Chapter 22: An Unexpected Surprise

"Qin Yunzheng, let go."

Had it been before, Su Mian would not have been averse to physical contact with Qin Yunzheng. But now, she felt a visceral, physiological disgust toward him. If she hadn't been pestered beyond her limit today, she absolutely would not have made this trip.

"I won't. I want to stick to you," Qin Yunzheng said, not forgetting to nuzzle against her as he spoke.

This action thoroughly infuriated Su Mian.

"Qin Yunzheng, if you don't let go, don't blame me for being unkind."

The look in Su Mian’s eyes was truly terrifying, the likes of which neither of them had ever seen. Zhang Tao and Xu Yao, seeing this, hurriedly pulled him away.

"Don't pull me."

Su Mian looked coldly at Qin Yunzheng. "Drinking a bit of alcohol and putting on this lovesick display—it’s nothing but self-deception."

Su Mian remembered all too clearly what Qin Yunzheng used to be like.

"Um... let's just send him home first," Zhang Tao whispered, offering a suggestion.

Su Mian felt incredibly helpless, but she had no choice but to nod. With the two men supporting him, Qin Yunzheng finally managed to stand, and they hailed a taxi to take him to his house.

"Su Mian, I have a presumptuous request. Neither of us two men knows how to take care of anyone, so we have to leave it to you..."

Watching Qin Yunzheng slumped on the sofa, Zhang Tao looked at Su Mian, hesitating.

"Go on, then." Su Mian rubbed her temples, feeling a splitting headache. She prepared to call Auntie Wang over to take care of him, but checking the time, she realized Auntie Wang would already be resting.

Su Mian pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Qin Yunzheng. Looking at him, she felt a sense of bewilderment and muttered to herself, "Qin Yunzheng, tell me, what kind of bad karma did I accrue to have met you?"

Qin Yunzheng's hand slid off the sofa, looking as if he were about to fall to the floor. Su Mian reached over, lifted his arm, and placed it back.

"Just lie there properly. Don't move around."

Having left him with those words, she went straight to the kitchen to boil some hangover soup.

Qin Yunzheng opened his eyes hazily. Seeing the figure moving about in the kitchen, he thought he must be dreaming. Su Mian had already been gone for over a month; how could she possibly be here?

*It’s fine,* Qin Yunzheng told himself. *Even if it’s a dream, it doesn’t matter, as long as Su Mian is by my side.*

Su Mian returned with the hangover soup, intending to have him drink it, but she caught the words he was murmuring in his sleep.

"Su Mian, why did you treat me like this? Why are you with that person? Is what I gave you not enough?"

Su Mian set the bowl on the coffee table and pressed him, "Who am I with?"

Just then, Qin Yunzheng suddenly sat up, gave her an inexplicable smile, and then promptly slumped over, falling asleep on the sofa.

Seeing this, Su Mian decided not to press further. She pulled a blanket from nearby, tossed it over him, and turned to leave.

Qin Yunzheng’s house was not far from Su Mian’s apartment, so she didn't take a taxi and walked instead. Along the way, she kept wondering what he had meant by his words.

When she reached the bottom of her apartment building, she saw a drunkard tailing a young girl.

"Oh come on, I won't do anything to you, little sister."

"It's alright, I promise I'll make you feel good."

The drunkard was swaying as he walked, but he was still forcing the girl into a corner. Seeing this, Su Mian quickly pulled out her phone, grabbed a thick tree branch from the roadside, turned on her flashlight, and ran over.

"What do you think you're doing? I’m calling the police!"

The drunkard turned, his eyes stung by the glare of the phone light.

"I’m not doing anything, just following a pretty girl to have some fun."

The drunkard wanted to continue, but seeing the fierce, murderous look in Su Mian’s eyes, he faltered.

"Not leaving yet, are you?" Seeing that he still hadn't reacted, Su Mian didn't hesitate; she raised the wooden stick and charged.

Without a second thought, she began swinging wildly. Even though she was a woman, she was full of courage, swinging her arms with all her might. In the end, the drunkard was beaten into retreat.

The girl remained huddled in the corner. Su Mian steadied her nerves, trying to soften her voice. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

The girl looked up, and Su Mian froze. She never expected it to be Lin Qingqing.

"Why are you here?"

Su Mian and Lin Qingqing asked simultaneously, followed by a heavy silence. Seeing that Su Mian wouldn't speak, Lin Qingqing broke the silence first.

"That man just now... he was my brother. He probably didn't recognize me."

"What do you mean?" Su Mian looked at her, confused.

The other woman remained silent for a long moment before continuing. "I must have been spotted when I went back to the house to pick up some things I’d left behind, so he followed me."

Hearing this, Su Mian had no desire for small talk. "In that case, I'll be going."

She had nothing to say to Lin Qingqing. After all, Lin Qingqing had played no small part in her breaking up with Qin Yunzheng. To her surprise, Lin Qingqing stepped forward and grabbed her hand.

"You certainly won't leave me to my fate. You're so kind, just like before."

Su Mian looked at her with suspicion.

"Five years ago, you saved me once. I don't know if you remember, but I have never forgotten."

"How come I have no memory of that?"

"Five years ago, at a bar. My family situation wasn't good then, and I was singing at the bar. I ran into some thugs who forced drinks on me and tried to get handsy. I thought my life was over, that I would be trapped in the mud forever, but then you appeared against the light, called the police, and saved me."

"When the boss asked about it later, you even helped me pay for the drinks."

Listening to Lin Qingqing’s account, Su Mian’s memories were drawn back to the distant past. She couldn't remember the details clearly, but she had a vague recollection of the incident. Her expression toward Lin Qingqing grew complex.

"That was you?"

Because the bar lights had been dim and Lin Qingqing’s makeup had been smeared, it had been impossible to see her true face.

"Yes, it was me. I’ve always remembered."

After she finished speaking, Su Mian fell completely silent. She recalled that the girl had been extremely distressed back then; it had taken a long time for Su Mian to calm her down. She had also learned of the girl's background.

Singing at a bar at such a young age, being harassed with no recourse—it was all because she had no foundation. The girl's background was exceptionally tragic: a gambling brother, an alcoholic father, and a mother who favored sons over daughters. Su Mian remembered cursing about it at the time, though it had been purely out of humanitarian instinct and the heat of the moment. She had even offered the girl money, only to be refused.

She had assumed they would never have any contact again. Who would have thought it would be such a coincidence?

Had it not been for that experience, Su Mian would have had no favorable impression of Lin Qingqing whatsoever. But thinking of everything that had happened between them, Su Mian couldn't help but sneer.

"So, what are you trying to express by telling me all this?"

Seeing the mocking look in Su Mian’s eyes, Lin Qingqing lowered her head. Watching Lin Qingqing put on a display of helplessness, Su Mian spoke bluntly, "The act you use on Qin Yunzheng doesn't work on me."

Lin Qingqing waved her hands hurriedly. "No, that’s not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean? Preparing to return kindness with enmity?"