28.

Chu Qingling moved aside, her voice so low it was almost drowned out by the sound of the wind and snow: "Come in, it's cold outside."

The door opened, letting in a chill and a flurry of snow. Xie Sui stepped in, his tall frame seeming to make the cozy dance studio seem a bit small. He stood at the doorway, his gaze lingering greedily on Chu Qingling, as if trying to engrave all the changes he had undergone over the past year. He had lost weight, his demeanor more composed, but there was an indescribable tenderness in the way he held the child.

Chu Qingling felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by him. She turned her head and called out to the inner room in fluent French: "Cici, please help me look after Ranran. There are guests."

A French girl wearing training clothes and with a capable temperament came out in response. When she saw Xie Sui, she was stunned for a moment, then nodded to Chu Qingling: "OK, call me after you finish talking." She skillfully took the curious Ranran from Chu Qingling's arms. The little guy seemed to be very familiar with her, and was obediently carried into the inner room by her.

After Cici left, there were only the two of them left in the space, and the air seemed to be stagnant.

"Have a seat." Chu Qingling pointed to the sofa against the wall and walked over to the small coffee table in the corner. His movements were a little stiff. With his back to Xie Sui, he expertly ground the coffee beans, a rich aroma gradually filling the air.

Xie Sui sat down on the sofa as he was told, but his eyes never left Chu Qingling's back. He watched his slender fingers operating the machine, his slightly lowered, expressionless face, and his heart felt like it was being tightly grasped by an invisible hand, aching and painful.

After a while, Chu Qingling came over with a cup of steaming black coffee and gently placed it on the coffee table in front of Xie Sui.

"Try it." His voice remained flat.

Xie Sui picked up the cup and felt the scorching temperature with his fingertips. He took a sip and it was pure bitterness without any sugar or milk, just like his mood at the moment.

"Why did you come to France?" Chu Qingling sat down on the chair opposite him, clasped his hands on his knees, like a host receiving an ordinary guest.

Xie Sui put down his coffee cup, his voice a little hoarse: "Dealing with some company matters." He paused, his eyes fixed on Chu Qingling, "How are you...doing?"

Chu Qingling twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Not bad. Opening this studio and teaching kids is quite fulfilling." His gaze fell on Xie Sui's tired face, and his tone carried a hint of concern that he himself didn't even notice. "What about you? You don't look well."

Xie Sui smiled helplessly, that smile was filled with deep weariness and self-mockery: "I can't help it, I'm too tired, relying on smoking and drinking to stay alive."

These words were like a needle, unexpectedly piercing Chu Qingling's heart, causing him to shudder uncontrollably. He blurted out, his voice filled with uncontrollable anxiety and heartache: "... smoke less and drink less, it's not good for your health."

These words, this tone, were so familiar that Xie Sui's eyes ached. Chu Qingling had been like this before, frowning, urging him on over and over again, snatching his cigarettes, hiding his alcohol.

Xie Sui looked at him, his bitter smile deepening, his eyes filled with unrelieved pain and regret: "I can't quit... The person who urged me to do this doesn't want me anymore..."

These words completely shattered Chu Qingling's pretended calm exterior.

"The person who supervises you... must be a very good person." Chu Qingling's voice began to tremble. He tried his best to suppress the heat welling in his eyes and turned his head away, not wanting Xie Sui to see his embarrassment.

Xie Sui looked at his slightly trembling thin shoulders, his heart aching as if it were being torn apart. His voice was hoarse, and he spoke each word with great sincerity, "Well, he's very good. He's the best person in the world. But I lost him... I want to find him, but now... he doesn't seem to need me anymore."

"Woo..."

Suppressed, broken sobs finally broke out of Chu Qingling's throat. He turned his head abruptly, looking at Xie Sui with tearful eyes, tears streaming down his face like beads from a broken string.

"Xie Sui..." He cried, his voice choked and almost inaudible, "Why... why don't you take care of your body... why... can't you take good care of yourself..."

He cried so hard that his whole body was shaking. All the grievances, heartaches, and the love that had never truly died, at this moment, burst out along with tears.

Xie Sui watched him weep uncontrollably, his heart aching so much that he almost suffocated. Unable to hold it in any longer, he abruptly stood up, crossed the short distance, and knelt on one knee in front of Chu Qingling's chair. He reached out, wanting to wipe away his tears, but his fingertips were trembling violently.

"Lingling..." Xie Sui's voice was hoarse, filled with endless regret and pleading, "Don't cry... It's my fault... It's all my fault..."

The cold barrier began to crack amidst hot tears and belated apologies.

A year of separation did not seem to erase anything, but instead made certain emotions ferment even more intensely in my heart.

————

Chu Qingling's sobs were like an invisible hand, gripping Xie Sui's heart. He knelt on one knee in front of a chair, looking at the tear-stained, fragile face before him. All the calmness and decisiveness that had guided his business strategy vanished, leaving only helplessness and heartache.

"Don't cry... Lingling, don't cry..." Xie Sui's voice was rough and hoarse, trembling with a tremor he himself hadn't noticed. He raised his hand and carefully wiped the tears that kept rolling down with his fingertips, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure.

His touch made Chu Qingling's body stiffen slightly, but she didn't shy away. Instead, her tears flowed even harder, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances, disappointments, and pressures she had endured alone over the past year.

"Do you know... how worried I was..." Chu Qingling sobbed and spoke incoherently, "When I saw you like that... I... I wished..."

He muttered "I" for a long time, but couldn't continue. Did he hate him? He did. But more than that, he felt an overwhelming sense of heartache. He understood the pressure Xie Sui shouldered better than anyone, and the self-destruction behind his "I can't quit" statement. It was precisely because he understood so well that the pain was even greater.

“I know… I know…” Xie Sui repeated it over and over again. He gently rested his forehead on Chu Qingling’s knees, like a repentant believer. “I’m sorry, Lingling… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said those nonsense. I shouldn’t have let you leave alone… I’m the bastard…”

He had never been so humble before, but in front of Chu Qingling's tears, all his pride and face became insignificant.

"You're always like this..." Chu Qingling cried and complained, "When something goes wrong, you take it all on yourself. When you're in a bad mood, you smoke and drink... You never... never consider my feelings..."

"I'll consider it! I'll consider it in the future!" Xie Sui raised his head suddenly and promised eagerly. He grabbed Chu Qingling's cold hand and held it tightly in his palm, trying to warm him with his own warmth. "I'll change, I'll change everything! I'll quit smoking and drinking... As long as you come back, as long as you give me another chance..."

His eyes were filled with almost humble pleading, completely different from the usual cold and strong LYRA Prince.

Chu Qingling looked at his reddened eyes and the deep regret within them, and his heart felt like it was being soaked in warm water, sore and limp. When had he ever seen Xie Sui like this? Xie Sui, the lawless man from childhood, the one who only caused others to be angry, now stood before him, vulnerable and vulnerable.

All the defenses collapsed at this moment.

He pulled back the hand that Xie Sui was holding, but when Xie Sui's eyes dimmed in an instant, he did not push him away. Instead, he stretched out his arms, gently and tentatively wrapped them around Xie Sui's neck, and buried his face in the crook of his neck, which was filled with the cold air from the outdoors and the faint smell of tobacco.

The hug was light, but it sent a jolt through Xie Sui's body. A surge of ecstasy washed over him like a tsunami. He almost immediately tightened his arms, squeezing the soft body tightly into his embrace, his grip so strong it felt like he was rubbing it into his bones and blood, never to be separated again.

"Lingling..." Xie Sui's voice choked. He buried his face in Chu Qingling's fragrant hair, greedily breathing in the long-lost breath, "Come back with me, okay? Let's go home..."

Chu Qingling didn't answer immediately, but just shook her head gently in his arms, her voice muffled and tearful: "...I have Ranran now."

Xie Sui's body stiffened for a moment. Thinking of the little girl with tearful eyes similar to Chu Qingling, his heart seemed to be stabbed by something, but more than that, he felt an indescribable complex emotion.

"We'll raise her together." Xie Sui said firmly without hesitation, "She is your daughter, and she is my daughter."

These words, like a key, completely unlocked the last lock in Chu Qingling's heart. He raised his head and looked at Xie Sui with tears in his eyes, as if trying to confirm the truth of these words from his eyes.

Xie Sui held his face in his hands, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his thumb, his eyes deep and sincere: "I'm serious, Lingling. I was stupid and a bastard before. From now on, you and Ranran are everything to me. Give me a chance and let me make it up to you, okay?"

The snow was still falling quietly outside the window, while the dance studio was warm as spring. More than a year apart, overcoming misunderstandings and hurt, the two embraced each other tightly, as if trying to make up for lost time.

The scars still exist, but love and repentance seem to have the power to heal everything.

No one knows what the future will be like.

But at least in this moment, they found each other again.

At the door of the inner room, Cici held Ranran, who was looking out curiously, and looked at the two people hugging each other outside. She smiled with understanding and relief, and quietly closed the door.