Chapter 118: As Long as He Doesn’t Believe, Xia Yuan Can Live a Long Life

The metallic taste of blood rose in Qin Mohuai’s throat, making him uncomfortable. He grabbed the lemon water jug from the nearby dining table to rinse his mouth.

What he spit out was blood.

Xia Yuan’s eyelid twitched. The scent of flowers drifted in the quiet night air as she listened to the frantic beating of her own heart.

Qin Mohuai, exhausted, repeated the action of rinsing his mouth with obsessive persistence.

Xia Yuan grabbed his wrist. The touch felt off—she had grabbed the tattoo on his left wrist.

Jagged scars had been designed into thorns and blue roses.

It was freshly inked. Touching the tattoo should have hurt, but Qin Mohuai made no sound.

Xia Yuan immediately released his wrist, took the lemon water jug from him, and wiped his bloodstained lips with a handkerchief.

To say she didn’t feel bad for him would be a lie.

This was exactly what she feared, which is why she had delayed telling him the truth for so long.

Xia Yuan hugged his arm and gazed at his noble yet pale face. Her voice was soft and trembling as she laughed, “Mohuai, you’re very sick. You shouldn’t get so worked up, okay? Yang Yi said you only have a year or so left to live. At least I can live until fifty. Shouldn’t I be the one coughing up blood?”

“You don’t know anything. You don’t understand anything,” Qin Mohuai’s voice was hoarse and torn.

He struggled to calm himself and opened the gift box that had fallen onto the blue rose petals. Inside was a soft clay figurine shaped to resemble Xia Yuan.

“I made this figurine a long time ago. If you came back, I planned to give it to you. If you didn’t, I was going to take it with me into my grave.” Qin Mohuai lowered his eyes, unable to meet Xia Yuan’s gaze, unwilling to accept the truth she had revealed.

It was as if, so long as he refused to believe, Xia Yuan could live a long life.

Yes, as long as he didn’t believe, Xia Yuan would live a long life!

The strange smile in Qin Mohuai’s eyes made Xia Yuan’s scalp tingle. He held her hand as they walked into the villa.

Butler Wang saw his master’s reddened eyes and was about to ask something when Xia Yuan gave the slightest shake of her head, stopping him. The words he was about to say swallowed back down.

An hour ago everything seemed fine. Now, have they had another argument?

The guests who attended the birthday banquet had already left, but some of the Qin and Xia family members remained at Shenghai Mansion to rest.

On the second-floor balcony, Qin Ke leaned against the railing. His once wild silver hair had been dyed black, and the rebellious punk boy who wore earrings, tongue rings, and nose rings had grown into a high-end jewelry designer capable of handling everything on his own.

“Third Brother, the longevity lock you designed for Sister-in-law is way too big. I’ve reworked the design a bit. How about we shrink it by half? A palm-sized longevity lock with filigree inlay would look stunning on her.”

When did this happen? Why didn’t I know about it?

It seemed Qin Mohuai really wanted her to live a long life. It wasn’t just sweet words to pacify her.

Xia Yuan felt a tight ache in her chest. Bringing up the longevity lock at this time would only upset him.

Qin Mohuai raised his eyes, the corners of his thin lips curling into a faint smile. He said calmly and collectedly, “Do it exactly as you said, as soon as possible.”

“Got it!” Qin Ke rubbed his arms, shivering. He was getting goosebumps. Something feels off about Third Brother today.

He couldn’t describe Qin Mohuai’s smile—was it sinister? Mocking? Laughing in anger?

It’s hard to figure out Third Brother and his thoughts. Dealing with pretty, speechless jewelry is much simpler.

Master Bedroom, Bathroom.

Xia Yuan’s hair was too long. Every time she washed it, her arms would get sore, and Qin Mohuai was more than happy to take over the task.

“Mohuai, even though the area of your wrist tattoo is small, it’s best not to let it get wet for three days,” she said, meeting his gaze, filled with deep emotion and vulnerability.

Xia Yuan silently found a waterproof bandage and carefully wrapped two layers around his wrist.

Now they could take a bath together.

As the warm water drenched Xia Yuan’s long hair, Qin Mohuai’s light, pleasant voice sounded, “Close your eyes, sweetheart. I’m going to use shampoo.”

With her back to Qin Mohuai and her eyes closed, she could tell just by the sound of his voice that he seemed to have accepted everything.

She knew it—Qin Mohuai had a strong ability to cope.

She herself had already come to terms with her short lifespan, so Qin Mohuai would have to accept it as well.

“Mohuai, I have no regrets in this life. I don’t want to live until—”

“Sweetheart,” Qin Mohuai interrupted her, “close your mouth too. I’m about to rinse the shampoo out.”

“Oh.”

After the bath, Xia Yuan felt like something was off.

She turned her head and glanced at the cold, brooding beauty of Qin Mohuai behind her, and suddenly realized what was missing.

There had been no affection, no intimate moments during the bath!

Aside from the “close” exchanges, Xia Yuan really enjoyed being affectionate with Qin Mohuai.

It couldn’t be helped—Qin Mohuai’s body was just too perfect. His abs and chest muscles were so well-trained, weren’t they there for her to touch?

Plus, these days he had become very attentive in… well, indescribable ways.

People should face their desires head-on—that was the truth Qin Mohuai had taught her through his actions. Xia Yuan turned around and sat her soft, round hips on Qin Mohuai’s lap.

Her skin was smooth like goose fat, and her delicate hands gently caressed him.

Qin Mohuai’s hand, with bulging veins, clenched into a fist. His jaw, where Xia Yuan had pecked him like a little bird, was tense, and his eyes, tinged with a faint blush, narrowed slightly. “Sweetheart, I think my tattoo might have gotten wet.”

Xia Yuan’s eyes blinked in confusion. Her soft hips slowly lifted from his lap in a torturous way. Her delicate waist trembled as she straightened up and went to the first aid kit to clean his tattoo and apply ointment.

While applying the ointment, she said, “Mohuai, you don’t need to keep trying to nurse me to became healthy. It’s too late for that. The most important thing now is to enjoy life. You can let me have more ice cream, fried chicken, and Coke.”

Qin Mohuai felt like his heart was being squeezed tightly. Even the faintest leak of pain from the cracks was enough to suffocate him.

“Sweetheart, I told you, even if it’s hard to tace care of you, I will still do it.”

Xia Yuan gently touched the ends of his hair. “You didn’t rinse all the soap off. You didn’t take your own bath seriously.”

“Mm, I’ll wash again.”

Qin Mohuai turned and walked back into the bathroom.

Suddenly, Xia Yuan shouted, her voice full of agitation, “Stop! Qin Mohuai, don’t do this. Don’t avoid this issue, okay?”

“I’ve shortened my life. I can only live until fifty, and my health is so poor, I might not even make it to fifty.”

“But what’s so bad about that? I even thought about asking the system to give some of my remaining life to you.”

Qin Mohuai covered his eyes with his hands, moisture seeping through his fingers. His voice, though facing away from her, betrayed no emotion. “Go to sleep. After I shower, I still have work to do.”

—

Beibei and Zhenbao had a great time playing, so Qin Jingye and Su Yingxue also stayed at Shenghai Mansion for the night.

Although Qin Jingye hadn’t explicitly reconciled with Qin Mohuai and the Qin family, Xia Yuan had invited Su Yingxue, which meant they had to pay a visit to celebrate Qin Mohuai’s birthday.

Butler Wang approached them, “This way, please.”

He led the way ahead.

Su Yingxue yawned, “It’s almost midnight. What’s so urgent with Yuan?”

Butler Wang replied, “It’s not Madam, it’s Sir who asked for you.”

When they entered the reception room, they saw Qin Mohuai lounging on the sofa, a long white cold towel draped over his eyes.