Chapter Sixty-Three: Regret (Past Life)

After being with Leng Zheng, Cheng Yunting had a dream...

The dream began from the moment Leng Zheng left him...

"Leng Zheng, are you out of your mind? Why insist on joining this mission?" Cheng Changfeng stared at Leng Zheng in disbelief. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is? Are you insane?"

"I know. But this concerns the people. I can't just stay behind," Leng Zheng lowered her head, suddenly unable to meet their gaze.

"You know? You know and you still want to go?" Cheng Changfeng slapped her, furious. "Listen to me, if you dare to go, I'll have someone drag you back and break your legs."

Stubbornly, Leng Zheng knelt down, lifted her head, and looked at Cheng Changfeng. "I have to go. Please, godfather, let me."

Shao Suya was weeping uncontrollably at the side. She tried to help Leng Zheng up, but Leng Zheng remained kneeling.

"Fine, you want to go? Butler, bring the family rod!" Cheng Changfeng was truly enraged, glaring at Leng Zheng. "Soak the whip in brine, the longer the better, I'll do it myself."

"Master, Miss Xiao Zheng has such delicate skin, how could she bear it?" The butler pleaded, "Let me do it instead, sir."

"Delicate skin? She wants to go to the battlefield in Country M. Do you think anyone there is delicate? Huh?" Cheng Changfeng blurted out the secret, unable to contain himself. "And she’ll be the first to go or infiltrate the enemy camp. What do you think her chances are? Huh?"

After he finished, the room fell silent. Everyone forgot that someone else was listening.

Upstairs, Cheng Yunting heard their conversation. Knowing where Leng Zheng was heading, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, an unbearable agony.

"Godfather, I promise I’ll come back alive." Leng Zheng kept her head down, but her back was straight.

"Alive? You’ll come back wishing you were dead, more likely," Cheng Changfeng grabbed the whip and struck her back.

Shao Suya hurried to beg for mercy. "Changfeng, she’s still so young. Don’t hit her. She can’t bear it."

"Father, don’t hit her. If you must, hit me instead." At that moment, Cheng Yunting came downstairs and knelt beside Leng Zheng. "Take it out on me—she can’t handle it."

"Fine, as you say." Cheng Changfeng nodded and lashed Cheng Yunting with all his might. A bloody welt soon appeared on his back.

Shao Suya, relieved, helped Leng Zheng up and laid her on the sofa, tending to her wounds.

After Shao Suya finished treating Leng Zheng, Cheng Changfeng continued whipping Cheng Yunting. She watched, almost as if she were spectating, wishing she had a slice of watermelon in hand.

At last, after fifty lashes, he stopped and returned to the bedroom with Shao Suya.

Cheng Yunting felt deeply grateful: If Leng Zheng had endured those lashes, how much would it have hurt? Luckily, it was me instead...

Thinking this, he fainted...

In the haze, he heard Leng Zheng’s panicked voice calling his name...

...

He slowly opened his eyes, looked around, and felt immense relief—he was still alive.

"Cheng Yunting!" Leng Zheng, seeing him stir, sat by his side. "Are you crazy? Was it worth taking those lashes for me?"

Cheng Yunting smiled, holding her hand. "To me, it was absolutely worth it. This way, my girl doesn’t have to be hurt."

"Who’s your girl?" she retorted, hitting him a few times. "Serves you right for bullying me in the past!"

He just smiled and took it all in silence.

When she was spent, he shifted closer and let her lie down beside him, wiping away her tears. "Xiao Zheng, must you go? Can’t you stay?"

She huddled into his arms and nodded. "I must. The higher-ups have given a death order. I have no choice."

He was silent for a long time, then hugged her tightly. "All right. Then I’ll wait for you. When you return safely, I’ll propose to you. If you don’t return safe and sound, I’ll follow you in death."

"No need," Leng Zheng shook her head gently. "I just want you to live well." And with that, she slowly drifted off to sleep...

Cheng Yunting watched her, unwilling to let her go. He’d been to that place himself—if you weren’t half dead, you were dead outright. No one came back unscathed.

Tears flowed uncontrollably as he held Leng Zheng tightly—his light, his salvation...

...

Two months later.

The main force had returned in victory, but there was no news of their leader. Whenever anyone asked, the soldiers would shake their heads and walk away in tears.

When Cheng Yunting received the news, nothing else mattered. He rushed to the hospital.

...

Outside the hospital ward.

"You’re here." Qin Cheng, eyes red, clapped Cheng Yunting’s shoulder. "Go in and see her. She wants to see you one last time."

Cheng Yunting nodded, body trembling as he entered.

...

Inside, he immediately saw a frail figure. Up close, it was clear how haggard she had become—gone was the spirited girl from before.

As if sensing Cheng Yunting’s approach, Leng Zheng opened her eyes, trying to reach for him.

"Xiao Zheng..." Cheng Yunting held her, pained by her state.

She smiled at him, but couldn’t suppress a mouthful of blood. She tried to wipe it away.

He took her hands and shook his head. "Don’t wipe it. To me, you’re beautiful no matter what."

She nodded and gazed at him...

Cheng Yunting tried to hold back his tears, knowing his girl hated seeing people cry, but he couldn’t stop himself.

"Don’t cry..." Leng Zheng silently mouthed the words, then lost consciousness forever...

Cheng Yunting stood frozen, unable to take his eyes off her...

The Qin brothers and Chu Yuxiu burst in when they heard, and stood in stunned silence at the sight...

Chu Yuxiu was the first to recover, producing something Leng Zheng had entrusted to her.

"Before she left, Xiao Zheng gave me this," Chu Yuxiu wiped her tears, trying to stay strong. "She said, if she returned alive and whole, burn it. If she died there, or came back broken, keep it and show you all after she was gone."

Ah, I didn’t want to write this so heartbreakingly. How should I put it? Under my name, the shares of Qin Group and Su Group—five percent each to my seven brothers, five percent each to Yuxiu and Yunting. The rest, divide among yourselves.

As for my companies... split them as you see fit. Whatever’s left, give it all to Cheng Yunting...

P.S.: This isn’t the end. I’ll continue tomorrow~