Chapter 62: Broken
Xia Lingying's voice, tinged with a trace of pleading, was like a red rose blooming in desolation. With its sharp thorns, it pried open Xiao Moyan's chest, drawing out strands of fresh blood, shattering the heart she had just disguised.
"Xiao, don't go, don't leave me. If I can, I'm willing to give up Tianhuang, give up everything for you."
"What did you say?!"
Xiao Moyan's eyes widened abruptly. She turned around in disbelief, staring intently at Xia Lingying.
Xia Lingying lay on the bed, her body bare. A silk-thin blanket was draped casually over her soft, delicate figure. A large expanse of her fair, crystal-clear skin was exposed at her chest. She gazed at Xiao Moyan sorrowfully. The bright red kiss marks on her neck made her pale cheeks appear even more colorless.
Xia Lingying parted her dry lips, looking at Xiao Moyan, and softly said,
"Xiao, I can't leave you."
Transparent tears slowly rolled down her smooth cheeks, but Xia Lingying didn't wipe them away. She let the bitterness spread from her lips, mixing with the lingering sweetness Xiao Moyan had just left behind, making her heart ache beyond words.
She lifted her head, looking into Xiao Moyan's startled eyes, pressed her lower lip together, and said,
"Xiao Moyan, I love you."
Xiao Moyan's body trembled, her heart instantly thrown into chaos. She unconsciously took two steps back, staring at Xia Lingying in shock.
No one understood Xia Lingying's temperament better than Xiao Moyan. No matter how much coercion or temptation there had been before, she had never been willing to say those three words.
Xiao Moyan had once asked her why, and Xia Lingying had always replied indifferently, saying that those words carried a promise—one she couldn't give yet.
Though unwilling and sorrowful, Xiao Moyan had never forced her. After all, Xia Lingying's words were true. No amount of extravagant promises could compare to the silent acknowledgment in one's heart. But now, in this moment, in this situation, Xia Lingying had spoken these three words, leaving her at a complete loss.
Xiao Moyan's cowardly retreat sent a chill through Xia Lingying's heart, but she still refused to give up. Clinging to a sliver of hope, she struggled to climb out of bed. Without any cover, she stepped barefoot onto the cold floor, quickly moving forward and tightly embracing Xiao Moyan.
Xia Lingying lifted her face, gently rubbing against Xiao Moyan’s neck, murmuring softly,
"Xiao, I was wrong before. I let hatred cloud my eyes and couldn't see your love for me. But these days you've been gone..."
Her voice choked up, making it impossible to continue. She tightened her arms around Xiao Moyan even more.
Xiao Moyan's body stiffened as she let Xia Lingying hold her. She could feel that delicate skin brushing against her neck, and a dull ache spread through her chest.
"The days you were gone, I thought about a lot of things. All those pointless struggles before... they were because I couldn't see my own heart clearly. But now, I know very well that the one I love is you."
Saying this, Xia Lingying, for once, acted willfully. She forcefully turned Xiao Moyan's body to face her, cupped her chin, and gazed deeply into her eyes.
"Xiao, for you, I can defy my father. I won't be a dutiful daughter anymore, I won't be Tianhuang's puppet, I won't be a slave to hatred, I won't care about anything else. I only beg you not to leave me. Let's leave together, okay? Go somewhere without hatred, and live the life we once had..."
Every word carried bitterness, making Xiao Moyan’s eyes turn red as she listened. She lowered her head, looking into Xia Lingying’s eyes, and said,
"Xiaxia, I—"
The sharp vibration of a phone suddenly interrupted her. Xiao Moyan froze for a moment, then turned to reach for the phone on the table. But before she could, Xia Lingying grabbed both of her hands with lightning speed.
"Don't—don't answer it—"
Tears filled Xia Lingying's eyes as she looked at Xiao Moyan, her hands trembling slightly as she held onto her.
She knew this was her last chance to pull Xiao Moyan back. She was terrified—terrified that if Xiao Moyan answered that call, she would waver again, that she would abandon her once more.
No—she couldn't bear to lose her a second time.
Xiao Moyan looked at the tears glimmering in Xia Lingying's eyes, hesitating before choosing not to answer. But the phone's persistent vibration continued, the soft blue light disrupting Xiao Moyan's heart. Could something have happened to Mrs. Xu again? Or had the reporters already arrived?
Finally, after hearing a dozen more vibrations, the two tightly held hands slowly separated. Xiao Moyan picked up the phone, glanced at Xia Lingying, and took a few steps back.
"Hello—"
"Xiao Moyan, I've contacted all the reporters. They're all downstairs at the hotel, waiting for Xia Lingying to come out. What are you dragging your feet for?!"
Hu Feifei's displeased voice came through the phone. Xiao Moyan furrowed her brows but didn't respond.
"You're not backing out now, are you? Xiao Moyan, you're really such a coward! Just a few sweet words from Xia Lingying and she has you back? Who was the one who swore to us that they wouldn’t show any mercy? Who was the one forced to kneel in front of everyone? You—"
Hu Feifei's nagging voice came through, making Xiao Moyan feel agitated and uneasy. Before Hu Feifei could finish speaking, Xiao Moyan hung up the phone. But it was still Hu Feifei's words that triggered memories of the hatred that lingered in her mind. The hand holding the phone tightened, her nails turning pale.
Xia Lingying stared at Xiao Moyan, watching her avoid eye contact. The faint hope on her face disappeared, replaced by a sense of despair and helplessness. After a long silence, Xia Lingying slowly lowered her head and said,
"Xiao Moyan, I thought you loved me with all your heart, just like I do, willing to give up everything for love. If that's the case—"
Xia Lingying took a deep breath, staring at Xiao Moyan without blinking, as if summoning all her strength to say a few words.
"I’ll give you back your original life, everything you want!"
After speaking, Xia Lingying turned and walked to the bedside. Under Xiao Moyan's watch, she picked up the scattered clothes from the floor, putting them on one by one. Once she was dressed, Xia Lingying turned around, biting her lip. She looked at Xiao Moyan with a distant gaze, her eyes completely cold and unfamiliar, as if she had never known Xiao Moyan.
"Xiaxia, you—"
Xiao Moyan seemed to understand what was happening. She took a large step forward, eager to grab Xia Lingying, but Xia Lingying didn't give her the chance. She quickly turned, opened the door, and left. Xiao Moyan watched her empty right hand, breathing in the lingering scent of Xia Lingying. Her legs buckled, and tears flooded her face.
It's over. Everything is over.
Xiao Moyan, this is what you wanted, right? I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you everything...
The glaring twin lights came at her from all directions, and the sound of camera shutters pierced her ears. Amid the excited faces of the reporters and the smug laughter of Hu Feifei, Xia Lingying appeared before the crowd with a blank expression. Her hair was messy, her face weary, yet her eyes were more determined than ever. There were marks left by Xiao Moyan on her neck, and her swollen cherry lips still held the lingering taste of their passionate moments. She quietly closed her eyes, letting the crowd press in around her, squeezing her fragile body and slowly crushing her heart. Just as her body was about to give out, someone caught her in their arms. When she looked up, she saw Xia Ran's furious eyes. Xia Lingying braced herself, lifting her head to look at Xia Ran.
"Dad, please don't make things difficult for Xiao Moyan, I beg you..."
Gu Yuan stood to the side, watching helplessly as Xia Lingying collapsed into Xia Ran's arms after speaking those words. He looked at her pale face, her lips devoid of color, and the glaring red marks on her neck. The tall, sturdy man broke down in an instant, tears streaming down his face.
Inside the room, Xiao Moyan tightly pressed her chest, her body slowly sliding down the brown iron door. She covered her face, tears streaming down, her fingers biting into her mouth to keep herself from making a sound.
Red liquid dripped onto the floor, just like the love marks she had left on Xia Lingying's body last night. As the person left, they disappeared without a trace.
"Mom, I avenged you... I avenged you..."
The door creaked open, and Mrs. Xu slowly walked in. Seeing Xiao Moyan, crying uncontrollably on the floor, she sighed and squatted down. She held her in her arms and whispered,
"Child, why go through all this? The Madame won't blame you. What she wanted was for you to be happy."
"Mrs. Xu, Xiaxia, Xiaxia, she—"
Xiao Moyan struggled to sit up, looking into Mrs. Xu's eyes. Mrs. Xu avoided her gaze, lowering her voice as she said,
"I’m afraid... I’m afraid her heart really is broken."
Author's Note:
Ah, I hate my senior year. It would be great if I could always be a student. Recently, I've been busier than a spinning top. According to the outline, it should be, well, almost at the worst part. Don't worry, everyone!