My Little Pink Crocodile - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Do You Regret Letting Her Go?

When Qi Yan returned to the hospital that night, it was nearly dawn.

She sat on her bed, staring out the window, thinking Jiang Yu would never come back. She had caught a chill from rushing out earlier and felt the faint onset of a fever. A heavy, leaden exhaustion settled deep into her bones. Slowly, without realizing it, she drifted off to sleep.

Sometime later, a soft click echoed as the door was opened.

In her groggy, feverish state, Qi Yan saw a figure enter. The person stood by her bed, blocking the moonlight and casting a shadow that enveloped her. Qi Yan murmured something incoherent, causing the figure to stiffen. Then, the shadow shrank as the person leaned in closer.

A pair of cool lips pressed against hers. The movement was feather-light, yet carried a suppressed, trembling restraint that was profoundly moving. Qi Yan tasted a hint of salt; she knew Jiang Yu was crying again. She tried to lift her hand to wipe away the tears, but her body refused to obey.

She heard a few muffled sobs, quickly stifled as if the girl didn’t want to be discovered. The shadow expanded again, leaving only a lingering sensation on Qi Yan’s lips as proof that the kiss had ever happened. Jiang Yu seemed to stand by the bed for a very long time, but in the end, Qi Yan never knew exactly when she left.

The next morning, the sky was a hazy grey. Fallen leaves, neglected by the sweepers, lay scattered in desolate piles. The cold weather had driven away the usual crowds, leaving the hospital grounds exceptionally quiet.

Qi Yan opened her eyes. Everything from the previous night felt like a fleeting, ethereal dream—one that made her want to sink back into slumber the moment she woke. The door pushed open. Qi Yan tilted her head, unsure of what she was still hoping for.

When she saw it was Grace, a flash of disappointment flickered in her eyes.

“Aren’t you going to have a proper talk with her?” Qi Yan asked, masking her emotions.

Grace was dressed in exquisite makeup and a carefully coordinated outfit, looking as though she were headed for a date rather than someone who had feigned a suicide attempt the night before. Seeing her like this, Qi Yan thought things with Jiang Yao had been resolved, but Grace spoke in a breezy tone.

“I’m done with her.”

Qi Yan froze. Grace continued, “There’s no point in wailing and crying over one person. The world doesn’t stop turning without her. Besides, a human life is only a few decades; I can’t spend a whole lifetime grieving over a breakup.”

Qi Yan sat in silent contemplation for a moment before forcing a smile. “Since when did you start preaching philosophy?”

Grace set down the items she was carrying, hiding the look in her eyes. When she looked up, she was smiling again. “I’ve always been a person of depth and substance.”

Qi Yan chuckled, and the sorrow in her eyes dissipated slightly. Grace was right. Since she knew a future with Jiang Yu was impossible, there was no need to live in the shadow of that loss.

“Why is there a fish here? Uh… and it’s raw,” Grace remarked, wrinkling her nose as she lifted a fish.

Qi Yan turned and saw a fish of unknown species held in Grace’s hand. She stared at it for a while, a smile finally tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Yeah… what kind of decent person gifts a raw fish?”

Her voice sounded like she was talking to herself. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she laughed, though it was unclear if it was out of joy or something else. Grace held the fish up, inspecting it. “Do you want to eat it?”

“Let’s just… keep it,” Qi Yan said.

Grace frowned, putting the fish down to feel Qi Yan’s forehead. “Have you gone stupid? It’s a dead fish.”

Qi Yan pulled her hand away, a mysterious light flashing in her eyes. She smiled. “I’m joking.”

Grace sighed in relief. “I was really worried your fever had fried your brain.”

Qi Yan didn’t respond. She simply looked out the window at the falling yellow leaves. Through the bare branches, a sliver of light broke through the grey clouds. She let out a soft laugh, her gaze unreadable.

“The sun is coming out.”

Grace followed her gaze. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the heavy clouds, spilling into the ward and bathing it in a warm, golden hue.

“Let’s process the discharge,” Qi Yan said, her smile as gentle and composed as ever, showing no trace of grief.

Early that morning, Jiang Yu was ushered into a car under the watchful eye of Jiang Yao’s assistant. Looking at the large Golden Retriever in Jiang Yu’s arms, the assistant hesitated before respectfully opening the door. “Young Clan Leader, please.”

Jiang Yu saw Jiang Yao sitting inside. She absentmindedly stroked the dog’s fur and climbed in with an air of resignation.

Jiang Yao looked at the dog. “Did you break into Qi Yan’s house in the middle of the night?”

Jiang Yu stiffened at the name. She glanced at Jiang Yao and muttered, “Grace let me in.”

Jiang Yao paused at the mention of that name, then changed the subject. “So, do you realize now that you actually like her?”

Jiang Yao had asked this before. Back then, no matter how much Jiang Yu insisted she liked Qi Yan, Jiang Yao could tell it was just a whim.

“Mhm,” Jiang Yu murmured, her heart heavy. “But she doesn’t want me anymore.”

Jiang Yao’s eyes remained cold, yet held a hint of something complex. “Jiang Yu, you are an adult. You should think clearly about your own affairs.”

Jiang Yu hugged the dog and turned her head away. “I know. Stop lecturing me about it.”

Jiang Yao looked at the back of Jiang Yu’s head and the Golden Retriever sticking its tongue out at her, feeling momentarily helpless.

“When Grace gave me ‘Goudan’ (the dog), she asked me to give you a message,” Jiang Yu said, watching the traffic go by.

Jiang Yao smiled, remembering the way the woman had pulled her into a kiss. A dark glint flashed in her eyes. “What did she say?”

Probably that she hates me, Jiang Yao thought.

“She said… she doesn’t blame you for the rejection.”

Jiang Yao looked down and chuckled, shaking her head. It was just like Grace to say something like that. But then Jiang Yu continued.

“She said… it’s because you aren’t good enough for her.”

The image of Grace—bold, bright, and vibrant like the most stunning flower in a garden—suddenly filled Jiang Yao’s mind. After a long silence, Jiang Yao said, “Tell her… tell her I agree. I’m not good enough.”

Jiang Yu turned around, looking at her as if she were an idiot. Her exquisite face was full of disdain. “Are you stupid? Didn’t you see I’m in your car going back? I can’t go back now!”

Do these two really think I’m a professional messenger? I didn’t even get to say a proper goodbye to Qi Yan myself.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yu angrily tugged at the dog’s fur, making the poor Golden Retriever yelp and look at them piteously. Jiang Yao’s eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. “Then… don’t tell her.”

Jiang Yu wasn’t in the mood to deal with her anymore. Both turned their heads away, ignoring each other.

A month passed. Qi Yan’s pet hospital had been fully renovated. Out of consideration for Grace, she had again declined Jiang Yao’s offers of investment.

For Qi Yan, the time Jiang Yu spent in her life felt like a long, intoxicating dream that she had been trapped in. Although her life returned to normal, Grace knew she hadn’t truly moved on. So, when Qi Yan suggested a trip to the zoo, Grace didn’t refuse.

They went on a weekday; there weren’t many tourists. “What made you want to come here? You don’t seem very excited,” Grace asked.

Qi Yan stopped and looked down, smiling at Grace. “I don’t know why. I just suddenly wanted to see the crocodiles.”

Grace frowned and followed her gaze. Below, several crocodiles lurking in the water moved slightly. For some reason, Grace felt as if their eyes were fixed on Qi Yan with curiosity.

“The one you saved that day… she must have been the most beautiful one you’ve ever seen. It’s a pity,” Grace sighed.

The scene of their first meeting flashed through Qi Yan’s mind. Her lips curved up involuntarily. “She was indeed very beautiful.”

Grace teased, “Do you regret letting her go?”

Qi Yan’s deep, gentle eyes held a look of peaceful resignation. “There’s no regret to speak of.”

A cool breeze brushed her face, clearing her thoughts. Nearby, children were playing. One child, unnoticed by their parents, climbed onto the guardrail. Another child pushed them during a scuffle, and the boy tumbled over, screaming in terror.

Qi Yan was right there. She acted quickly, grabbing the child’s arm. However, the child’s frantic struggling made it impossible for her to pull him up alone.

“Call for help!” Qi Yan frowned. The child wasn’t small, and his wild thrashing was taxing her strength.

“Whose child is this?! Help!” Grace reacted instantly, shouting for the staff.

Workers rushed over and coordinated with Qi Yan to pull the boy back to safety. The terrified child wailed, his face pale. Qi Yan’s arm throbbed with pain, but she ignored it, kneeling down to comfort him softly. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” Her voice was calm and steady, grounding the child.

The negligent parents arrived, learning what happened from the staff. Seeing the crocodiles below—heads bobbing up with predatory glares—they were shaken to the core and immediately hugged their child while thanking Qi Yan profusely.

Once they left, Grace supported Qi Yan. Noticing her pale face, she asked worriedly, “Are you okay? Do you need a check-up?”

Qi Yan shook her head. “Let’s go.”

However, as they prepared to leave, several deep, gravelly voices rose abruptly from the enclosure, mixing with the sounds of playing children. They spoke with intense curiosity.

“I heard that one is the Young Clan Leader’s sweetheart.”

“The scent of the Young Clan Leader’s mark on her is so strong, I smelled it from miles away.”

“Isn’t the Young Clan Leader about to have her grand wedding? Why is this woman still here?”

“Your info is outdated. They were separated.”

“That is a pity indeed…”

There weren’t many crocodiles, but they were more enthusiastic about gossip than humans.

When Qi Yan heard the words “grand wedding,” she froze. She turned back to the crocodiles, who were poking their heads out and chatting lazily.

“Do I imagine it, or is she looking at us?”

“What are you worried about? She can’t understand Crocodile. Just think about how to apply for leave to go back to the clan for the ceremony.”

They didn’t know that, for a specific reason, Qi Yan understood every single word.

“What are you looking at?” Grace asked, confused when she couldn’t pull Qi Yan away.

“Nothing.”

Qi Yan retracted her gaze, her expression returning to its usual gentle composure, leaving not a single trace of her inner turmoil.