Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 66

“Xinxin, be a good girl at Grandpa’s house, okay?”

“I know!” Little Yixin was wearing a brand-new outfit for her trip to her grandparents’ home. Grandpa leaned over, hoisted her onto the motorcycle, and sat her in front of him. “Sit tight, Xinxin.”

“Dad, ride slowly,” Mother Cheng called out, worried.

“I will, don’t worry,” Grandpa waved. “Go back to work; I’ll bring Xinxin back in a few days.”

Little Yixin rode the motorcycle into the countryside, the route etched into her heart. With her parents busy with the business, she spent every holiday there. Though there weren’t as many friends as at school, the local kids were great swimmers, and they had fun catching fish in the river.

Upon arrival, Grandma happily pulled a Safety Amulet from a drawer and hung it around her neck. “What’s this, Grandma?”

“A protection charm. It was blessed by a master and is very effective. Keep it safe; don’t lose it.”

“Okay~~” Yixin played nice for a moment but couldn’t sit still. “Grandma, I’m going to find Daya and Erniu.”

“Where to?”

Yixin pointed toward a river a few houses down. “To pick up pebbles by the water.” The river was shallow and the kids could swim, so Grandma agreed. “Be back for lunch!”

Yixin gathered her friends and headed to the riverbank. They played in the sun until Daya noticed a little girl sitting alone on the opposite bank. She shouted for her to come play, but the girl didn’t move—sitting perfectly still with her knees hugged to her chest.

“Ignore her, let’s play!” Erniu said, tossing a stone.

By lunchtime, everyone had been called home except Yixin. She sat by the water, tossing pebbles and watching the girl, curious how anyone could sit so still for so long. Suddenly, there was a loud splash—the girl had fallen in. With a burst of childhood justice, Yixin didn’t hesitate. She jumped in and pulled her out.

“I want to die…”

“Mom! Dad!” Cheng Yixin sat up abruptly in bed, jolted awake from a nightmare. The dream was so vivid, so real. She clutched her head, trying to piece the fragments together.

In her memories, her parents were always busy, sending her to the countryside during holidays. She remembered the mountain paths, the rivers, and her friends. That day had seemed no different—just another day of playing and happening to save someone. She had looked for the girl the next day, but when she didn’t appear, she naturally forgot the encounter.

Now, reflecting on it, the time, place, and events matched Chi Yi’s story perfectly. They really had met over a decade ago. She had struggled to remember for so long, and yet now, in a state of sudden clarity, it returned—just as Dr. Nan had said: the harder you try to force a memory under stress, the more elusive it becomes.

It was nearly 7:00 AM. There’s a saying: If you see someone in your dreams, you should go see them when you wake up. She had to see Chi Yi! She had to tell her she remembered!

But she only knew Chi Yi was in Ping County. She didn’t know which mountain or how to get there. She called Si Wen (Chi Yi’s assistant), hoping she hadn’t gone along.

“Ms. Cheng,” Si Wen answered, sounding sleepy.

“Si Wen, sorry to wake you. Do you know exactly where Chi Yi is?”

“Chuliang Mountain in Ping County. Why?”

“I’m going to find her.”

Si Wen was instantly awake. “Ms. Cheng, do you know what the environment is like there?”

“I know.” Chi Yi had struggled to send one photo over a 2G network: dilapidated houses, rugged paths, and children with soot-stained faces.

“President Chi will be back soon; just wait at home,” Si Wen tried to persuade her. “Besides, the media is looking for interviews. It’s safer at home.”

“I can’t wait. I need to see her now,” Yixin repeated firmly. “I’m going to see her.”

Si Wen didn’t want her traveling to the mountains, fearing the hardship and her boss’s potential anger. But Yixin’s tone was commanding. Finally, Si Wen agreed to arrange a contact to meet her in the mountains.

Yixin packed a suitcase with her thickest clothes, as Si Wen warned it was cold. She only took a travel-sized skincare set—no time for the usual array of cosmetics. She grabbed her keys, wallet, and phone, then stood at the front door.

She hadn’t been out in a week. For days, the darkness of her house had been her protection; she had even feared the light. Under the sun, she felt exposed, as if every eye was judging her with malice. But if she didn’t step into the light, she could never reach Chi Yi.

She gripped the handle, steeled herself, and swung the door open. The morning sun was pure and bright. After being in the dark, it was piercing; she raised her hand to shield her eyes. Her prayer beads shimmered red in the light, as if coated in gold. She stood tall, facing the sun.

I died once. Now, I am alive again.

The people who smeared her would never truly feel what she endured. They’d say “I misjudged you” or “Welcome back,” but they wouldn’t say “I’m sorry.” But to Yixin, apologies were meaningless now. She just wanted to see Chi Yi.

With time running out for the flight, Yixin went to Chi Yi’s garage and picked a low-profile luxury SUV. As she left the neighborhood, a swarm of reporters surrounded the car. She didn’t hesitate—she floored the accelerator. The roar of the engine sent the reporters stumbling back in fear.

She saw them taking photos of her license plate in the rearview mirror. They’d likely write that she was acting like a diva or threatening them. Let them. What was one more insult to the thousands she’d already received?

On the way, she stopped at a florist. “Welcome! What can I get for you?” the owner asked, looking at the masked woman.

“Five roses. Make the packaging look nice.”

“Only five?” the owner said. “The packaging fee is the same; nine roses would have a better meaning.”

“No. Just five.”

She paid and rushed to the airport, suitcase in one hand and roses in the other. She didn’t care if she was recognized.

By the time she landed and met the driver Si Wen had arranged, it was noon. The driver was a middle-aged man with a beard and tanned skin. “Ms. Cheng, did someone give you those flowers?”

“No, I bought them myself.”

“Buying roses for yourself? For who?”

“For the person I love.”

The man laughed. “Delicate flowers don’t last long in the mountain conditions.” He seemed to be talking about the roses, but also about the “city lady” in his car. Yixin just smiled.

Her phone rang; it was Li Wenjing. Yixin prepared for a lecture about the incident with the reporters at the gate, but Li Wenjing just asked: “Yixin, are you not home?”

“I’m out.” “I brought you lunch. When will you be back?” “In a week.”

“???” Li Wenjing gasped. “FOR HOW LONG???”

“I’m on my way to Ping County. I’ll be back in a week.”

Yixin moved the phone away from her ear as Li Wenjing began to scream. “CHENG YIXIN!!! I know you’re feeling better, but you’ve jumped way too far!!! I told you yesterday you start work the day after tomorrow!!! You’re in Ping County?? How am I supposed to explain this to the brands! Get back here now!!!”

“Sister Jing, I’ll have to trouble you to coordinate. I’ll work hard when I return! If they won’t agree, I’ll pay the damages myself.” She moved the phone further away. “Hello? What? I can’t hear you—there’s no signal—”

“YOU!!!”

Yixin hit the end call button. The world was finally quiet.

They arrived in Ping County in the late afternoon. The driver said it was the most prosperous area nearby, but Yixin saw only potholed dirt roads, old motorcycles, and bicycles—sights rare in modern China. Even the small restaurant where they ate had a layer of grease on the table and weak tea.

“Ms. Cheng, we’ll stay at a guesthouse here tonight and head into the mountains tomorrow.”

“Can’t we go today?” Yixin asked. The winter sky was already turning dark at 4:00 PM.

“It’s too dark, and the mountain roads are dangerous. I can’t let anything happen to you. It’s safer to wait for daylight.”

Though she was desperate to see Chi Yi, she didn’t want her to worry. She hadn’t told Chi Yi she was coming, nor had she let Si Wen tell her. She wanted it to be a surprise.

For so long, it had always been Chi Yi walking toward her. This time, it was her turn.