Chapter 66: Bloodshed
"I—"
Xiao Moyan looked up and saw Xia Lingying holding back her tears. A piercing pain spread from her chest to her whole body. Her left foot moved slightly forward, but in the end, she only opened her mouth a few times without saying anything. She stood still, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her dress.
I can't, absolutely can't soften my heart again. I've hated for so long, paid such a huge price—this revenge, I must see it through to the end!
Tears kept falling from Xia Lingying’s eyes, but she stubbornly refused to wipe them away. She lifted her head, staring at Xiao Moyan with unwavering determination, determined to get an answer.
"Xiao Moyan, I no longer dare to hope that you’ll love me and cherish me like before. I just beg you to let me stay by your side, okay? Even if this time, it’s me who loves you, who protects you."
Looking at that thin face streaked with tears, Xiao Moyan’s heart had long twisted into a knot. Heartache—she still felt heartache for her. She so badly wanted to step forward like before, to pull Xia Lingying into her arms, to kiss and caress her cheeks, to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes. But she couldn’t. The regret her mother carried to her grave left hatred stuck in her throat, impossible to swallow. Even if deep down she longed to reconcile with Xia Lingying, now was not the time. With resentment still unresolved in her heart, how could they possibly return to the past?
Just as Xiao Moyan wavered, a familiar figure flickered past the corner of the wall. Seeing the two of them, they quickly hid in the shadows. Recognizing who it was, Xiao Moyan’s heart sank. She pressed her lips together, folded her arms over her chest, and took two steps back, pulling away the distance that had just closed between them.
"Leave. I don’t want to see you again, Xia Lingying."
The cold words drifted into her ears. Xia Lingying stared at Xiao Moyan in disbelief, biting her lower lip, the shimmer of tears flickering in her eyes. Xiao Moyan remained the same as ever, arms crossed over her chest, expressionless as she met Xia Lingying’s gaze, exuding an air of indifference and arrogance that pushed people a thousand miles away.
Xiao... do you really not love me anymore? I’ve thrown away my dignity and begged you without caring about anything, and you won’t even spare me a glance?
Their gazes finally locked together, but the tenderness and affection from the past were gone. Xiao Moyan quietly looked at Xia Lingying. Gradually, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and the initial coldness was replaced by shock and astonishment.
Wiping away the tears on her face, Xia Lingying took a deep breath, lifted her head, and focused her gaze on Xiao Moyan’s sharply defined profile. Her eyes slowly moved over her features, as if she wanted to engrave every single detail into her memory.
A black blouse, the bright belt they had picked out together, soft coffee-colored curls, mesmerizing eyes, seductive red lips...
These eyebrows, these eyes, these eyelashes, even every strand of her hair—they had all once belonged to her...
She missed those whispered words of love in her ear. She missed that warm embrace. She missed that faint fragrance and the lingering, unforgettable touch at her fingertips.
Was it over? Had Xiao Moyan finally taken everything back? Yeah, haha, it never should have belonged to her in the first place, so why force it? She had said before that the thing she hated most was entanglements… so why make things difficult for her…
"Xiao Moyan."
Xia Lingying stared intently at Xiao Moyan, the entanglement of love and emotions merging. Yet, a trace of hatred gradually gathered in her eyes. Under Xiao Moyan’s stunned gaze, Xia Lingying closed her eyes and slowly spoke.
"Xiao Moyan, for this love, I tried. I gave my all. So I won’t regret it."
Xiao Moyan was stunned for a moment. Her eyes widened as she stared at Xia Lingying.
Xia Lingying kept her eyes tightly shut. Her voice was a little choked as she slowly spoke.
"Xiao Moyan, the reason you can hurt me again and again, the reason I beg you without caring about my dignity, is all because I love you. I used all my strength to hold on to you, but in the end, I still couldn’t compete with the hatred that lingers in your heart. Since that’s the case, from now on, I will put this love away and return to being the Xia Lingying I once was. And you…"
Xia Lingying's throat tightened. She lifted her head and stared at Xiao Moyan.
"No longer has anything to do with me."
The last few words seemed to drain all the strength from Xia Lingying's body. She gave Xiao Moyan a powerless glance. The longing and sorrow in her eyes nearly drowned Xiao Moyan, breaking the last thread of her reason.
Xiao Moyan stared at Xia Lingying without blinking. A growing sense of panic and unease filled her heart. In Xia Lingying's eyes, she saw true determination. But that hatred, that grudge… If her mother could see from the afterlife, she surely wouldn't want her to be with the daughter of her enemy.
Xiao Moyan, wake up! Don't forget how you endured years of hardship just to reach this day. No, you must not soften your heart at the final moment.
Standing still, Xia Lingying waited for a long time. Seeing that Xiao Moyan remained rooted in place without any intention of speaking, she bit her lower lip hard, turned around, and walked toward the door.
Her legs moved forward, but every step felt like tearing flesh from her heart, unbearable pain searing through her. Her pace was slow, hesitant. After just a few steps, she stopped.
Confirming that Xiao Moyan truly had no intention of stopping her, she turned around. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Xiao Moyan.
"Xiao Moyan, remember this—Xia Lingying once loved you deeply."
"Xiaxia, I am not—"
The next second, a powerful force nearly knocked Xiao Moyan off balance. That familiar warmth and fragrance crashed into her arms.
Xia Lingying clung tightly to Xiao Moyan, wrapping her arms around her with such strength that Xiao Moyan could hardly breathe. Her waist ached from the force.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of Xiao Moyan. It was just as intoxicating as before, like an opium she could never resist. Memories of their sweet moments flooded her mind.
Tears welled up in her eyes again. Lowering her head, she bit down hard on Xiao Moyan’s collarbone.
"Hiss—"
Xiao Moyan sucked in a sharp breath. The pain spread instantly from her neck, the searing sting of teeth tearing into her flesh shooting through her entire body.
Bright red blood dripped down, staining Xia Lingying’s white gauze dress. Drop by drop, it spread, glaringly crimson. Xiao Moyan bit her lower lip, forcing herself to endure.
She knew Xia Lingying was feeling wronged. If this could make her feel better, she was willing to bear it.
The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. Xia Lingying bit down hard on Xiao Moyan’s collarbone, muffled sobs escaping from within her embrace.
Her hands pounded against Xiao Moyan’s shoulders with all her strength. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with despair and determination.
"I hate you!"
This was a loss of composure Xia Lingying had never shown before. Her bloodshot eyes locked onto Xiao Moyan. After a brief moment, she mustered all her strength and shoved the person in her arms away.
Xiao Moyan stumbled back, nearly falling.
Xia Lingying gave her a deep, lingering look. Her lips were still stained with blood. Without turning back, she walked out of Tianhuang.
Xiao Moyan, who changed? Where is the love you once swore to me? The promises of forever?
Why, when I finally chose to give up everything to follow you, have you let hatred blind you?
Xiao Moyan, if I cannot forget my love for you, then I will bury it beneath my hate!
It’s over. Everything is over. Xiao Moyan, let our love be buried where it first began.
The searing pain in her chest forced Xiao Moyan to clench her teeth, enduring the agony. Yet, her feet remained frozen in place.
She gripped the hem of her dress, her breath ragged, her body tense, her gaze fixed on Xia Lingying’s retreating figure.
"Xiaxia, don't go..."
A whisper, barely audible, almost a plea, slipped from Xiao Moyan’s lips. But Xia Lingying could no longer hear.
All that remained was her resolute, departing silhouette.
Bitter tears finally fell. One by one, they mixed with the crimson blood on her neck, deepening the piercing pain.
Exhausted in both body and soul, Xiao Moyan closed her eyes, murmuring softly.
"Xiaxia, don’t hate me... please, don’t."
It’s not that I don’t love you. I just don’t know how to face this love.
The nightmares torment me every night, making me wish I were dead.
I don’t want to lose you, but I can’t betray my mother. I can’t…
Xiaxia… I can’t…
From the shadows, Xiao Nian slowly stepped out, a pipe clenched between his teeth.
The brim of his black half-hat cast a shadow over his face. Clad in a sharp suit, he carried the imposing air of his past dominance in the business world.
He looked up in the direction Xia Lingying had left, then turned to Xiao Moyan.
His gaze lingered on the blood staining her clothes and the raw pain written all over her face.
He let out a long sigh.
"You just wanted revenge on me and Qiu Muying. Hurting her makes Qiu Muying suffer. But treating me like this… I suffer too.
But tell me, Xiaoxiao, what have you gained?"
Xiao Moyan slowly opened her eyes and glared at Xiao Nian, her voice hard and cold.
"It’s not your place to lecture me."
Xiao Nian let out a bitter chuckle and shook his head, murmuring,
"Xiaoxiao, don’t walk the same path I did.
Back then… if I hadn’t been so stubborn, if I had been more resolute, our two families wouldn’t have ended in such a tragedy.
You wouldn’t hate me like this.
And your mother… Xiaoxiao, letting go of the one you love with your own hands… it will torment you for the rest of your life."
"Don’t compare yourself to me. I never loved her."
"Never loved her?"
Xiao Nian shook his head, locking eyes with Xiao Moyan.
"If you never loved her, then who was that pacing outside Tianhuang every night?
If you never loved her, then who told the board members not to make things difficult for Xia Lingying?
If you never loved her, then who spent an entire month working behind Fang Ruolin’s back, contacting reporters to clear Xia Lingying’s name and yours?
If you never loved her, then why does watching her leave hurt you so much?"
"Stop talking…"
Xiao Moyan shook her head weakly, her face deathly pale, her body as cold as ice.
"Xiaoxiao, I know all of this is my fault," Xiao Nian sighed. "I want to make amends, I want to fix things. I do not want you to be consumed by hatred, to repeat my mistakes, to spend your entire life unable to find happiness, and in the end, hurt your own loved ones.
For revenge, you have worked day and night, ruined your health, and now, you endlessly hurt the person you love. Hurting her only hurts yourself, Xiaoxiao. One day, when you finally understand, you will regret this.
And also—"
Xiao Nian paused, looking at Xiao Moyan before slowly murmuring,
"Xiaxia, that child… she truly loves you. For you, she has given up too much… she even—"
His hesitation instantly made Xiao Moyan alert. She looked up, exhaustion written all over her face, staring intently at Xiao Nian.
"Even what?"
Author's Note:
First, I want to apologize to everyone. Yezi has been really busy lately and hasn't updated for several days. *Rubs cheeks~*
I will try my best to pick up my pace again.
Um, and it's my birthday! Everyone gets a piece of cake\(^o^)/~