Chapter 128: A Love That Runs Both Ways

Xia Yuan could barely hear what Qin Mohuai was saying; her heart was racing as she racked her brain for anything else she hadn’t confessed.

After he closed the door, Qin Mohuai sat on the edge of the bed and gently patted the bulge in the covers.

“Don’t hide in there, come out and get some fresh air.”

Slowly, she moved and revealed her obviously guilty face.

Qin Mohuai’s smile deepened, seemingly unaware of her nervousness. He raised his hand and affectionately ruffled her hair.

“Did I scare you? Don’t worry, in my heart, you’re special, Xia Yuan. No matter how you deceive me, hurt me, or keep secrets from me, I won’t hold it against you.”

“It’s like you left behind a soft clay figurine, tirelessly waiting for you, loving you, and thinking of you.”

Xia Yuan gazed quietly at him.

Time and experience had given him more patience and tolerance. Each time he showed her his boundless affection, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow for him.

The heavy cost of those three years had tempered his terrifying possessiveness and control, transforming him into the calm, elegant, and loving Qin Mohuai that the world saw.

She sniffled and, feeling a bit wronged, snuggled into his embrace.

As his large hand brushed against her sensitive skin, her delicate waist trembled, and she instinctively pressed closer.

If she hadn’t met Qin Mohuai, she wouldn’t have known her waist was this sensitive.

It was somewhat embarrassing.

It felt like this reaction was uniquely meant for him.

Qin Mohuai loved it, his dark eyes occasionally glinting with a desire that Xia Yuan couldn’t bear to face. If he weren’t worried about making her cry, he’d want to record her adorable reactions.

“Mohuai, I suddenly remembered something I haven’t told you.”

“I’m listening, baby,” he said.

Xia Yuan bit her soft, rosy lips. “I had a boyfriend in that world too.”

What nonsense experience! Qin Mohuai’s eyes darkened as he gripped her waist tightly, his voice trembling, “Did he touch you? Forget it, you don’t have to tell me… What did you two do?”

“We just held hands.”

He pressed his forehead against hers, visibly relieved and encouraging her to continue.

“Mohuai, your ending isn’t good. Your loved ones left you, no one truly loves you, you have no children, and you’re left all alone.”

Knowing his fate didn’t seem to add any melancholy to Qin Mohuai; he accepted it calmly.

Because that was the Qin Mohuai from the novel, and he was much luckier.

Just then, Old Man Qin’s call came through.

After a brief chat, Qin Mohuai hung up.

“Baby, tomorrow is the grand opening of the new KG mall. We need to make a public appearance to save my crumbling tyrant image.”

“Okay.”

Qin Mohuai watched Xia Yuan seriously writing songs, his handsome face softening with a gentle smile.

He didn’t need Qin Jingye or anyone else to teach him how to love; he would give Xia Yuan the best love.

“Baby, don’t waste your talent. If you’re feeling okay, go work at Ai Xia Records.”

Xia Yuan turned around in surprise, feeling as if she was meeting him for the first time.

“You said it yourself, and I’ll allow you to backtrack once.”

“I won’t backtrack.”

Roses shouldn’t just be kept in a greenhouse; they should also feel the wind of the wild. He wasn’t afraid of her wandering away, for this love could not be diminished by time or space.

“Can I move out then?” she asked.

Qin Mohuai smiled slightly. “Baby, I’ve figured things out, not gone crazy.”

 The Next Day

Qin Mohuai stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. The finely tailored suit accentuated his upright figure.

The sky was overcast, and the cold wind whistled outside, but it couldn’t shake his calm, dignified presence. At thirty-two, he had long outgrown any notions of being thin-skinned, restless, or reckless.

“Let’s go,” he said as Xia Yuan, still groggy from sleep, stood up with a delicate huff.

He turned around, his eyes glinting with a newfound appreciation.

He had never seen her dressed like this before.

Her legs were wrapped in gray sheer stockings—straight and subtly sexy—paired with a luxurious black coat and a short skirt. The gray custom-made boots hugged her calves perfectly.

The exquisite tailoring was a classic in its own right, so Xia Yuan wore no expensive jewelry. The only accessory was a silver brooch shaped like a clock and a rose on her coat, giving her the air of a rose-colored beauty just back from a time travel adventure—graceful, precious, with a hint of rebellion and mystery.

Qin Mohuai suppressed his astonishment. “Baby, I’m really convinced that you can support Ai Xia Records.”

Wearing black leather gloves, Xia Yuan’s elegant yet grand ensemble concealed her allure in subtle details.

She tapped his shoulder playfully, her lively voice declaring, “You should call me Boss Xia.”

“Boss Xia, may your business flourish! Let’s aim for a hundred billion!” he replied, his eyes filled with affection.

“Wow, that’s way too little! At least start with a trillion!”

“Such lofty goals for your first business venture, baby. I’m no match for you.”

“Hmph, just follow my lead, and I guarantee you’ll become the richest person in the world!”

Qin Mohuai obediently followed Boss Xia, learning the ropes of business from her. He gallantly opened the car door for her, saying, “Boss Xia, bend down; watch your head.”

The opening of the new KG mall attracted many stars for the event. Security had formed a human barrier, and reporters from all over Xiangzhou were there, cameras aimed at the spotlight—Qin Mohuai and Xia Yuan.

The appearance of the Qin family head and his wife was significant; anyone who didn’t grab the headlines today wouldn’t have a place in Xiangzhou’s media industry.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Xia Yuan quietly slipped away.

She headed alone to Qingshan Temple, where in previous visits, Qin Mohuai had taken her to make wishes and offerings. Influenced by him, she found herself believing in the temple’s power.

It was a weekday, and with the sudden drop in temperature, there weren’t many visitors, allowing Xia Yuan a clear path—perhaps a sign that her wishes would come true.

She wrote two wish plaques and hung them on a tree.

After the white Maybach left, a black Maybach slowly pulled up at the foot of the mountain.

“Madam only wrote two wish plaques and didn’t do anything else,” said Qin Wu, observing her actions.

She came to Qingshan Temple solely for him.

Qin Mohuai got out of the car and approached the plaques she had written.

“May Qin Mohuai be happy and joyful for a hundred years.”

“May Qin Mohuai and Xia Yuan grow old together.”

Qin Mohuai swallowed hard, his eyes misty as he softly closed his elongated eyes. “To be estranged from all, to be widowed and alone—my fate was supposed to be this way. Does this version of Qin Mohuai deserve her love, even at the cost of her life?”

He entered the meditation hall where the abbot sat in contemplation. Having donated an eight-figure sum over the years, the abbot had become Qin Mohuai’s second therapist.

“Master, I’d like to ask—can Xia Yuan live a long life?”