Chapter 18: Both Sides
Mrs. Xu watched as Xiao Moyan decisively walked away. She sighed, then slowly turned around to glance at Xia Lingying, whose face was pale. She shook her head, said nothing more, and with a hunched back, she slowly walked out.
Who is tormenting whom in the end?
Mrs. Xu raised Xiao Moyan since childhood, so she naturally understood her temperament inside out. But now, she was puzzled...
How many nights had she seen Xiao Moyan sitting alone on the rooftop, legs curled up, hugging herself, staring blankly into the distance with a frail and helpless figure, desolate and lonely? How many times, during the Spring Festival when the family should be together, did she have to pull back the almost exhausted Xiao Moyan from crying in front of the Madam's grave? The loneliness in Xiao Moyan's eyes wounded Mrs. Xu’s heart. But now, Xiao Moyan chose to hurt the person who could truly make her happy from the bottom of her heart...
Tears welled up in Xia Lingying's eyes, yet she still stubbornly gazed in the direction Xiao Moyan had left. After a while, she closed her eyes, sighed deeply, turned around, and slowly walked back to the house.
Opening the door, the empty room still carried the faint scent of mint lingering on Xiao Moyan's body, drifting in the air, flowing into Xia Lingying's aching heart, slowly slicing through it, leaving behind dripping scars. Xia Lingying threw herself onto the snowy white bed. However, as she lifted her head, she was pierced by the crystal chandelier on the ceiling. She simply closed her eyes tightly, quietly breathing the air that Xiao Moyan had once breathed. After a long while, tears gathered in her eyes, dripping one by one onto her slender jawline, falling onto the bed, breaking into several pieces, and eventually being absorbed by the soft quilt, as if they had never existed.
This is for the best... Xiao Moyan, we both don't owe each other anything... Let everything return to the beginning...
Gently wiping away the tears from her face, Xia Lingying's expression returned to its initial indifference. Slowly sitting up, she fumbled for her phone. The faint blue light illuminated the remnants of tears on her face. She hesitated for a moment but eventually dialed the number.
"Song Yan, it's me."
"Xiaxia?"
The faint voice drifted into his ears. On the other end of the phone, Song Yan rubbed his sleepy eyes vigorously, glanced at the clock on the bedside table, and hurriedly got out of bed.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Xia Lingying didn't answer, remaining silent, giving him a moment of clarity. Only then did she continue, "My father is coming back."
"What???!!!"
Song Yan who was still groggy, completely awakened by this statement, gripping the phone tightly, his excited tone changing. He had followed Xia Ran for over a decade, and Xia Ran had given him everything he had today. Although he was just Xia Ran's driver, to him, Xia Ran was like a father. Even though Xia Ran was wealthy, he didn't carry himself like a typical boss. He always had a gentle smile on his face, never scolding anyone, always encouraging and comforting. Such a kind person was betrayed by the person he trusted the most, ending up in such a situation. From the depths of his heart, Song Yan felt unwilling and resentful, but he was powerless to resist, only able to do his meager part in taking care of the mother and daughter who had no one else to rely on... He firmly believed that Xia Ran would come back to redeem himself, finally allowing himself to hope for this day!
In the dark of night, Xia Lingying's voice was particularly clear.
"Tomorrow, go to Fengning, find someone named Huang Lanxi, and tell her the news that my father is returning to the country. Tell her to meet me at MARK Cafe at eight o'clock in the evening."
"Okay, okay—"
Song Yan responded eagerly, his excitement evident.
"And..."
Xia Lingying paused, quietly looking ahead, and slowly whispered.
"After this, you have to listen to Lan Chen on everything. You must get everything done within a week. As for Xiao Moyan, I will...I will find a way... "
***
"Momo, where are we going?"
Hu Feifei was initially excited but her expression froze when she saw the familiar scenery outside the window. She turned her head with a slight annoyance, looking at Xiao Moyan.
Xiao Moyan didn't respond but instead lit a cigarette, taking a faint drag and exhaling a ring of smoke. The smoke rose lazily, like blooming roses, and Xiao Moyan's face appeared and disappeared in the haze. The smoke burned between her delicate and slender fingers, exuding a lazy and enchanting aura. It was the first time Hu Feifei had seen Xiao Moyan smoking, and in Xiao Moyan's amber-colored irises, there was a hint of brightness amidst the haze, approaching a mesmerizing face.
As Hu Feifei looked closely, she noticed a glistening drop of moisture in the corner of Xiao Moyan's eyes. For some unknown reason, her heart clenched with pain. At this moment, Xiao Moyan seemed like a melancholic gray rose, shattering all of Hu Feifei's rationality. She just wanted to step forward, tightly, tightly embrace Xiao Moyan, and protect her in the depths of her heart.
Xiao Moyan turned her head to look at her, her slender and beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she softly said, "Feifei, not today."
Awakening from her dream, Xiao Moyan's words hit Hu Feifei like a sledgehammer, shattering all her illusions. Her right hand, placed on the armrest, sank deeply into it. She bit her lower lip tightly, unwillingly staring at Xiao Moyan.
"Why??!!"
Xiao Moyan didn't answer, still quietly smoking, turning her head to look out the window. The wind brushed against her cheeks, lifting her coffee-colored long hair. Despite the bustling night, the loneliness in her eyes remained.
Watching from the side, Hu Feifei gradually felt a mix of affection and tenderness, a side of Xiao Moyan she had never seen before. Stripped of her former dominance, she appeared utterly helpless and lost, evoking pity in Hu Feifei's heart. No longer concerned about the reasons, she leaned forward and tightly embraced Xiao Moyan's slender waist, burying her head in her chest and shaking her head.
"I'm not leaving, Momo. I want to stay with you."
Feeling her waist being grasped, and unable to discern whether the scent was unfamiliar or familiar, Xiao Moyan frowned and murmured, "You know I don't like this."
Even though she was unwilling, based on her understanding of Xiao Moyan from the past, she dared not show any defiance. Hu Feifei slowly released her tightly clasped hands, biting her lower lip tightly, glaring at Xiao Moyan with hatred flashing in her eyes.
"Why?! Why are you like this?!"
Xiao Moyan waved her hand, not bothering to explain anything, seeming tired as she leaned back slowly on the leather seat, gently closing her eyes.
Hu Feifei was not convinced. With her right hand clenched, she stared at Xiao Moyan's weary face, silently gathering courage. She took a deep breath and finally asked the lingering doubt in her heart from the night.
"Xiao Moyan, do you like Xia Lingying?!"
She had long noticed that there was definitely more to the relationship between Xiao Moyan and Xia Lingying than met the eye. The look in Xiao Moyan's eyes when she looked at Xia Lingying, carrying a hint of resentment, a hint of pity, and a hint of reluctance, was something Hu Feifei had never seen before. No, she refused to believe that a mere actress could steal Xiao Moyan's heart!
Xiao Moyan still ignored her, her brows furrowed, lying wearily on the seat. This action undoubtedly confirmed Hu Feifei's suspicions. Her heart grew cold, but she still refused to believe it. Gritting her teeth, she continued to press for an answer.
"Is it true?!!"
Her already turbulent heart was further agitated by Hu Feifei's questioning. Xiao Moyan abruptly opened her tightly closed eyes. Sitting up straight, she turned her head, squinting at Hu Feifei, emanating an icy aura from head to toe. She uttered a few words.
"Who do you think you are?"
Upon hearing these words, tears instantly filled Hu Feifei's eyes. Since they met, although their interactions were cold, Xiao Moyan had never spoken to her in such a tone, nor had she ever rejected such a blatant invitation from her. And now, in just a few short months, Xiao Moyan seemed like a different person, unwilling to touch the body she had once loved so much, and even meeting her with such hostility. Could it be because she had fallen in love with someone else? Thinking of this, tears streamed down her smooth, flawless cheeks, and Hu Feifei bit her lip tightly as she stared at Xiao Moyan with icy coldness in her eyes.
Seeing Hu Feifei's tears, Xiao Moyan sighed and whispered, "Don't overthink it. It's just... Today is my mother's memorial day... I can't... I can't do it today..."
Hu Feifei shook her head, not believing Xiao Moyan's explanation at all. She wiped away the tears from her face, abruptly opened the car door, covered her face, and ran out of the car without looking back.
Xiao Moyan, for you, I've humbled myself without limit, bent over backwards, but you still treat me like this. I will never give up on you!
Xiao Moyan watched Hu Feifei's retreating figure, sighing deeply, her body softening as she slumped into the seat, tightly closing her eyes. After a while, she reached for her phone from the side and dialed a number.
"Hello, A’Sen, it's me."
"Miss!"
"When Xia Lingying goes out these days, make sure you keep a close eye on her. Don't let her get hurt at all."
"Okay, you can rest assured."
Hanging up the phone, Xiao Moyan extinguished the cigarette in her hand, supporting her weary body as she quietly gazed at the brilliant city night scene.
In the darkness of the night, neon lights flashed everywhere, signaling the beginning of the city's decadent nightlife. Everyone wore happy, excited smiles on their faces. Yet why couldn't she ever have this simple happiness? Feeling a sense of loneliness, she realized that in the past, she could indulge herself limitlessly in physical pleasures and recklessly squander her youthful body because no one had ever truly understood her heart. But now, someone easily plucked her pride, yet also trampled her to the ground. Even if she threw away her pride and dignity to love and protect, that person's attitude towards her would always be indifferent, always betrayal and exploitation.
Xia Lingying, what do you want from me...
Sighing deeply, Xiao Moyan closed the car door and drove to the company. Even if she was exhausted, she still had to go back and deal with the endless paperwork. Ever since Xia Lingying arrived, Xiao Moyan had been distracted too much. Sensing something was wrong, her sensitivity had vaguely detected it, but she still couldn't figure out what was wrong. It seemed that Lan Chen needed to be dealt with…
Author's Note:
Sorry, I've been really busy these past couple of days. I'm a university senior and it is just too hectic. I'll try my best to find some time to update. There will be more tomorrow, and I'll also revise this chapter. Please forgive me for the delay. /(ćoć)/~~ So tired!