After Faking My Death, My Iceberg Ex-Wife Went Crazy for Me - Chapter 34

In the afternoon, the small courtyard welcomed its second visitor.

Despite the sweltering heat, Ye Ling wore a long-sleeved shirt, its cuffs revealing only a thin layer of skin stretched taut over her prominent wrist bones. Her left hand was laden with so many items that one couldn’t help but wonder if her slender wrist might snap under the weight.

The courtyard gate was unlocked. Ye Ling rang the doorbell politely and, seeing a shadow move inside the living room, pushed the gate open and entered.

“Teacher Jiang,” she greeted as Jiang Yuheng emerged.

“Xiao Ye, you didn’t need to bring anything,” Jiang Yuheng said, reaching for the bags.

Ye Ling gently evaded her grasp. “I’ll carry them. They’re not heavy.”

“Your hands are already red from the straps. How can you say they’re not heavy?” Jiang Yuheng insisted, forcibly taking two items. She glanced behind Ye Ling. “Xiaoxiao didn’t come back with you?”

Ye Ling’s expression remained unchanged. “Mo Yuan reached a collaboration agreement with a tech company in New York. They’re sending a group of technicians abroad for training, and Xiaoxiao was very interested. She asked me to secure an extra spot for her. Didn’t she tell you?”

“She did,” Jiang Yuheng said, letting Ye Ling into the house with a hint of disappointment. “But I thought she might be pulling her usual trick—pretending she can’t come back, then sneaking in to surprise me.”

Ye Ling explained, “Due to changes in the work schedule, time is indeed a bit tight…”

“I understand. Work is important,” Jiang Yuheng sighed, muttering to herself, “When she used to study abroad with her mother, it was fine since we rarely saw each other. But now that I’ve gotten used to her dropping by to bother me occasionally, suddenly not seeing her for so long feels a bit unsettling.”

Ye Ling’s eyes darkened, and she remained silent.

“Don’t just stand in the courtyard. Come inside,” Jiang Yuheng said, leading the way and casually placing her things beside the coffee table.

Ye Ling followed suit, setting down her belongings. As soon as she sat down, Jiang Yuheng took her hand in hers.

The dry, warm, unfamiliar touch sent a shiver through Ye Ling’s heart, making her feel slightly nervous.

Perhaps sensing her discomfort, Jiang Yuheng patted her hand casually. “It’s nothing. I just wanted to see why your hands are so cold.”

As she spoke, she pinched Ye Ling’s fingertip with her nail. “…The bl00d is returning a bit slowly. You should get checked for anemia when you have time. And there are so many vertical ridges on your nails—have you been staying up late recently?”

“I haven’t been staying up late,” Ye Ling replied softly.

She simply couldn’t sleep. Her eyes stayed wide open until dawn broke.

“How could your complexion be so poor if you haven’t been staying up late?” Jiang Yuheng lowered her hand, frowning at Ye Ling. “Look at those dark circles under your eyes, and how gaunt your face has become. You haven’t been eating properly lately, have you?”

Ye Ling remained silent.

“I knew it! Xiaoxiao always says you forget to eat when you’re busy. People are like iron, and food is like steel—you can’t function without it!”

Jiang Yuheng urged earnestly, “If the heat makes it hard to eat, ask Auntie to prepare some cooling dishes. You need to eat something, even if it’s just a little. Understand?”

“…Mm,” Ye Ling nodded softly.

After chatting for a while—mostly Jiang Yuheng talking while Ye Ling listened—Jiang Yuheng finally asked about the large bags and small packages Ye Ling had brought.

“They’re Hai City specialties. Xiaoxiao bought them when she had time and asked me to bring them back for you.”

Ye Ling knelt down to unpack the items one by one, while Jiang Yuheng sat beside her, offering occasional comments. “These seafood items look good… Tsk, this seashell must be artificial. It looks pretty at first glance, but…”

After examining everything, Jiang Yuheng complained with a hint of pride, “Xiaoxiao really needs to break this habit. She’s always buying flashy things, and the house is practically overflowing.”

Ye Ling’s hand trembled slightly, her lashes lowering to conceal the uncertainty in her eyes. “You don’t like them?”

“The seafood is fine—it’s rare for her to buy something practical. But the rest? All for herself!” Jiang Yuheng declared with an air of knowing it all. “She buys them for a fleeting novelty, then dumps them in my pile. They’ll sit there for years, taking up space.”

So it’s not rejection, Ye Ling realized, relieved. She relaxed and brought out the final item.

The pale blue jewelry box opened to reveal a string of bodhi seed prayer beads lying quietly inside.

Jiang Yuheng froze. “Isn’t this… the one I gave Xiaoxiao to wear?”

“Yes, but since she’s going abroad, she was afraid of losing it and asked me to bring it back,” Ye Ling explained. “She accidentally spilled coffee on it earlier, but it’s been cleaned.”

“No wonder it looks so white now. That girl—always so clumsy.”

Jiang Yuheng muttered something and placed the jewelry box beside her.

After chatting for the time it took to drink two cups of tea, Ye Ling rose to take her leave. Jiang Yuheng stood up to see her off.

Just as they reached the living room doorway, a short, three-colored blur darted past like a cannonball. Ye Ling’s calf was struck, and she instinctively grabbed the doorframe to steady herself.

Jiang Yuheng startled and rushed to help. “Are you alright? Xiao Hua gets a little hyper when she wakes up.”

Ye Ling shook her head, her peripheral vision sweeping over her sleeve. With a silent tug of her fingers, she flipped the bl00d-stained fabric to the inside.

At their feet, the culprit had already made its escape, leaving behind only a crochet doll lying on its back—black-haired, red-robed, and grinning with bared fangs.

Ye Ling glanced down, her expression freezing instantly.

She bent to pick it up, her thumb brushing away dust and cat fur from the doll’s face. “This is… the doll Xiaoxiao always had hanging from her phone?”

Jiang Yuheng followed her gaze. “Yes, that’s it. I told her she was wasting things. A perfectly good doll, and she insisted on giving it to Huazai to play with. He lost it after only two days, and I’ve been searching for it for days without any luck…”

“Can I have it?” Ye Ling asked abruptly.

“Huh?” Jiang Yuheng nearly forgot what she was about to say. After a moment, she replied, “Sure, you can have it. Huazai’s been adopted anyway, and we have so many new toys he’ll never get through them all. But what do you want it for?”

Ye Ling explained, “I’ve invested in similar IPs before. Xiaoxiao’s world-building is remarkably complete, with the potential to become a major IP. Having a physical reference would simplify our team’s work on illustrations and cultural merchandise.”

This wasn’t entirely a lie. Ye Ling had considered this possibility, but when Xiaoxiao showed no interest, she dropped the idea. Now, she was only interested in the doll itself.

Jiang Yuheng didn’t suspect anything. Xiao Hua, who lived at home, already had plenty of toys, so she let Ye Ling take the doll.

As they walked Ye Ling to the courtyard gate, she casually asked, “By the way, Teacher Jiang, when did Xiaoxiao leave Mona here?”

Jiang Yuheng thought for a moment. “I think it was the day she went to Hai City, probably a Saturday.”

Ye Ling nodded. “I see. It’s hot outside, you don’t need to see me off.”

“Alright. Come visit me more often when you have time.”

“I will.”

Ye Ling turned to leave, and more red spots seeped through her sleeve.

The forceful grip she’d used earlier must have torn open the scab on her wound.

Ye Ling pinched the cuff of her sleeve, straightening the fabric to keep it away from the wound. Then she ignored it completely, focusing her attention on the doll in her hand.

She knew how precious this doll was to Xiaoxiao. So why would she suddenly give it away as a toy?

And why on the very day they were leaving for Hai City?

Could there be a connection?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the round-faced girl who had brushed past her suddenly turn around, staring intently at her retreating figure.

The girl watched until Ye Ling’s silhouette vanished at the end of the road.

Chen Qiao walked toward Jiang Yuheng’s house, turning back every few steps.

Seeing the courtyard gate ajar, she stepped inside and called out loudly, “Grandma!”

Jiang Yuheng had just sat down to put on her bodhi bead bracelet, thinking to herself how lively the day had become. She stood up again to greet her. “Coming, coming… What’s that you’re carrying? Such a big bag!”

“My mom brought me fruit from our hometown. There’s way too much to eat, so you don’t need to refrigerate it. Just peel it when you want some.”

Chen Qiao put the bag down and headed straight for the refrigerator to grab a drink, as familiar with the place as her own home. “It’s so hot today… Grandma, did someone come by earlier?”

The items still scattered on the coffee table hadn’t been put away yet. For some reason, Chen Qiao immediately thought of the person she had just passed on the street.

She was certain she’d never seen that face before; otherwise, she would have remembered. But that figure… it seemed so familiar. Strange, where had she seen it before?

Chen Qiao tapped her head, unable to place it. Jiang Yuheng replied, “He was one of my former students.”

She didn’t elaborate, gesturing toward the handicrafts and miscellaneous trinkets. “See if there’s anything you like. Pick two to take with you.”

Chen Qiao followed her suggestion, examining a couple of items. “This seashell pendant is nice. I can take it apart for Huazai to play with. But I’ll pass on the rest. My place is too small; Huazai would destroy them in a matter of days…”

Crack—

Clatter-clatter-clatter—

A sharp, fragmented sound rang out, like glass beads scattering.

Chen Qiao froze, looking up to see the woven cord on Jiang Yuheng’s wrist hanging empty.

A bodhi bead rolled to her feet. Chen Qiao belatedly asked, “What happened, Grandma? Did your bracelet break?”

She picked up the bead, noticing Jiang Yuheng’s pale complexion. She quickly reassured her, “These things have a spiritual significance, you know. It probably protected you from some misfortune.”

“…Yes, protected me from misfortune. Now that the danger’s passed, everything will be alright. Besides, I’ve worn it for five or six years; it’s bound to break eventually,” Jiang Yuheng murmured to herself, bending down to retrieve the beads. But for some reason, her hands trembled so violently she couldn’t grasp them.

 

Ji Qing: Dr. Lin hasn’t been taking new patients lately. I had to beg her for ages to squeeze you in.

Ji Qing: Remember to go after you’re done with work. I’ve sent you the address.

 

Ji Qing: Why haven’t you replied yet? You haven’t changed your mind, have you?!

Back in the car, Ye Ling lowered her gaze and typed:

Just left Teacher Jiang’s.

Ji Qing: Good to hear you haven’t changed your mind.

Ji Qing: I just remembered something. Xiaoxiao has a close friend. Should we tell her about Xiaoxiao’s situation?

A friend…

Is her name Chen Qiao?

Ji Qing: Yes, have you met her?

I’ve only heard Xiaoxiao mention her.

If you have her contact information, you can tell her, but you must ensure Teacher Jiang doesn’t find out.

Ji Qing: Understood.

Ji Qing: I’ll arrange to meet her another day.

 

About half an hour later, the car pulled up outside a high-end residential complex.

Since outside vehicles weren’t allowed in, Ye Ling registered at the gate and followed the address Xue Jiqing had given her.

Lin Fei timed her descent perfectly, waiting by the building entrance while casually scrolling through her phone.

Soon, footsteps echoed on the stone-paved path. She put her phone away and looked up.

Her first impression was of whiteness—a sickly, unnatural pallor.

Despite the scorching sun, Ye Ling seemed oblivious to the heat. Her bangs remained dry, and her steps were steady and unhurried.

The second impression was of paleness—even her lips were pale. The stark contrast between her black and white features, accented by a touch of rosy blush, made her seem more suited to a traditional ink painting than to the real world.

When their eyes met, Lin Fei’s mind settled on two words: difficult case.

Having worked in the field for years, she had encountered countless patients.

The truly “difficult” ones either came with parents who clearly needed therapy themselves or were acutely aware of their condition but stubbornly refused to change.

This woman undoubtedly belonged to the latter category, and possibly the former as well.

Putting her phone away, Lin Fei extended her hand as Ye Ling approached. “Hello, I’m Lin Fei.”

Ye Ling gave her a brief, firm handshake. “Ye Ling,” she said simply.

 

The elevator stopped at the designated floor, and Lin Fei stepped out first, retrieving a pair of disposable slippers from the entryway.

“I apologize for the inconvenience. The studio is currently under renovation, so I had to bring you home instead.”

“It’s no problem at all,” Ye Ling replied.

The door opened, and Ye Ling changed into the slippers before following Lin Fei inside.

The living room was warmly decorated, exuding a lived-in atmosphere.

Lin Fei walked straight to the wet bar. “Make yourself comfortable. Tea or coffee?”

“Tea, please. Thank you.”

The L-shaped sofa faced the TV cabinet. As Ye Ling was about to sit in the middle, her peripheral vision caught sight of a succulent planter. She instinctively moved closer to it.

Lin Fei returned with the tea, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. “I thought you’d sit on the other side for a better view of the whole room.”

Ye Ling didn’t argue. “Has the psychological assessment already begun?”

“No, we’re just chatting,” Lin Fei said, setting down the tea. “Here’s your tea.”

Ye Ling thanked her but didn’t touch the cup.

She doesn’t plan to stay long, Lin Fei quickly concluded. “Typically, the first step in psychological therapy is building trust. That seems difficult for you, so let’s skip it.”

Before Ye Ling could react, she continued, “Would you be interested in talking about your past? Childhood, first love, things you hate… or perhaps that dirty toy you’re holding?”

Ye Ling remained silent.

“Is this your standard routine?” she asked.

“Sort of,” Lin Fei replied vaguely. “I usually adjust it based on the specific situation.”

“That’s what I thought,” Ye Ling said, stroking the plush toy in her hand. “May I ask you a question first?”

“Please do,” Lin Fei said.

Ye Ling didn’t rush to speak, as if organizing her thoughts.

After a moment, she asked, “I want to know, would someone from a harmonious family, doted on by their parents and raised with a touch of indulgence but also very sensible, choose to abandon their elderly relatives and seek death after their parents’ passing?”

Her question was earnest, and Lin Fei considered it carefully before answering, “The probability is relatively low.”

“While it’s true that people might do anything when suffering severe emotional trauma, a psychologically healthy person generally wouldn’t resort to such extremes while still having strong ties to others.”

“I understand,” Ye Ling said, standing up. “My questions are finished. Goodbye.”

“?”

“Wait,” Lin Fei called out hastily. “Didn’t you want to know about my other patient’s situation? Is that all?”

“I’ve already asked.”

Ye Ling met her gaze directly. “Since she sought psychological therapy from you, you couldn’t possibly have avoided reviewing her records, knowing I was here for her. And judging by your reaction just now, you didn’t connect her to my question.”

Lin Fei: “?”

Ye Ling continued, “There are two possibilities: either your skills are lacking, or even you don’t know much about Xiaoxiao.”

“Given that Ji Qing recommended you, I’m inclined to believe the latter. In that case, there’s no reason for me to stay any longer.”

“Dealing with children is so much easier. A few kind words and they spill everything.”

Lin Fei sighed helplessly, watching Ye Ling’s retreating figure. Strangely, a flicker of competitive spirit ignited within her.

Raising her voice, she called out, “Geng Xiaoxiao was brought to me by her family for psychological counseling after they noticed her mental state deteriorating.”

“You’re right, I don’t know much about her. She only came twice and didn’t reveal much. In fact, her words often contradicted each other, riddled with inconsistencies as she tried to conceal the truth.”

“But I am a psychologist. Don’t you want to hear my perspective on her?”

“People’s thinking can easily become rigid. Seeing things from a different angle might reveal more than you expect.”

Ye Ling paused. A confident smile curved Lin Fei’s lips.

“In exchange, sit down, and let’s talk about your problems first. How does that sound?”

 

Though Ye Ling had sat down again, Lin Fei didn’t expect her to “confess everything.”

She slowly poured herself half a cup of black tea and said, “Ji Qing roughly told me about your situation. You want me to analyze why Geng Xiaoxiao chose to jump into the sea, right?”

Ye Ling looked at her and asked, “How much do you know about her?”

Lin Fei shrugged. “Didn’t you already guess?”

The questions she had just asked were practically everything she knew—or even less.

For example, she hadn’t detected any signs of “harmonious family and parental affection” at all.

Whether good or bad, the imprints left by childhood and family are deeply etched into the soul, difficult to erase.

But in the “Geng Xiaoxiao” she had encountered, such marks were barely discernible.

That’s why she hadn’t realized Ye Ling was asking about the real Geng Xiaoxiao, allowing Ye Ling to exploit the loophole.

“My impression of Geng Xiaoxiao is quite strong,” Lin Fei continued, “because she seemed very eager to cooperate with me, but ultimately nothing came of it.”

“Even so, two meetings were enough for me to form a basic understanding of her. But to refine my analysis, I need you to fill in some gaps.”

Lin Fei summarized the situation succinctly. “If you’re not sure where to start, why don’t you tell me about your first encounter with her?”

Ye Ling gazed at her silently, as if assessing her. Lin Fei met her gaze openly, confident that since Ye Ling had decided to stay, she was unlikely to leave again.

After counting to ten in her mind, Ye Ling finally spoke.

“I’m not sure if that even counts as our first meeting…”

It was still during high school, at Jiang Yuheng’s house, that Ye Ling first saw Geng Xiaoxiao.

The middle school entrance exam served as a watershed, separating precocious children from overgrown kids.

A three- or four-year age gap was enough to create two distinct worlds. Coupled with Ye Ling’s natural tendency to ignore others, she initially paid no attention to the child. It was only after realizing she was Jiang Fufeng’s daughter that she took a second glance.

Some unspoken psychological impulse compelled her to wonder what kind of child Jiang Fufeng, her mother’s former friend, had raised.

The answer, of course, was the complete opposite of herself.

In just one afternoon, Ye Ling witnessed the girl’s manipulative charm multiple times. With a few sweet words, she had her classmates wrapped around her finger, helping her with her summer homework.

Even the usually strict Teacher Jiang treated her with boundless indulgence, secretly sneaking her a “second” popsicle—a treat forbidden to children in summer—behind her own daughter’s back.

The impression of a spoiled brat stuck. Beyond that, she was remarkably adept at reading people’s expressions.

Ye Ling had never attempted a conversation with her.

Afterward, Ye Ling resigned from her position as physics class representative and never saw her again.

Until four years ago.

The person who reappeared before her was like a completely different person.

Unfamiliar with social norms, slightly shy, and utterly curious about everything.

Ye Ling said, “The day I saw her again, her will to die was overwhelming. I had just pulled her out of the water, and the moment she regained consciousness, her first instinct was to jump back in.”

“So, I resorted to some rather drastic measures. After that, she was clearly afraid of me.”

Hearing this, Lin Fei chuckled softly. “So it was you. Geng Xiaoxiao mentioned the person who saved her. As you said, she’s definitely afraid of you.”

Ye Ling tugged at the corner of her mouth. “That’s why I find it so strange. Shouldn’t fear make someone want to stay far away?”

Yet Xiaoxiao kept finding excuses to get close, even dragging Teacher Jiang along as a protective charm at first.

“Moreover, Xiaoxiao often gives me a sense of detachment. Especially when we’re alone, her emotions will suddenly shift for no apparent reason—becoming either much happier or much more despondent.”

“Her personality has also changed drastically. This isn’t just my imagination. After noticing it, I privately asked Teacher Jiang, who said Xiaoxiao’s behavior was due to trauma.”

“But what if that’s not the whole story?”

Lin Fei raised an eyebrow. “What are you suspecting?”

“Suspecting…” Ye Ling blinked, her voice drifting off. “I don’t know exactly. I just feel like something’s off, like we’re missing a crucial piece of information.”

“Personality changes after trauma are common. In severe cases, it can even lead to schizophrenia.”

Lin Fei interrupted the question, sensing that if they continued, Ye Ling herself might be the one to develop a split personality.

“At least from my two meetings with Geng Xiaoxiao, there were no signs of dissociative identity disorder.”

“…Perhaps.”

Ye Ling pinched the bridge of her nose, a deep weariness settling in her heart. She took a sip of her now-cold black tea and asked, “Is the information I’ve provided sufficient for your analysis?”

Lin Fei paused thoughtfully before replying, “Without direct communication with the person involved, my assessment can only serve as a reference.”

“Given the urgent circumstances at the time, and without the benefit of hindsight, Geng Xiaoxiao believed she had been betrayed by her lover. Under such emotional duress, her impulsive decision to retaliate fiercely is understandable.”

“Is that so?”

Ye Ling closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, her expression utterly blank. “But the premise was flawed.”

Lin Fei reviewed her earlier statement. “Which premise?”

“Lover,” Ye Ling enunciated each word deliberately. “She didn’t love me that much.”

“Why do you think that?” Lin Fei asked, genuinely puzzled.

“I don’t know what Ji Qingdu told you, but over the past few days, I’ve replayed every detail of my interactions with Xiaoxiao countless times.”

Ye Ling slowed her pace deliberately. “Let’s go back to the beginning. Her appearance was strange from the start, wasn’t it? Hai City is surrounded by water, so why would she drown specifically in Yuexin’s artificial swimming pool?”

“The biggest red flag, as I mentioned earlier, is that despite her fear, she kept finding ways to get close to me.”

“This behavior lacked motivation, at least initially. I’m certain it wasn’t because she liked me.”

“And… I always felt like Xiaoxiao knew what was going to happen in Hai City beforehand.”

“She visited the cemetery early, met with friends, and gave them unusually warm hugs when she left. She even left behind her most cherished doll before going to Hai City.”

“It was like a farewell, wasn’t it?”

“…” Lin Fei analyzed objectively. “People sometimes have a premonition before a major event. Perhaps her actions were simply based on this feeling?”

“As for her getting close to you… the suspension bridge effect from that life-or-death situation four years ago might have made her mistake it for affection, sparking her curiosity about you. That’s not impossible, right?”

“I don’t think so.” Ye Ling shook her head, her gaze unconsciously scanning the living room as if searching for inspiration to articulate her thoughts.

Finally, her eyes landed on a figure of a game character.

“Have you ever played a first-person perspective strategy game?”

“…”

 

After seeing Ye Ling off, Lin Fei collapsed inelegantly onto the sofa, rubbing her throbbing temples.

As their conversation progressed, she found herself increasingly unable to keep up with Ye Ling’s train of thought.

This often signaled dire consequences—

Ye Ling’s mental state was far worse than she had imagined.

Just as Xue Jiqing had warned, Ye Ling couldn’t accept Geng Xiaoxiao’s departure and had conjured countless reasons to validate her own beliefs.

The most striking example was her theory about the “strategy game.”

After eliminating all other possibilities, she attributed Geng Xiaoxiao’s initial interest in her to ulterior motives—perhaps she had simply been attracted to Lin Fei’s physical appearance.

Based on this premise, even the smallest doubts, originally worth only one point, had been magnified a hundredfold, a thousandfold, through relentless rumination.

A new chain of logic had formed, leading to the conclusion that Geng Xiaoxiao had left either because her objectives had been achieved or because she had grown bored.

Ye Ling clung to this belief with unwavering conviction.

No, not entirely unwavering. Deep within her heart, another thought continued to struggle.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that all these conjectures were merely self-comforting delusions.

She was the one who had caused this irreversible outcome. She was the one who had failed to pull Geng Xiaoxiao up at the critical moment.

This guilt manifested physically as the wound on her right arm that refused to heal.

Moreover, this guilt was likely to intensify with time.

Therefore, Lin Fei dared not refute Ye Ling’s theory.

She didn’t even dare follow Xue Jiqing’s advice to persuade Ye Ling to accept Geng Xiaoxiao’s departure.

Ten days had passed, and far from becoming calmer as Xue Jiqing had suggested, Ye Ling had completely retreated into her own world.

Once the balance was broken, who could predict the consequences?

After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Fei dialed Xue Jiqing’s number.

The call was answered almost immediately. “How is Ye Ling doing?”

“Not well at all,” Lin Fei sighed. “You’d better pray Geng Xiaoxiao is truly safe.”

Xue Jiqing paused. “Of course I’ll keep praying. But your words remind me of a bet Ye Ling made with me.”

“What kind of bet?”

“She said that if the rescue team never finds Xiaoxiao, it means she’s alive and well, and she’s won.”

Lin Fei asked, “Did Ye Ling say what would happen if she lost?”

“…I don’t know. I didn’t dare ask.”

Xue Jiqing continued, “Do you think it’s possible that Xiaoxiao was rescued by a passing ship and is still recovering, or perhaps she’s even lost her memory? That would explain why we haven’t found her and why she hasn’t contacted us.”

See? This was the kind of speculation a normal person would make.

Though the odds were still slim.

Lin Fei didn’t want to dampen Xue Jiqing’s spirits at this moment. “As long as there’s no concrete evidence, anything is possible. As for Ye Ling…”

“I usually don’t like to exaggerate, but her condition… it’s hard to feel optimistic.”

It could be said that the only thing keeping her alive was the belief that Xiaoxiao’s body hadn’t been found.

“She’s someone who doesn’t like to, or rather, isn’t used to, revealing her true feelings to others. Geng Xiaoxiao could be a breakthrough, but we can’t rely on it too often. It could easily backfire.”

“She doesn’t trust me, so my interventions are limited. You should pay close attention to her condition, especially when there’s any new information from Geng Xiaoxiao.”

Xue Jiqing recalled the conversation she had overheard outside the hospital room that day, her fingers tightening around her phone. “I understand.”

“Good. I won’t say more then.” The voice on the other end of the line remained as warm and gentle as ever. “Let’s move on to the next matter.”

“You haven’t come for a follow-up appointment in quite some time, have you, little Jiqing?”

“…The wind is suddenly so strong, I can’t hear you properly…”

Xue Jiqing feigned a “hello, hello” into her phone. The other party seemed to say something in response, but before she could finish her act, they hung up abruptly.

Xue Jiqing sighed in relief, but as she thought of Ye Ling, her brows furrowed with renewed worry.

She opened her contacts list and found a contact she had been neglecting for far too long.

If you’re free tomorrow, come have a drink at X.Lady.

 

Behind the bar, Xue Jiqing, dressed in a military-green work vest, deftly rotated her wrist, causing ice cubes to rattle in the shaker.

The wind chimes by the door jingled as a breeze stirred them. Xue Jiqing glanced up to see a young woman in her early twenties stepping into the sunlight, her eyes sparkling with pure, clear adoration.

That’s why I don’t want to hold her back…

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Xue Jiqing’s lips as she lowered her head and poured the cocktail into a glass.

“Thank you for the advice you and Xiaoxiao gave me last time. The final recipe for ‘Winter’s Letter’ is set. This is a new cocktail I’ve been working on—I haven’t named it yet. Want to try it?”

“Sure.”

Chen Qiao set down her bag with a smile and took a sip. “It’s very smooth. Did you add orange juice?”

“Yes, but don’t drink too much—it’s stronger than it tastes.”

As Xue Jiqing rinsed the shaker, she remarked pointedly, “I was thinking of calling it ‘Siren’ or ‘Shipwrecked.'”

Chen Qiao pondered the names. “They both sound like the same thing. Is there a special meaning?”

“Well…” Xue Jiqing hesitated. “The inspiration comes from someone… someone I can’t forget. Like this cocktail, the first sip is as alluring as a siren’s song, but too much will leave you shipwrecked.”

“I see. They sound like a very captivating person.” Chen Qiao’s expression darkened.

Having achieved her purpose, Xue Jiqing didn’t dwell on the cocktail.

“I didn’t invite you here just for drinks. There’s something important I need to tell you.”

Her tone suddenly turned serious. Chen Qiao looked up, her gaze meeting Xue Jiqing’s, which held an unreadable complexity.

“Xiaoxiao… she…”

 

It took Chen Qiao a long time to process this information, which was exceptionally difficult for her to comprehend.

Xue Jiqing didn’t rush her, silently placing a calming honey-mint drink by her hand.

After a long silence, Chen Qiao asked, “So, the person I’ve been messaging these past few days… it wasn’t her, was it?”

Xue Jiqing said softly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep it from you for so long.”

“I understand. You were worried about Grandma,” Chen Qiao said, tears welling in her eyes. “I knew something was off with Xiaoxiao these past few days. She kept reading my messages without replying, and she always ignored my nonsense. How… how could she…”

Chen Qiao took a deep breath, suppressing the sob rising in her throat. “There’s still no news about her, is there?”

“No…”

“No news is good news,” Chen Qiao’s voice trembled slightly. “She still has her study abroad plans, everything’s already arranged. Everything will work out.”

“Yes. I’ll keep Grandma in the dark. We’ve been getting along well lately, so I can take care of her.”

“Also, please let me know if you hear anything new about Xiaoxiao. I’m free and happy to help with anything if needed.”

“……”

Xue Jiqing handed her a tissue. “I understand. Wipe your face first.”

“……Thank you,” Chen Qiao croaked, pressing the tissue to her face, which was quickly soaked by her trembling tears.

The already quiet bar, not yet open for business, grew even quieter. The gentle chime of the wind chimes easily drowned out her stifled sobs.

After soaking through countless tissues, Chen Qiao finally lifted her tear-streaked face, her nose red.

“Sister Jiqing,” she whispered, “Xiaoxiao will be okay, right?”

“……”

Xue Jiqing’s heart ached. She brushed aside the damp strands of hair clinging to Chen Qiao’s cheek. “I hope so. Let’s wait for her to come back, okay?”

Chen Qiao choked back a sob, her eyes instantly misting over again.

“If we don’t hear from her, I’ll go find her. I’ll search the whole country, the whole world. I refuse to believe I can’t find her.”

“Okay.”

When Xue Jiqing said those words, she never imagined that this wait would stretch into three long years.