Cross the Boundary GL - Chapter 43

Qin Zhao arrived right at mealtime. By then, the old mansion was already filled with Qin family members. Although Qin Zhen had only recently passed away, Qin An still arranged a few banquet tables to welcome Qin Zhao’s return.

“Yangyang is here but Lele still hasn’t arrived?” Qin An lowered his head to glance at his watch. “She’s never the type to be late…”

Just as he spoke, a black car drove in through the gates. The driver, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, parked and unbuckled her seat belt before stepping out. Her black wide-leg trousers paired with a blazer made her look sharp and composed.

At the same time, another person stepped out from the passenger seat. Everyone instantly recognized her—it was the same girl from Qin Zhen’s funeral.

“Looks like they’re really close friends,” Qin An muttered. The woman beside him added, “Isn’t that a good thing? Lele has been alone for too long. Having someone she can truly confide in is a blessing.”

Qin An glanced at his wife and silently agreed.

The butler drove Qin Song’s car to the back parking lot while Qin Song and Li Chu approached the crowd, one after the other. Removing her glasses, Qin Song greeted coolly, “Uncle.”

“Eh? Eh! Good child, come in, come in. Your brother’s inside,” Qin An said, surprised that she had actually greeted him.

In the past, Qin Song had always been aloof, but everyone knew her condition wasn’t good, so they hadn’t taken offense.

Qin Song slipped her glasses into her pocket, then looked back.

Compared to her, Li Chu was nervous and reserved. Meeting Qin Song’s pressing gaze, she stammered out, “Uncle.”

Qin An’s pupils dilated, clearly stunned, unable to react for a long while. Instead, the woman beside him smiled and nodded kindly. “Hello there.”

Just then Qin Zhao came out of the house. Qin Song addressed him with her usual detached tone: “Brother.”

“Lele, you’re here.”

Li Chu braced herself and followed suit: “Brother…”

Qin Zhao froze mid-step, his gaze turning complicated.

Who calls a friend’s family like that? What kind of “friendship” was this? Having lived abroad for over a decade, Qin Zhao had seen plenty. Li Chu didn’t seem like someone who would overstep on her own—it had to be at Qin Song’s instruction.

He cast a meaningful look at his sister.

Qin Song calmly met his eyes, her gaze unusually steady.

Caught between the two siblings, Li Chu felt restless, secretly blaming Qin Song. She had asked how she should address the Qin family, and Qin Song had told her to just follow her lead.

In the end, Qin Zhao gave in first. He gestured toward the house. “Come in, dinner’s about to start.”

Qin Song lifted the corner of her lips, tilted her head slightly to signal Li Chu, and went inside.

The atmosphere at the table wasn’t somber like at a funeral. After the meal, even the younger kids played under the table, chasing each other around with toys.

Qin An’s five-year-old granddaughter, Qin Yi, especially loved shiny things. Fascinated by the pearls on Li Chu’s dress hem, the little girl leaned over her chair and tugged gently at the fabric.

Sensing something, Li Chu lowered her head and saw Qin Yi blinking up at her, whispering sweetly, “Sister, the pearls on your dress are so pretty.”

She was the spitting image of Qin An’s eldest son. The Qin family had no shortage of beauty, and Qin Yi was already a budding little beauty at her age.

Looking at the soft, tender girl, Li Chu couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the woman beside her, wondering—was Qin Song this adorable when she was little?

But fate hadn’t been kind. At the age when she should’ve been carefree, Qin Song had lived through her parents’ conflict and her brother’s absence. Later, when she should’ve been enjoying her youth, she endured torment instead. By the time she finally gained freedom, she had to toil for survival.

“Do you like them?” Li Chu asked with a warm smile. “Shall I give them to you?”

“Really?” Being just a child, Qin Yi clapped her hands in joy. “Sister, you’re so pretty too! Even prettier than the pearls!”

Li Chu couldn’t help laughing. At such a young age, this child already knew how to flatter, even comparing to get what she wanted. No wonder—Qin family kids probably learned the ways of the world early.

Straightening up, she searched around for scissors. The noise caught Qin Song’s attention. The woman turned to ask, “What are you looking for?”

Qin Yi had always been terrified of Qin Song. When she noticed the woman’s gaze sweep over her, she panicked and hid behind Li Chu. “Wuuu, Sister Lele is going to eat me!”

“What?” Li Chu couldn’t help laughing. “How could she eat people? Don’t be scared.”

“She does! My daddy said Sister Lele eats naughty kids!” Qin Yi gestured and quickly added in a whisper, “But I’m really good…”

Then she straightened obediently, peeking nervously at Qin Song.

Li Chu snipped off one pearl and placed it in the girl’s palm. Patiently, she coaxed, “Don’t be afraid. Your daddy was teasing you. If you don’t believe me, I’ll ask her for you… Sister Lele doesn’t eat kids, right?”

The last words were directed at Qin Song, her clear eyes resembling Qin Yi’s—bright, innocent, glistening like a little animal.

Watching Li Chu exaggerate her expressions, Qin Song suddenly laughed, her voice languid but indulgent: “I don’t eat children.”

“See? Right?” Li Chu exhaled in relief, worried that Qin Song wouldn’t play along.

But the next second, Qin Song leaned forward, one arm curling slightly as she closed the distance. Her tone stayed flat, but her breath burned against Li Chu’s skin: “I eat adults.”

Qin Yi froze, then burst into tears. “Waaah—”

“What’s wrong, what’s wrong?” Qin An had just finished a round of toasts. He scooped the child up and comforted her. “Yiyi, why are you crying?”

The little girl sobbed hiccupping, pointing at Qin Song but too choked up to speak.

“Again…” Qin An sighed, passing her to his son. “Every year, Lele manages to scare Yiyi to tears.”

Even Qin Huai was used to it, chuckling as he teased, “Not just Yiyi. Which of the kids isn’t afraid of her?”

Li Chu: “…”

She turned to scold softly, “Why are you like this?”

“Truth.” Qin Song’s gaze clung to her like honey. Though she seemed calm, her words jolted Li Chu: “Isn’t eating adults the truth?”

Li Chu wasn’t sure if her face was red yet, but it was about to be. Memories flashed wildly through her mind, heating her from head to toe.

Meanwhile, Qin Song nonchalantly picked up some food, chewing slowly, but the corner of her eye never left Li Chu.

Li Chu couldn’t tell if she was serious or joking. With Qin Song, it was likely the former—she never joked.

From not far away, Qin Zhao watched the two of them, their interactions clear in his eyes. After dinner, he called out to his sister. “Come with me for a moment.”

The old mansion was still the same: carved wooden furniture and balustrades, time-worn traces lingering in every corner.

Qin Song followed him upstairs, running her fingers along the railing. Back then, Qin Zhen had insisted on wood, saying it was alive, able to capture the breath of daily life.

Now that he was gone, the house indeed held the warmth of years past, unchanged yet heavy with memory.

The room had been tidied in advance, everything restored to how it once was. Even the people felt unchanged.

“I’ve read the documents you sent. I’ll begin working on pushing things forward. But, Lele…” Qin Zhao raised his eyes, seriously asking, “What exactly is your relationship with that girl, Li Chu? Tell me the truth.”

Qin Song stayed silent. The only sound was the ticking of the old wall clock, its rhythm unsettling.

After a long pause, she finally stretched and spoke, concise and blunt: “Lovers.”

Qin Zhao’s chest heaved twice, brows knitting tightly. He couldn’t bring himself to say words of opposition, because he knew how hard it was for Qin Song to accept someone at all. No one understood her pain better than he did.

“Have you let go then? Forgiven yourself?” Qin Zhao asked cautiously. “Does she know about your past? Or is this just… flesh and desire?”

“I don’t know.” Qin Song leaned back, pink hair spilling like ink. “What counts as something more?”

Qin Zhao’s frown deepened. “If you don’t even know that, how can you claim to love someone? Lele, forgiving yourself is only the beginning. Ahead lie choices—you’ll meet more people, better people. Can you guarantee you’ll still feel the same for her then?

“Until you’re certain of your true heart, you shouldn’t be so reckless. You’ll only hurt her, and yourself.”

Qin Song said nothing. In truth, she was carefully examining her feelings. What exactly was this toward Li Chu? Desire at first, then tethered by desire. Did these uncontrollable emotions really mean love?

She didn’t quite understand.

“I’m not against you two…” Qin Zhao rubbed at his temples, weariness etched in his face. “Same-sex… it’s normal. But our parents’ marriage and that bastard Zheng Chengfeng created the person you are now. You have too many issues, Lele. You need to heal yourself first, so you can heal the future—and the one who shares it with you.”

His words were clear.

Qin Song tapped a finger against the hourglass on the table. Fine sand trickled steadily, sinking downward. Watching it fall, she couldn’t tell what was real anymore.

In the past, she would’ve rejected such advice outright, even from Qin Zhao. But at this moment, every word seemed carved into her heart, impossible to erase.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Both siblings looked toward the door. The butler knocked politely, then entered after hearing permission.

Behind him was Li Chu, her face pale, sweat beading on her nose. The moment she saw Qin Song, she rushed forward, voice trembling with a sob: “They went to smash the shop again…”

No one had expected those men to be so relentless, coming back again. From the surveillance, Qin Song saw Kiss.me in even worse condition than the first time. The few workers left there couldn’t hold them off.

Qin Song’s eyes went cold. She had taken Lin Zhiyan’s advice, giving them a chance without pursuing the matter. She hadn’t thought they’d push further.

Perhaps she never should’ve let the conflict begin in the first place.

“What’s going on?” Qin Zhao asked, watching the scene unfold, brows furrowed even tighter. “What thugs are these? Whose shop is it?”

Li Chu answered softly, “It’s mine…”

Qin Zhao’s expression didn’t change. He raised his voice: “Chang Xi—”

The man’s voice rang out before he appeared: “Young Master, what are your orders?”

“Go with the eldest miss. Take some men with you,” Qin Zhao instructed. “Bring skilled fighters, but don’t go too far.”

Chang Xi acknowledged, already calling people as he left.

On the way, Li Chu asked Qin Song, “Who is Chang Xi?”

Qin Song glanced at Qin Zhao, who was driving, then said, “The Qin family’s bodyguard.”

Li Chu fell silent. She knew wealthy families had their own protection systems. The famous heiresses of Nancheng were always heavily guarded whenever they went out.

Too many flies buzzed around meat, after all. Better to be prepared.

When they arrived, crowds of onlookers were gathered outside Kiss.me. The culprits hadn’t left; they stood inside, smoking. Seeing Qin Song approach, one of them deliberately flicked his lighter on and off with a click, click, provoking her.

But within seconds, their smug faces turned to horror.

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