Chapter 7: You can't see it, but you can touch it.
The moonlight bathed the sofa in a white glow. Zhou Yuanli was still recovering from her injuries when Qin Lingchuan sent her on a business trip for three days.
That did give her an opportunity.
Taking advantage of the lax security today, we finally managed to get close to the safe.
The method for opening the safe was taught to me by my senior.
Sure enough, it contained information about the Xia family and his records of his sister's preferences over the years.
She doesn't eat spicy food, but her older sister loves it. To be like her sister, she has to learn to adapt.
She drinks milk tea without adding extra sugar, while her sister prefers it with 70% sugar.
My sister has a habit of pouring water with her hand reversed...
My sister unconsciously shrugs when she talks...
My older sister loves to get big, wavy hair and wear pearls, but she doesn't like hairpins...
None of these records were for her.
Having lived in my sister's shell for so long, I've almost forgotten what kind of person I really am.
She was so engrossed in watching that by the time she realized danger was approaching, it was too late.
The newcomer struck hard, delivering a palm strike to her left shoulder.
Xia Youzhen didn't care about anything else and stuffed the thick stack of documents into her arms. Of course, the person who came was not going to let her go. Suddenly, the sound of tearing fabric was heard in the room, and Xia Youzhen's fair left back was exposed to the person.
Youzhen shook off her restraints and slapped him across the face.
The man didn't dodge, taking the blow squarely. He seemed frozen, his dark eyes surging with unfathomable emotions, his thin lips moving slightly: "It really is you!"
Youzhen finally saw who it was: Qin Lingchuan!
Why did he come to Zhou Yuanli's room?
In a flash, Xia Youzhen rushed to the windowsill, about to jump down, when Qin Lingchuan grabbed her slender waist, and the two were locked in a stalemate by the window.
Qin Lingchuan, who always stood upright, had subconsciously arched his back during the fight, as if protecting his abdomen.
Could it be that the pregnancy has been threatened again?
Without caring about anything else, Qin Lingchuan grabbed her wrist and, exhausted, scattered the documents all over the floor.
Qin Lingchuan circled her halfway around, pulling her into his arms, his cold, low voice carrying a sharp question: "Xia Youzhen, still won't admit it?"
What do we acknowledge?
She admitted that she was impersonating his sister and had deceived his feelings.
If she admits that she is Xia Youzhen, the 50 lashes of family discipline probably won't be enough to settle the matter.
Qin Lingchuan pressed his left arm against her collarbone, and Xia Youzhen was unable to break free from his hold.
In order to escape, Youzhen swiftly and forcefully elbowed him in the lower abdomen. Qin Lingchuan was caught off guard and, as expected, let go.
In an instant, the figure outside the window disappeared.
Qin Lingchuan shouted sternly, "Stop!" He couldn't help but take a step back, and his shoe tripped over something—a necklace.
"You don't want the gift... anymore?" Her voice was filled with layers of humiliation.
Qin Lingchuan struggled to regulate his breathing, and the pain in his lower abdomen became increasingly pronounced.
Youzhen ran to the garden without stopping. It was a bit chilly at night. She clutched the collar that had been torn open and realized that her neck was bare and the necklace was nowhere to be found.
Although she hadn't received the materials, at least it wasn't all for nothing. Xia Youzhen repeatedly told herself not to rush.
Now that she had calmed down, she realized why Qin Lingchuan had asked that question.
How could he be so certain? Could it be that he saw the scar on her left back?
Can Qin Lingchuan see it?
Before he could even ponder it carefully, he hit the key point, and a long whip lashed out at the marble pillar beside him.
Stone chips, carved into the patterns, fell in a flurry, just a centimeter away from hitting her shoulder.
Since their unpleasant parting last time, the two of them had tacitly avoided each other. She didn't expect Qin Lingchuan to catch up so quickly.
Xia Youzhen instinctively pulled her clothes tighter. Looking at Qin Lingchuan, who was radiating anger, after her initial surprise, she blurted out, "Are you alright?"
That thrust she just gave was probably a bit too hard.
Qin Lingchuan asked, as if he knew everything: "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"I... what are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Of course I have to ask if you're mentally okay," Youzhen said, annoyed. Judging from his strong voice, he should be alright, right?
"I'm practicing martial arts here at the crack of dawn," Qin Lingchuan lied through his teeth. Xia Youzhen pouted; it certainly fit his current persona.
"Then what are you doing here?"
Xia Youzhen had already prepared an excuse during those few words and said confidently, "The moonlight is beautiful tonight. Is it wrong for me to come out and admire the moon?"
"Stop pretending, Xia Youzhen." Qin Lingchuan's tone suddenly changed.
She was right; Qin Lingchuan suspected that she was impersonating Xia Ruozhen, which was why he was so angry.
Qin Lingchuan glanced at her expression out of the corner of his eye. Youzhen was clearly calculating how much he knew so that she could make a corresponding response.
He said with a hint of helplessness, "Youzhen, whatever you want, I can give you. I will never let you leave me again. There are some things you don't want to talk about now, and I won't force you. But please believe me, please believe that I will not hurt you."
An upgraded test!
She absolutely cannot admit it!
"Have you been abroad for too long and can't understand Chinese anymore? I've told you so many times, I'm not Xia Youzhen! How can you possibly believe me?"
The person in front of him rejected him without any mercy, and Qin Lingchuan no longer tried to persuade her. He raised his hand and pointed his whip at her.
“It’s easy to handle. Xia Youzhen has a scar on her left shoulder and back, which she was injured while being chased and slashed. Xia Ruozhen is a precious and noble lady, and she has bodyguards protecting her. It’s impossible for her to have offended anyone.”
Xia Youzhen hid behind a stone pillar: "You can't see it anyway, what's the use of showing it to you?"
She quickly unlocked her phone screen with her hands behind her back and sent a message.
Qin Lingchuan was standing against the light, so she couldn't see his expression at all.
"You can't see it, but you can touch it."
Xia Youzhen frowned: "You! Your senior brother isn't here, and this is how you treat me?"
Qin Lingchuan: "Even when he's here, I treat you the same way."
The night was eerily quiet; there wasn't even the chirping of insects. All she could hear was her heart pounding wildly.
The fragrance of flowers seemed even stronger under the moonlight; jasmine mixed with osmanthus created a refreshing and subtle aroma that was almost eerie.
"Aren't you afraid that this garden is also full of cameras that will record all your crimes?"
Qin Lingchuan scoffed: "How could I allow others to repay me in kind? I have personally inspected every corner of this old house, and there are absolutely no cameras or recording devices. Including your room."
"shameless!"
Qin Lingchuan slid his left hand from the top of his abdomen to his lower abdomen: "You're mine to begin with, what right do I have to save face?"
Xia Youzhen: "So you've confirmed it, and you won't bother me anymore?"
The long whip suddenly wrapped around her waist, and Xia Youzhen was pulled from behind the pillar, unexpectedly bumping into his chest.
"Take it off." The unquestionable voice rang out from above.
Just as she was hesitating, Xia Youzhen caught a glimpse of a figure flashing in through the doorway—they arrived so quickly!
She suddenly tore open the fabric at her shoulder, subtly revealing her curves, and moved close to Qin Lingchuan's eyes, putting on a smiling face: "Mr. Qin is so open-minded, daring to come to the garden..."
The whip loosened slightly, and Xia Youzhen suddenly pushed Qin Lingchuan away forcefully. Then Li Xiaotan stood between the two of them.
Qin Lingchuan's profile appeared even paler in the moonlight. Li Xiaotan, however, still sported heavy makeup, even in the middle of the night.
It seems she has changed her hair color since the last time I saw her.
Xia Youzhen put on a pitiful look of being humiliated and looked at the two of them: "Mr. Qin, please have some self-respect. You have a fiancée."
She had just hurriedly sent a message to Zhou Yuanli for help. Boss Li had always wanted to arrange a marriage between the two families, so it was most appropriate for Li Xiaotan to come and "catch them in the act".
Li Xiaotan clapped her hands slowly, her voice sweet and gentle: "What a wonderful show! It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early."
Seeing that Xia Youzhen's shoulder was torn, she took off her shawl and wrapped it around her: "I never expected that the composed and self-possessed Mr. Qin would be such a beast in private."
Qin Lingchuan turned to the side, his eyes vacant, and casually wrapped the whip's end around his wrist, saying in a sarcastic tone towards Xia Youzhen's direction, "Very good."
Seeing him leave, Xia Youzhen asked in surprise, "Miss Li, aren't you angry?"
Li Xiaotan blinked, puzzled: "Why would I be angry? You're his ex-fiancée. You didn't even get angry when you asked me to come. Why would I go out of my way to get angry?"
"Then why are you here in the middle of the night?"
Li Xiaotan looked Xia Youzhen up and down; she was truly a very feminine woman. "I'm quite interested in you."
She was the only one left in the Xia family, yet she dared to juggle two men. One was a lion, the other a wolf; both could kill this little gray rabbit in an instant.
Zhou Yuanli had just called her, and she happened to be nearby, not wanting to miss out on the excitement.
She looks better in this shawl than she does in it.
Li Xiaotan lifted Xia Youzhen's hands, admiring her bright red nails. In her memory, her younger sister never liked to do her nails: "I have no interest in business marriages or anything like that. It was all my senile father's fault for setting things up. I originally thought that Mr. Qin was so handsome that even if it was a marriage of convenience, it would be nice to keep him around. Who knew he would go blind? What a pity. I have even less interest in blind people."
"What if Qin Lingchuan is pretending to be blind?"
"Pretending to be blind?" A light shone in Li Xiaotan's eyes, like twinkling stars.
Xia Youzhen interjected, "My marriage to Qin Lingchuan was a business arrangement before, with no feelings involved. Not to mention, we have no relationship whatsoever now. Miss Li, we should be partners, not enemies."
Li Xiaotan stared at her with great interest: "Of course."
"So, I have a favor to ask. Could you please verify whether your future fiancé is truly blind?"
He's tested her so many times, it's time he retaliated.
Li Xiaotan: "Okay, when?"
"Tomorrow, when my senior brother returns from his business trip, we'll throw him a welcome-back dinner."
The next day.
With the old man absent, this was the first time the four young people had dined together in this quaint old house.
The restaurant's decor exudes elegance and sophistication. Western-style crystal chandeliers hang from the stained glass ceiling, refracting delicate iridescent light.
On the mahogany sideboard by the window, the upper shelf displays German-made beer mugs and British bone china tea sets, while the middle shelf is scattered with biscuit tins printed with calendar girls.
Dark green velvet dining chairs surrounded a long walnut dining table. Zhou Yuanli and Xia Youzhen sat on one side, with Qin Lingchuan and Miss Li opposite them.
A note from the author:
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