Chapter 34: Because You Are Truly Sick

"You young people just love worrying your elders. But Yaoyao, I must say, I envy your quality of sleep."

Li Zhen held a palm-leaf fan, fanning Congcong as the child played nearby, while casting occasional glances at Qiu Yiyao.

"I suppose I was just exhausted."

Qiu Yiyao didn't even lift her eyelids; she picked up a piece of fish and put it into her mouth. Although she had previously feared that Qiu Shengming might have drugged the food, she realized on second thought that if he truly wanted to poison her, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to bring her back. Therefore, she began to eat heartily without reservation.

Seeing her head buried in her meal, Qiu Shengming assumed she had come to terms with things. His brow relaxed, and he said with a chuckle, "Our Yaoyao has always been kind-hearted, never one to hold a grudge, and she doesn't like to keep things bottled up inside."

"That's wonderful."

Li Zhen glanced at Congcong and sighed. "Sigh, unlike me. I dwell on even the smallest unpleasantness. I either can't stop remembering it, or I just can't forget. Oh, if the children's father were still here, I wouldn't have to struggle so hard."

As she spoke, her voice choked with emotion, and she raised a hand to wipe away her tears.

This left Qiu Shengming at a loss; they were talking about Qiu Yiyao, so why was she crying? He looked toward Bai Peiyu for help. To his surprise, Bai Peiyu nudged Qiu Yiyao and gave her a meaningful look.

Qiu Yiyao shook her head. She didn't want to get close to anyone in this town, whoever they were. However, Bai Peiyu kicked her hard under the table and whispered, "Did you forget what I told you?"

At this, Qiu Yiyao rolled her eyes at him. Reluctantly, she put down her bowl and chopsticks, pulled a few tissues from the box, and stepped forward to comfort her. "Sister Zhen, the past is in the past. You are such a good person; someone who appreciates you will surely come along."

"Yaoyao, I know you're kind, but in my situation... sigh, it's always hardest for a woman."

Qiu Yiyao’s mind raced. Though Li Zhen had always acted self-deprecatingly, it wasn't hard to hear the longing in her words for someone to cherish her. She turned to look at Bai Peiyu, then at Qiu Shengming, and an idea formed. "Sister Zhen, sometimes you shouldn't just look elsewhere—look at the people right beside you. What about my dad? He’s a bit older, but he’s a decent man, and he’s not bad-looking, either."

Li Zhen blushed and patted Qiu Yiyao’s arm lightly. "Yaoyao, stop teasing me like that." Despite her words, her eyes kept darting toward Qiu Shengming.

Qiu Yiyao sneered internally. None of you in this town are good people; you’re a perfect match.

Qiu Shengming’s face turned the color of liver. "Yaoyao, don't you dare tease your Sister Zhen. I'm already at this age, how could I..."

Bai Peiyu interrupted, "I think it's a great idea. Since one of you has lost a husband and the other a wife, it’s a match made in heaven."

He set down his chopsticks and stood up. "I approve of this match."

His words made Li Zhen blush even deeper. Keeping her head down, she stood up as if to hide her embarrassment, grabbed Congcong, and headed toward the back door. "I just remembered I have something to take care of, so I'll head back first. Please, continue with your meal."

Seeing the back door click shut, Qiu Yiyao stopped pretending. She went to her room and retrieved her backpack.

"Let's go. I did what you asked, so what about my end of the deal?"

"Don't worry, I, Bai Peiyu, never lie."

Seeing the two of them head toward the front door, Qiu Shengming followed anxiously. "Where are you two going? It's already night."

Qiu Yiyao lifted her chin. "I'm going home to find my real father." She paused, her voice softening slightly. "Although I don't know who you really are, you haven't harmed me during this time, so I suppose you still have some conscience. If we ever meet again, I hope we won't be enemies."

Without looking back at Qiu Shengming, she stepped decisively out the door.

"Xiao Bai... this..."

"Don't worry, Uncle Qiu."

Bai Peiyu nodded at him, and Qiu Shengming understood, making no further attempt to stop them. As he watched the two walk toward the street corner, Qiu Shengming retreated into the house and closed the door.

Across the street, near the clock shop, Grandpa Qin stood in the shadows, clutching a piece of raw chicken leg, chewing it slowly and methodically.

...

Bai Peiyu led Qiu Yiyao through a shortcut to the wasteland north of the river.

"We're here."

"Are you messing with me? Bai Peiyu, didn't you say you never lie?"

Qiu Yiyao was furious. She wanted nothing more than to lunge at him, grab his hair, and smash his smug, handsome face until it was ruined, then drag him to a mirror to crush his self-righteous arrogance.

"I didn't. Aren't you out now?"

Bai Peiyu had his hands in his pockets. Under the dim moonlight, his expression was unreadable. But Qiu Yiyao knew instinctively that he was surely feeling smug, having tricked her yet again.

"I don't want to waste words on a scoundrel like you."

Ever since she became convinced that this town wasn't her beloved Yue-Li Town, everyone in it—including Bai Peiyu—was an enemy to her.

He surely harbored many secrets; otherwise, his previous bizarre behavior would be impossible to explain. Seeing Qiu Yiyao stomping away in a huff, Bai Peiyu called out, "Uncle Qiu cares about you. He’s watched you grow up since you were a child; he would never harm you."

Qiu Yiyao stopped. She sneered; even now, he was still spouting nonsense.

"So? You all colluded to say I’m sick and fed me those strange medicines?"

"That’s because you really are sick..."

At the mention of being sick, Qiu Yiyao became incoherently angry. "You’re the ones who are sick! Your whole family is sick! Everyone in this town is sick!"

"Can you stop being so willful?"

"Fine," Qiu Yiyao said, crossing her arms. "Take me home—my real home. Then my willfulness won't affect you anymore."

"Can you still not distinguish where your home really is?"

Seemingly frustrated that Qiu Yiyao was trapped in a dead end, Bai Peiyu raised his voice. "Look closely—is the person at home your father or not?"

"No."

Qiu Yiyao answered firmly.

Hearing this, Bai Peiyu shook his head repeatedly. "You've gone completely mad. So mad that you don't even recognize your own home, or even your own father."

"Right, right, I've gone mad. So what value does a lunatic have to you people? Just let me leave!"

Bai Peiyu fell silent.

Qiu Yiyao thought she saw hope; she believed he was wavering and considering it seriously. But this hope didn't last long. Before long, Bai Peiyu stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and said, "Since you don't believe me, let's go. We'll go to the hospital and have the doctors give you a proper examination."

"You're all in league with each other. I won't believe any of you."

Qiu Yiyao wrenched her arm free and turned to run toward the riverbank. But after running only a dozen meters, a dark shadow lunged from somewhere, wrapped its arms around her waist, and lifted her off the ground.

"I've snatched a bride! I've finally got a bride!"