103 Xu Yichen’s Methods (Part One)

Actually, one cannot entirely blame Chen Zimo. No matter how steady and composed he may be, he is, after all, only a sixteen-year-old boy. With his beloved younger sister in crisis and his parents, who had always been his pillars of strength, distraught and losing their composure, Chen Zimo struggled to maintain his calm, inevitably succumbing to the pressure.

The appearance of the Zhao sisters at this moment found him at his most vulnerable. A few soft, gentle words and a low-spoken greeting were enough to make him surrender completely.

Her raven-black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, making her pale, delicate skin appear even more pristine. Her brows were long and slender like a painting, and her eyes were as tender as water. Tiny beads of sweat clung to her forehead; under the airport lights, she looked like a lotus rising from the water, untouched by the dust of the world. As she bowed her head slightly, her slender, translucent hands—shining like jade—rested upon his, radiating the subtle scent of a clear spring.

The airport, already relatively quiet, suddenly faded into a blurred background in his consciousness. In Chen Zimo’s world, there was only this beautiful, elegant girl beside him. An invisible thread seemed to weave between them, tethering them together in an inexplicable bond.

There was a flicker of infatuation, a sense of dependency. Like two tiny specks of dust in the vast universe, they warmed each other, brewing delicate emotions.

"Passengers for B City, please take note, the flight..." The sweet female voice over the intercom jolted Chen Zimo back to reality. He tightened his grip on her hand and said softly, "Let's go."

Zhao Xin nodded submissively, following the Chen family toward the plane. Her expression remained as it had been upon arrival—a mix of anxiety, tenderness, and resilience—but internally, a massive storm was raging, waves of sweetness surging through her heart.

Misfortune is the precursor to good fortune.

She had successfully planted the seed within Chen Zimo. Having seen countless people in her life, she was acutely aware of the change that had just taken place in him. Such an outstanding boy would one day grow into an outstanding man, and these current events were merely accelerating his maturation.

In this world, who else could love him as she did, willing to sacrifice everything—even her own life—for his sake? Her feelings for him had evolved from the initial admiration and envy of her past life to gratitude, and through the baptism of time and the tempering of reality, the tiny sliver of warmth he had once shown her had been magnified infinitely during countless lonely nights, finally blossoming into love.

No. It was a sentiment even more complex than love.

She loved him so deeply, was so utterly unable to live without him. Therefore, what did it matter if she had to cater to his sister or his family? She loved him, and she was willing to give everything she possessed for him.

In this regard, Liu Ziqing could never compare to her. Liu Ziqing had her own pride and self-respect; she would not allow others to trample upon her dignity, and even for Chen Zimo’s sake, she would never voluntarily lower herself. Consequently, when facing the little princess Xie Xitong, she refused to humble her stance.

Although Xie Xitong was a bit willful, she was not unreasonable. One should never underestimate a child’s intuition. She could sense Liu Ziqing’s disdain, the condescending attitude she adopted when speaking to her. In her eyes, it felt as though she were nothing but a court jester, lacking proper upbringing. Xie Xitong would never forget how, upon their first meeting, she had offered her favorite doll to the beautiful older sister, only to be met with a contemptuous roll of the eyes and cold words: "Boring." "You're just like an idiot."

Back then, Liu Ziqing was young and did not understand how to feign politeness; she expressed her dislike of things directly and cruelly. For Xie Xitong, however, it was a genuine, searing hurt. That favorite doll—the one she wouldn't even let her brother touch—had been offered with a heart full of enthusiasm, only to be met with such treatment.

Xie Xitong was precocious and intelligent; there was no doubt about that. Children’s words are the most innocent, yet the most cutting. Regardless of how Liu Ziqing behaved later on, the scars on her heart would never heal. Every time she saw her, it was like dredging up the past, tearing open a scab that had only just begun to heal. It was a hidden history that no one knew—that the wild, carefree Xie Xitong had once offered her true self to someone, only to be deeply wounded.

If she were just an ordinary girl, perhaps these things would have vanished in the currents of time. But she was not. Extreme brilliance often invites injury.

Traffic in B City was as congested as ever. By the time Lin Xia finally reached the Third Hospital, the Xie family was waiting outside the operating room. Xie Chunhua no longer looked the stylish, glamorous woman Lin Xia had first met; her clothes were wrinkled, her exquisite makeup ruined by tears. She kept murmuring in self-reproach. Beside her, a girl with a pure appearance bowed her head in comfort—this must be the cousin, Yun Jin, whom Tongtong had mentioned. The middle-aged man to her right must be Tongtong’s uncle-in-law, Zhao Guanghui.

Without time to think, Lin Xia hurried over and asked anxiously, "Auntie, how is Tongtong?"

Hearing her voice, Xie Chunhua looked up. Only then did Lin Xia realize her eyes were swollen like peaches, devoid of their usual sharp, capable air. She rasped, "Xia... Xiaxia is here."

Zhao Yunjin was much calmer than her mother. She stood up to exchange a few quiet words with Lin Xia, filling her in on what had happened. It turned out that Xie Xitong, Xie Chunhua, and Zhao Yunjin had been shopping. Everything was fine until Xie Xitong, distracted by the street view, lagged a few steps behind. Somehow, she was pushed off the sidewalk into traffic and struck by a drunk driver. The driver died on the spot, and Xie Xitong had been pulled from the wreckage with only a breath of life remaining; she was now in emergency surgery.

Watching the red light above the operating room and the sight of Xie Chunhua’s agonizing sobs, Lin Xia couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy. When she had died all those years ago, had her own parents grieved like this? Unlike them, Xie Chunhua at least had Zhao Yunjin and her husband for comfort. As for her own mother back then—her son had moved out to start a family, controlled by his wife, and her father was a man of few words. How had she managed to endure it all?

Staring blankly at the words "In Surgery" above the doors, Lin Xia fell into her own thoughts.

"Don't cry. Tongtong is a blessed child; she will be fine." Zhao Yunjin’s voice pulled her back. Lin Xia looked up to see her offering a tissue. "Wipe your face."

Only then did Lin Xia realize her face was wet. She had been crying. "Thank you," she said, taking the tissue.

Zhao Yunjin sat down beside her, looking toward the operating room, and sighed, "Tongtong is so young, yet she has a friend like you; she is truly fortunate. Your judgment is far better than mine was at her age." Her phoenix-like eyes dimmed, her tone filled with melancholy, as if she, too, had a story of her own.

In this situation, what could Lin Xia say? She remained silent. Fortunately, Zhao Yunjin did not require a response. Just then, Zhao Yunjian, who had gone to the smoking area, returned, and the group waited in silence for the outcome.

The surgery felt interminable. It wasn't until the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hospital corridor that the group was startled into looking toward the end of the hall. Xie Fanghua and Zhao Qian were in the lead, followed by Chen Guoqing, and then Chen Zimo and Zhao Xin. Seeing Xie Fanghua and Zhao Qian, Xie Chunhua and Lin Xia stood up in unison to meet them.

"Xiaofang, how is Tongtong?"

"Third Sister, it’s all my fault... Wuu... It’s my fault for not looking after her... Sister, hit me, scold me..."

The group split into three: the two Xie sisters huddled together, and the siblings Chen Zimo, Zhao Yunjian, and Yunjin gathered nearby.

"Qianqian, why did you and Cousin Xin come?"

"How is Tongtong?" Ignoring her question, Zhao Qian gripped Lin Xia’s hand, asking anxiously.

Lin Xia’s eyes darkened, and she shook her head. "She's still in surgery. We don't know the outcome yet."

Being only fourteen, Zhao Qian could no longer hold back. She burst into tears, throwing her arms around Lin Xia. With everything that had happened, Lin Xia’s own nerves were frayed, and she was easily swept up in the emotion. The two clung to each other, sobbing.

Watching them cry so bitterly, Zhao Xin felt a mix of heartache and envy. Such pure affection was something money could never buy. Only at such an innocent age could one possess such purity. Once one entered society, they would realize just how happy their foolish, younger self had once been.

Once the group had calmed down, Zhao Xin asked about Xie Xitong’s condition. After hearing Lin Xia’s account, Zhao Xin felt uneasy. Although she possessed the water from her space, it had its limitations; it wasn't omnipotent enough to bring back the dead. Moreover, it required the person to consume it or be immersed in it to provide nourishment. If it couldn't reach the body, it would be ineffective. Besides, she had to ensure Xie Xitong still had a breath of life before using the spiritual liquid. If the surgery failed...

Zhao Xin dared not continue that line of thought. If Xie Xitong were really gone, what a devastating blow it would be to the Chen family. Suddenly, Zhao Xin felt helpless. So, even after being reborn, she was still powerless against certain people and the cruel twists of fate.

There were some people you simply could not defeat. As the saying goes, "Beware not the thief who steals, but the thief who keeps watch." If Xu Yichen was truly targeting Xie Xitong, how could she ever be protected? And if one had to live day after day in fear for their lives, what meaning did existence have?

Was this car accident just the beginning, or the opening act of his revenge? No one knew. Because she did not understand him.

Zhao Xin stood before the hospital window, watching the bustling traffic of B City, feeling a sense of silence.

"Eileen Chang once said, 'Birth, death, and separation are all great events, not under our control. Compared to the forces of the outside world, how small, how very small we are. Yet we insist on saying: "I will be with you forever; let us never part for the rest of our lives." —as if we were the masters of our own fate.'"

A soft, slightly hoarse female voice sounded in her ear. Zhao Xin turned to see Lin Xia standing quietly beside her.