Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Because I Love You No one answered. Secretary Shen didn't dare to answer either. Yu Jianghai muttered to himself, as if certain, "She'll come." "She'll definitely come." Lin Meiyan went to Jianghai Dicai in the afternoon. Originally, she had planned to go after closing time. But when the afternoon customers thinned out, she sat behind the counter for a while, then finally took out the cloth bundle from underneath. These shoes had been sitting there ever since that day. She could see them when she picked up the ledger, when she got change, and when she bent down to grab a rag. Every time she saw them, something in her heart gave a gentle tug. It wasn't painful or itchy—just irritating. So irritating that she couldn't even focus on the numbers in her ledger. It was already past two in the afternoon, and almost all the customers at Linji had left, leaving only a bit of closing work. Gu Kaihua sat in the front hall wiping tables. He'd wipe for a bit, glance at her, wipe again, glance at her again. Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore and asked in a low voice, "Yanyan, are you feeling unwell today?" Lin Meiyan snapped back to reality and said instinctively, "No." "Then why have you stared under the counter three times?" Gu Kaihua draped the long rag over his shoulder and clicked his tongue. "Is there gold hidden down there?" Ye Qiuju happened to walk out carrying a basin of washed dishes. Hearing this, she shot him a glare. "You think everyone's like you, thinking about money all day long?" Gu Kaihua refused to back down. "What's wrong with thinking about money? We run a business at Linji—if we don't think about money, what should we think about?" Qiaoqiao sat on the little stool by the door, unbothered by the heat, guarding the mung bean soup bucket at the entrance even in the midday sun. Hearing this, she immediately raised her little hand, poked her head out, and said in a sneaky whisper, "Think about the customers." Gu Kaihua was taken aback. Qiaoqiao said with complete seriousness, "Mommy said, if customers eat well, they'll come back, and then we'll have money." Gu Kaihua rubbed his chin. "Makes sense." Ye Qiuju laughed so hard she could barely stand. "You can't even talk as well as a child." Gu Kaihua muttered, "That's because our Qiaoqiao is smart." Lin Meiyan watched them bicker, and her heart relaxed a little. Because she couldn't keep letting herself get all worked up just because Yu Jianghai sent a flower basket or lent her a pair of shoes. Lin Meiyan placed the cloth bundle on the counter and took out a clean handkerchief to wipe off the dust. Qiaoqiao turned around and saw it. She immediately hopped off her little stool, ran to the counter, and asked in her crisp voice, "Mommy, are you going to return the shoes?" Lin Meiyan nodded. "Mm." Qiaoqiao looked at the cloth bundle, then at Lin Meiyan's other empty hand, and hinted, "Mommy, aren't you bringing any food?" Lin Meiyan paused. Qiaoqiao blinked her big eyes and said softly, "Didn't you say yesterday you'd bring Uncle Yu some braised lotus root?" Lin Meiyan looked at her and couldn't help saying with a hint of sourness, "You remember that clearly." That man had never spent a single day taking care of her, yet Qiaoqiao's relationship with him seemed to have been good from the very start. Qiaoqiao could tell, of course. She explained quietly, "I was afraid Mommy would forget." Afraid her mother would get jealous again, she added, "Uncle Yu lent Mommy shoes, so Mommy should treat him to braised lotus root—that's good manners." Lin Meiyan couldn't argue with that. Gu Kaihua overheard from the side and immediately jumped in. "Right, Yanyan, our Linji braised lotus root is famous now. Bring some over—let the Jianghai Dicai boss taste our Linji craftsmanship." Ye Qiuju didn't like how Gu Kaihua was always stirring things up. She walked over and grabbed his ear. "You fat fool, stop butting in." "Ow, ow, ow." Gu Kaihua yelped and squirmed, leaning to the side while still explaining, "I'm just telling the truth!" Ye Qiuju finally let go and looked at Lin Meiyan. It was clear that Lin Meiyan had to go today, no matter what. Ye Qiuju didn't say it outright. She just wiped her hands on her apron. "Go on, leave early and come back early. I'll handle the shop with your uncle." Lin Meiyan gave a soft "mm." She went into the kitchen, where the lotus root in the braising pot had already absorbed the flavor. She picked out a few slices of even thickness with her chopsticks, added a few pieces of duck neck, thought for a moment, then put in two chicken feet. This time, she didn't use the aluminum lunchbox but a enamel container, which was soon filled to the brim. As she put the lid on, Qiaoqiao stood nearby watching. Lin Meiyan deliberately asked her, "Is that enough?" Qiaoqiao thought seriously for a moment. "Enough." Then she paused and added, "Actually, that's too much. Mommy will get tired carrying it." Lin Meiyan laughed at her words. She reached out and pinched Qiaoqiao's little cheek. "Kids shouldn't worry so much." Qiaoqiao hugged her hand and said in a tiny voice, "But I want Mommy to be happy." Lin Meiyan's heart softened. She crouched down and smoothed the stray hairs by Qiaoqiao's ear. "Mommy is happy." Qiaoqiao looked at her. Mommy said she was happy, but she could tell—Mommy wasn't really happy. From the moment she saw Uncle Yu's rose basket, Mama had seemed a little different. And after hearing Auntie Cao's harsh words, Mama seemed even more so. Linji was doing so well, and they had already moved into their own home, yet Mama looked even more troubled than before. Qiaoqiao didn't know how to put it into words. She could only reach out her little hand and gently tug at Lin Meiyan's sleeve. "Mama, don't be scared." Lin Meiyan was startled. She hadn't expected Qiaoqiao to suddenly say that. "Scared of what?" Qiaoqiao shook her head. She couldn't quite explain it—she just felt like Mama was afraid. Qiaoqiao thought for a long moment, then wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders and whispered, "Mama, don't be scared. Qiaoqiao will help Mama watch the shop." "And Qiaoqiao will protect Mama too." Lin Meiyan's nose tingled with emotion. She gathered Qiaoqiao into her arms. "Okay." Qiaoqiao patted her back with her little hand, just like Lin Meiyan usually did when comforting her. "Mama, come back early, okay?" Lin Meiyan released her and stood up. "Mama will be back soon. Listen to Great-Uncle and Great-Aunt." Qiaoqiao nodded. "Mm." Gu Kaihua still wasn't at ease. He stood up and said, "How about I walk you over?" Lin Meiyan shook her head. "No need, I'll take the bus." "That Jianghai Dicai building is tall, and it's all twisty and turny inside. You alone..." Ye Qiuju cut him off directly. "She's been there before." Gu Kaihua immediately shut his mouth. Ye Qiuju handed the cloth bag to Lin Meiyan, then glanced at the enamel box. "It's good to go and clear things up." "Better than leaving things tangled and messy." Lin Meiyan's movements paused briefly. Ye Qiuju didn't say more. She just patted her hand and said softly, "But Yanyan, don't let yourself be wronged." Lin Meiyan nodded gently. She picked up the cloth bag and the enamel box and headed out the door. Qiaoqiao stood at the doorway, watching her the whole time. Lin Meiyan walked a few steps, then turned back to look. Qiaoqiao immediately waved at her. "Mama, come back soon!" Lin Meiyan smiled. "Okay." She turned and left Linji. The Simenkou street was fairly quiet at this hour—it was just past two in the afternoon, and most people were taking their midday naps, so even the shops had few customers. Those who were minding their stores sat in small groups at their doorways, chatting about this and that. The moment Lin Meiyan stepped out, the people sitting and chatting at the shop entrance across the street fell silent. Someone was the first to greet her. "Oh, Meiyan, heading out in this heat?" Lin Meiyan nodded, gripping the cloth bag in her hand. She nodded gently and said, "Yes, I have some errands to run." The truth was, she dreaded nothing more than running into these groups of older women sitting at their doorways, gossiping. Because the moment she walked past them, she would immediately become the subject of their chatter. Sure enough, Lin Meiyan's guess was right. The moment she was out of earshot, the aunties started talking. "Did you see that? The direction she's heading—she's definitely going to Jianghai Dicai again." "No way?" "Why not? From the Simenkou intersection, turn left and isn't that where the bus stop is? If she's not going to Jianghai Dicai, where else could she be going?" "Think about it—Meiyan has no family left, and Linji is all set up. Where else would she go besides Jianghai Dicai?" That analysis made perfect sense. "True." "Of course it's true. Could I be wrong? Didn't you see? She's carrying something in her hands too." "But she dumped a basin of dishwater on Auntie Cao just yesterday, and today she's running off to Jianghai Dicai again. Tsk." "Keep your voice down. Don't let her hear you." Lin Meiyan didn't stop walking, nor did she turn back. She only tightened her grip on the cloth bag. She'd heard these words plenty over the past couple of days. Saying she relied on Jianghai Dicai. Saying she and Yu Jianghai had something unclear going on. Saying Linji's booming business wasn't necessarily thanks to her skill. Back when she was struggling, these neighbors had helped her somewhat. Now that they saw her doing well and Linji's business thriving— Same people, but their faces seemed to have changed. Lin Meiyan took a deep breath, telling herself to ignore these voices. The ones who had helped her before were these people, and the ones gossiping now were also these people. She had just taken a few steps forward when a voice came from behind. "Oh my, isn't this Qiaoqiao?" Lin Meiyan stopped in her tracks. She turned around. Under the sun, Qiaoqiao was still standing at the entrance of Linji, not yet going inside—probably reluctant to part with her, still watching from the doorway. She stood at the door, and the person talking to her was Grandma Zhang. She always spoke with a smile, claiming she was just joking, but her jokes always left an unpleasant feeling. Grandma Zhang was now waving at Qiaoqiao. She was a gossip lover and bold to boot, so she picked up her little stool and went straight over to ask, "Qiaoqiao, is your mama off to Jianghai Dicai again?" She even added a hint of kindly inquiry, which Qiaoqiao couldn't quite discern. The girl answered in her crisp, clear voice, "Mama went to return something." "Return something, huh?" Grandma Zhang dragged out her words, and the women beside her chuckled along. "Is she going to see Boss Yu?" Qiaoqiao's little face slowly tightened. Grandma Zhang pretended not to see her and deliberately bent down to tease her, "Qiaoqiao, are you going to have a new daddy?" Someone nearby let out a snicker. Grandma Zhang grew more excited as she spoke, "Boss Yu is loaded. If he really becomes your new daddy, you little girl will be living the good life from now on." The first half was tolerable, but by the second half, a sour note crept in, "Though who knows if a rich family like that would even want a little girl like you." When those words landed, the laughter around them faded a bit. Some people felt it was inappropriate, but no one stepped in to stop her. Lin Meiyan stood a few steps away, her face gradually turning cold. She was about to walk back when Qiaoqiao already lifted her head. The little girl wasn't tall, her face still soft with baby fat, looking all warm and cuddly. But her eyes were bright and sharp right now, carrying a hint of fierceness, "Grandma Zhang." Grandma Zhang smiled and responded, "Yes?" Qiaoqiao asked seriously, "When your daddy passed away back then, did your mommy find you a new daddy?" The surroundings went quiet all at once, as if even the wind had paused. The smile on Grandma Zhang's face froze. Everyone on Cross Street from the older generation knew that her father had died young and her mother had remarried. It was just that she was old now, and no one brought up such things in daily conversation. But Qiaoqiao seemed unaware that her words were harsh, tilting her head innocently. "Grandma Zhang, didn't you just say that if you don't have a daddy, you need to find a new one?" "So did you find one when you were little?" She said it so earnestly, so earnestly that it seemed she truly didn't understand the malice hidden in adult words. Grandma Zhang's face flushed red, and she immediately turned hostile, "You child, what kind of talk is that?" Qiaoqiao blinked her eyes, "Wasn't it Grandma who asked me first?" "I'm just asking Grandma back." Someone nearby couldn't help but lower their head and chuckle. Grandma Zhang's face grew even more embarrassed, "Is this how Lin Meiyan teaches her child? When adults are talking, why does a child have to butt in?" Qiaoqiao's little face turned stern as she shot back, "Then why do adults talk about children?" At that, even the people who had been watching the spectacle had nothing to say. Lin Meiyan walked back and pulled Qiaoqiao protectively to her side. She looked at Grandma Zhang, her voice not loud, "Auntie Zhang, my daughter is only four years old." Grandma Zhang insisted stubbornly, "I was just joking, wasn't I?" "Joking about a child's father?" Lin Meiyan looked at her, "Do you think that's funny?" Grandma Zhang's face turned ugly, "I didn't say anything nasty." Lin Meiyan was about to say more, but Qiaoqiao tugged at her hand, "Mommy." Lin Meiyan looked down. Qiaoqiao looked up at her and whispered, "I'm fine." The more she said that, the worse Lin Meiyan felt inside. She would rather Qiaoqiao cry and complain to her than watch her learn to fight back against adult malice at such a young age. Her daughter was only four years old. Why couldn't these adults leave a child alone? Lin Meiyan tightened her grip on Qiaoqiao's hand, and the thing that had been wavering inside her suddenly settled. She had to make things clear with Yu Jianghai. This couldn't go on. It was fine if people gossiped about her, but Qiaoqiao couldn't be dragged into it. Linji couldn't be dragged into it either. She had worked so hard to stabilize her life, not so others could make her and her daughter a laughingstock. Ye Qiuju heard the commotion and came out from inside, "What's going on?" Gu Kaihua followed her out, his face dark, "Who's running their mouth again?" The moment Grandma Zhang saw Gu Kaihua's stance, she turned and left immediately. "Forget it, forget it. I won't stoop to your level." She walked away quickly, and the few people nearby scattered as well. Gu Kaihua wanted to chase after her, but Ye Qiuju grabbed him, "Don't make things worse." Gu Kaihua was furious, "What did she say about Qiaoqiao?" Qiaoqiao held Lin Meiyan's hand and said in her baby voice, "Nothing much. Grandma Zhang asked if I was going to have a new daddy." Gu Kaihua's face turned black instantly. "Is she out of her mind?" Ye Qiuju was also so angry her eyes turned red, "These people really have no bottom line." Lin Meiyan didn't say anything. She crouched down and gently touched Qiaoqiao's face. "Qiaoqiao." Qiaoqiao looked at her. Lin Meiyan asked softly, "Were you scared just now?" Qiaoqiao shook her head, "No." She paused, then wrapped her arms around Lin Meiyan's neck, "Mommy, I don't want a new daddy." Lin Meiyan's heart ached fiercely. She hugged Qiaoqiao tightly, "Mommy knows." Qiaoqiao whispered, "I only want Mommy." "Mm." "Mommy only wants Qiaoqiao too." Ye Qiuju watched this scene, her chest tight with emotion. Gu Kaihua paced back and forth in anger, grabbing whatever was at hand as if ready to fight someone, "One of these days, I'm going to tear that old woman's mouth apart." Ye Qiuju glared at him, "Say a little less." "Besides, if you go beat up an old lady like that, her family would love nothing more than for you to do exactly that." Only after hearing that did Gu Kaihua back down. He turned and started cursing loudly toward the street, his words clearly aimed at someone. The aunties who had been chatting at the street corner instantly turned red-faced. Old Gu's cursing was filthy. But Gu Kaihua was cursing precisely for them to hear. Lin Meiyan handed Qiaoqiao to them, "Uncle, Auntie, please look after Qiaoqiao for me." She was afraid something like this would happen again. "Go on, with us here, there's no way Qiaoqiao will be bullied." With those words, Lin Meiyan felt reassured and set off. She took the No. 13 bus from Simenkou to Jianghai Dicai, a full forty minutes before arriving. When she got off the bus, Lin Meiyan felt like she was about to burn up in the heat. August in Jiangcheng carried a damp, muggy heat, as if rain was on the way. The air was thick and sticky, and Lin Meiyan was no exception. After getting off the bus, she stood by the roadside for a long while, letting herself calm down and regain her composure. Following the route she remembered, Lin Meiyan arrived at the Jianghai Dicai office building. No matter when she came, the fourteen-story building, which served as both office and residence, never failed to impress, even inspiring awe. Lin Meiyan stood by the roadside and looked at it for a moment. Her only thought was that Yu Jianghai really was loaded. That vast Jianghai Dicai was the greatest wealth. But it had nothing to do with her. After sorting out her thoughts, Lin Meiyan carried her bag inside and found the front desk. She recognized the receptionist—it was the same young woman from her last visit. The other woman clearly recognized her too. Dressed in a sharp professional blazer, she looked quite capable. "You're Boss Lin, right?" Xiao Chen was very warm. This made Lin Meiyan a bit uncomfortable. She said softly, "Yes, that's me." She took a cloth bag from her side and handed it to Xiao Chen. "Comrade, this is something I need to return to your President Yu. Could you please give it to him for me?" Yes, that's right. From the moment she got on the bus, she had made up her mind: better not to meet than to meet. She could just hand the shoes to the front desk. There was no need for her to cause unnecessary trouble on the third floor. Xiao Chen didn't dare accept it. Having been by her mentor's side for so long, she had at least that much sense. She immediately smiled and said, "Boss Lin, what is this?" Lin Meiyan paused. She felt a little embarrassed, a faint blush coloring her face as she said awkwardly, "These are your boss's shoes." The moment she said it, she could clearly feel the air around them grow thinner. Xiao Chen's smile stiffened too, but she quickly recovered. "I wouldn't dare deliver these." "Boss Lin, you know I'm just a lowly worker. President Yu has a cold, harsh temperament. If I took it upon myself to do this, I'm afraid I'd lose my job." Lin Meiyan had never liked troubling others. The thought of causing such a big problem for someone made her feel stuck. "Then could you call Secretary Shen down for me? I can give the things to him, is that okay?" From Xiao Chen to Secretary Shen, the goal was simple: absolutely avoid meeting Yu Jianghai face to face. This— Xiao Chen thought for a moment. "Then please wait a moment." She didn't say no outright. Instead, she bent down, picked up the white telephone beside her, and pressed the intercom button. After a moment, the call connected. Xiao Chen explained the matter in a few brief sentences. Secretary Shen on the other end immediately tensed up. He thought to himself, the boss has been waiting for this person for so long—there's no way we can let Youth Lin leave just like that. He said at once, "Put Youth Lin on the phone. I need to say something to her." Xiao Chen replied with a quick "Okay" and handed the phone to Lin Meiyan. "Boss Lin, my mentor wants to speak with you." Lin Meiyan took the phone. "Secretary Shen?" Her voice was soft, like a gentle breeze and fine rain in March. Even through the receiver, it carried an indescribable pleasantness. Secretary Shen felt like his ears were about to melt. He let out an "Ah" and quickly said, "Youth Lin, I'm about to have a meeting. I'm afraid I can't come down right now." "How about this—have Xiao Chen bring you up." Lin Meiyan hesitated. Honestly, she didn't want to go up, and she didn't want to run into Yu Jianghai. Secretary Shen seemed to know what she was thinking and immediately said, "My boss is already in a meeting. He won't be out for a while." Only then did Lin Meiyan breathe a sigh of relief. She said softly, "Alright then, Secretary Shen. Wait a moment, I'll be right up." After hanging up, Xiao Chen had already come out from behind the front desk counter. She looked curious, with a hint of gossip in her expression. "Boss Lin, let me take you up." The phone receiver wasn't soundproof, so she had clearly heard everything her mentor Secretary Shen had said. Lin Meiyan nodded. "Sorry for the trouble." "No trouble at all, no trouble at all." Xiao Chen led her to the elevator. Lin Meiyan looked at it and gripped her bag slightly tighter. The pale blue veins on her fair hand were clearly visible, carrying a faint trace of nervousness. She was afraid of riding elevators. That sensation of rising and falling, like soaring to the heavens or plunging into the earth, was absolutely a challenge for Lin Meiyan. Xiao Chen was skilled at reading people and noticed right away. "Boss Lin, don't be scared of the elevator. It's always scary the first time, but it gets easier with practice." "When I first rode one, I was terrified too. But after a few more times, I got used to it." Lin Meiyan gave a soft "Mm" and followed Xiao Chen into the elevator. The moment the doors closed, she instinctively shut her eyes. She comforted herself, saying it was fine, it was fine—it was just taking the elevator, nothing to make a big deal out of. However, that was what she told herself, but in reality, it was far from the truth. Just a few dozen seconds, but for Lin Meiyan, it felt like an eternity. When the elevator doors opened with a ding, it sounded like heavenly music to her. She followed Xiao Chen out of the elevator, and only then did Xiao Chen realize that Lin Meiyan was drenched in cold sweat. Her face was especially pale, as white as paper, without a trace of color. Xiao Chen immediately realized she had made a mistake. If she had known that Boss Lin was this afraid of elevators, she should have taken the stairs instead. She hurriedly reached out to support her, "Boss Lin, are you alright?" Lin Meiyan replied weakly, "I'm fine." But her voice sounded frail no matter how you heard it. The moment she finished speaking, she fainted. She had fainted from the elevator! Seeing her collapse, Xiao Chen almost screamed. She instinctively reached out to catch her, but someone else reacted even faster than she did. A long arm reached out and steadily caught Lin Meiyan, pulling her into an embrace. Xiao Chen looked up and saw her boss's cold, stern expression. She shuddered and stammered, "P-President Yu, I didn't know Boss Lin would faint in the elevator." Yu Jianghai raised his eyes and gave her a faint, indifferent look. "Go find your mentor yourself." His voice betrayed neither joy nor anger, yet carried an indescribable authority. Xiao Chen looked dejected and nodded. "Yes, President Yu." Watching helplessly as Yu Jianghai carried Lin Meiyan away, she stomped her foot in regret. "If I'd known, I should have just taken Boss Lin up the stairs." Her mentor had told her that Boss Lin was afraid of riding elevators, but she hadn't taken it seriously. Who wouldn't be afraid the first time they ride an elevator? Once you ride it enough and get used to it, wouldn't that be fine? She never expected Boss Lin to react so strongly. She was probably done for. Completely done for. Meanwhile, on the other side, Yu Jianghai carried Lin Meiyan toward his office. The moment she was in his arms, he realized how light she was. Her ribs pressed uncomfortably against him as he held her. She might even be thinner than when she was on the island all those years ago. Yu Jianghai lowered his gaze to look at her. Her eyes were tightly shut, her face pale, with only a hint of dark circles beneath her eyelids. Her skin was so fair that the shadows were especially prominent. That made sense. From the time she decided to return to Linji, to the renovation, to the grand opening—over a month in total—she probably hadn't had a single good night's rest. Or perhaps she hadn't rested well even before that. From the day she left the island, pregnant with Qiaoqiao, and returned to Jiangcheng, she hadn't had a good rest. At that thought, Yu Jianghai's eyes darkened, a trace of heartache hidden deep within them. "Boss." Secretary Shen came out of a meeting and greeted him. The next second, Yu Jianghai frowned. Secretary Shen noticed then that he was carrying Shen Zhiqing in his arms. Startled, he immediately lowered his head and hurried ahead to open the door. When Yu Jianghai wasn't in his office, the door was usually locked because there were too many confidential documents inside. At that moment, Secretary Shen's job was to open the door before his boss arrived, so that at the very least, the boss wouldn't have to wait a single second at the door while holding Shen Zhiqing. By the time Yu Jianghai arrived, Secretary Shen had already opened the door. Yu Jianghai carried Lin Meiyan straight in. Secretary Shen scurried ahead, opening the office door, then the bedroom door. All of it took less than a minute. Yu Jianghai's office had been designed with an integrated layout during renovation, with a hidden door set into the back wall—easy to miss if you weren't looking closely. Usually, if Yu Jianghai worked too late, he would rest in the office. He carried Lin Meiyan all the way into the bedroom, then glanced back at Secretary Shen. Secretary Shen understood immediately and retreated, closing the door behind him in one smooth motion. Inside the room. Yu Jianghai carried Lin Meiyan and gently laid her on the bed, which was a full two meters wide. Lin Meiyan let out a soft whimper, and Yu Jianghai's movements immediately slowed. He reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder and back, and patted her gently. His voice was softer than it had ever been. "Sleep." His actions and his words were exactly the same as they had been many years ago. In her sleep, that voice gave Lin Meiyan an immense sense of security, and her furrowed brow gradually relaxed. Because of that voice, she had heard it on the island for at least nine years. Those were nine years with Yu Jianghai—from the bloom of youth to the edge of middle age. Yu Jianghai wondered if he was thinking the same thing. He turned sideways, bent down, and sat quietly by the bed, watching her without a word. Truth be told, it had been many years since he had last looked at her like this. His gaze traced her features, inch by inch downward, finally resting on her pointed chin, where pale, delicate skin clung tightly to bone without a hint of softness. Further down were her thin collarbones, slender arms, and fair hands marked with a few calluses. She hadn't been living well all these years. When he realized where he was, Yu Jianghai felt a fine, dense ache in his heart. He said nothing, only quietly, greedily, and without the slightest restraint, stared at her. She wore a white dress, and lying down, the fabric clung tightly to her body, outlining her figure perfectly. Though she was thin, the places that should be full remained plump and round. That part, full as a peach, was one he had kneaded countless times in their moments of passion and joy. At the thought, Yu Jianghai's gaze gradually darkened. He reached his hand into the air, stopping just a centimeter from her clothes, then suddenly lowered it. But his gaze grew even more fierce. He stared intently at her pale pink lips, and finally, he could no longer restrain himself. He abruptly lowered his head and kissed her, as if he wished to devour her whole, yet in the end, it turned into a feather-light touch. Yu Jianghai's eyes were slightly bloodshot—desire barely held in check, like a volcano on the verge of erupting. "Yanyan." "Yanyan." "Yanyan." When Lin Meiyan could not hear him, Yu Jianghai called out again and again, again and again, as if to pour out all five years of longing. The more he called, the stronger the hidden desire grew, until at last Yu Jianghai felt that the fierce beast within him was about to slip from his control. Yu Jianghai suddenly stood up. He stood by the bed, breathing in great, ragged gasps. Beneath his clothes, there was already a surging tide he could no longer conceal. All he had to do was turn his head, and he would see her sleeping in his bed—a day he had waited five years for. Lin Meiyan had fallen unconscious, sleeping deeply. She dreamed again of the time on the island, when she was arguing with Yu Jianghai. Or rather, with her personality, it was hard for her to argue with anyone, and it was the same with Yu Jianghai. Their relationship had always been kept underground, never daring to let anyone know. Lin Meiyan was timid, and she had her own selfish reasons. She feared that if people knew she was with Yu Jianghai, they would look at her with strange eyes. They would bully her too. She had come to the countryside alone, with no one to rely on. She could not afford to make a single wrong step. But being with Yu Jianghai was already the wrong step she had taken. And deep down, she knew it was wrong, but she did not want to turn back. She was immersed in, and greedy for, the warmth of someone in this unfamiliar place, clinging to each other, depending on each other. Yu Jianghai was young then. It was his first time liking someone, his first time truly understanding his own feelings, his first time being this happy with Lin Meiyan. He saw how, outside, Lin Meiyan had been chatting happily with the Zhiqing, smiling and laughing, but the moment he arrived, her smile immediately faded, replaced by a hint of evasion and stiffness. She was afraid he would reveal their relationship in front of others. His heart was bitter beyond measure, but he pretended nothing was wrong. That night, however, in the cave, they had a fierce argument. "Am I really that shameful?" It was their first fight. When Yu Jianghai asked this, he was holding back his temper, and his hurt. Lin Meiyan was angry too. She sneered, "You're not shameful, but what if our relationship gets exposed? And then? Am I supposed to be ostracized like you?" "Yu Jianghai, you can't even protect yourself. How can you protect me?" She spoke the truth, but she forgot that Yu Jianghai, at twenty-one, had his pride. That pride, already shattered by the outside world, was then trampled to pieces by Lin Meiyan. In her coma, Lin Meiyan looked at the young Yu Jianghai. Only now did she see his expression clearly—the light in his eyes dimming, little by little. Until it sank into silence. He was like a wisp of wind, vanishing quickly from the cave. Lin Meiyan stayed behind in the cave. She regretted saying those words, but they were also the reality. If anyone found out about her relationship with Yu Jianghai, she would be ostracized at the Zhiqingdian too. Lin Meiyan sat in the darkness for a long time, cursing herself and cursing Yu Jianghai for being a bastard who left her alone in the cave. On such a pitch-black night, how was she supposed to get back? Lin Meiyan cried her fill in the cave, then stumbled her way back to the Zhiqingdian. What she did not know was that Yu Jianghai had never left. He had only been guarding the cave entrance, worried she was afraid of the dark, worried something would happen to her on the way back alone. He too regretted his impulsiveness. He followed her the entire way, watching until she entered the Zhiqingdian, then stood in the darkness for a long time, murmuring, "I'm sorry. I've dragged you into this." Unfortunately, eighteen-year-old Lin Meiyan never saw that. But twenty-nine-year-old Lin Meiyan saw it. Her tears fell all at once, and she murmured, "Yu Jianghai, I'm sorry." Yu Jianghai was watching over her, looking at her, when suddenly he heard his own name from her lips, heard the apology. Yu Jianghai was stunned for a moment, then immediately leaned down close to Lin Meiyan's lips. "Yanyan, what did you say?" His voice was restrained, carrying an indescribable emotion. Lin Meiyan kept her eyes closed and murmured, "I'm sorry." I'm sorry. Yu Jianghai. The eighteen-year-old Lin Meiyan shouldn't have looked down on Yu Jianghai, who had nothing back then. This time, Yu Jianghai heard her clearly. His whole body stiffened. "Yanyan." He leaned down beside her cheek and clearly saw a tear slip from the corner of Lin Meiyan's eye. Yu Jianghai's heart suddenly tightened. He leaned in closer and gently kissed away that tear, his movement so tender it was almost reverent. His voice was hoarse. "Yanyan, you don't need to say sorry." —Because I love you.