Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 43

Qin Yun was utterly helpless in the face of the numb and cold attitude of the person before her.

The fury that erupted like a volcano turned into a slap, its powerful downswing blurring in the dim light, the wind it created ruffling Chu Xi’s fringe, yet failing to move her emotions in the slightest.

The slap ultimately landed on the door, the heavy, frantic banging echoing repeatedly, all of it Qin Yun’s unspoken accusation against Chu Xi.

Time and again, she lowered herself to provoke and tempt, yet received not a single response. Now, even deliberately humiliating her in public failed to incite any resistance. She could only rely on anger to mask the panic of unrequited love.

But how could she bear to truly hit her? A searing pain shot through her palm. Right, the one hurting was still herself.

The alcohol quickly took its toll, draining Qin Yun’s strength. She stumbled a few steps and collapsed into Chu Xi’s embrace. Thankfully, Chu Xi quickly caught her: “President Qin, you’ve had too much to drink.”

Qin Yun’s face naturally buried itself in Chu Xi’s neck, her lipstick staining the wine-soaked collar.

She had poured everything into this, so why couldn’t she get the result she desired most? It wasn’t fair!

Consumed by resentment, Qin Yun opened her mouth and bit down hard on Chu Xi’s collarbone, using all her strength. Her teeth sank deeper and deeper into the tender skin, until it broke and bled.

The depth of Qin Yun’s pain was wholly reflected upon Chu Xi.

Chu Xi tightened her brows. The powerful endurance she had cultivated since childhood prevented her from uttering a sound of pain despite the agony.

In those short minutes, Qin Yun’s emotions had been a roller coaster: frenzy, anger, and finally collapse. Yet, the person in front of her remained in a silent, cold psychological assault the entire time.

Releasing her mouth, Qin Yun wept loudly like a child whose beloved doll had been snatched away. At this moment, she fiercely questioned her resolute decision to send Chu Xi away eight years ago. Eight full years—how many more eight years did she have left?

She regretted it.

Qin Yun’s face was a flood. Chu Xi had never seen this woman so helpless, and her icy heart was being relentlessly shaken by the sound of the crying.

Chu Xi wanted to wipe away Qin Yun’s tears but found she couldn’t wipe them clean. Each drop was this woman’s inexpressible suffering, too numerous, endless.

“I hate that you can just discard me when you don’t want me anymore. I hate that you mess around with those shady men. I hate your self-destructive drinking habits and endless nightly parties. I hate your seductive charm and how you leave your mark everywhere. I hate how, when you get angry, you arrogantly drag out the inequality of our relationship. And I hate that I still like you like this.”

Chu Xi finally broke her facade of brevity. She rubbed the corners of Qin Yun’s eyes, tearfully listing her hatred while her beautiful features twisted helplessly.

Due to the contradiction, she couldn’t discern what kind of feelings and expectations she still held for Qin Yun. But it was undeniable that when hatred and affection intertwined for the same person, the resulting hurt and heartache were doubled.

Qin Yun stopped crying, trying to digest Chu Xi’s words. She vaguely grabbed Chu Xi’s arm and murmured an inquiry: “What did you say?”

Chu Xi quickly reined in her collapsing emotions, her expression returning to cool detachment. She refused to repeat herself, instead changing the question: “President Qin, why did you give me the name Chu Xi? I don’t understand.”

The crying had ironically sobered Qin Yun up. A gradually dawning smile held memories of their past encounters, yet she stubbornly refused to reveal the answer: “Is that question so difficult for you? Go figure it out yourself.”

It was in that very instant that Chu Xi finally grasped the deeper meaning of being given that name. She was stunned, incredulous, and couldn’t utter a coherent word for a long time.

Having made her scene and cried her tears, a weary Qin Yun turned and walked towards the sofa.

Chu Xi’s face was plunged into shadow. The next second, she gripped Qin Yun tightly, enveloping her entirely in her arms. The sour catch in her voice was proof enough that she understood Qin Yun’s enduring feelings: “Qin-Chu entanglement, Morning-Sun-Yun-Color (Chén Xī Yùn Sè). Do you want us to be intertwined forever, or merge into one? No matter the relationship, we are destined not to escape each other, is that right? Qin Yun, look at my eyes and tell me, do you love me? But weren’t you the one who abandoned me?”

Chu Xi finally seemed to have blood and flesh, finally having violent emotional fluctuations. She questioned Qin Yun, desperately wanting to hear the answer that the woman before her loved her deeply.

Qin Yun cupped Chu Xi’s face, gently stroking her eyebrows and eyes. Her smile was one of relief, but also helpless sigh: “Eight years is such a long time. So long that the little kid’s height is now taller than mine… so long that the little kid has grown up and learned to throw tantrums at me…” A softly whispered “little kid” was a heavy hammer that broke open the ice-sealed door of Chu Xi’s heart. Mist formed in Chu Xi’s eyes, and her snow-fluffy eyelashes trembled as she struggled to contain her sorrow.

Firmly wrapping her arms around Qin Yun’s waist with a reckless intensity, Chu Xi backed the pliable body against the door. Rain-fine kisses dotted the back of Qin Yun’s ear.

The rich fragrance surrounding them violently stimulated Chu Xi’s senses. She was resentful. Thus, the light, grinding kiss along the beautiful jawline invaded Qin Yun’s lips like a Normandy landing.

Nothing could stir such anxious flutterings as a long-awaited response, fearing that if she were a second too slow, the person she loved would leave her.

Qin Yun shed her façade of frivolous charm, revealing a heart beneath that was pure and shone with a golden light.

Their love was like a crimson rose finally blooming in a vast, desolate desert.

Qin Yun’s response was an unrestrained passion. Tightly clasping Chu Xi’s neck, she tilted her head back, drawing the kiss that had paused at their soft lips into a strange, “Morning-Sun-Yun-Color” like wonder.

This kiss made the whole world vibrant.

Being immersed in the blurred, fragmented world of the bar’s debauchery was now irrelevant. Because the person they yearned for had mutually found one another.

After a long, passionate kiss, hurried breaths mingled in the room. Qin Yun touched the deep bite mark on Chu Xi’s collarbone with a touch of self-reproach. But quickly, her eyes grew resolute as she invited: “Come home with me. No one there can stop us from being together anymore.”

“Do you have to hurt me like this? You are my weakness; one word from you can keep me awake all night. Is it my fault for spoiling you too much, or my fault for giving you all my love without reservation?”

“Yes, I deserve the predicament I’m in today! Why won’t you compromise? I can give you so much, why do you insist on choosing the one thing I can’t give?”

The woman in the dream was still blurred. She tried to grab Ling Xi’s arm again, her voice hysterical.

Ling Xi flung the woman’s hand away, like pushing her own happiness off a cliff. Tears welled up in her eyes, mixed with a painful, mocking laugh. Shaking her head, she retreated step by step towards the door, desperately accepting reality: “You are not the right person… nor the last person…”

Ling Xi slammed the door shut, separating them into two worlds. Leaning her back against the door, she slowly slid to the floor, covering her face and finally letting her rigid spine slump into a ball.

Heartache was like regular ripples, tormenting her soul in wave after wave. Shivering and sobbing uncontrollably.

That woman had loved her deeply for three whole years; every memory they shared was filled with profound romance.

In the end, the person in the dream did not find a happy ending.

End of Nightmare

Ling Xi slowly opened her eyes as the nightmare concluded, as if absorbing the scattered three souls and seven spirits from the air. Her eyes were empty, staring lifelessly at the ceiling.

Compared to previous nightmare episodes, today’s reaction was the most calm.

Wearily wiping the dried tear tracks from the corners of her eyes, she let out a few groans before slowly sitting up, covering her face, and turning to look out the window.

It was light. That was good, she cracked a weary smile.

It seemed that as long as she woke up and wasn’t trapped in the darkness of night, loneliness couldn’t encroach.

“Morning…”

The door suddenly opened, and Qiao Bo’er, leaning against the door frame as was her habit, greeted her good morning.

Unlike usual, she was wearing a pair of black framed glasses. Her makeup-free face was still exquisite and eye-catching. Dressed in a rare casual hoodie and sweatpants set, she looked energetic and more approachable, like the big sister next door.

Ling Xi instantly sprang out of her desolate mood, clutching her messy hair and shrieking: “Ah! Did you drill a hole in my house? Why are you here again?”

Through the gap in the door, Ling Xi spotted a strange man packing up a toolbox by the living room entrance. She shot out like an arrow, discarding her blanket.

Qiao Bo’er followed unhurriedly. Before Ling Xi could ask, she stated her reason: “To prevent this sloth from starving to death at home, I hired a technician to replace the lock with an electronic one. It will be convenient for me to enter and exit in the future.”

Ling Xi’s eyes widened in fury, and she stomped her feet: “This is my home! Who told you to change the lock without permission? Put the old one back!”

Qiao Bo’er settled comfortably onto the sofa, picking up the remote control and turning on the TV to watch the morning news: “The electronic lock was 6,300, plus the 200 for labor, that’s 6,500. If you’re willing to pay me back, I’ll change it back…”

The best way to manipulate Ling Xi was with money and food. Qiao Bo’er had figured out her weakness; this idiot was too easy to control—one sentence was enough to silence her.

“6,500! Is the lock made of gold?”

“You can think of it as my realistic expression of a love more precious than gold…”

Qiao Bo’er’s eyes crinkled in a smile as she unintentionally slipped out a bizarre declaration of love, which gave Ling Xi goosebumps. Muttering to herself, she stomped off to the bathroom.

The smile faded from Qiao Bo’er’s face as Ling Xi disappeared from sight. When she had pushed open the bedroom door earlier, she had noticed the dazed and lost look on Ling Xi’s face upon waking.

The little lazy cat must have had a nightmare again. With a sigh, Qiao Bo’er got up and followed her.

Ling Xi stared blankly at the toothpaste Qiao Bo’er had already squeezed out for her. A strange headache came on. She held the sink with one hand, massaging her temples with the other, trying to alleviate the pounding pain.

Hearing footsteps, she turned to look at Qiao Bo’er and calmly asked: “After constantly rejecting me over and over again, why don’t you, a successful person who enjoys being adored by everyone, choose to retreat gracefully?”

The topic was abrupt and heavy, not suitable for the relaxed atmosphere of the morning.

Yet, Qiao Bo’er didn’t seem bothered by it at all. Instead, she shrugged, acting nonchalant: “Successful people always love a challenge. The more you reject me, the more I want to conquer you.”

Ling Xi picked up her toothbrush and sighed sullenly. This answer disappointed her slightly: “So, do you challenge because you like it, or do you like it for the satisfaction of the conquest?”

Qiao Bo’er immediately noticed the signs of Ling Xi’s physical discomfort. She didn’t directly answer the question but walked behind Ling Xi, her worried tone perhaps giving the real answer: “Is your head really hurting? Don’t move, I’ll massage it for you.”

Ling Xi did not refuse Qiao Bo’er’s kindness. She simply closed her eyes, the electric toothbrush in her mouth. Qiao Bo’er’s hands seemed to possess magic; the rhythmic, gentle kneading actually helped ease the splitting headache caused by her inexplicable anxiety.

“Feeling better?”

“Mhm…”

“Another nightmare?”

“Mhm…”

“Good girl. Everything will get better.”

Of course, Qiao Bo’er was curious. She wanted to know what kind of dream tormented Ling Xi night after night. But she knew that prying would only cause her “lifesaver” more pain. Thoughtful comfort was always more soothing than cross-examination.

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