Chapter 48: I’m Here

The sky had completely darkened, and the room was without a single light.

Duan Qingyu glanced at the bed beside him, where the curtains were drawn and the occupant was already fast asleep, with no sounds coming from the bed. He turned his gaze away and pulled out a notebook from under the pillow.

This was something Zhen Zhang had packed for him when they were preparing his luggage, thinking it was a work notebook in case he might need it.

He casually flipped through a few pages, and on them were sketches of women. Each was different, but the one constant was that their faces were always blurry.

Duan Qingyu pinched the page, staring at this particular one without turning it.

This was his own drawing. He had woken up from countless nightmares before, and no matter how many dreams he had, there was always a vague woman’s figure in them.

When did he stop dreaming about this woman?

It was after that ballroom on the sea.

Duan Qingyu closed the notebook, his gaze deep and thoughtful. From now on, he wouldn’t need this notebook to record anything, and he wouldn’t dream anymore.

“Don’t… save me…”

Suddenly, a faint voice echoed through the quiet room, almost like a cry for help.

Duan Qingyu looked over at the bed. He paused for a moment, waiting until the voice grew more desperate with a sobbing undertone before he got up.

Pulling back the curtain, he saw the person curled up at the head of the bed, holding the sheets tightly with both hands. Her eyes were closed, her brow furrowed tightly, and her skin was pale, like cold porcelain. Her breathing was shallow, as if trapped in a nightmare, about to vanish at any moment.

Her wrist was so slender and fragile, and there were the bandaged fingertips. People often said that the fingers were connected to the heart—how much pain must she have felt then…

Duan Qingyu gently reached out and held her trembling hand, wiping away the few tears that had fallen from her eyes. The heat of her hand made him recoil slightly.

In that moment, as soon as he held her hand, she instinctively gripped his hand in return, as if clutching onto a lifeline, holding on tightly without letting go.

“Duan Qingyu…” The person on the bed murmured softly.

“Yes, I’m here.” Duan Qingyu’s clear voice had a slight tone of comfort.

Her brows seemed to relax for a moment, but soon her breathing became rapid again.

Duan Qingyu sensed something was wrong and called out softly, “Ji Xueli, wake up.”

His words seemed to call her wandering soul back. She immediately opened her eyes, fear and panic still lingering in her gaze.

Her eyes were empty, staring blankly at a spot, and then slowly moved to look at the person beside her.

“What did you dream about?” Duan Qingyu gently helped her sit up, watching her.

Ji Xueli still tightly held his hand, seemingly unable to calm down. “I dreamt that you died.”

“How did I die?” Duan Qingyu seemed a bit intrigued, looking at her.

“You pushed me out, and then the car exploded…” The scene seemed to still be playing out in her mind, and the sound of the explosion lingered in her ears.

From the look of it, she must have been terrified by the driver’s death. After all, it was the first time she had witnessed someone die right in front of her. Duan Qingyu spoke lightly, “In this dream, I was still the good guy.”

“Disaster endures for a thousand years. You won’t die,” she said, knowing that he was a paper person, but even paper people shouldn’t have life and death treated so lightly.

This familiar phrase made Duan Qingyu chuckle lightly. “Two disasters… it’s easy to end up killing each other.”

“No, no, no. It should be mutual love,” Ji Xueli interrupted, shaking her head.

If it was self-inflicted harm, then why bother with all the planning? She would just run away.

“Mutual love…” Duan Qingyu glanced at their intertwined hands and whispered the words back to her.

“Mm, but what are you going to do about the driver?” Ji Xueli asked.

It wasn’t the first time she had experienced death firsthand. The last time it was her own… But seeing someone else’s misfortune right in front of her left a prick in her heart.

“What do you want to do?” Duan Qingyu placed the question on her.

“Compensation is a given, but it shouldn’t be you paying for it. It should be the culprit. Then, give the family a little more support. I know no compensation will bring the person back, but life goes on,” Ji Xueli said, sharing her thoughts.

“Alright, as you wish,” Duan Qingyu agreed without hesitation.

Hearing him agree so readily, Ji Xueli was stunned. “You won’t add any of your own thoughts, just listen to mine?”

“After all, we need to love each other,” he said with a smile, the last note rising playfully.

Ji Xueli secretly pinched his fingertip.

“Why are you pinching me?” Duan Qingyu reflexively pulled his fingers back.

“I didn’t pinch you, maybe your injury still hasn’t healed,” Ji Xueli let go and turned to lie down in the bed.

Duan Qingyu saw through it but didn’t say anything. He adjusted the blankets for her and whispered, “If you wake me up again, I’ll throw you out.”

“You said we’d love each other,” Ji Xueli smiled.

“Why didn’t you say anything when you were pinching me?” Duan Qingyu threw out the comment and pulled the curtain back in place.

Ji Xueli’s eyes curved, smiling at the thought. When she had nightmares, he had been right here. Sigh, looks like it’s still the ex-husband who cares the most.

She closed her eyes, feeling like success was just around the corner.