Xin Moli choked back her sobs, and Lan Yuxi did not offer words of comfort. Instead, she tightened her grip, understanding Xin Moli’s feelings all too well. Any words spoken now would be futile. It was better to simply hold her hand, letting her feel that she was not alone, that at least she had her.
“Yuxi, thank you! You always appear when I am at my most disheveled and helpless.” After a long while, Xin Moli finally spoke, her voice already hoarse.
Lan Yuxi quickly poured her a cup of warm water. “Drink some water to soothe your throat.”
Xin Moli cast her a grateful glance before taking a few sips with a straw.
Once Xin Moli’s emotions had stabilized, Lan Yuxi asked, “Moli, have you gone to find your mother?” Perhaps her mother’s departure had an inside story. She refused to believe that there were parents in this world who did not love their children.
Xin Moli laughed self-deprecatingly. “I did. My father couldn’t withstand my nagging and finally agreed to let me leave the island. On that trip, I not only found my mother, but I also met Lan Mushu… My mother had a new home. The man she was with was her childhood sweetheart, her first love. Not long after she ran away, they got married and had a child that belonged only to them. I only watched the three of them from afar for a moment before running away in tears. I went to a bar, intending to drown my sorrows in alcohol like my father, but my tolerance was nowhere near his. I nearly beat someone senseless in the bar, thinking I was on Yan Island, where I was the queen and no one dared to touch me. However, that person made a phone call, and over a dozen people showed up. If Lan Mushu hadn’t pulled me away, I would have been the one to get beaten. When I think about it, he and I are even now.”
Lan Yuxi’s heart skipped a beat as she heard Xin Moli’s last sentence. Even, owing nothing to each other, no more ties from this point on. It meant they would likely never see each other again in this lifetime. They clearly had feelings for each other, so why end it in such a way!
Xin Moli turned her head to look at Lan Yuxi, who looked as if she had eaten bitter herbs. “Tell him that I don’t hate him anymore. I won’t leave Yan Island again. My father is old, he’s like an eagle that can’t even peck at carrion anymore. I have to stay and guard him, and guard Yan Island, which he built with his own hands.” Tears welled up in Xin Moli’s eyes again. She sniffled and forced a faint, yet extremely genuine, smile. “ I always thought my father didn’t love me, but just now, I finally understood. He does love me. His indifference towards me was because seeing me reminded him of my mother, as we look so alike.”
Lan Yuxi pursed her lips and wiped the tears from Xin Moli’s face. “If you know your father loves you, you can’t go back looking like this. He’ll be heartbroken. Give me ten days, I’ll help you recuperate, and then I’ll personally escort you back, alright?”
Xin Moli raised her hand and touched her face. “Do I look very ugly?”
Lan Yuxi smiled and nodded. “Your face is as pale as a ghost!”
Xin Moli pouted. “You’re just jealous of my stunning beauty, so you’re saying that on purpose.”
“Am I the only one with stunning beauty? Do I not have it either?” Lan Yuxi puffed out her chest proudly. “I used this face, which makes all the women in the world jealous, to trick my Nan Xiao into marrying me.”
Xin Moli burst into laughter. “So, you’re indeed more beautiful than me, since you used your face to trick a man.”
“That’s because you don’t bother tricking people. If you wanted to, you could have any man in the world choose you… Ouch…” Lan Yuxi moaned, frowning.
Xin Moli quickly clasped her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“My stomach hurts from hunger.”
“You’re hungry, hurry up and eat! Go on, don’t stay here.”
“But I’m afraid you’ll leave after I have dinner.”
“I won’t leave. I’ll go after you’ve recuperated,” Xin Moli’s gaze dimmed. “My father really can’t take any more shocks.”
Lan Yuxi shoved her phone into Xin Moli’s hand. “Then call the person who’s coming to pick you up. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease.”
Xin Moli smiled helplessly and, under Lan Yuxi’s persistent gaze, dialed her subordinate again. “Have you departed… Then don’t come. I’ll call you when I want to return… Alright.”
Xin Moli hung up the phone and looked up at Lan Yuxi. “Are you satisfied now?”
“Satisfied, that’s my good girl!” Lan Yuxi called towards the door, “Ying, bring the food in.”
The door opened, but it wasn’t Ying who entered, but Lan Xiao Wu, carrying a food container. Seeing him, Xin Moli quickly turned her head away, not wanting to look at him.
Lan Xiao Wu’s heart ached, but he chose to ignore her disdainful gaze. After setting down the food container, he said, “Xi Er, Fourth Brother made this himself. You must be hungry, come and eat quickly.”
Lan Yuxi frowned. Shouldn’t this person be concerned about his benefactor right now? Just as she was about to cover for him, Lan Xiao Wu opened the container and took out a bowl of millet porridge. “Moli, you can’t eat anything too greasy for now. I’ll feed you some porridge. When you’re feeling better, I’ll cook for you myself. My cooking is no worse than Fourth Brother’s.” Lan Xiao Wu said, carrying the bowl of porridge towards Xin Moli.
Xin Moli was so furious she felt like her lungs would explode. How could this man be so annoying! When she chased after him, he treated her with indifference. Now that she had given up, he was clinging to her.
Lan Yuxi saw Xin Moli’s face turn red with anger and quickly took the bowl of porridge from Lan Xiao Wu. “I’ll do it. You go eat something too.”
Lan Xiao Wu looked at the bowl of porridge in her hand longingly. “I’m not hungry.”
“You’re not hungry, but your stomach is!” Lan Yuxi said, winking at him repeatedly.
Heaven finally opened its eyes, and this time Lan Xiao Wu understood! “There’s another food container outside. I’ll eat out there.” Lan Xiao Wu walked out, looking back at Xin Moli repeatedly.
Lan Yuxi stirred the millet porridge with a spoon. Once it was no longer too hot, she scooped a spoonful and brought it to Xin Moli’s lips. Xin Moli tightly closed her mouth in resistance.
Lan Yuxi smiled and said, “This was all made by my Fourth Brother, but it has nothing to do with him.”
“Liar!”
“If I lie, I’m a dog! Don’t you want to get better soon? Do you want everyone to see you like this?”
Xin Moli glanced at her and then reluctantly opened her mouth. As Lan Yuxi fed her, she said with a smile, “Don’t you think men are all quite annoying? When you care about them, they act distant. When you ignore them, they come crawling back. My second junior brother is like that, my eldest disciple is also like that, and so is Huo Ding…”
Xin Moli snorted. “You missed one person!”