Silent Testimony - Chapter 110

Last year, when she first “entered” this book, her first meeting with Tao Ling was in a hospital ward. Li Hewei gave a self-deprecating smile; it was almost too theatrical.

The door was pushed open. A girl, breathless from running, stood by the bed, scanning her face with desperate intensity.

Li Hewei’s lips quirked into a smile. “What? Don’t recognize me anymore?” Seeing her dazed, she added, “Come here, Tao Tao.”

Tao Ling approached cautiously and sat on the edge of the bed as told.

“Little Quail, why so quiet?”

Confirming that the person before her was indeed her beloved, Tao Ling’s tears overflowed again. “Sister Wei, I thought… I thought…”

“Thought what?”

Li Hewei didn’t tease her further. She gently wrapped her fingers around the girl’s palm and made a soft promise: “I’m staying.”

Tao Ling’s eyes widened. “Staying?”

“Yes.” Li Hewei reached out, smoothing the furrow between the girl’s brows. “Forever.”

She kept the true “cost” of the swap to herself and explained the situation—the moment of transmigration, the system, the mission…

“We negotiated with the System.”

“Negotiated?”

“We can swap souls twice a year. She will return to visit her parents, and I will go back to reunite with my stepmother.” Earlier in the year, the “original” owner had learned her stepmother was being bullied by a nephew who was embezzling her pension. Li Hewei had intervened to bring the woman to live with them, and out of gratitude, the two versions of “Li Hewei” conspired to strike a deal with the Main System.

“Twice?”

“The Main System is surprisingly reasonable. For my stepmother’s birthday in mid-April, I can go back for a full day.” During the medical checks, they had haggled with the System. One swap became two.

The two chatted idly until, perhaps from sheer exhaustion, Li Hewei leaned against Tao Ling’s arm and fell into a deep sleep.

Outside, the rain pitter-pattered against the glass. In the parking lot of the Second Affiliated Hospital, a travel-worn Cheng Yingqiu was stuffed into the back seat by Qiu Wan.

“What are you doing!”

Qiu Wan sat beside her, closed the door, and affectionately tapped the tip of her nose. “Happy Birthday.”

“Ah! You remembered!” Cheng Yingqiu threw herself into Qiu Wan’s arms.

“Of course I remembered,” Qiu Wan stroked her hair. “And I have a little gift.”

“Oh?”

“Check your right pocket.”

Cheng Yingqiu reached in and pulled out a small box. Seeing the brand, she squealed, “Lipstick!” Because of her job, she usually wore light makeup. She had been complaining that her favorite shade was running out; Qiu Wan hadn’t said anything at the time, but she had clearly taken note.

“Let me try it.” Cheng Yingqiu opened the box and used the car window as a mirror. She turned around, squinting and pouting. “I can’t even see the color in this light.”

“Mm? It’s Almond Milk Tea.”

Cheng Yingqiu shook her head. “I can’t visualize it.” As Qiu Wan reached into her bag for a compact mirror, the girl leaned in and pecked her on the cheek. “I know now! Dusty pink with a milky coffee undertone. It’s pretty!”

Qiu Wan was both annoyed and amused. She reached up to wipe the lipstick mark from her face, but the girl caught her wrist. “Leave it for a bit. Just two minutes.”

“Childish.”

“I can be even more childish!” Cheng Yingqiu pulled out her phone to take a commemorative photo. After sending it to their group of four, she used a wet wipe to clean Qiu Wan’s face. “Are you going back?”

“Yes, there’s a meeting tomorrow morning.”

“Me too. Overtime even on weekends.” As the lipstick mark was half-erased, Cheng Yingqiu’s gaze drifted, landing on Qiu Wan’s lips. She spoke her mind: “Can you give me a lift?”

“I can.” Qiu Wan gave a low laugh, understanding exactly what she meant. “What are you thinking about?”

“Can you satisfy whatever I’m thinking about?”

“I can.” Qiu Wan tilted her head, took the hand that was holding the wipe, and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I haven’t guessed wrong, have I?”

“No.” Cheng Yingqiu whispered against her lips, “Take me home.”

The rain cleared, leaving a bright sky. After Li Hewei finished the breakfast her mother had brought, a message from Cheng Yingqiu arrived: 【Sister, sleep well?】

【Not bad.】 Li Hewei sent a red packet: 【Happy Birthday.】

【Happy, but tired. So tired.】

【Stop right there.】

【No.】【I found out last night she just ‘prefers’ to lie there because she’s so busy and tired at work. She wants to be the passive one.】

【You actually discussed that with her?】

【Yeah! I hinted before, but she never got it!】

【Eh, it’s fine. When two ‘0s’ meet, one must become a ‘1’. I’m a hard worker.】

【But when she took the lead last night, she was really… wow. Why! (Crying emoji)】

Li Hewei: 【……】

【Sorry, I forgot you’re injured. I repent.】【Once you’re out, we’re having a makeup birthday party.】

【Keep an eye on my mom for me.】

【Why?】

【I came out to her last night.】

【What? You just had surgery and you came out? To force her to agree?】

【I didn’t force her. I just didn’t want to lie anymore.】

【Fine. I want to come out too.】

Li Hewei thought Cheng Yingqiu would at least wait a while, but on the day she was discharged, Li Yuqiong burst into her room. “Look at you! You’ve corrupted your sister.”

“Corrupted?”

“She’s following your lead! She told Ajiao (Cheng’s mother) she likes girls. Ajiao was so angry she kicked her out that night.”

Li Hewei feigned ignorance. “When did this happen? I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know? She didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

Li Yuqiong felt a wave of worry. “Oh dear, do you think she’ll do something rash?”

“With her personality? Impossible.”

In truth, Cheng Yingqiu and Li Hewei had agreed to give their parents a few days to cool off. But the ice was broken sooner than expected by Shang Lan (Qiu Wan’s mother). Cheng Zhijiao rushed into the room and showed them a text. “Sister, look at this.”

“This is?”

“It’s from her ‘girlfriend’s’ mother. She wants to have dinner.”

“Dinner?” Li Yuqiong read the message. Shang Lan stated she respected her daughter’s choice and wanted to sit down and talk.

“Yeah, Yingqiu said the other mother supported them, but I didn’t believe it.”

“What do you think?”

“Her father thinks we should just let her fend for herself.” As she spoke, a second text arrived from Shang Lan.

【Actually, we’ve met. I was the lead surgeon for Xiao Qiu’s appendectomy. I am Shang Lan.】

This revelation sent shockwaves through the room. Cheng Zhijiao grabbed her phone and stood up abruptly. “I’m going to talk to her father again.”

Li Hewei smiled. “Looks like there’s hope.”

“Never mind her. What about you? When are you bringing Xiao Tao home for a proper dinner?”

Li Hewei looked at her mother in disbelief. “Mom?”

“I see the way you look at her. I’m not blind.” Li Yuqiong sighed. “Xiao Tao is a good kid. Better than her brother.”

“Whatever makes you happy.”

Afterward, Li Hewei and Tao Ling decided to keep the truth from Liu Yun and Wu Yong for the time being. Liu Yun, who had spent her life tilling the soil, wouldn’t understand, and they didn’t want to stir up old memories involving Tao Yang. As for Wu Yong, who spent his days in a bottle, he followed whatever Li Yuqiong said anyway; there was no need to break the window pane.

With 28 days of injury leave, Li Hewei spent her recovery time sorting through her belongings. She found a Teacher’s Qualification Certificate for high school art education.

Cheng Yingqiu, passing by with a glass of water, remarked, “Oh, during your internship, you weren’t focused on police work. You kept wanting to paint, so you even took the exam for that.”

Li Hewei rested her chin on her hand. “What do you think about me becoming a teacher? Three months of vacation a year, and as a ‘secondary subject’ teacher, no overtime.”

“Are you kidding? They said you’re up for a promotion at the end of the year.”

“Staying in the ‘system’ is exhausting. I want to be myself.” Li Hewei craved freedom.

Tao Ling walked in with a glass of milk and handed it to her. “The Police Academy is hiring art teachers. Why not try there?”

Cheng Yingqiu face-palmed. “Heavens, you support every single thing she says?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

Cheng Yingqiu rolled her eyes and retreated, the “third wheel” successfully removing herself.

Tao Ling knelt down, picked up the certificate, and tucked it into a drawer. Her voice was soft and smiling. “But a high school certificate won’t work for a university.”

“Get the job first, then get the right certificate. Right?”

“Then… should we put off buying the house for a bit?”

“Why?”

“If you work at the Police Academy, it’s better to buy a place in the suburbs. It’ll be a shorter commute for you.”

“As long as it’s convenient for you and your mother.” Li Hewei reached out, lacing her fingers with Tao Ling’s.

“But…”

“No ‘buts’.” Li Hewei leaned in, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss.

Tao Ling went quiet, closing her eyes to feel the moment.

Outside the window, the courtyard greenery was lush and vibrant, filled with the sound of birdsong. Li Hewei pressed her nose against Tao Ling’s, whispering with deep affection: “On your birthday last year, I made a wish.”

“What was it?”

“Spring comes and summer goes; we harvest in autumn and store in winter. I want to spend a long, long future with you.”

The End.