I Wish To Never Leave Your Side - Chapter 13

Qiu Yan leaned against the door, catching her breath as she recalled the man with the severed ear who had been following Mo Lishen.

She walked to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She didn’t want to cause trouble for Mo Lishen, whether out of fear of implicating herself or simply for Mo Lishen’s sake, Qiu Yan wanted to avoid it.

First, she soaked the clothes she had worn over the past few days in a basin and added laundry detergent. She had always been particular about cleanliness, and since the apartment had been unoccupied for several days, a layer of dust had settled. She decided it was time to tidy up.

Although the apartment was fully furnished, Qiu Yan never felt like any of it truly belonged to her. She preferred hand-washing her clothes, avoiding the use of the appliances. Doing laundry also gave her time to think things through.

Two hours later, after hanging the last piece of clothing, Qiu Yan sat down on the sofa. After a moment of reflection, she picked up her phone and sent a message to Bai Hua, letting her know she had returned.

She had no way to contact Mo Lishen directly, but she felt it was only right to inform her that she was back.

After sending the message, she began searching for film crews. She had lost several days and needed to get back on track.

With the Chinese New Year just two months away, not many productions were hiring extras. Qiu Yan could only hope to get lucky and find a crew in need of temporary actors.

Fortunately, she managed to find two possibilities. After calling the person in charge, she knew which one to go for. The crew sent her a script with her lines and asked her to come for an audition the next day.

As Qiu Yan was reviewing her part of the script, Bai Hua’s reply finally came through.

[Noted.]

Qiu Yan stared at the message. The tone felt strangely familiar, almost as if it had come from Mo Lishen herself.

Mo Corporation.

Mo Lishen handed the phone back to Bai Hua and continued typing on her keyboard.

“Will you be going to Qingshui Bay tonight?” Bai Hua took the phone and placed a cup of coffee beside her.

“Not for now,” Mo Lishen replied, taking a sip. “Let’s wait until this project is finished.”

“By the way, any news from Zhao Qiulin?”

“Not yet,” Bai Hua answered truthfully.

Mo Lishen fell silent, cradling the coffee cup with one arm. She swiveled her chair gently to face the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing outside as if deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Qiu Yan’s luck held. She passed the audition. This role had several solo shots and no fight scenes, so she didn’t have to worry about upsetting Mo Lishen.

Qiu Yan had never played a significant role before. In most productions, if she was lucky, she might get a few lines; if not, she’d appear briefly on screen only to play a corpse. Yet she never looked down on any role. It seemed she preferred playing others over being herself.

That was why she poured all her energy into every performance. Perhaps she was too focused or not sensitive enough to the camera’s presence, but she failed to notice the lens trained on her from a distance.

Mo Lishen hadn’t visited for several days, and Qiu Yan had grown accustomed to it. Still, every evening before returning to the apartment, she secretly hoped to see her. Before falling asleep, she would recall Mo Lishen’s face, replaying their memories from the amusement park over and over in her mind.

This morning, Qiu Yan made herself a bowl of noodles for breakfast. Yuanyuan would be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days, and she needed to find a rental.

Fortunately, after the surgery, she still had a few hundred thousand left, enough to rent a room with larger windows so it wouldn’t feel so damp. She wanted Yuanyuan to live in better conditions, at least more comfortable than the hospital.

Spending this money made her uneasy. Mo Lishen had given her a million without asking for anything in return, an amount she could never earn in her lifetime as an extra.

Why was Mo Lishen spending so much money and time on her? Qiu Yan began mulling over this question again.

After washing the dishes, Qiu Yan boarded the bus to the film set. It was the first bus of the morning, so there weren’t many people. She found a seat by the window and called the landlord to schedule a time to view the apartment.

The apartment in Qingshui Bay was located in the city center, making it convenient to get anywhere. Previously, it took her an hour and a half to travel from her old rental to the set, but now, without traffic, it only took half an hour.

The winter sun rose late. Qiu Yan put down her phone and gazed out the window. A small red sun gradually emerged from the gaps between the towering buildings. It was only because it was so far away that people dared to look directly at its full form. With its gentle light, it awakened the city, as if reminding people to tuck away the secrets they only dared to examine in the dark.

Qiu Yan’s eyes followed the warm sun, its soft rays falling on her forehead. Light always seemed to bring a glimmer of hope, and a faint smile touched her lips. After getting off the bus, she mentally rehearsed her few precious lines for the day and headed toward the set.

The temperature was particularly low that day, and Qiu Yan wore a thick coat. As she walked, she suddenly remembered Mo Lishen’s scarf, just the thought of it warmed her entire body. She should find an opportunity to return it to her someday.

Abruptly, a black BMW van blocked her path. Qiu Yan snapped back to reality, her mind instantly on high alert. She quickly turned around, only to find another car blocking her from behind, trapping her.

Her mind went blank. Clutching the strap of her bag tightly, she slowly stepped backward, her hand reaching into her pocket for her phone, ready to call the police at any moment.

Just then, the car doors opened, and several men in black suits stepped out, surrounding her.

Qiu Yan understood, they were likely the same group as the two men she had encountered in the elevator.

Finally, a middle-aged man in a gray Zhongshan suit stepped out of the van.

His temples were slightly graying, but his posture remained broad and upright. The Zhongshan suit lent him a vintage, dignified air. His expression was sharp and imposing, exuding authority even without anger. The man adjusted his cuffs before looking up at Qiu Yan.

The moment his eyes met hers, his hand trembled slightly, and a flicker of unconcealed shock crossed his face.

Qiu Yan continued to retreat, but one of the men in suits placed a hand on her shoulder, blocking her escape.

“Let her go.” the middle-aged man’s deep voice rang out, carrying a hint of displeasure.

But then he softened his tone, maintaining a respectful distance as he spoke politely, “Hello, miss. I’m here to have a chat with you. Would you mind stepping into the café across the street?”

Qiu Yan looked panicked, still calculating how to escape.

“I am Mo Lishen’s father.” Mo Yihuai said, his gaze fixed on the woman’s face, lingering on the teardrop mole beneath her eye.

Qiu Yan abruptly looked up, her mind racing to determine whether his words were true.

Mo Yihuai noticed her gaze and subtly turned his face away, as if avoiding something.

Qiu Yan observed the people inside and outside the car. If she tried to force her way out, there was no chance of escape. The car was expensive, they must have been tracking her for a while. No matter where she fled, the outcome would likely be the same. For now, she had no choice but to agree. The café was crowded; if they made any suspicious moves, she could immediately call for help.

After a moment of thought, Qiu Yan nodded, her hand still tightly clutching the phone in her pocket.

The group arrived at the café entrance. Mo Yihuai instructed the others to wait outside while he went in alone with Qiu Yan.

“What would you like to drink?” he asked politely after they had taken their seats.

“No, thank you. Please get straight to the point,” Qiu Yan replied, scanning the room. Fortunately, there were quite a few people around.

“Miss Qiu, you’re an actress, aren’t you?” Mo Yihuai’s voice tightened slightly as he spoke.

“Just an extra, hardly an actress,” Qiu Yan answered guardedly.

“I can make you a real actress,” Mo Yihuai leaned back in his chair, twisting the ring on his thumb. “All Mo Lishen can offer you is money. But I can have people elevate your career. Whether it’s fame or wealth, you’ll gain far more than what she gives you.”

“As long as you leave Mo Lishen,” he added, stating his condition.

After hearing his proposition, Qiu Yan’s lips curled faintly. Gone was her initial fear, replaced by calm composure. “Given President Mo’s temperament, I doubt she appreciates others meddling in her affairs.”

Her tone was neither submissive nor arrogant, her voice cool and clear, like an immortal’s grace descending upon the mortal world.

Mo Yihuai was momentarily dazed, then lowered his gaze and chuckled softly. “Mo Lishen would never fall in love with anyone.”

His words were light, almost casual. Under the table, Qiu Yan’s hand clenched her jeans imperceptibly, though her expression remained unchanged.

Having navigated the world for so many years, Mo Yihuai could easily see through the young woman’s thoughts. He handed her a check. “This is three million. If you make up your mind, I’ll be here tomorrow afternoon, waiting.”

He stood up, adjusted his collar, took two steps forward, then glanced back.

“You look very much like my late wife.”

By now, the morning sun had fully risen, dazzling and impossible to look at directly.

Mo Yihuai gazed at the girl bathed in sunlight, his eyes softening gradually. The two figures seemed to overlap, and a faint trace of sorrow crept into the corners of his eyes.

He chuckled softly, averted his gaze, and pushed the door open to leave. His back, once straight, now seemed to slump bit by bit.

Qiu Yan let out a soft sigh and leaned back in her chair, staring at the check with a complicated expression.

Her mind was in turmoil. She went to the restroom to splash cold water on her face, then looked up at her reflection in the mirror. If she had heard correctly, did she resemble Mo Lishen’s mother?

Her eyes focused on the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, recalling how Mo Lishen always loved to touch it. Could it be that everything Mo Lishen had done for her was because of this?

She remembered their first meeting, Mo Lishen had been touchy at first but grew visibly angry after seeing her face. Yet, when she returned later, she no longer touched her. Instead, she took her to amusement parks, asked her to cook, and even requested stories…

Countless thoughts flooded Qiu Yan’s mind. She turned on the faucet again, hoping the icy water would help her calm down.

What if that man was just spouting nonsense? He could be Mo Lishen’s sworn enemy, or he might be using her to harm Mo Lishen. She needed to stay calm, she couldn’t start doubting Mo Lishen based on someone’s vague words alone.

Lost in thought, her phone rang. It was a call from the film crew.

Qiu Yan pulled out a tissue, wiped away the water droplets, took a few deep breaths, answered the call, and walked out of the café.