following day, Cen Lingqiu received a message from Zhang Li. It was almost her and Lin Qiu's father's wedding anniversary, and she had booked a stay at a hot spring resort to celebrate. Zhang Li reminded Cen Lingqiu to join them and asked if she could bring a friend along.

Cen Lingqiu agreed and then asked if she could bring Yu Mingjiao.

There was a moment of silence from Zhang Li before she replied, "Is it that girl in the wheelchair?"

"Yes," Cen Lingqiu confirmed.

Zhang Li sighed. "You two have become surprisingly close. Why do you always bring her with you wherever you go?"

Cen Lingqiu couldn't explain it. Ever since her identity had been revealed, the atmosphere between them had been filled with the heaviness of an impending separation. Each day felt like a farewell, as if it were their last.

Yu Mingjiao had been perpetually unhappy, like a withered flower in winter, with none of her former brilliance. Her eyes, whenever they landed on Cen Lingqiu, were full of dark sadness, often accompanied by an almost tangible coldness and a pervasive melancholy.

Cen Lingqiu felt both heartache and helplessness. There was nothing she could do.

They had been living in a tense, silent coexistence. Yu Mingjiao's mood had deteriorated so much that Cen Lingqiu wanted to take her out to lift her spirits, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Zhang Li eventually relented. "If you want to bring her, go ahead."

That night, Cen Lingqiu brought up the trip and asked if Yu Mingjiao wanted to go.

"Do you want me to go?" Yu Mingjiao asked.

"Of course I do," Cen Lingqiu replied.

"Then I'll go," Yu Mingjiao agreed without hesitation. "Lingqiu, wherever you go, I'll go too." Her eyes were intense and unwavering, filled with an almost obsessive fervor, as if she was willing to follow Cen Lingqiu to the ends of the earth, even if it meant death.

Cen Lingqiu's heart ached at the sight.

"When we get there, you have to listen to me," she said, avoiding Yu Mingjiao's gaze. "Don't let your emotions get the best of you."

Lin Dong would definitely be there, and Cen Lingqiu was worried about another confrontation between the two of them.

Yu Mingjiao nodded calmly. "I will."

Cen Lingqiu tried to lighten the oppressive mood with a joke. She raised her hand and gently brushed Yu Mingjiao's cheek. "Such a good girl."

Yu Mingjiao took hold of Cen Lingqiu's hand, pressing her face into her palm. Her lips brushed against Cen Lingqiu's hand, light as a feather, yet the touch lingered in Cen Lingqiu's heart.

"If I'm really good, would you stay?" Yu Mingjiao asked, her voice soft. "I really need you, Lingqiu."

Ever since Yu Mingjiao had discovered Cen Lingqiu's true identity, her affectionate advances had become even more brazen, her hidden feelings now laid bare.

Cen Lingqiu cherished her straightforwardness, but in this moment, such honesty only deepened her sorrow. It pained her to think that this intense, open love would ultimately end in nothingness, like spring water destined to evaporate, leaving nothing behind.

"Will you listen to everything I say?" Cen Lingqiu asked, shifting the conversation.

Yu Mingjiao looked at her and nodded.

"I want you to live well," Cen Lingqiu said, stroking her soft hair. "Will you listen to that too?"

"...I don't know."

"Is that so hard to answer?"

Yu Mingjiao's lips tightened, her eyelids fluttering. "I don't know, Lingqiu. I don't know."

"I don't know what will happen to me after you leave. I don't know if I'll have the courage to keep breathing. I really don't know."

"I don't want you to die, Jiao Jiao," Cen Lingqiu said gently. "Do you know that? You're the only person I care about in this world. You're the most unique person. In this world, only you understand me. Please don't die, okay?"

This was the first time Cen Lingqiu had openly expressed her feelings to Yu Mingjiao.

It was raining again outside, the sound of raindrops endless.

Yu Mingjiao bit her lip, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Cen Lingqiu held out her pinky finger to her. "Promise me, okay? Pinky swear."

Yu Mingjiao didn't look at her, her body trembling.

Cen Lingqiu waited patiently.

One second.

Two seconds.

It felt like an eternity had passed, and just when Cen Lingqiu thought Yu Mingjiao would stubbornly refuse, she slowly raised her hand, as if it had taken all her strength, and with a trembling finger, linked it with Cen Lingqiu's.

Cen Lingqiu smiled. "Thank you, Jiao Jiao."

Really, thank you.

—

On the day of Zhang Li's wedding anniversary, the weather was beautiful, and the resort was lavishly decorated.

Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao were sunbathing in the garden when Lin Dong spotted them. He had started to see Yu Mingjiao differently, realizing that she wasn't the same as Ning Jia—they were two separate people.

After finishing his social obligations, Lin Dong and He Hanzhou made their way to the garden.

"Sis," Lin Dong called out to Cen Lingqiu.

Cen Lingqiu was busy tying up Yu Mingjiao's long hair and responded without looking up. "Hmm."

Yu Mingjiao didn't spare Lin Dong a glance, not even a lift of her eyelids.

"Lin Qiu, you don't look like you've been sleeping well," He Hanzhou teased with a grin, trying to show concern.

It was only then that Yu Mingjiao finally raised her eyes to give him a cold, dismissive glance, making him feel distinctly uncomfortable.

"Work has been busy," Cen Lingqiu said dismissively.

Lin Dong frowned. "Sis, you really don't look well. You don't need to work so hard."

Cen Lingqiu was exhausted.

It wasn't work that drained her, but the constant worry over Yu Mingjiao, which kept her up at night, leaving her sleep-deprived and looking worse for wear.

But there was no point in explaining that to them.

"Don't push yourself so hard, Lin Qiu," He Hanzhou said casually. "How about we hit a bar later to relax?"

Before Cen Lingqiu could respond, Yu Mingjiao cut him off with a firm, "She's not going."

He Hanzhou raised an eyebrow. "You're not her, how do you know she won't go?"

Yu Mingjiao, like a stubborn child, retorted coldly, "I said she's not going, so she's not going."

Seeing her getting worked up again, Cen Lingqiu patted her head. "Alright, alright, I won't go. Don't throw a tantrum."

Lin Dong watched the strange dynamic between them, feeling confused and uneasy. He remembered that his sister used to dislike Yu Mingjiao, so how had they suddenly become so close? Closer than seemed normal for friends.

While the four of them chatted, Ning Jia stood not far away, hidden by a rock formation, her gaze dark and intense as she watched them.

They were all so happy.

Lin Dong and Lin Qiu, those siblings, smiling so carefree—it was sickening.

Murderers, both of them. How dare they smile like that?

She couldn't accept it.

Hatred surged in Ning Jia's eyes, a fire so intense it nearly consumed her reason. She clutched her lips, coughing up blood.

The sound caught Lin Dong's attention, and when he looked over, he was shocked to see a face he had never forgotten. His expression changed. "Ning Jia?"

As soon as he spoke, the other three followed his gaze.

Ning Jia wiped the blood from her lips and slowly walked toward them.

"Long time no see, everyone," she said with a smile. "What a coincidence."

Cen Lingqiu frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Ning Jia stopped in her tracks. "I'm one of the investors in this resort."

She was involved in venture capital, with a sharp eye for business.

Lin Dong, shocked, grabbed her wrist. "Ning Jia, you didn't—"

He hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

Ning Jia finished it for him. "Die? You're surprised I didn't die?"

Lin Dong was silent.

"I didn't die. How does that make you feel?" Ning Jia smiled, but her eyes were cold. "I heard you even set up a grave for me. How touching."

"I just missed you," Lin Dong explained softly.

Ning Jia sneered, her eyes sweeping over them before she stopped next to Cen Lingqiu. "You're all so happy, Lin Qiu. On such a warm day, you're gathered here to celebrate your family."

"But some people in this world will never see the sun again. Isn't that sad?"

"What are you trying to say?" Cen Lingqiu asked calmly.

Ning Jia just smiled, even laughing until tears came to her eyes.

"You'll find out soon enough, Lin Qiu."

"All the things you've forgotten will eventually come back."

"Seeing you all so happy makes me feel really good." Ning Jia brushed back her pink hair, her smile bright, but her eyes filled with something much darker. "It's really nice."

Yu Mingjiao's eyes grew colder, her aversion to Ning Jia deepening.

"Ning Jia," Lin Dong said, frowning. "What happened to you?"

Ning Jia shrugged. "I've always been this way."

"Anyway, I have things to do," Ning Jia said, wiping away the tears that had come from laughing too hard. "Enjoy yourselves."

Lin Dong wanted to follow her, but Ning Jia's voice was laced with disgust as she spoke. "Don't follow me."

Lin Dong froze in place.

While he hesitated, Ning Jia walked away.

He Hanzhou left the garden and headed to the parking lot, where he found Ning Jia leaning against a car, smoking.

He took the cigarette from her. "You're practically dead already, and you're still smoking?"

Ning Jia ignored him and pulled out another cigarette.

He Hanzhou sighed. "You really don't care about dying."

"Stage IV stomach cancer. How much longer do you have?" He gave up and joined her.

"Not long," Ning Jia replied, exhaling smoke.

He Hanzhou had found Ning Jia on his private island, lying on the beach, looking like she was dead. At first, he had considered throwing her back into the sea, but she had grabbed his ankle and begged him to save her.

He didn't know why, but he had saved her, taking her to a private hospital. It was only later that he realized she was the same Ning Jia whom Lin Dong had believed to have drowned. He had considered telling Lin Dong, but Ning Jia had pleaded with him not to.

So he hadn't.

Although Ning Jia had been rescued, it was too late—she was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. There was no cure.

She was weak and spent over a year recovering in the hospital before she couldn't bear the pain of treatment anymore and decided to leave.

When He Hanzhou asked her why, she said she had more important things to do.

She said she was dying soon, but she didn't want to die alone.

After leaving the hospital, the first thing she did was dye her hair pink. When He Hanzhou asked why, she said it was because "she liked pink."

Who she was, He Hanzhou didn't know.

Even after spending over a year with Ning Jia, he still knew nothing about her.

"What are you planning to do with Lin Qiu and Lin Dong?" He Hanzhou asked, blowing out a cloud of smoke.

Ning Jia's eyes were cold as she held the cigarette between her fingers. She spoke slowly and deliberately. "I want them to remember what they've forgotten."

"That's it?" He Hanzhou didn't understand.

Ning Jia's lips curled into a slight smile, but she said nothing.

Because beyond that, she wanted to destroy them.