Volume 1 Сhарtеr 19: Тwisted, Possеssivе Love
Wеn Mingzhu crоuсhеd in а twistеd рosturе bу thе doоrwaу, peеking thrоugh the сraсk. Тhе longеr shе watсhеd, thе mоrе sоmеthing felt оff.
When Fu Нuаixu tightened his embrаcе arоund Jiаng Хining аnd refused tо let go, shе nеаrlу gasрed аloud.
Goоd hеаvеns, shе had sеnsed something wаs аmiss еаrliеr, and now it was соnfirmеd!
This wаs definitеly affесtiоn—twistеd, possеssivе love.
In this situаtion, should shе bе hiding undеr thе cаr instеad…
Wen Mingzhu tiptoed awаy, рrераring tо heаd downstairs, but suddenlу pаused. Wаit, why wаs she feeling guilty?
Watching the two of them clinging to each other, Wen Mingzhu’s expression was indescribable. Thankfully, there were no outsiders around, or this would look anything but innocent.
As Jiang Xining’s cousin, Wen Mingzhu naturally knew that she had always been close to this childhood friend of hers.
Compared to the moody and unpredictable Fu Jinghao, Fu Huaixu treated Jiaojiao much better.
All these years abroad, he never missed sending gifts during holidays. They didn’t have to be expensive, but it was clear he put thought into them.
Wen Mingzhu couldn’t help but compare the two. Appearance: +1. Consideration: +1. Seniority: +1. It seemed Fu Huaixu outshone Fu Jinghao in every aspect—except for his health, which was a bit… frail.
So, who did Jiaojiao actually like?
…
“Jiaojiao, do you still like Fu Jinghao?”
Even though she herself was a bit scatterbrained, Wen Mingzhu had been running around these past few days, putting in more effort than if she were serving an ancestor. She couldn’t stand it any longer and secretly pulled Jiang Xining into a corner of the hallway.
Fu Huaixu’s SVIP ward was quiet and spacious, comparable to a five-star hotel suite.
This side of the hallway was empty, giving them the perfect space to whisper.
Jiang Xining was still holding a fruit knife, waiting to peel an apple for Fu Huaixu. Hearing this question, she froze for a moment. “Zhuzhu, why are you asking that too?”
“Who else asked?” Wen Mingzhu wondered who shared her intuition.
“But that’s not important… Sweetie, answer me first, okay?”
After Fu Huaixu’s comforting words last time, Jiang Xining wasn’t as angry anymore. Dou Dou had been deceived by those bad people—he didn’t know someone had come to cause trouble for her.
Still… Jiang Xining held a small grudge.
Why couldn’t Dou Dou be smarter? Xingxing didn’t have annoying friends, and he would never call her stupid.
If it were anything else, Jiang Xining would get angry and then let it go, never holding onto it. But being called stupid was something she would remember for a lifetime—she’d hold a grudge even from the grave.
Torn between conflicting feelings, Jiang Xining pursed her lips hesitantly before finally nodding. “…I like him.”
Neither of them noticed that the ward door had opened at some point and closed again without a sound.
Wen Mingzhu pressed on, “What about Fu Huaixu? Do you like him?”
This time, Jiang Xining didn’t hesitate at all. Her eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously. “I like him!”
Xingxing was her best friend—she liked him the most, most, most!
Wen Mingzhu noticed the difference in her reactions and her expression turned subtle. “Jiaojiao, if you could only like one, who would you choose?”
This question again.
The corners of Jiang Xining’s lips, which had been lifted in a smile, drooped. “Why can I only choose one? I like them both. Can’t I have both?”
From childhood to adulthood, Jiang Xining’s life had never presented her with choices.
If she liked something, it came in multiples—no matter how many, she could have them all.
Why could there only be one… She didn’t understand.Wen Mingzhu sighed as she looked at Jiang Xining’s innocent eyes, switching to a way she could understand. “Jiaojiao, look, your uncle and aunt only have each other, and you don’t have two fathers or mothers either, right?”
“You can have many kinds of affection for friends and family, but the affection for a partner can only be for one person.”
Wen Mingzhu spoke earnestly, “Jiaojiao, if you love someone, you won’t allow them to love someone else. The affection between a man and a woman, or love, is exclusive and unique. It’s different from friendship or family love.”
Jiang Xining felt she understood, yet also didn’t quite grasp it, her eyes filled with confusion.
Love…
Was what she felt for Dou Dou love?
…
This question troubled Jiang Xining for a long time.
If you love someone, do you want to possess them exclusively?
She loved her parents, and she loved Dou Dou, but she didn’t mind if they made friends with other smart people and played together.
So, was that not love?
Because her mind was filled with so many thoughts, Jiang Xining looked serious even when daydreaming, as if she were facing some insurmountable problem.
“Is Jiaojiao tired?”
Thanks to supervision, Fu Huaixu’s “condition” had improved significantly, and he no longer needed to be covered with white cloth.
Seeing the girl’s distracted state and the dark circles under her eyes, Fu Huaixu couldn’t help but feel distressed. “I’m fine now, Jiaojiao. You should go back and rest.”
It had been a while since she last saw Fu Jinghao, her “boyfriend.” She must miss him too.
“Xingxing…”
Fu Huaixu’s profile was handsome and refined, with a smooth jawline. As Jiang Xining stared at him, she felt as if a tangled ball of thread was knotting in her heart, and she called out his name dazedly.
Fu Huaixu’s slender fingers skillfully peeled the fruit with a knife, far more deftly than Jiang Xining, who often ended up with only the apple core.
He speared a piece of fruit and gently fed it to Jiang Xining. “I’m here.”
Jiang Xining chewed mechanically, pursed her lips, and whispered, “You loved your first love very much, didn’t you?”
She hadn’t forgotten, but she couldn’t help asking again.
Fu Huaixu paused briefly, giving the same answer as before. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because… she was my little moon, who saw me at my most wretched and vulnerable.”
Jiaojiao, the bright moon; Zhaozhao, Xining.
Fu Huaixu gazed intently at Jiang Xining, his eyes softening as if reminiscing. “If it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today…”
Dark, morbid, obsessive, and ruthless—that was the real Fu Huaixu.
But in front of Jiaojiao, he could always be her brightest star.
Jiang Xining remained stunned for a long time before asking, “And what about me? Do you like me, or do you love me?”
“For Jiaojiao, it’s love.”
There was no “also” in this sentence because he had always loved her.
“No, no!” Jiang Xining suddenly stood up agitatedly, her voice tense. “You can’t love two people! Love and liking are different, Xingxing. You can’t have two!”
Unlike Jiang Xining’s restlessness, Fu Huaixu remained exceptionally calm. After a moment of surprise, a strange light flickered in his dark pupils.
Even a hint of untimely joy.
He gently pulled the anxious, pacing Jiang Xining to sit down and asked softly, “Why is Jiaojiao upset?”
Jiang Xining opened her almond-shaped eyes, now brimming with glistening tears. “I don’t know…”Warm fingertips with a slight callus gently wiped away the tear stain. Fu Huaixu leaned close to Jiang Xining’s ear, his voice overflowing with affection. “Don’t be sad. My first love was Jiaojiao.”
“Only Jiaojiao.”