My Little Pink Crocodile - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: I Don’t Believe You

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, passed through the glass, and spilled into the pure white room, making the entire space feel warm and cozy.

On the bedside table sat a bouquet of pink roses that Grace had coaxed Jiang Yu into buying. When Qi Yan saw them, she asked with a smile, “Did you buy these to match your hair?”

However, Jiang Yu shook her head seriously. “You don’t understand. Since you are my first love, this is called ‘First Love’. As my partner, I needed to confess my feelings to you properly.”

Every word she spoke was potentially awkward, yet because she said them with such sincerity and poise, one tended to overlook the embarrassment.

Hearing this, Qi Yan froze for a moment and looked over at Grace. Grace, looking guilty, kept shifting her gaze elsewhere, Refusing to look in Qi Yan’s direction. Finally, Qi Yan’s eyes met Jiang Yu’s again. The girl was holding the large bouquet, bathed in sunlight, her smiling eyes bright and dazzling. It was impossible to look away.

Qi Yan lowered her head and smiled, her eyes brimming with doting affection. “Mhm. You are my first love, too.”

Hearing her answer, Jiang Yu immediately forgot Grace was even there; she leaned in, hugged Qi Yan, and kissed her. Qi Yan held her steadily, her voice devoid of any blame. “Stop fooling around.”

Seeing how clingy they were, Grace tactfully exited the room.

After receiving treatment, the color had returned to Qi Yan’s pale face, though the injury on her leg still required hospitalization. She sat on the hospital bed, bathed in the gentle sunlight from the window, quietly reading a book. The only sound was the slight rustle of pages turning.

Bored, Jiang Yu picked an apple from a gift basket and found a fruit knife. She reminded the reading Qi Yan, “I’m going to peel an apple for you. Be careful.”

Qi Yan hummed in response, thinking Jiang Yu was just being playful. She didn’t realize that Jiang Yu’s peeling technique was a disaster waiting to happen. Watching the apple shrink until only the core remained while the knife came terrifyingly close to Jiang Yu’s fingers, Qi Yan finally put her book down and stopped her.

“Let me peel it for you.”

Jiang Yu didn’t let go of the knife. “You’re a patient.”

Seeing Jiang Yu’s persistence, Qi Yan thought for a moment and said, “I noticed you haven’t had much of an appetite today. I’ll peel an apple for you to tide you over.”

Ever since Jiang Yu learned that Qi Yan needed to stay in the hospital, she had been gloomy, fearing Qi Yan might face amputation. She had only picked at her food before rushing back to the ward.

Hearing this, Jiang Yu realized she actually was a bit hungry. Deciding Qi Yan had a point, she handed over the knife and picked out the largest apple. “Let’s share it, half and half.”

Qi Yan took it and smiled. “Alright, whatever you say.”

Just then, the door opened. Qi Yan’s parents entered, carrying home-cooked soup and fruit. Qi Yan looked up and nodded. “Dad, Mom.”

Seeing Qi Yan alive, even if she was in a hospital bed, her mother began to sob quietly. “I’m fine,” Qi Yan said.

Grace had told her that while she and Jiang Yu were missing, her parents had been the most frantic, visiting the police station every day for clues. Qi Yan looked at them and noticed they seemed to have more grey hair than before.

“Please, have a seat,” Qi Yan said, looking down at the apple she was peeling.

Only then did they react. They placed the thermos of soup on the bedside table. Her mother placed a second thermos in front of Jiang Yu. “It must have been hard for you to look after our Qi Yan. It’s early and you probably haven’t eaten. I prepared a portion for both of you.”

Jiang Yu hadn’t held much affection for them due to their past behavior. She was about to refuse when Qi Yan spoke up. “You’re hungry. Go ahead and eat.”

“Fine.” Jiang Yu accepted it with a feigned look of reluctance, but once she opened it, she buried her head in the food happily. Her feet swung back and forth as her eyes remained fixed on the apple in Qi Yan’s hands.

Qi Yan noticed her gaze, chuckled, and sliced the peeled apple, handing a piece to her. Watching their intimacy, Qi Yan’s father—who usually valued his pride above all else—finally spoke up.

“We’ve thought it over. From now on, you can do whatever you want. We won’t force you anymore.”

Qi Yan froze, then lowered her head with a smile. “You should have said that when I was ten.”

Years ago, when their family suddenly became “new money,” her parents—feeling the gap between them and high society—gambled everything on their two children. Her brother was indeed a business prodigy, but she had been forced down an artistic path she hated, solely to “add a layer of gold” to her status. As she grew older, she understood their motives, but her sudden awakening had been dismissed by them as mere youthful rebellion.

“We are sorry,” her mother said, her voice choking up.

Qi Yan’s phone call back then had made her realize a lot. The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt. When the accident happened, they both feared that would be their last conversation. Now that Qi Yan was safe, they were mostly just relieved.

“Mhm. I understand.” Qi Yan’s eyes were slightly lowered, hiding her emotions.

“The girl you married… we won’t stop you two anymore,” her mother said gently, looking at Jiang Yu, who was eating happily. “But we still want to confirm one thing: Is this child of legal age?”

They couldn’t help but wonder. Even though Jiang Yu had claimed she was an adult, the rest of her “nonsense” talk made them suspect she was lying.

“She…” Qi Yan looked at Jiang Yu. The girl’s cheeks were puffed out like a hamster’s, making her look very much like a child. “She is of age.”

Jiang Yu hurried to raise her hand to prove it, clutching a slice of apple. Her wide-eyed look was enough to melt anyone’s heart. Qi Yan thought of Jiang Yu’s three-digit age and, fearing she might say something outrageous, confirmed with a nod. “Yes.”

Seeing her parents’ skeptical looks, she frowned and explained seriously, “I don’t have a habit of kidnapping children.”

Hearing that, they finally felt completely at ease. After talking for a while longer, they left, and Grace returned shortly after.

Grace was carrying takeout, but seeing Jiang Yu already finishing a thermos of soup, she teased, “So the little sister has her appetite back? Eat slowly, I brought an extra portion for you.”

“Don’t let her overeat,” Qi Yan said.

Grace didn’t reply, just smiled at Jiang Yu and set the food down. “I think I just bumped into her parents. They asked me to tell her to come out for a moment,” Grace told Qi Yan.

Jiang Yu stopped eating. She put down the thermos and turned her head away, saying willfully, “I won’t see them.”

Qi Yan looked at her and advised gently, “Since they’re here, it’s best if you go see them.”

Jiang Yu looked at her. “Do you remember what you promised me?”

Qi Yan was stunned for a moment, then recalled the night in the woods when Jiang Yu had asked her a question while she was drifting off. What had her answer been? It was “Steal you back.”

At this, Qi Yan nodded. “I remember.”

Jiang Yu got off the chair, patted the non-existent dust from her pretty dress, and said with an air of “granting mercy”, “Fine, I’ll go see them then.”

Once Jiang Yu was out, Grace laughed. “Even if your marriage certificate is fake, it’ll be a shame to see her go.”

Qi Yan’s movements paused. A flicker of something passed through her eyes as she unconsciously repeated Grace’s last sentence in her mind. Grace’s words were like a thorn, piercing her heart and constantly reminding her: Jiang Yu didn’t belong here. She didn’t belong to her.

Seeing Qi Yan’s distracted state, Grace waved a hand in front of her. “Are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor?”

Qi Yan snapped back to reality and masked her emotions. “How did you find us?”

“I don’t know. President Jiang just told me you were found, and we went.” Grace’s eyes filled with excitement at the mention of Jiang Yao. “I have to say, Jiang Yu’s family must really love her. Even the police had no leads, yet they found you somehow.”

Qi Yan looked out the window, her thoughts unreadable. A gentle breeze blew, rustling the leaves outside. In her quiet contemplation, there was a profound sense of loneliness.

Outside, Jiang Yu first saw Jiang Yao and her assistant. She looked at the cold-faced Jiang Yao and frowned suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”

Jiang Yao glanced at her and said coolly, “Those old men insisted I come. I’m not exactly thrilled about it either.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yu looked around. Seeing no other clan members, she lowered her guard and said in a bargaining tone, “Since you’re not thrilled either, just let me and Qi Yan elope.”

The assistant panicked. “Young Clan Leader, how could you…”

“Why not?” Jiang Yu glared at him, silencing him instantly.

Jiang Yao ignored her and spoke coldly, businesslike. “You won’t be hiding today. I’m taking you to see them now.”

Deflated, Jiang Yu followed Jiang Yao into the elevator. Looking at the closing doors, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease, but the memory of Qi Yan’s words cheered her up again. Jiang Yao watched her, her eyes holding a deep, unreadable meaning.

When they reached the floor and the doors opened, Jiang Yu saw her anxious parents. Her mother immediately rushed over and hugged her, sobbing. “Where have you been? We’ve been searching everywhere. Even if you didn’t want to marry, you shouldn’t have been so reckless as to run away from the clan. We heard you almost died… we told you the outside world is dangerous.”

Seeing her mother so upset, Jiang Yu tried to comfort her. “Qi Yan will protect me. You don’t have to worry.”

Her parents froze. Her father recovered first, looking stern. “Who is this person you mentioned? What is their relationship to you?”

Jiang Yu didn’t hide it. “My wife.”

Jiang Yao rubbed her temples. “You all need to calm down.”

It didn’t help. Jiang Yu’s parents exploded. “A human?! Do you not know the clan will never agree to this?!” her father roared.

Jiang Yu wasn’t afraid. She pouted. “You have to agree. We’re married. We have a certificate.” She emphasized the last part to make sure they heard.

Her mother shook her head. “The Mountain God favored you from birth; you are an auspicious sign. One day you will inherit his legacy. You shouldn’t be in contact with humans, let alone…”

Knowing they couldn’t touch her, Jiang Yu interrupted, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t acknowledge it. I’ll just elope with her.”

Jiang Yao’s headache worsened at her blatant honesty. “Nonsense!”

The father raised his hand in anger, but after looking at Jiang Yu, he couldn’t bring himself to strike. He lowered his hand and looked toward Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao sighed. She knew even if they dragged Jiang Yu back today, she would just sneak out again. After a moment, she addressed Jiang Yu.

“Jiang Yu, Qi Yan never intended to marry you at the start.”

Jiang Yu didn’t believe her. Thinking of Qi Yan, her eyes filled with affection. “Impossible. She said she likes me.”

Jiang Yao stared at her. Her next words made Jiang Yu freeze in place.

“Your marriage certificate isn’t real. It’s a fake that Qi Yan had Grace procure.”

Jiang Yu wanted to argue, but Jiang Yao didn’t give her the chance.

“Think about it. How many times had Qi Yan even seen you? How many days had she known you? At the time, she didn’t even know who you were, and you didn’t have a human ID. Even if the certificate were real, she only used you in a moment of anger to escape her own blind dates.”

Every word was a strike to the heart. Jiang Yu bit her lip, not daring to think too deeply. She backed into the elevator, shaking her head, her trust in Qi Yan still shining in her eyes.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then go ask Qi Yan yourself,” Jiang Yao said just before the elevator doors closed.