031 Who Will Pity the Fading Beauty (1)

— After countless sails have drifted by, not one is the one my heart longs for; amidst the boundless expanse of "weak waters", which single ladleful understands my joys and sorrows?

She felt as if she'd been trapped in an interminable dream. In that dream, there was only endless darkness. The cold and the blackness stretched on, an abyss with no end in sight. She thrashed about ceaselessly in the darkness, and then came the searing white light, so intense it threatened to blind her.

In the dream... there was a deathly hush.

It hurt, it really hurt. She fought with every ounce of her strength.

Her body slowly slumped, but a pair of strong arms caught her. Amidst the bone - chilling pain, that embrace was like a warm, life - giving ray of sunshine, wordlessly offering her the last shred of hope. Her jet - black eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Letting out a soft sigh, she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry. Those eyes were inches from hers, long and narrow phoenix eyes slanting up towards the temples, cold and haughty, with a glint of light deep within.

Such familiar eyes. Tian Rao's consciousness gradually cleared. She realized her hand was being held tightly by Chen Chen in an intimate grip. This was a tenderness rarely seen in Chen Chen.

"Chen Chen," she called weakly. Chen Chen tightened her hold on her hand. Not finding the one she yearned for, a faint sense of disappointment and pain welled up in her heart.

Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, Ming Xichen remained silent, quietly gazing at her. The pale cheeks, the curly eyelashes, the misty eyes, the light - pink cherry lips, and the pointed chin. What a gorgeous little face! Such a petite figure yet with a heart full of strength and courage. People were truly remarkable. No, it was the power of love. Thinking of love, Chen Chen's gaze towards Tian Rao grew a bit more solemn. How could she not understand Tian Rao's feelings? Every time she saw Tian Rao looking at A Kang with such eager eyes, her heart would churn like the raging tides of the Qiantang River. And she didn't want Tian Rao to know about these feelings. Because she knew that every time A Kang met Yun Fei, he would always watch her back from behind. The world in A Kang's eyes was her, while her world had become Shen Yunfei. In a certain corner, there was another pair of eyes that kept dodging, and those eyes belonged to Tian Rao, for whom A Kang was the whole universe. Ming Xichen didn't want to expose these things. She just hoped that as time went by, they could all find their rightful places.

Too many words would turn into a burden. Unfulfilled promises and complex emotions that couldn't be untangled all made Chen Chen feel dejected. The entangled youth seemed to stretch on without end, truly a headache.

"You're awake. It'll hurt, but it'll get better soon. The doctor said it didn't hit any vital parts," Chen Chen said, releasing Tian Rao's hand with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, it doesn't hurt much," Tian Rao replied in a barely audible voice. Maybe it was the injury that made her weak, or perhaps it was the inner disappointment that sapped her desire to talk. Chen Chen didn't really bother to find out. "Come on, little beauty. Let me wipe your face. A Kang will bring something delicious later!"

Tian Rao's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and a glint flashed in her eyes.

Chen Chen seemed not to notice. She picked up the towel soaked in the water basin, tested the temperature, and it was just perfect. She couldn't help but admire Leng Yan in her heart. She was really thoughtful. First, she gently wiped Tian Rao's face, and then her two little hands. Pinching her boneless little hands, Chen Chen joked, "Look at these little hands. They feel so nice to hold."

Tian Rao let out a soft giggle. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she stopped smiling. "Chen Chen, you're still sick. How can you take care of me? Come on, lie down. No, call the doctor to give you an IV." She became a bit flustered. Chen Chen's eyes flickered. It seemed that Tian Rao still cared about her. She smiled. "It's okay. Don't worry. I just have low blood sugar. I'll be fine after a rest. Don't be worried." Then Chen Chen looked at Tian Rao and suddenly grinned playfully. "It's your fortune to be taken care of by me. I've never taken care of anyone before."

It was really true. Since childhood, Chen Chen had been coddled by her parents and doted on by A Kang. Now, Chu Rui doted on her to the extreme. How could this young lady ever have the chance to take care of others?

"Yeah, Chen Chen, you're really lucky. So many people love you," Tian Rao said, her voice tinged with a hint of envy or jealousy.

"I love you, and you're still not satisfied, greedy girl," Chen Chen said, gently poking Tian Rao's forehead. Tian Rao let out a coquettish laugh. "Ah—"

"Did you pull the wound? Come on, be careful. Don't laugh, little beauty," Chen Chen said, flustered and just constantly soothing her.

Seeing her flustered look, Tian Rao's heart warmed. She was deeply touched. Chen Chen was such a cold - hearted person, but now she was so kind to her. If only that person didn't exist.

Tian Rao stopped laughing and looked around. The ward was so luxurious that it hardly seemed like a ward at all. It was even more opulent than the ward where Chen Chen had an IV. There was a small French window through which she could see the flowers, plants, and trees outside. The early - morning sun was bright and warm, and one couldn't feel the scorching heat of midsummer. Little birds were singing and hopping on the branches. There were glistening dewdrops on the blooming flowers. The sunlight shone through the glass window, spilling on the ground and the bed. Everything, whether alive or inanimate, was gently caressed by it. Something was slowly stirring in her heart, like the surging of blood.

"It's so good to be alive."

"Thank you, Tian Rao. It's so good to be alive," Chen Chen said, holding Tian Rao's hand and gently pressing her face against the back of her hand. Her eyes were misty.

"You're my best friend. Don't say such things," Tian Rao said in a weak voice, but her eyes were clear and sincere. Looking at such a Tian Rao, Chen Chen was deeply touched. "Yes, we are best friends."