Chapter 53: This Scene
When Xiao Moyan wearily pushed open the hospital room door, the room was in chaos, already in complete disarray.
It turned out that Mrs. Xu couldn’t stop worrying about Xiao Moyan. After the doctor had simply bandaged her leg, she started causing a scene, demanding to return to the villa. This had alarmed Fang Ruolin, who was standing by her side. At this late hour, if Mrs. Xu ran back home like this and something happened, Xiao Moyan would surely skin her alive.
Despite all the kind words, Mrs. Xu’s stubborn temper flared up, and she refused to listen. Thinking about how Xiao Moyan had kneeled because of her, she felt wronged and, while speaking, she wiped away her tears in grievance. She adamantly refused to stay even one more second in the hospital, insisting that she had to go home to check on Xiao Moyan first to confirm she was alright before she would return to the hospital.
Just when the two were at an impasse, the door was pushed open. Both Mrs. Xu and Fang Ruolin, who were tangled in the scuffle, stopped and looked up.
Xiao Moyan looked very exhausted, her eyes slightly red and swollen, her hair disheveled, a rare look of dejection.
"Miss—"
When Mrs. Xu saw Xiao Moyan's haggard appearance, tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. With a trembling voice, she said,
"It's all my fault. I've burdened you."
Xiao Moyan shook her head at Mrs. Xu's words, and in a self-mocking tone, she muttered,
"It's no one's fault. It's all my own doing."
Both Mrs. Xu and Fang Ruolin knew why she said that. Looking at the clear scratch marks on her fair wrist, they could easily guess what had happened. Mrs. Xu sighed and said nothing more, while Fang Ruolin gazed at Xiao Moyan thoughtfully.
"Xiaoxiao, what do you plan to do from now on?"
Xiao Moyan walked to the bedside, bent down, and carefully checked Mrs. Xu's calf. After confirming there was no problem, she finally looked up at Fang Ruolin and spoke slowly.
"I'm very tired. I want to rest for a while and don't want anyone to disturb me."
"And after that?"
Fang Ruolin kept pressing for answers. She could understand that Xiao Moyan needed rest, but she couldn’t keep avoiding things forever, could she? Also, what about her relationship with Xia Lingying? Could it really end just like that? Though this situation had everything to do with Xia Lingying, Fang Ruolin's woman’s intuition told her that Xia Lingying loved Xiao Moyan deeply as well. There must be some misunderstanding in the middle. Given Xiao Moyan’s nature, she was definitely capable of cutting all ties, but… unconsciously, Fang Ruolin’s mind flashed to that woman who appeared cold on the outside but was stubborn at heart—Xia Lingying. She probably wouldn’t just give up. If that were the case, Xiao Moyan would truly be blind.
Xiao Moyan turned to look at Mrs. Xu’s cheek and murmured,
“I’ve already thought of a way out. Some people have to be responsible for the things they’ve done.”
Her words were spoken softly, with no trace of emotion, yet both Mrs. Xu and Fang Ruolin were taken aback. Xiao Moyan continued to gaze at Mrs. Xu, her eyes carrying a trace of coldness. Xiao Moyan could tolerate others speaking harshly to her or tormenting her in many ways, but harming the people close to her was absolutely unforgivable!
Lan Chen, one day, I’ll return everything from today to you, with no reservations!
Suddenly, the ringtone echoed in the silence. Xiao Moyan looked down at the caller ID. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly as she picked up the phone and spoke a few quiet words before hanging up.
After a while, there was a knock on the hospital room door. The door opened to reveal a tall, young woman. Her skin was sun-kissed, her short hair was neat and refreshing, and her sharp, bright eyes were full of energy. She wore a black tight-fitting outfit that highlighted her curvaceous figure, showing off her athletic build. There was a unique blend of masculinity and a touch of softness in her beauty, making her incredibly eye-catching. She nodded at Xiao Moyan, then placed her strong hands behind her back, standing with her legs slightly apart beside Mrs. Xu’s bed.
“Su Lianxue?!”
Fang Ruolin screamed and rushed forward, hugging the woman and giving her a forceful peck on the cheek, completely losing her usual composure.
“You’re back? Weren’t you going to the military? Why are you back so soon? Why didn’t you contact me when you returned?”
Fang Ruolin fired off a series of questions, her hands excitedly wrapping around the woman's shoulders. Su Lianxue, however, just nodded indifferently and softly replied,
“Ms. Xiao had an accident. I couldn’t not come back.”
A simple sentence was more powerful than a thousand words. Fang Ruolin excitedly gestured with her hands. Su Lianxue, like her, had guarded Xiao Moyan for many years. She had spent time in the armed police and public security, where she gained great skill and had worked on many major cases for the city police department. She was highly valued by her superiors, with a promising future. However, her cold and ruthless nature had earned her many enemies. Later, due to a big case, she was framed and falsely accused. It was Xiao Moyan who personally ran around to clear her name and prevent her from unjust imprisonment. Since then, Su Lianxue has remained fiercely loyal to the Xiao family. She was willing to risk everything to repay Xiao Moyan's kindness.
Fang Ruolin usually liked to chat with her about something. Su Lianxue would only nod lightly after listening, without offering any words of encouragement or comfort. This was exactly what Fang Ruolin needed. Over time, they became familiar with each other. Later, when Su Lianxue went to the army, Fang Ruolin cried her eyes out. She had been gone for a year, and now that they met again, how could she not be excited?
There was no time for Fang Ruolin to catch up. After confirming that Mrs. Xu was fine, Xiao Moyan hurriedly left the hospital. Though her heart was filled with unspeakable sorrow, now was not the time for her to be vulnerable. When a tiger falls to the plains, it is not to be bullied by dogs. This, she would never allow to happen again.
As soon as she stepped out, blinding flashes of cameras hit her face, followed by the sound of shutters clicking in rapid succession. A swarm of reporters surged toward Vice President Xiao, and voices came at her from all directions.
"I heard that Vice President Xiao was kicked out of Tianhuang by the board of directors and that she sold all her shares at a low price. Is this true?"
"Why did this happen so suddenly? Is there some hidden truth behind it?"
"Xia Ran's return to Tianhuang, what does it have to do with Vice President Xiao?"
"Vice President Xiao, do you know that Tianhuang's stock plummeted overnight?"
"From now on, Miss Xia will take over Tianhuang, didn't it once spread that Vice President Xiao—"
“…”
In front of the cameras, Xiao Moyan was always perfect. She calmly answered the reporters' questions while continuing to walk without a pause. The black gown she wore swung elegantly as she moved. Su Lianxue stayed close by her side, alertly watching the crowd, and reached out to protect Xiao Moyan. In no time, the two of them managed to break through the encirclement and get into the car. With the window rolled down, Xiao Moyan gracefully waved to the reporters and then drove off.
When Fang Ruolin saw her colleagues, she didn’t dare to stir up trouble again and had no choice but to blend in among the crowd quietly. From a distance, she watched Xiao Moyan, pale-faced yet still exuding strength, and her heart ached.
Xia Lingying, how could you bear to hurt a woman like this?
"Take me to the seaside."
Xiao Moyan spoke softly, and Su Lianxue nodded silently, saying nothing more.
The car moved smoothly. Xiao Moyan’s nerves, which had been tense all day, gradually relaxed. She rested her right hand on the car door, absentmindedly gazing out the window. Once, the seaside had held her and Xia Lingying's most beautiful memories: their first kiss, her first fluttering heart, all the laughter had been stored there. But now, the seaside had become a refuge she could only turn to when she was at a loss. In just half a year, the Tianhuang she had fought so hard to obtain was easily taken away from her. In the end, there was only endless humiliation and ridicule. Xiao Moyan shook her head, sighed, and accepted it. She had lost—she had loved the wrong person, one wrong step, and then a series of mistakes.
The journey was not short. By the time the car reached the seaside, the sky was already faintly bright. Su Lianxue parked the car and turned to look at Xiao Moyan, who was lightly dozing with her eyes half-closed. A complicated feeling arose in Su Lianxue's heart. Back then, when she sent Xiao Moyan off, the woman was so radiant and majestic. That queen who stood above all had smiled and said she would return one day with great fanfare to bring her back. Yet now, Xiao Moyan had fallen to such a dire state. Amid her sorrow, Su Lianxue found herself genuinely curious about Xia Lingying. She wanted to see this woman who had left Xiao Moyan so broken, to know just what kind of extraordinary person she was.
In a daze, Xiao Moyan slowly opened her eyes and glanced around. Her gaze was still somewhat hazy as her slender right hand rose to rub her forehead. Realizing they had arrived, she pushed open the car door and stepped out.
Su Lianxue watched Xiao Moyan's retreating figure, pressing her lips together without following. She understood that what Xiao Moyan needed right now was solitude.
The cool night breeze blew gently, and the beach was utterly silent. Xiao Moyan walked slowly, her gaze fixed on the distant, surging waves. For some inexplicable reason, her eyes grew misty.
Thinking about her again? Haven't you decided to part ways? Why was it that just one day of longing felt unbearable, nearly breaking your resolve? Xiao Moyan, when did you become so useless, relying on a woman who never truly loved you to keep going?
Xiao Moyan let out a soft sigh, shook her head, and forced herself to stop thinking. What reason was there to dwell on that person now? Did she not degrade herself enough already?
Xia Lingying must be basking in her glory, reclaiming her status as the esteemed daughter of the family, successfully inheriting Tianhuang, reuniting with her family, and rekindling her relationship with Gu Yuan. Perhaps she would soon enjoy the bliss of marriage. Having finally freed herself from Xiao Moyan's relentless entanglement, would she even remember who Xiao Moyan was?
So be it. Everything from before was nothing more than her own wishful thinking. Let everything return to its rightful place. For her and herself, it might just be a complete liberation.
All of it was simply a fated misfortune...
The loud sound of waves crashing against the rocks pulled Xiao Moyan back from her thoughts. She let out another soft sigh and turned to leave. Yet, just as she took a step, she saw a familiar figure.
The moment that person saw her, they were visibly startled. Soon, tears brimmed in their eyes.
In the piercing cold wind, Xia Lingying still wore the white cocktail dress that Xiao Moyan loved most. Her long hair was loosely pinned up, and she draped a mink shawl over her shoulders. Her figure appeared slightly unsteady as she stared at Xiao Moyan with swollen, tearful eyes that shimmered with light.
Xiao Moyan took a deep breath, tilted her head back, and forced the tears in her eyes to retreat. Without hesitation, she turned swiftly and walked in the opposite direction.
“Xiao...”
No! You absolutely could not fall again at this moment. Xiao Moyan, get a grip. Everything was nothing more than a trap she had set. Are you really going to foolishly let her manipulate you again?
Hurried footsteps approached, and Xia Lingying's slender arms wrapped tightly around Xiao Moyan's waist, pulling her firmly into an embrace, refusing to let her leave. Her cheek gently nuzzled against Xiao Moyan's back as she murmured softly,
"Xiao, do not go..."
Author's Note:
So sleepy, (～ o ～)~zZ