Cross the Boundary GL - Chapter 44

Qin Song kept a low profile, and because of Zheng Chengfeng’s matter she deliberately concealed her identity, rarely appearing in the public eye. But Qin Zhao was different—although he lived abroad most of the year, he still had many followers.

Every year the media made sure to cover him. With the title of “Eldest Young Master of the Qin family,” he attracted attention even if he never entered the entertainment circle.

Compared with him, this group of men were nothing but street thugs, ants the Qin family could crush with just a blink.

In an instant, the more timid among them quickly stubbed out their cigarettes and tried to leave, only to find their way blocked by people in matching uniforms. Qin Zhao’s figure drew nearer and nearer until he stood right before them, like a mountain pressing down.

When the Qin heir stopped, he calmly adjusted his cufflinks, his gentle features completely at odds with the overwhelming aura around him.

Like a silent beast, Li Chu thought. Truly, they were siblings—when they lost their temper, they were exactly the same.

“Has this shop offended you gentlemen somehow?” He was very tall, his half-lidded eyes coolly sweeping over the group. “If there’s a problem, you can discuss it with me. I’m the shop owner’s friend. There’s no need to resort to violence.”

The few men who had been arrogant just moments before instantly wilted like frostbitten eggplants, forcing out awkward smiles as they waved their hands. “N-no, no, it’s just a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding.”

The leader—the one who had clashed with Qin Song—stole a glance at her, thinking: how could this seemingly frail woman have the ability to summon the Qin family’s eldest son?

Qin Zhao saw right through him and crossed his arms. “If my sister has done something wrong, feel free to point it out.”

Sister…

At that moment, they finally realized their situation—they had provoked the wrong people.

Qin Song held her cigarette, her cold gaze unreadable. No one would have imagined the Qin family’s young lady appearing in such an ordinary tattoo shop.

And Li Chu didn’t look like someone with any kind of background, which was why they had acted so recklessly. Who would have thought they had kicked an iron wall?

What kind of “low-key” young lady was this?!

Regret came too late. Just as the group was dispersing, police cars arrived. Coincidentally, the officer who got out looked very familiar.

“You…” He first recognized Qin Song. “Didn’t you tell me last time you had no family? What’s going on, young lady?”

When he saw Qin Zhao, he smacked his forehead. “I knew you looked familiar back then—turns out it really was you.”

Qin Song had ended up at the station for burning someone with a cigarette, and it was Li Chu who signed her out. Thinking about it, she really had no one else she could turn to—she didn’t dare bother Qin Zhen, and she definitely couldn’t let Zheng Chengfeng find out.

Even Qin Zhao was surprised, giving Qin Song a sidelong glance. “You even got into a fight and ended up in the station?”

“No, no.” The officer quickly directed his men to handle the scene. “It wasn’t all her fault—those punks are regular troublemakers.”

It was just that Qin Song’s way of defending herself had been a little… extreme.

When the commotion was finally over, kiss.me would have to be renovated again. As he called people over to help clean up, Qin Zhao said to Qin Song, “If you suffer grievances outside, you won’t even tell the family? If not for today I still wouldn’t have known. Tell me, what did those people do for you to hit them so hard?”

“They didn’t do anything.” Qin Song took a drag of her cigarette, her words carrying heavy smoke. “Just said something unpleasant.”

“What did they say?”

“‘Bad luck.’”

Qin Zhao’s face darkened. Those two words were Zheng Chengfeng’s catchphrase. Though Qin Zhao hadn’t interacted much with him, bits and pieces had reached his ears. Qin Song’s temper was bad, yes, but it was true she never picked fights without cause.

“If something like this happens again, call me.”

Qin Song neither agreed nor refused. The smoke rising from her fingers blurred her features, as if shrouded in fog. She seemed to turn her head toward Li Chu.

That day when Li Chu took her away, their fates became entwined ever since. Amid all the gaudy, decadent lights, only Li Chu’s eyes still held a piece of purity.

“Come on, stay at the family estate for a few days.” Qin Zhao plucked the cigarette from her hand and flicked it away. “Smoke less. Oh, and you’re Li Chu, right?”

Li Chu hadn’t expected Qin Zhao to address her, so she was a beat slow in replying. “Ah… yes, I’m Li Chu.”

“Pack up and come with us,” Qin Zhao said with a wave.

And so they returned to the suburban manor. By then, the banquet was long over, and the old house was utterly quiet.

Qin An and the others didn’t live there, but they weren’t far away either. The Qin family’s creed was harmony—relatives would help one another whenever possible.

So it wasn’t hard to imagine: if Qin Zhen and Qian Fang had never divorced, Qin Song would have grown up into an excellent young woman who loved life.

Li Chu sighed at the twists of fate, aching for Qin Song who should never have been treated this way. She understood all the things Lin Zhiyan had said, but with some people—once you’ve met them, once you’ve truly known them—you could never think of them any other way.

From the very beginning, she had known what kind of person Qin Song was. And yet she still wanted to be the only ray of sunshine in her heart. However much light she could bring in, she would.

As if fate knew their story, Qin Zhao led them up to the attic, where long-buried memories were dusted off and opened once more.

“Lele was quite cute when she was little.” Qin Zhao pulled out a photo album, turning to a page and showing it to Li Chu.

Li Chu took it. The girl in the picture had twin ponytails and a tiny red dot between her brows, her little chin raised proudly.

“This is you?” Li Chu compared the photo with the person beside her now—pale, thin, her eyes lifeless, dark shadows beneath them laying her sickness bare. No matter how she looked, she couldn’t match the spirited girl in the photo.

Further pages showed not only solo shots but also family portraits. The moment Qian Fang appeared, Qin Song turned away, saying indifferently, “I’ll go tidy the room.”

As soon as she left, Qin Zhao sighed helplessly. “With her temperament now, how do you put up with her?”

It really was terrible.

“It’s not as bad as you think,” Li Chu said sincerely. “Qin Song just isn’t good at expressing her feelings.”

After a while Qin Zhao put the album away, clapping the dust from his palms. “If Lele ever does something bad… please bear with her.”

Li Chu was already at the door. Startled, she turned back. “What do you mean…?”

“If one day… when she’s in a bad mood, she does something extreme and hurts you… don’t be angry at her. You know she has serious psychological problems.”

“I know,” Li Chu said.

“It’s my fault. When our parents divorced, I ran abroad to escape, leaving her behind. I thought our father at least had influence, that he could take care of her, that it couldn’t possibly get too bad. I never imagined Zheng Chengfeng’s power was so great.” Qin Zhao pressed his lips together, his eyes reddening. “By the time I realized, it was too late. Lele’s personality and health were both ruined. Her psychiatrist told me that if she doesn’t get treatment, she’ll develop schizophrenia. And then nothing can be saved.”

“You’re the first person she’s ever treated differently.” Qin Zhao drew in a deep breath, forcing a smile. “No matter what relationship you two have, if… and I mean if… one day she leaves, or she’s no longer here, please don’t blame her, alright?”

Li Chu felt her blood run cold, her hands and feet turning icy. “W-what do you mean… she will…?”

“She will,” Qin Zhao answered with certainty, making the air heavier still. “Nihilism is the beginning of schizophrenia. The signs are already there. She’s forcing herself to live, but her thoughts aren’t under her control. One day, that impulse will take over.”

That is—if Qin Song continued refusing medication and therapy.

“Or one day she might do something extreme and hurt someone, with no turning back. Either ending is something none of us want. Don’t you think?”

Before Li Chu could reply, Qin Zhao raked a hand through his hair in frustration. “We should start with treatment. She won’t listen to me. But you—your relationship isn’t ordinary. When you can, try persuading her for me.”

Back in the room, it suddenly hit Li Chu: Qin Zhao saying their relationship wasn’t ordinary… meant he already knew the truth between them?

Her gaze fell on Qin Song’s face, every sharp angle honed with precision.

She didn’t want to be a rose with thorns—she even despised flowers. The first time Li Chu met her, she had crushed roses and thorns alike.

All the tattoos on her body still couldn’t cover the wounds inside.

Li Chu had never hated Zheng Chengfeng more than she did now—for destroying the bright life Qin Song should have had. Nor had she hated Qian Fang more—for taking custody as a mother, only to stand by and watch.

Some people are born embraced by happiness; others are born shrouded in endless night. Qin Song had walked from happiness to ruin in just a few short years.

“You’re lost in thought.” Qin Song came out of the shower, the scent of shampoo and body wash lingering in her hair. The bed dipped as she sat down.

Li Chu remembered Qin Zhao’s words in the attic and said, “Your illness…”

But the rest was swallowed when Qin Song’s kiss fell—gentle, soft, unlike usual. Yet what began as a shallow taste quickly deepened, her weight pressing Li Chu until she could hardly breathe.

Her hand brushed against one of Qin Song’s tattoos, still not healed. Whether it was the heat of desire or pain, Qin Song trembled violently.

“Does it hurt?” Qin Song kissed her again—not just her lips, but tracing down to her neck, her tongue stud circling her veins.

Li Chu answered honestly. “Yes.”

For once, Qin Song slowed her movements. Her damp hair tickled Li Chu’s face as she used one hand to wipe away the tears that had slipped down from the girl’s eyes. “Then bite me.”

Not everyone enjoyed it, but Qin Song was willing. She craved this burst of rawness, just as Li Chu craved the heat of her fingertips.

So Li Chu lifted her head and sank her teeth into the seemingly delicate skin of Qin Song’s neck, like a starving vampire, grinding down until the taste of blood filled her mouth and was swept away by her tongue.

Gradually, the pain from the tattoo faded, her focus drawn instead to Qin Song’s face. Her deep eyes, shrouded in heavy mist, looked as if they might bleed; even her lips were caught between her teeth.

Who controls desire? Who can resist the surging tide of passion?

This time Li Chu came undone especially fast, her hands clutching Qin Song’s shoulders, nails digging in and raking bloody marks.

Qin Song pressed a finger to her lips, deliberately refusing to move faster. Overwhelmed, Li Chu clutched at her clothes in desperation. “Please… faster… I’m begging you.”

“Hush.” Qin Song covered those alluring eyes with her palm. The sudden rush of control thrilled her as she leaned close to whisper against her ear. “Be good.”

Then she bound the two of them together—using the leather belt from her dress. And she didn’t tie it lightly. If Li Chu struggled, the pull would hurt Qin Song instead.

Half in darkness, Li Chu felt herself dragged from the clouds into the deep sea. Her wounds stung and itched under the scrape of tongue and silver stud, but she couldn’t move. Whenever she found a moment to resist, her effort only pulled Qin Song closer instead.

The harder she fought, the tighter their bodies pressed together, Qin Song leaning in closer still.

Li Chu could even feel her jewelry warming, as if embedding itself into her skin.

Support Cross the Boundary GL