Chapter 58: Hurt
Xia Lingying bit her lower lip as she looked at Xiao Moyan, her tear-filled eyes glistening. Her ten fingers tightly gripped the bedsheet.
Of course, she understood why Xiao Moyan said such things. The source of all the hatred between them now stemmed from her mother and Xiao Ran’s sinful affair back then. It was true that her mother was in the wrong, having cheated first. But in the end, it was her mother who endured ten months* of pregnancy and painstakingly raised her to adulthood. No matter what Xiao Moyan said about her, she would accept it, but her mother was someone she would never allow anyone to insult.
*Lunar Calendar Basis
Xiao Moyan stared intently into Xia Lingying's eyes. Seeing her remain silent, she sneered coldly.
"What? Did I say anything wrong? From beginning to end, you have never told me the truth. Everything was nothing but lies. And now you’re pretending to be so upset. Xia Lingying, you truly deserve to be an actress!"
The bedsheet was nearly torn apart by Xia Lingying. Her chest heaved rapidly with agitation as she struggled to suppress her emotions. Her fair cheeks flushed a deep red, and she bit her lower lip so hard that it was on the verge of bleeding.
At this moment, Xiao Moyan had completely lost all reason. The only thing she wanted to do was to ruthlessly provoke Xia Lingying, seeking an outlet for the unbearable pain buried in her heart that she had no one to confide in.
In the past, because she loved and cherished her, Xiao Moyan had always tried to bury the hatred for her mother deep in her heart. Now, as the dust was wiped away, under the insinuations of yet another deception, that bone-deep hatred seemed to tug even more fiercely at her heart. Xiao Moyan wanted to say everything. She no longer cared about Xia Lingying's feelings. For the woman before her, she had no resolve left to convince herself to love her. To her, Xia Lingying was merely Qiu Muying’s daughter—her enemy.
"Everything in the past was just an act, wasn’t it? Every word, haha, including those moans, those shivers, and those tears on the bed, were all just to win my sympathy. To think I, Xiao Moyan, was deceived by you so thoroughly. Xia Lingying, you’re truly impressive. How did you manage to fool me so easily? Such experience can only come from someone who has weathered countless battles, right? Haha, I should’ve known long ago that you weren’t a simple person. As Qiu Muying’s daughter, you are naturally her shadow from back then, adept at using stepping stones to soar higher. So, President Xia, may I ask, what number stepping stone am I to you? Just obtaining a gilded yet rotten Tianhuang wasn’t enough to satisfy your appetite, was it? With your abilities, I must say, you’re more than qualified to take over as Tianhuang’s president!"
Xiao Moyan poured out all the venomous words in her heart, crossing her arms as she narrowed her eyes, ready to watch Xia Lingying put on another act.
Xia Lingying half-lay on the snow-white bed like a butterfly with broken wings, biting her lower lip in a final, desperate struggle. She gazed at Xiao Moyan with sorrowful eyes, her right hand tightly pressed against her chest. The pain of longing she had endured during this time was nothing compared to the heart-wrenching words she had just heard. Tears clung to her face but refused to fall.
Hold on, Xia Lingying. You deserve all of this. Xiao is only saying these things to vent her dissatisfaction…
But Xiao Moyan’s next words completely shattered her heart.
“Xia Lingying, do you really think you are so remarkable? Do you really think I would fall in love with the daughter of the person who caused my mother’s death? No matter what you say, do you think I, Xiao Moyan, would foolishly believe you? Let me tell you, Xia Lingying, to me, you are nothing more than a qualified bed partner. Nothing more, nothing less! My feelings for you are nothing but a passing infatuation!”
It was over. Everything ended with Xiao Moyan’s words. Xia Lingying’s already shattered heart was completely crushed. Her body trembled uncontrollably, an overwhelming coldness seeping through her. She curled herself tightly into a ball, her whole body tense, like a hedgehog in a defensive stance.
After a moment, Xia Lingying forced herself to lift her tear-streaked face and looked at Xiao Moyan, her lips tugging into a bitter smile.
“So, in your heart, I am just such a woman. I thought…”
Her voice choked as she reached this point. Tilting her head back, she fought to hold back the tears in her eyes, struggling to regain control of her emotions. But inadvertently, she caught a glimpse of the fleeting pain in Xiao Moyan’s eyes. In that instant, a wave of heartache swept through her entire being.
Xiao, you can deceive everyone, but you cannot deceive me, because I love you.
Xia Lingying's face was pale, but she still forced herself not to cry. She lifted her head and stared deeply at Xiao Moyan. After a moment, she parted her lips and spoke, her voice deliberate and steady,
“Xiao, no matter how you see me, I want you to remember this—Xiao Moyan, even if you never loved me, in my heart, from beginning to end, there has only ever been you.”
All of Xia Lingying's sorrow and pain were delivered back to Xiao Moyan through these words, striking directly at her heart. Without saying anything further, Xia Lingying reached out her trembling hands to grip the edges of the bed, supporting her weakened body. She lowered her head, slipped on her shoes, and stood up.
Leaning against the wall, she slowly walked toward the door. As she passed by Xiao Moyan, she caught a whiff of that familiar minty fragrance. The tears she had been holding back finally flowed down. Afraid that Xiao Moyan would see, Xia Lingying covered her mouth and stumbled out of the door, fleeing as if to escape.
Xiao, I know you're wronged, I know you're sad, but... your words still successfully shattered my self-esteem. Even the last shred of pride I had was easily taken away with your words, "I never truly loved you." Do you really hate me so much? Do you hate me so deeply that you want me to suffer?
Xiao Moyan stood rigidly, unwilling to turn around and look at Xia Lingying. It wasn't until the heavy sound of the door slamming shut that she suddenly turned, unconsciously stepping forward a few steps. Her breath quickened as she stared at the tightly closed door.
In the end, she didn't chase after her. A single tear slowly slid down her face.
Why? Why did you say that? Xiao Moyan, you clearly still love Xia Lingying. Why do you have to mock her like this? Does seeing her hurt and in tears make you feel better?
Just as Fang Ruolin and Su Lianxue were entering and saw Xiao Moyan with a face full of tears, they both froze in shock, staring at her in confusion. What happened? Wasn't she supposed to bring Xia Lingying back? According to plan, the two of them should have talked things through and maybe even reconciled. But now... she...
"Xiao, what's wrong?"
Fang Ruolin asked softly, her eyes fixed on the tears on Xiao Moyan's face. Seeing Xiao Moyan's trembling shoulders, her heart ached. She longed to step forward, hold Xiao Moyan in her arms, and gently comfort her.
Xiao Moyan lowered her head, refusing to look at the two of them, only weakly waving her hand.
"I want to be alone for a while."
"But—"
Fang Ruolin was about to say something but was stopped when Su Lianxue grabbed her right arm, shaking her head, signaling with her eyes not to say anything more.
The moment the door closed, Xiao Moyan let out a sharp breath. Fang Ruolin heard the sound and looked up, becoming a little anxious as she stared at Su Lianxue.
"Why? Why don't you let me comfort her? Didn't you see Xiao crying?"
Su Lianxue looked at Fang Ruolin expressionlessly and said, "You know Xiao's personality best. She doesn't want anyone to see her vulnerable side."
"I just want to care about her..." Fang Ruolin sighed, lowering her head. Her black long hair covered her sorrowful eyes. She thought about all the suffering she had witnessed Xiao Moyan endure these past days. It pained her deeply, and she both hated and loved Xiao Moyan. She murmured softly, "Why? Why can't Xiao Moyan open her eyes and see the people around her? Why is it only Xia Lingying who can control her happiness, anger, and sorrow..."
Su Lianxue stared at Fang Ruolin without blinking. On her expressionless face, a complex look finally appeared.
"And you? What about you? Have you been looking at the people around you?"
"What?"
Fang Ruolin, who was immersed in the sorrowful atmosphere she had created, heard Su Lianxue's sudden and cryptic words. She looked up in confusion, only to meet Su Lianxue's clear eyes right in front of her. Startled, Fang Ruolin instinctively leaned back, but Su Lianxue reached out, placing her hands on the wall behind her, trapping her in her embrace. The temperature suddenly soared, and Fang Ruolin, at a loss, stared into Su Lianxue's affectionate gaze. Their breaths mingled, and for a moment, they both stood frozen.
"Fang Ruolin, I know you're obsessed, but I never knew you'd be this stupid. It's been four years," Su Lianxue said softly, her eyes locked onto Fang Ruolin's.
"What?"
Fang Ruolin stood rigidly, staring at Su Lianxue, completely at a loss. Obsessed? What obsession? Hadn't Lianxue always supported her? Why was this happening now? Su Lianxue looked at the disappointment in Fang Ruolin's eyes and, inexplicably, felt a pang of loss in her heart. What was she doing? Why had she acted this way? In Fang Ruolin's eyes, Su Lianxue had always been proper and reserved. In the past, when winter came and Lianxue had wanted to share a bed to keep warm, she had always been sternly rejected. Even now, she was too cool to even hold her hand. So why was she behaving like this now?
From the look in Fang Ruolin's eyes, Su Lianxue read fear and a touch of panic. Sighing, she withdrew her hands, not saying another word. She turned and walked away, leaving behind a lonely figure as she left Fang Ruolin in a daze.
Fang Ruolin, you are about to collapse from waiting, and how am I any different? You understand the logic, but why can't you just look at the people around you?
"Ah, true feelings are everywhere in the world. I didn't expect that our Su Bodyguard's crush would actually be Reporter Fang! How shocking. I thought someone like her would have a heart as still as an old nun's!"
Hu Feifei, chewing gum and dressed in casual clothes, walked over from the opposite side. Seeing Fang Ruolin still lost in thought, staring at Su Lianxue's retreating figure, she smiled lightly.
"What's wrong? Are you reluctant to let her go? Why not chase after her?"
"You're talking nonsense."
Fang Ruolin regained her senses, withdrew her gaze, and looked at Hu Feifei, who had a mischievous grin on her face. She straightened her face but still couldn't calm her racing heart.
"Am I talking nonsense?"
Hu Feifei rolled her eyes, blew a bubble with her mouth, and smiled as she spoke.
"Reporter Fang, are you really clueless or just pretending? Even I, an outsider, can tell that our big bodyguard is infatuated with you. How could you, the person involved, not notice?"
Fang Ruolin rolled her eyes at Hu Feifei, shook her head, and forced herself to regain composure.
"Stop talking nonsense. How are things with the main task?"
Hu Feifei suppressed her smile, looked at the dark iron gate behind Fang Ruolin, and recalled the glaring scene at the bar. A shadow gradually appeared in her eyes.
"No problem. With Xiao Xiao's connections in the entertainment industry, my influence in Nanyang, and your media influence, starting a new entertainment company is no issue. However, what I want is a sensation. I want her, Xia Lingying, to lose everything."
Fang Ruolin nodded and quietly asked,
"Has Xiao decided on the name of the company?"
A smug smile curled at the corner of Hu Feifei's mouth as she slowly pronounced two words.
"Shenghuang."*
*Tianhuang (ċ¤İç) means Son of Heaven or Heavenly Emperor, while Shenghuang (èç) means Conqueror of the Emperor or surpassing the Emperor
Author's Note:
O(∩_∩)O~ Although it's late, Yezi still ate a lot of snacks... I hope I won't gain weight.