Chapter 5: Shadows of the Past

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As Liang Youjia drew closer to her, he could feel the abnormal heat radiating from her body. Her cheeks were flushed, indistinguishable from the blush she had applied. She was burning with fever, her mind already clouded and confused.

Several times he approached her, but Xianyu pushed him away each time.

“You’re so feverish and confused. You never used to treat me like this,” she murmured.

The man’s voice was tender and gentle, laced with a subtle affection.

Upon the third time she pushed him away, he called Zhu Yue over.

“Bring my family doctor.”

Zhu Yue warned him, “Mr. Liang, Miss Yu hates needles.”

Last time was similar—Xianyu had a severe cold. When Liang Youjia summoned the family doctor to give her an injection, she struggled painfully. Her veins were thin, making it difficult to find a good spot for the needle. She endured quite a lot of suffering.

Liang Youjia frowned, recalling the ordeal. For Xianyu, having a fever was akin to torture. Not only did she detest needles, but she was also allergic to alcohol and extremely sensitive to pain. If he applied too much pressure, she would cry out in pain. She was undoubtedly a delicate lady.

Liang Youjia felt helpless but, at the end of the day, it was his own indulgence that had made her this way—and he cherished it.

“Then let’s try moxibustion,” he said.

Though the smoke was a bit harsh, it was very effective.

They called upon Uncle Sun, the seasoned traditional Chinese medicine doctor well known to the Liang family. It was said he was a descendant of Sun Simiao and possessed extraordinary medical skills.

Xianyu felt unwell and naturally didn’t want Liang Youjia near her, but as her strength waned and his embrace felt so comforting, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to surrender.

Whether it was the smoke from the moxa sticks or her emotions, Xianyu suddenly couldn’t hold back her sobs.

“Why are you crying?” Liang Youjia’s heart ached as if it had been torn into pieces.

With fingers gently wiping the moisture from her eyes, his touch calloused yet tender, he leaned close to her ear and planted soft kisses on her earlobe, one after another, without any desire—purely to soothe her.

“Be good. Once you’re better, I’ll take you out to play.”

Xianyu was deeply saddened but understood he was trying to comfort her. Tears traced down her cheeks to her temples.

“You’re lying,” she said, lightly hitting his chest—not hard, but enough to vent her inner grievance, though Liang Youjia didn’t realize this.

He thought she was just upset because he hadn’t taken her out to play for years.

“No, I’m not lying,” he murmured, moving his lips from her earlobe to her soft, smooth face. Like tender tofu, he gave her gentle pecks, light and soothing without passion. “This time, I’ll really take you out.”

Xianyu’s heart sank deeply. She opened her eyes, her glistening gaze fixed on him. “Really?”

“Of course, really.”

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“Anywhere?”

“As long as you like, anywhere.”

“I want to go to Phuket.”

The man’s patient and gentle face suddenly stiffened for a moment, like a statue frozen in place.

Xianyu smiled bitterly inside.

Since their last trip to Australia two years ago, no matter how much she pouted or pleaded, Liang Youjia refused to take her traveling again.

Why exactly, she didn’t know. Perhaps the rumor circulating in their circle—that he was keeping a secret lover—had come true? Or maybe his startup had finally taken off, and he was too busy to accompany her on trips.

Her mind, usually dull, was even more foggy now from the fever, unable to make sense of it.

After a long pause, Liang Youjia said, “Okay.”

This time, Xianyu looked at him in disbelief.

She didn’t speak, just with her moist apricot eyes and cheeks blooming like early spring apricot blossoms, as if silently asking, “You won’t regret this?”

He gently squeezed her cheek.

“Don’t worry. This time, I’ll really take you out.”

The moxibustion worked well.

The next afternoon, Xianyu’s fever broke, and she felt much better.

Zhu Yue saw her descend the stairs in a nightgown, her gaze wandering around the villa, and sighed.

“Yu Yu, Mr. Liang went to the company early this morning.”

Visible disappointment crossed Xianyu’s face.

“Yu Yu, Mr. Liang left a note for you.”

Zhu Yue handed her a piece of paper, as thin as a snowflake, pressed under the ashtray.

“The tickets are booked. Be good—this weekend, I’ll take you.”

Xianyu carefully folded the note and put it in her pocket.

Deep within her eyes, unspeakable sorrow was hidden.

This was likely the last trip she would take with him.

She would cherish this memory in her heart.

After this, she would no longer harbor illusions.

—

“I booked you business class. I’m on the next flight. When you arrive, check in first.”

“Okay, then come find me quickly,” Xianyu said as they embraced and parted.

She boarded the plane and headed to her seat, but on the way, she unexpectedly ran into Liang Youjia’s new lover—and another unfamiliar yet familiar face.

“Ruan Ruan, Youjia still cares about you. I’ve asked him many times, but he never agreed to take me to Phuket.”

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Xianyu never imagined that this trip was not just for her.

Liang Youjia wasn’t taking her to Phuket alone; there were two others.

Maybe she was just an afterthought.

The new lover and Liang’s mother were in first class. Liang Youjia was probably there too.

He lied about being on the next flight.

No wonder he booked her business class—not because of price difference but to avoid them.

Xianyu’s heart plummeted into an ice chamber, as if a stone was lodged in her chest.

She was frozen in place, unable to move up or down.

Clenching her palm tightly, she felt like she could barely breathe.

She closed her eyes, scenes of their years of love flashing like a revolving lantern before her.

Her gaze finally settled on her grandmother’s aged, hopeful face.

Even if she saw no hope in life, she had to live for her grandmother.

Since she had long planned to leave Liang Youjia, what harm was one more scar on her heart?

Xianyu asked a flight attendant for a glass of water to calm the uneasy feeling in her stomach.

Upon landing at Phuket’s civilian airport, she got off early and intended to take a taxi herself.

Suddenly, a black Bentley parked outside opened its door, and a driver in a black suit smiled warmly, walking toward her.

“Miss Yu, right? Mr. Liang sent me to pick you up.”

In this foreign land, the man’s hair still shimmered with golden light.

She felt a trace of fear, suspecting an impostor.

Sensing her doubt, Chi Jiang showed her a call log with Liang Youjia.

“This should convince you now!”

Xianyu relaxed and smiled, nodding before getting into the car.

Through the window, she saw Du Ruan Ruan and Liang’s mother closely following in another car.

When Liang’s mother glanced over, Xianyu quickly averted her eyes and turned her head.

Inside the car, the driver said,

“Mr. Liang has already reserved a hotel, the Theresa Presidential Villa. You just need to check in at the front desk.”

Xianyu nodded. “Okay.”

When checking in, she unexpectedly ran into Du Ruan Ruan and Liang’s mother.

Two years ago, Xianyu had seen Liang’s mother once.

From afar, she stood in a shadowed corridor, wearing a tight cheongsam, secretly overhearing an argument between Liang’s mother and Liang Youjia.

“What is her status? What is yours? If you want to be together, only after I’m dead!”