Chapter Twelve: Awakening

Two days later.

In the hospital room, Cheng Yunting remained as unmoving as a stone statue, though now and then he would help wipe her body. Qin Xiaonan came by every day to check on Leng Zheng’s condition. The only people who knew about Leng Zheng’s injury were a few of the Qin brothers (except for Qin Cheng), Leng Zheng’s close friend, Cheng Yunting, and Shen Dongleng.

Suddenly, Leng Zheng opened her eyes. She gazed at the person before her, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity. “Hm? Who are you?”

Cheng Yunting was astonished that Leng Zheng had woken up. He tightly held her hand. “It’s me, Xiao Zheng.”

“What? Brother Cheng? Why are you here?” Leng Zheng stared at him in surprise. Why had he come? (There was no aversion—just surprise. As mentioned before, Leng Zheng secretly loved Cheng Yunting, but her memories had been altered so that she believed their relationship was merely ordinary. She had forgotten his confession and the fact that Gu Xiabing had set her on fire.)

At that moment, Qin Xiaonan entered, exchanging a glance with Cheng Yunting before stepping in to rescue the conversation. “Hey, little sister, you should rest for now. You’ve just woken up, and your health isn’t great yet.”

Leng Zheng nodded and obediently closed her eyes to sleep.

…

After a while, once he saw that Leng Zheng was truly asleep, Qin Xiaonan finally dared to let Cheng Yunting leave the room.

“What’s wrong with Xiao Zheng?” Cheng Yunting already had an answer in his heart, but he dared not believe it, unwilling to accept the truth.

Qin Xiaonan patted his shoulder and sighed. “You already know, don’t you? Must I really spell it out?”

Cheng Yunting sat heavily on the nearby bench, unable to accept the reality. Qin Xiaonan sat beside him, offering him a cigarette. “Even if you can’t accept it, you have to face the facts. Want a smoke?”

Cheng Yunting shook his head. “No, I’ll go now.”

“Xiao Zheng isn’t well right now. Aren’t you going to stay with her a little longer?” Qin Xiaonan could guess where Cheng Yunting was headed and suddenly felt a pang of pity.

“No, I’ll leave Xiao Zheng in your care. I have some things to prepare. I’ll leave tonight. I’ll come see her again this afternoon.” At the door to Leng Zheng’s hospital room, Cheng Yunting glanced back at her, reluctant to part. “Brother, I’m counting on you to take care of Xiao Zheng.”

“Hey, brother-in-law, Xiao Zheng’s whole life is tied to you. We’re all family. There’s no need for such formality.” Qin Xiaonan smiled. “I’ll have my men help you out. Come home soon.”

“All right, I’m off.” Cheng Yunting took one last look at Xiao Zheng, then left, his heart heavy with unwillingness to go.

Qin Xiaonan shook his head regretfully. “Ah, what a pair of star-crossed lovers! Xiao Zheng’s condition will likely worsen… I only hope he comes home safe.”

…

Qin Xiaonan gently examined Leng Zheng’s body, but she suddenly sat up, staring straight at him.

Startled, Qin Xiaonan urged her to lie back down. “Don’t get up.”

Leng Zheng lay quietly on the bed, listening to Qin Xiaonan. After he finished speaking, her eyes reddened as she looked at him and asked, “Where is he?”

“Who?” Although Qin Xiaonan knew exactly whom she meant, he couldn’t let her be agitated, so he pretended not to understand.

“Qin Xiaonan, stop pretending. Where is he?” Leng Zheng grabbed the front of his white coat, demanding an answer.

“Hey, little sister, did you dream of someone? Who has you so worried?” Qin Xiaonan kept up the act.

But there was no way Leng Zheng couldn’t see through Qin Xiaonan’s performance—after all, she was the one who taught him to act.

“Qin! Xiao! Nan!”

“All right, Xiao Zheng, don’t get upset! Anger isn’t good for your recovery, remember? Keep calm!” Qin Xiaonan, seeing her on the verge of an outburst, quickly retreated.

“Damn you!” Hearing Cheng Yunting’s words had only made Leng Zheng angrier. But what could she do? Nothing—there was nothing she could do.

“Why… Why?” Leng Zheng shook her head, lying there, quietly weeping. “Why did he leave…”

PS: Ah! This chapter made me ache for my second son, and for Xiao Zheng as well. But what else could be done? Well, there will be another chapter tonight. I’m writing and posting as I go, with nothing saved in advance.

See you tonight—