I Wish To Never Leave Your Side - Chapter 8

Qiu Yan looked at the cotton candy in her hand, gently squeezed the hand that Mo Lishen was holding, and brought the cotton candy to her lips.

Mo Lishen hesitated for a moment, then held her hand and lowered her head to take a small bite.

Qiu Yan withdrew her hand and took a bite from the same spot Mo Lishen had, feeling a faint sweetness in her heart.

Mo Lishen handed Qiu Yan a map of the amusement park. “Where do you want to go first?”

Qiu Yan glanced at the cartoon-style map and immediately spotted the words “merry-go-round.”

She pointed to that spot on the map and asked, “Is this okay?”

Mo Lishen glanced at it without hesitation. “Sure.”

In the TV dramas Qiu Yan watched as a child, couples on their first dates always rode the merry-go-round. It was said that if two people in love rode it together, the carousel would carry them to a perfect paradise, and their love would last forever.

While waiting in line, Qiu Yan looked at the cotton candy in her hand. She wanted to feed Mo Lishen again but was afraid of being rejected, so she ate it alone.

Cotton candy easily sticks to the corners of the mouth, and when Mo Lishen noticed, she gently wiped it away with a tissue.

The line moved quickly, and as their turn approached, Qiu Yan quickly finished the cotton candy and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Mo Lishen chuckled softly, glanced at Bai Hua, who immediately handed over a bottle of water.

Mo Lishen unscrewed the cap and brought the bottle to Qiu Yan’s lips.

Qiu Yan took a small sip and tried to take the bottle to drink on her own, but Mo Lishen moved it out of her reach.

Qiu Yan had no choice but to let Mo Lishen feed her, taking a few more sips.

“More?” Mo Lishen asked softly.

Qiu Yan shook her head, so Mo Lishen screwed the cap back on and returned the bottle to Bai Hua.

Qiu Yan watched as Bai Hua put the water back into her bag and nodded apologetically.

Bai Hua’s expression remained neutral, exuding the authority of a top-tier assistant, and she nodded slightly in return.

The two of them mounted the merry-go-round, and the safety attendant reminded everyone to fasten their seatbelts.

As the carousel began to spin, background music started to play. Mo Lishen was seated slightly ahead and to the right of Qiu Yan, making it easy for Qiu Yan to look at her.

As if sensing her gaze, Mo Lishen leaned on the horse with one hand, turned to look at Qiu Yan, and smiled faintly.

Qiu Yan returned a sweet smile, unable to help but think to herself how beautiful Mo Lishen looked when she smiled.

But soon, Mo Lishen’s smile froze, her gaze shifting past Qiu Yan, a chill creeping into her eyes.

Seeing this, Qiu Yan felt a pang of fear and instinctively wanted to turn around.

“What’s wrong?” Mo Lishen called out softly, her face still wearing a smile as if nothing had happened.

Qiu Yan shook her head, thinking it might have been her imagination.

A few minutes later, Mo Lishen took Qiu Yan’s hand and led her down the steps. “What else do you want to play?”

Qiu Yan pointed to the red mini train running nearby, her eyes sparkling as she asked, “Can we?”

Mo Lishen gently flicked the small ears on Qiu Yan’s head. “Of course.”

As they passed Bai Hua, Mo Lishen said in a low voice, “Someone is following us.”

Bai Hua’s expression turned serious, and she signaled to the bodyguards nearby with a glance.

They couldn’t sit next to each other on the merry-go-round, but they could on the mini train.

Qiu Yan sat close to Mo Lishen, feeling the warmth of the person beside her.

Mo Lishen held Qiu Yan tightly by the shoulder with one hand, her eyes scanning the surroundings as if searching for something unintentionally.

The small train started moving, gradually picking up speed. Though not as thrilling as other rides, its winding tracks made the centrifugal force palpable at every turn.

Whether it was due to the strong centrifugal force or something else, Qiu Yan kept leaning into Mo Lishen’s embrace with every curve.

Each time this happened, Qiu Yan secretly rejoiced in her arms.

Mo Lishen, however, had no mind to dwell on the girl’s subtle emotions. Finally, during another turn, a figure appeared, and a cold gleam flashed in Mo Lishen’s eyes.

Her instinct was to shield Qiu Yan’s face, but the train swayed back and forth, making it impossible to protect her from just one direction.

Mo Lishen cupped Qiu Yan’s chin. As Qiu Yan lifted her eyelids to meet her gaze, the next moment, their lips met softly.

Qiu Yan’s eyes widened instantly, her mind going blank.

Mo Lishen held Qiu Yan’s face with both hands, merely pressing their lips together without deepening the kiss.

Qiu Yan closed her eyes, her heart pounding like a drum, as if it might leap out of her chest at any moment. Her hand, resting at her side, tightly clutched the hem of Mo Lishen’s clothes, and she nearly forgot to breathe.

Mo Lishen kept her eyes open, her gaze devoid of any emotion. When she looked again, the figure had vanished.

Under the cover of this kiss, Mo Lishen used her body to completely obscure Qiu Yan’s face.

Only after carefully scanning the surroundings did she slowly release the person in front of her.

Qiu Yan didn’t dare to look directly at her, instead turning her gaze to the side. Her face flushed like she was drunk, the redness spreading all the way to her ears.

Mo Lishen held Qiu Yan’s hand with one hand while slowly twisting the ring on her middle finger with the other, lost in thought.

Beside her, Qiu Yan kept her head down, playing with the strap of her water bottle with her free hand, coiling and uncoiling it repeatedly.

Until the small train reached its destination, Qiu Yan did not lean into Mo Lishen’s embrace again, and neither of them spoke.

When they stepped out, Bai Hua stood there with a solemn and slightly anxious expression.

Mo Lishen ruffled Qiu Yan’s hair. “Go buy two drinks, okay?”

Qiu Yan’s mind was still in a daze, unable to think clearly, so she simply did as Mo Lishen said.

Only after watching Qiu Yan walk away did Bai Hua speak. “We caught the person. It’s confirmed, they’re one of Mo Licheng’s people.”

Mo Lishen lowered her head, toying with her ring, her voice dropping slightly. “Understood.”

“Will you deal with this person tonight?”

“Didn’t I say I’d take her to see a movie tonight?” Mo Lishen replied with a hint of irritation, lifting her eyes to look at Bai Hua.

Bai Hua quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, President Mo. I spoke out of turn.”

She hadn’t expected President Mo to care so much about her promise to Miss Qiu.

But she was mistaken, Mo Lishen’s actions had little to do with Qiu Yan.

“Leave it for now. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

Not long after, Qiu Yan returned carrying three drinks. She first handed a tea-flavored beverage to Mo Lishen. “I noticed you don’t seem to like sweets much, so I took the liberty of buying this for you.”

Mo Lishen accepted the drink with a faint smile. “Thank you.”

Qiu Yan then handed a cup to Bai Hua, expressing her gratitude sincerely. “Thank you for your hard work, Sister Bai Hua.”

Bai Hua glanced at Mo Lishen before accepting it. “You’re too kind, Miss Qiu.”

Finally, Qiu Yan opened her own drink and took several large gulps, as if trying to cool the restless heat building in her chest.

“What else would you like to do?” Mo Lishen asked.

Qiu Yan shook her head. “It’s getting late. Maybe we should head back.”

Actually, she wanted to enjoy many more activities with Mo Lishen, but she couldn’t bear to occupy the little rest time Mo Lishen had. In the end, her conscience held her back.

“Alright, let’s go watch a movie,” Mo Lishen said, holding Qiu Yan’s hand as they walked out.

At the cinema, Bai Hua went to collect the tickets as usual, while Mo Lishen took Qiu Yan to buy popcorn.

Qiu Yan pointed at the smallest size, but what she ended up with was an extra-large bucket, so big that she had to hold it with both hands in front of her.

Mo Lishen carried two drinks, and the two of them looked no different from any other couple as they walked side by side into the screening room.

The movie was one Qiu Yan had chosen, an art film. As an actress, her perspective differed from that of the average viewer. For Qiu Yan, there were many details in the film worth pondering and learning from.

But tonight, Qiu Yan couldn’t even focus on the plot.

Her heart was entirely on Mo Lishen.

From time to time, she took the opportunity to lower her head and eat popcorn, stealing glances at Mo Lishen.

The dim lighting served as her protective cover, allowing her to gaze boldly at Mo Lishen.

Mo Lishen sat with her arms crossed, watching the screen, seemingly unaware of Qiu Yan’s lingering gaze.

Encouraged, Qiu Yan grew bolder. She stared at Mo Lishen’s lips, reminiscing about their taste from that afternoon.

Mo Lishen’s lips were cool, and the familiar, chilly fragrance that accompanied her closeness seemed to pull Qiu Yan into a dizzying whirlpool. Qiu Yan felt powerless to resist, letting herself sink deeper under Mo Lishen’s spell.

It was like a butterfly gently alighting on a petal, its tiny antennae tickling the stamen, a tingling sensation that lingered long after.

By the time the movie ended, only the very top of the popcorn in Qiu Yan’s bucket had been eaten.

Mo Lishen noticed Qiu Yan’s hesitation. “If you’re worried about wasting it, you can take it back with you.”

Delighted, Qiu Yan happily linked arms with Mo Lishen and walked toward the exit.

It was already very late by the time Mo Lishen dropped Qiu Yan off at her apartment in Qingshui Bay.

“Get a good night’s sleep,” Mo Lishen said, fastening the buttons on Qiu Yan’s coat. “Don’t catch a cold.”

Qiu Yan nodded obediently, clutching the assortment of little trinkets her “sponsor” had bought for her that day as she headed upstairs.

…

When Mo Lishen returned to her own home, she sat at her desk, turned on the lamp, and gazed at the photo frame.

The woman in the photo sat in a chair, holding a bouquet of flowers. Her eyes, filled with undisguised delight as she looked into the camera, seemed to have been captured in a spontaneous moment. Her smile was like a peony on the verge of blooming, revealing just a glimpse, yet breathtakingly beautiful. The faint teardrop mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of tenderness, elegance, and grace.

She was Mo Lishen’s mother, Su Peijiu.

Mo Lishen held the frame, her eyes gradually reddening as she stared at the woman in the photo and murmured, “Did you ever love me?”

In Mo Lishen’s childhood, Su Peijiu was always busy. It was common for months to pass without seeing her, and she rarely had time to take little Mo Lishen out to play.

But whenever Su Peijiu returned, she could stay for two or three days. For Mo Lishen, those were the only times her world felt colorful. Su Peijiu would eat with her, tell her stories, and take her out in her arms.

So, even before Su Peijiu left for work again, Mo Lishen would already be looking forward to her next return.

During one of those periods when Mo Lishen was eagerly awaiting her mother’s return, all she got was Mo Boren’s cold remark: “Stop waiting. Your mother is dead.”

When Mo Lishen heard those words, her mind exploded. After a burst of ringing in her ears, all she could see was Mo Boren and Mo Yihuai looking down at her condescendingly. Whatever they said next, she couldn’t hear.

Su Peijiu died by suicide. But Mo Lishen knew that Su Peijiu’s departure was inextricably linked to the Mo family.

Yet, before she chose to leave, she did not come to see Mo Lishen, nor did she send her a single message. It was as if she did not care about Mo Lishen at all.

It was only much later that Mo Lishen retrieved Su Peijiu’s belongings from Mo Yihuai, a wooden box that had been kept in the bottom drawer of her desk.

Inside were some of Su Peijiu’s performance costumes. For many years, it was this wooden box that had kept Mo Lishen going, yet she never mustered the courage to open it.

She dared not relive that pain.

Qiu Yan bore some resemblance to Su Peijiu, especially the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. Every time Mo Lishen saw it, it felt as if she could truly see Su Peijiu’s image.

She took Qiu Yan out for meals, brought her to amusement parks and movie theaters, all in an attempt to compensate for the experiences she had never had.

It had nothing to do with Qiu Yan herself. Mo Lishen didn’t care who it was; anyone who resembled Su Peijiu would be treated the same way.

Back at Qingshui Bay Apartments, Qiu Yan laid out everything Mo Lishen had bought for her that day on the bed. She lay amidst those items, replaying the sweet kiss from earlier in the day, and fell asleep with a smile.

The kiss that had stirred such a storm in Qiu Yan’s heart was, to Mo Lishen, nothing more than a tool to conceal Qiu Yan. Mo Lishen did not want Mo Licheng to know that her current companion resembled Su Peijiu.

That was all.