Willing to Be for Her - Chapter 20

They stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the snow fall outside. Feather-like flakes melted into the vast, deep blue sea.

Luo Xuan lowered her head, her silvery-white hair cascading down like falling snow—soft yet icy. Ning Yiqing found himself lost in thought, wanting to brush aside her bangs to see her eyes.

But the woman merely tightened her white morning robe with deliberate slowness, her gaze dark and veiled, as if shrouded in mist.

“Xiao Xuan, this might be the way to correct our mistake.”

*Mistake?* Luo Xuan brushed aside a stray strand of hair, her heterochromatic eyes flashing an unnatural crimson, like bl00d-red glass on the verge of shattering.

*What exactly is the mistake?*

Seeing birds in spring is right; encountering flowers in winter is wrong.

Because she was like a winter flower—destined to wither soon, as if she had never existed at all.

Therefore, her very existence was a mistake.

Yes, she was a sick person who shouldn’t have been born, someone who was never chosen.

A mistake of a person.

So she was meant to be discarded like trash.

“If I hadn’t seen the text message, were you planning to tell me at all?”

Caught off guard by Luo Xuan’s directness, Ning Yiqing momentarily lost his composure, but his eyes remained sincere and steady. “I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

Luo Xuan shook her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “It was my fault. I permanently marked you without your consent.”

Ning Yiqing lowered his gaze, his soft, moist lips parting in a gentle sigh. “I was reckless that day, never imagining you’d be so deeply affected.”

Luo Xuan finally managed a smile. *An S-Class Omega could never truly understand how difficult it is for someone of a lower rank to control themselves.*

*I was just too weak.*

The white camellias on the table bloomed violently, their petals unfurling in the hazy moonlight. The heavy snow fell silently, blanketing the world in a gentle, ethereal embrace.

Luo Xuan gazed steadily at Ning Yiqing, as if she could see the fragile love he had offered her.

In those jade-clear eyes, beneath the veneer of tenderness, lay a core of cold detachment and ruthless self-interest.

She would never see the azure sea.

*Why now?*

She didn’t understand.

She only felt a faint pang of regret.

Just a little.

The Capital City shimmered with vibrant night lights, its spring air buzzing with a lively energy that persisted even after dark.

In a private room at a teahouse in the city center, delicate pink and white camellia petals, each cradling a tender pistil, fluttered down through the misty tea-scented air.

Qin Shiyi idly twirled a white camellia in her hand, occasionally glancing at the opera stage below, where singers chanted in melodious tones, before turning back to observe the woman sitting upright, sipping tea, and reading a book.

Ning Yiqing sat in a black ebony rattan chair, dressed in a black turtleneck sweater beneath a meticulously tailored, lapel-collared coat. She turned the pages from time to time, but her gaze never truly focused on the words.

“Tell me again,” Qin Shiyi pressed, her patience wearing thin, “Luo Xuan knew you were planning to erase the mark, then coughed up bl00d and fainted?” Though she had already asked three times, she couldn’t resist confirming again. “That child has always been sickly; her constitution is truly frail.”

Ning Yiqing sipped her tea, her expression impassive. “Xiao Xuan’s illness is congenital and difficult to treat. I’ve already consulted with top specialists both domestically and internationally.”

“Oh my, does this count as part of her divorce settlement?” Qin Shiyi clicked her tongue deliberately.

The woman closed her book, her eyes glinting with a deep chill as she glanced indifferently at Qin Shiyi.

“When the Ning Family initially chose to marry into the Luo Family, Luo Wei was always the intended bride. It was only by some twist of fate that you ended up marrying Luo Xuan. If you ask me, you should just accept the mistake and move on,” Qin Shiyi said, completely unfazed by Ning Yiqing’s icy demeanor. “Breaking your agreement with the Luo Family would only cost you a few billion yuan. That’s nothing to someone with a net worth of hundreds of billions.”

The tea in Ning Yiqing’s cup was scalding hot. She accidentally burned the tip of her tongue, momentarily losing herself in the memory of the cherry flavor she had tasted not long ago.

The cherry still lingering within her.

“The company isn’t mine alone,” Ning Yiqing replied.

“Enough already. I know you too well. You’re meticulous and serious about work, refusing to tolerate any mistakes. Stubborn as hell.”

On the stage below, one act ended and another began. The male lead, who had previously partnered with the female lead, had been replaced by a new actor. The scene was titled “Parting Ways, Each Finding Their Own Joy.”

“They’ve definitely parted ways,” Qin Shiyi said, cracking sunflower seeds and clinking her cola can against Ning Yiqing’s cup. “Whether they’ll find joy is another matter.”

Ning Yiqing frowned, a flicker of hesitation and uncertainty crossing her face.

“Yi Qing, I’m telling you, a loyal dog’s love never changes—it only disappears,” Qin Shiyi said, her words carrying a hidden meaning.

“Shiyi, what are you trying to say?” Ning Yiqing asked, tracing the blue-and-white patterns on her teacup.

“Just an analogy,” Qin Shiyi replied. “Imagine a master tells his dog, ‘I picked you up off the street. I’ll keep you for a few days, pet you, and love you. But when I get tired of it, goodbye.’ How do you think the dog would feel?”

At that moment, a knock sounded on the private room door, and a tall figure emerged from behind the water-green screen.

Xia Zhiwan, wearing a cyan qipao, smiled and said, “President Ning, what a coincidence! What brings you and your friend to my humble teahouse?”

“Miss Xia?” Qin Shiyi teased, her tone flippant. “Your interests are quite diverse—art exhibitions, teahouses… What other surprises are you hiding?”

“Miss Qin, you flatter me. I’m just dabbling,” Xia Zhiwan replied, turning to Ning Yiqing with a smile. “President Ning, where’s Xuanxuan? I don’t see her.”

“Xuanxuan?” Ning Yiqing’s jade-like fingers tapped lightly on her teacup, her voice carrying a subtle, dark undertone.

“It’s a childhood nickname. Xuanxuan and I were neighbors for a while. I just came to say hello. You two can continue chatting. I’ll be going now.”

After another round of tea and pastries, Qin Shiyi casually remarked, “The way Xia Zhiwan acted, it was more like she was talking about a lover than a neighbor. Don’t you think it’s a bit odd?”

“Alright,” Ning Yiqing said, lowering her gaze and smoothing her brow. She pulled out an antique pocket watch from her inner pocket and glanced at the time. “I have to leave for an industry summit later. Let’s catch up when I get back.”

Watching Ning Yiqing’s slender figure disappear behind the screen, her dark hair piled high, Qin Shiyi silently grumbled about the woman’s perpetual black attire. She neither indulged in material pleasures nor showed any interest in beauty, living like a deity bound by strict asceticism.

For Ning Yiqing, wealth and luxury were fleeting illusions; power was the only thing that mattered.

In short, she lacked humanity.

“Yi Qing,” Qin Shiyi said, her playful demeanor vanishing as she looked at Ning Yiqing with sudden seriousness, “do you seem… regretful? The industry summit is tomorrow afternoon. You never used to get the dates wrong.”

The woman’s silhouette paused before the screen, her brow furrowing. After a long silence, she slowly walked away.

When Luo Xuan woke up in the hospital room, she momentarily thought she had returned to the time when her mother was still alive.

Back then, she had been frequently hospitalized, unable to attend school. During her worst episode, she was covered in tubes and would often choke awake at night, her mouth filling with bl00d.

But every time she woke up, there would be a cup of warm mint water waiting for her, just like now.

“Miss Luo Xuan, President Ning instructed us to prepare this mint water for you,” the nurse said softly, placing the glass on the bedside table. She spoke gently to the patient, whom she considered excessively frail and melancholic.

“Thank you,” Luo Xuan replied, her mind still foggy as her blurred gaze drifted to the flower petals scattered on the bed. “I’ll drink it later.”

Noticing her gaze, the nurse smiled and said, “These are snow mountain roses. Their symbolism includes nobility, purity, and innocence.”

“How many days have I been unconscious?” Luo Xuan asked.

“Three days. It’s fortunate you woke up; it was quite dangerous. Today is Friday evening.”

Luo Xuan nodded and silently lay back down.

“Don’t go back to sleep yet. The doctor will be here shortly to examine you,” the nurse said softly, standing by the bed. “I reviewed your medical records and realized it’s your birthday today, but you can’t have cake right now.”

“My birthday? So I’m already 21,” Luo Xuan murmured with a silent smile. *I guess I’ve managed to live to 21 after all.*

*Hmm, that’s worth celebrating.*

“If you’re bored, why don’t you watch some videos?” Miss Nurse suggested.

“Videos?”

“Super touching ones!” Miss Nurse’s eyes lit up. “A video of a stunningly beautiful woman proposing at a musical fountain. The music is romantic, the setting is breathtaking, and even though you can’t quite see their faces clearly, the atmosphere is perfect.”

Miss Nurse handed Luo Xuan her phone.

The atmosphere was indeed perfect.

A melodious live band played in the background, the forest park glowed in the late-night darkness, campfires flickered, and the lake shimmered under the dancing lights of the musical fountain.

Rose petals rained down as fireworks exploded across the sky. A tall, graceful woman knelt reverently on one knee, offering her wholehearted devotion.

To the woman wearing snow-blue prayer beads, she offered her entire heart.

*So beautiful,* Luo Xuan thought, even her discerning eye couldn’t help but marvel. *So beautiful.* The two familiar figures in the video were truly stunning.

A radiant superstar had gone to such lengths to prepare this romantic spectacle for the busy CEO.

No candlelight dinner, no fresh flowers, diamond rings, or chocolates—just a song she had composed and written herself. What extraordinary dedication! What a perfect match they were.

Miss Nurse watched with rapt attention. “According to the uploader, she confessed her feelings with a sky full of fireworks on Valentine’s Day two years ago. This is her second time. It’s a pity we don’t know if the other person accepted.”

“Two years ago… Valentine’s Day…” Luo Xuan’s thoughts slowed to a crawl, her joints feeling as if they were filled with ice water, rendering her immobile.

She remembered that grand fireworks display. That day, she had also been lying in a hospital bed, unable to speak or move due to her treatment.

She had gazed up at the fireworks, thinking how beautiful they were.

So early on, she had unknowingly witnessed their love, like a detached bystander admiring a romantic spectacle.

“But I keep feeling like the person in the video looks familiar. I can’t quite place it… Eh, Miss Luo Xuan, where are you going?”

Luo Xuan struggled to get out of bed, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders. Dressed in a pristine white hospital gown, her skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent.

“I need to ask her,” she said, her voice firm. “I want to die knowing the truth.”