Hua Xian took two steps back, preparing to gather strength to kick the door open. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her. She then noticed the flower pot nearby; after moving it, a key was indeed lying underneath.
“It is a good thing I am so clever, or else I would have wasted a whole door.”
Hua Xian took the key to unlock the door, not forgetting to compliment herself as an aside.
The moment the door opened, Chi Meng lifted her head from her arms. Her eyes were cold and sharp, like a poisoned sword. The chilling intensity in her eyes softened slightly upon seeing that the person who entered was Hua Xian.
Hua Xian quickly walked over and crouched in front of her, asking with concern, “Are you all right? I just heard a loud crash. Did you fall?”
“It is none of your business. Go away!” Chi Meng pushed her away. Her chin rested on her knees, and her entire being exuded an aura that warned people not to approach.
She was starting to isolate herself from the world again.
This time, Hua Xian did not listen to her. She embraced her regardless, holding her close so the woman could feel the warmth.
“Mengmeng, please do not be like this. No matter what happens, your older sister will stay by your side. Can you try to believe in me, just for a moment?”
“Believe you?” Chi Meng looked up at Hua Xian, giving a cold laugh: “I did believe you, and it ended in betrayal and deceit. If I believe you one more time, will I be completely shattered, body and soul?”
“…” Hua Xian was stumped again. The current her wanted to punch her former self to death.
“You should leave. The farther away from me, the better. I do not want to see you anymore.” As Chi Meng finished speaking, large tears rolled down. She buried her face back into the crook of her arms, her shoulders shaking slightly. The sight filled Hua Xian with distress.
“Do you not want me anymore? You brought me back, and now you are chasing me away. But where can I go?”
Hua Xian crouched in front of Chi Meng, looking at her with a wronged expression, like a small dog abandoned by its owner.
She admitted that initially, she wanted to break free from Chi Meng’s constraints. But later, after understanding what she had done to Chi Meng and realizing Chi Meng’s mental condition, she abandoned the idea of leaving.
She needed to make amends for her mistakes. But she also genuinely wanted to cure Chi Meng and bring a smile back to her face.
It would be such a pity for a face this beautiful to remain without a smile.
Lately, she had grown accustomed to staying by Chi Meng’s side. Now that Chi Meng was saying this, she felt not a trace of happiness, only a sense of foreboding.
Chi Meng was so obsessively attached to her—she had started out with a mindset of life-and-death struggle. What could have made her suddenly change her mind?
Did she truly come to her senses, or is it…?
Hua Xian did not dare to think about it. The force in her hands increased, tightly locking Chi Meng’s fragile body in her embrace.
“Since you put the chain on me, then I am your dog. A puppy without its owner is a very pitiful thing.”
Chi Meng stopped crying and looked at Hua Xian in shock, her mouth opening several times without managing to speak a word. Hua Xian gently wiped her tears and kissed her slightly reddened eyes.
“Please stop crying, all right? We will solve whatever problem it is together. I will not allow anyone to hurt you.”
Chi Meng was somewhat dazed. Perhaps it was because Hua Xian’s embrace was too warm, or perhaps her words were too misleading, but she found herself thinking back to the past.
At that time, when they were together, it was also Hua Xian who protected her. She never had to worry about anything. She had once felt that even if the sky fell, Hua Xian would hold it up for her.
Then, reality harshly slapped her face, letting her know that nothing in this world is immutable. Even the person who shared your bed for so long could stab you in the heart without hesitation.
Chi Meng gave a cold sneer, and her eyes held a determined look: “I have already let you go. Are you still acting? Movie Queen Hua, I know you haven’t filmed for a long time and are addicted to acting, but I do not have time to play with you.”
She still needed to figure out how to reclaim her grandmother’s belongings and then make the person who caused her grandmother’s death pay with their life!
Hua Xian hugged Chi Meng tightly, completely unshaken by her words. Having been together for so long, she understood Chi Meng’s temper clearly. The woman was practiced at using harsh words to provoke others. At a time like this, one just needed to interpret her words in reverse.
She told me not to hug her, so I will hug her anyway. She told me to leave, so I will not leave. She would cling stubbornly to Chi Meng’s side, since the woman could not chase her away anyway.
“It is not an acting addiction. If it weren’t for you, I would have quit the entertainment industry a long time ago.” Hua Xian finished speaking and buried her face in Chi Meng’s neck.
This was true. Although her acting skills were excellent, and she had starred in many popular works and won many awards after getting together with Chi Meng, she was not truly passionate about acting. She mostly wanted to be a rich and leisured ‘salted fish.’
Perhaps because Hua Xian’s embrace was overly warm, Chi Meng did not respond to Hua Xian’s words. Instead, she gently rested her chin on Hua Xian’s shoulder, savoring this rare and precious moment.
The two remained in this embracing posture for a long time. Hua Xian’s legs grew numb, and she nearly collapsed onto Chi Meng entirely, but she managed to stabilize herself at the last moment.
“Mengmeng, the floor is cold. Get up first.”
Hua Xian stood up first, her feet feeling as if thousands of ants were crawling on them. Chi Meng remained seated on the floor, looking down as she said, “You go out. Let me be alone for a while.”
Being alone will just lead to overthinking. I cannot allow that!
“Then I will stay with you.” Hua Xian sat down beside Chi Meng and reached out to put her arm around the woman’s shoulder: “Whether you hate me or despise me, I will not let you be alone. Never again.”
The tears Chi Meng had just managed to stop began to flow heavily again. She turned her face away, not wanting Hua Xian to see her discomposure.
Even if she is just acting, this person is far too invested. I will let her stay for now and see what other tricks she plans to pull.
It was only then that Hua Xian realized Chi Meng’s ankle was severely swollen, like a steamed bun.
Did she fall off the bed just now?
Looking at the slightly messy bedsheets, Hua Xian had a rough idea of what had happened. She stood up again and effortlessly lifted Chi Meng into her arms.
“What are you doing?!” Chi Meng seemed surprised by her action and quickly wrapped her arms around Hua Xian’s neck.
Hua Xian placed her on the bed. She placed her hand on the swollen area and asked softly, “Why didn’t you say anything about your swollen ankle? You used to be unable to tolerate even the slightest pain.”
Chi Meng spoke with a hint of self-mockery: “I had someone who cared before, so naturally, I was spoiled beyond measure. Now, what right do I have to cry out in pain?”
Hua Xian’s chest felt tight, and she was unable to say a word. She fetched the first aid kit, but after searching, she could not find any swelling medication, so she had to call for a delivery service.
Back in her own room, she saw the call interface on the tablet and suddenly remembered that she had called Nanzhi earlier.
“Zhizhi, are you still there?”
“What is wrong with you? Are you all right?! Did Chi Meng hit you? Do not panic. I am on my way!” Nanzhi replied hastily.
Hua Xian: “… Uh, it is not what you think. I am perfectly fine. You do not need to come.”
“Then what was that about earlier? You called and then did not speak. I thought you were being domestically abused! … You told me too late. I am already here.” After the sound of a door opening, Nanzhi’s voice rang out again: “Are you really fine? Are you sure you are not lying to me?”
“I am truly fine. I apologize for making you worry.”
“It is good that you are fine. Then I will wander around nearby and go back.”
Hua Xian remembered the important matter and quickly said, “Zhizhi, if you are not busy, could you please help me buy some swelling medication?”
“I can buy the medicine, but I do not want to come to your house.” Chi Meng is too terrifying.
“But Mengmeng cannot be left unattended right now. Please, I beg you.”
Nanzhi seemed to take a huge mental leap before agreeing: “All right, I will help you this one time. When I ring the doorbell later, you must quickly come out. I will hand over the medicine and then slip away.”
“Deal.”
Hua Xian hung up the phone, tossed the tablet onto the bed, and walked back into Chi Meng’s room. Chi Meng looked at her with heavy eyes and asked, “Who were you talking to?”
To keep her from overthinking, Hua Xian falsely claimed it was the delivery service. To her surprise, Chi Meng suddenly grew angry.
“Come here.”
Hua Xian obeyed and went to sit on the edge of the bed, asking softly, “What is wrong?”
Chi Meng leaned in and bit her neck hard, her voice chilling: “You lied to me again!”