Chapter 10

He Cheng lifted the blanket covering his body, wanting to chase after her, but fell heavily back onto the bed, a faint look of helplessness spreading across his drowsy eyes.

Due to his sudden movement, blood flowed back up the IV tube, causing the area on the back of his hand where the needle was inserted to pulse. He ignored the slight stinging pain. He lowered his gaze in deep thought for a moment, then yanked out the IV and walked to the window, opening a small gap.

Outside, daylight was breaking.

The sky was especially clear after the rain. The faint morning light obscured He Yang’s silhouette as she quickly disappeared around the corner on her electric bicycle. Frog calls rose and fell, and dew dripped from tree leaves onto the ground.

Everything was filled with new life.

He Cheng, however, was out of place in all this.

His brow furrowed in a thin layer of anger as He Yang disappeared into the distance. His eyes were uncharacteristically filled with a fierce aura, no longer gentle as before. With a lingering blush on his cheeks, he gripped the windowsill tightly, his knuckles turning white, unable to understand the reason for her sudden departure.

Her retreating figure was resolute, as if she had encountered something frightening. What exactly was it? Had he said something in his dream?

But her expression didn’t seem to indicate that.

He truly hated seeing He Yang’s back. In the past, he had followed her shadow without ever joking around or interacting closely, satisfied just to follow from afar.

Desire is an unfillable chasm. As the threshold increases, one wants more and more.

In just one night, He Cheng sensed that the beast caged within him had opened its mouth, roaring to break free from its prison.

Its sharp claws and fangs were filled with terrifying power. The girl’s unintentional closeness had given it strength, making it want to come out regardless of the consequences.

Come out, come out.

Find her, grab her, and then… possess her completely.

He Cheng closed the curtains, walked to the bed, straightened the tilted chair, stared at it in a daze for a while, then picked up the water glass on the table. He covered the rim with his thin lips for a good while before tilting his head back to take in the last drops of water from the bottom of the glass.

He walked out and leaned on the railing, looking down.

After a while, there was a commotion from the first floor. Jiang Xuehui came out, a large bump on her forehead. She wasn’t wearing a skirt, but long sleeves and pants, as she walked towards the kitchen.

He Cheng called out to her: “Sister Jiang.”

Jiang Xuehui looked up to see He Cheng standing on the second floor. The young man was like tough bamboo, momentarily resembling a celestial being. Her heart pounded: “Young Master, do you need anything?”

He Cheng’s face was expressionless: “Take this month’s salary and leave.”

Jiang Xuehui panicked instantly: “Young Master, I was out of line last night. You had a fever and made such a loud noise. I was just worried and forgot the rules you set. I won’t do it again. Young Master, please don’t fire me. I’ve been working for the He family since you were ten, and I’ve been by your side for eight years. Please, for the sake of these eight years, forgive me just this once.”

He Cheng didn’t say anything, just staring at her with those cold, snow-like eyes, his gaze dark and unwavering.

Jiang Xuehui struggled desperately: “Please…”

He Cheng spoke softly: “I dislike trouble and never change people.”

Jiang Xuehui’s face lit up with hope, but then she heard his indifferent tone: “But you must go. Take the money and leave Yangkui today. If you still want to stay, you’ll face the consequences.”

Tears suddenly fell from Jiang Xuehui’s eyes.

She looked up at He Cheng, backlit on the second floor. He was extraordinarily handsome, making her heart skip a beat. But his words were utterly heartless, shattering any lingering hopes in her heart.

She opened her mouth, wanting to plead again.

But she knew in her heart that the He family was not one to be soft-hearted.

She swallowed her grievances and resentment, lowering her head as she went inside to pack her things.

……

Second floor living room.

He Cheng curled up on the sofa, listlessly flipping through channels with the remote.

Uncle He led Dr. Chen to do an examination. After Dr. Chen left, Uncle He stood to the side, hesitating to speak.

He Cheng said flatly: “What do you want to say?”

Uncle He remembered Jiang Xuehui’s plea, knowing that once the young master spoke, there was no going back. But after working together for so many years, he felt sympathetic: “Young Master, forgive my impertinence, but what did Jiang Xuehui do wrong? Is there no room for reconsideration?”

Uncle He had prepared himself for the young master’s anger. When the young master got angry, it was without smoke. A faint cloud would descend on his calm face, his brows and eyes would turn cold, and he would state facts coldly without cursing. But reality diverged from imagination as the corners of He Cheng’s mouth slowly curled up.

He Cheng’s tone inexplicably warmed by a few degrees: “Uncle He, you know, I never expected her to look at me. But this time she came to me on her own. When she first spoke to me, I thought it was enough, this was sufficient. But we didn’t just talk, she even stayed to take care of me…”

“Uncle He, can you believe it? I’ve waited for her for three years, and now I finally understand the meaning of ‘after long waiting, the clouds part to reveal the moon.’ Perhaps from now on, we’ll be together, then get married and have children…”

His eyes were tinged with a layer of brilliant crimson, filled with fantasies of the future.

Uncle He’s mouth twitched slightly, but he said nothing.

They were supposed to be talking about Jiang Xuehui, how did it turn to He Yang?

He Cheng, caught up in his excitement, his pale face gradually turning red: “Since we’ll be together in the future, I should start keeping my distance from other women now.”

Uncle He was bewildered: “…Huh?”

He Cheng pursed his lips, showing a hint of shyness: “If He Yang sees other women around me, what if she misunderstands or gets angry and ignores me?” Then he became somewhat frustrated: “Sister Jiang is already in her thirties, she’s very old, yet she still had such disgusting thoughts. I can’t believe I didn’t notice before. He Yang must have noticed yesterday, she must have misunderstood me.”

He Cheng covered his head: “What if she hates me?”

Listening to those words, Uncle He felt as if an invisible hand was suddenly gripping his throat. He couldn’t breathe for a long time, and his gaze towards He Cheng was tinged with sorrow.

“Young Master, what if Miss He likes someone else…”

“Impossible!”

He Cheng interrupted, his breathing becoming rapid. Uncle He quickly amended: “…It’s impossible, impossible, young master! Miss He is still a student. I can see that her mind is focused on studying right now. She doesn’t notice anyone else. Recently, Miss He’s relationship with you has improved compared to before. Last night she took care of you all night, which shows she cares about you. Even if she likes someone, you would be the first one she likes.”

He Cheng’s breathing gradually returned to normal.

After a while, he met Uncle He’s worried gaze and flashed an extremely bright smile: “If she likes someone else…”

He took a few breaths and said gently: “Then she can die with me!”

Uncle He’s entire face turned pale, and he dared not say another word.

……

He Yang rode towards home in the morning breeze. On the way, she was enticed by a fragrant aroma. Feeling her empty stomach, she stopped to buy a few pan-fried dumplings and a bowl of egg soup.

After eating, her cold limbs warmed up. She took out her phone to check, and apart from a few casual messages from Li Kexin, there were no messages from anyone else.

She hadn’t returned home all night, and it had been raining heavily, yet no one from home had asked about her.

She couldn’t tell if she felt more disappointed or more relieved.

Even if she could start over, it would still be the same, wouldn’t it?

He Yang arrived home. Li Yazhen and He Shunli hadn’t left for work yet. Li Yazhen was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast, while He Shunli was curled up on the sofa watching the morning news.

Hearing the door open, He Shunli asked: “Where were you last night?”

He Yang’s heart skipped a beat, but then she saw He Shunli staring intently at the TV. Her excited heart sank again, and she said: “I stayed at a classmate’s house for the night.”

There was no response. Li Yazhen poked her head out: “I thought you weren’t coming back this morning, so I didn’t make your breakfast!”

He Yang replied with an “Oh”: “You guys eat. I’m not hungry.”

He Yang returned to her room and sat on her small bed, lost in thought.

The clock pointed to seven, and a little boy’s complaining voice came from the living room: “Mom, I told you to add more salt! It’s too bland!”

Li Yazhen responded with a laugh: “Mommy forgot. I promise to satisfy my son tomorrow.”

It was an ordinary morning, a mundane life. The family chatted and laughed. Those who had to go to work left after eating. Li Yazhen opened the door and said: “I won’t be back for lunch. Make food for Qingquan!”

He Yang responded with a “Mm.”

He Qingquan cheered. Without looking, she knew he had gotten his phone and was now curled up in bed playing games, particularly content without adult supervision.

She blinked silently, tucking a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. She let out a long sigh, and the frustration in her chest dissipated.

Some things can’t be forced. Caring too much only brings more suffering.

He Yang pulled herself together, locked the door, and found the touchscreen phone hidden under the bed. It wouldn’t turn on; it was powered off.

She went out to buy a data cable, fortunately the charging plug was compatible. She had to walk quite far to a phone specialty store to buy one. At this time, more people used old-fashioned phones, and touchscreens were still in the minority.

She plugged in the phone to charge and waited patiently.

Li Kexin called: “Yangyang, next Saturday our school’s basketball team is having a match with the neighboring school. Let’s go watch together.”

He Yang responded: “Okay.”

Li Kexin giggled: “You know Su Wei, right? Even though you’re not interested in him now, the basketball team is full of handsome guys. Feasting your eyes will make studying more energizing! Oh, and there’s one more thing. The cheerleading team is short on people. You know I’m close with Yaoyao, she’s the team leader, and she insists that we both join. You’ll agree for me, right?”

He Yang and Li Kexin were close, and she would agree to any request that wasn’t too excessive. She remembered that before the college entrance exam, she had indeed gone once with Li Kexin. Watching a group of handsome guys sweating profusely was quite stress-relieving. She had been feeling down lately due to studying, so she agreed without thinking.

“Yangyang, I love you so much!”

“Show me your notes when school starts the day after tomorrow.”

“Why are you being so formal with me? If you don’t mind, I can even tutor you for a month.”

“Forget it. I have something to do, I’ll hang up now.”

“Okay, see you the day after tomorrow.”

He Yang held her breath and pressed the power button on the touchscreen phone for a long time.

The time on the screen was already out of sync, and there was no signal. She first opened a few commonly used apps, which were still on the interfaces she had left them on. She sent a few messages, but they kept showing a red circle, indicating failure to send.

She didn’t mind and found the last news article she had seen.

He Yang took a deep breath. The news was still there.

Her fingers trembled slightly, and she almost had to force herself to click on it. The headline was in eye-catching bold font—

He Family’s Young Master Commits Suicide in Bathroom.