Silent Testimony - Chapter 76

Tao Ling knew Li Hewei couldn’t stay for long. She lowered her gaze to their joined hands before looking back at Li’s face. Her erratic heartbeat sent pulses straight to her nerves, and her breathing gradually grew uneven.

Li Hewei watched her closely. “Are you alright?” she asked urgently.

Tao Ling didn’t answer. A faint furrow appeared between her brows as she reached out to touch the scratches on Li Hewei’s neck.

“It’s nothing, don’t worry. Yan Chen has been caught,” Li Hewei murmured, stroking the back of Tao’s hand before gently guiding her wrist back under the covers. Knowing Tao Ling was in the dark about the case, she explained softly, “Yan Chen is the one who kidnapped you and murdered Ma Zhiming.”

“Do you know how brave you were? You bit him and left behind the evidence we needed—it made it impossible for him to deny it.” The gloves, the diary, and the fingerprints on the cash wrappers were the “smoking guns” of the case. Later, a police search of Yan Chen’s residence uncovered two bottles of Sevoflurane, ten sleeping pills, and various tools used in the crimes.

Tao Ling felt a sense of relief as the clouds of worry over her heart began to dissipate.

Li Hewei chatted idly, mentioning how the technical unit was rooting for her recovery and how Qiu Wan and Cheng Yingqiu were worried. Finally, she mentioned Liu Yun.

“Auntie is staying at the hotel across from the hospital. She spends all day waiting outside the doors.”

Tao Ling hummed in acknowledgment. Forty minutes earlier, Liu Yun—fearing she might disturb her daughter’s rest—hadn’t entered the room, but had asked Dr. Lin Ye for a two-minute phone call. For those two minutes, Liu Yun talked while Tao Ling listened.

“Xiao Wei helped me book a hotel nearby and wouldn’t take a cent for it.”

“While you were unconscious, she had a fever but was still running around helping everyone. She calls to check on me every night.”

“We must repay this kindness. Once you’re discharged, we’ll buy her a gift and take her to dinner.”

From these fragments, Tao Ling captured the depth of Li Hewei’s devotion. As she held that warm hand now, their eyes met. Looking into those deep, shimmering eyes, Tao Ling found herself overwhelmed with emotion, and hot tears began to well up.

“Why are you crying?” Li Hewei reached out to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. “I have to leave soon; I can’t make things difficult for Dr. Lin.” All their intimate interactions felt natural now. Tao Ling no longer pulled away, and Li Hewei became more composed and open. She stroked the girl’s soft hair and whispered, “Goodnight.”

The moment Li Hewei stepped out of the EICU, Cheng Yingqiu rushed over and took her arm. “Happy now, Sister?”

“Yes.”

“Aww, then give us a smile! Don’t keep your mouth pursed like that.”

In that brief encounter, heartache had outweighed joy, but Li Hewei didn’t want to spoil the mood. A light smile played on her lips. “Alright, Miss Cheng. Take us home.”

“Coming right up!”

They took the highway back. Li Hewei was dropped off first. As the car door closed, Cheng Yingqiu kept her eyes on the road, lightly pressing the accelerator. The car crossed the asphalt road and turned into a narrow old street before coming to a steady stop.

“Want to come up for a bit?” Qiu Wan asked. She unbuckled her seatbelt and kept her head lowered, trying to sound natural.

“Huh?” An invitation at nearly 2 AM was unlike Qiu Wan’s usual style. Cheng Yingqiu’s fingers curled around the steering wheel. “Oh… okay,” she replied, her voice muffled.

Cheng Yingqiu followed Qiu Wan inside, stepping up the creaking wooden stairs. She touched her burning ears and let out a slow breath, scolding herself for overthinking. Perhaps the other woman just wanted her to have a glass of water.

Right—after all, she had complained about being thirsty on the highway.

“Soda or warm water?”

As expected, Cheng Yingqiu’s tense body relaxed instantly. She smiled. “Warm water.”

“Alright, wait a moment.” Qiu Wan went downstairs. Half a minute later, she appeared with a cup. “This is my usual mug. It’s been washed.”

“Thanks.” Taking the cup, Cheng Yingqiu felt awkward again. She screamed for help internally, swallowed two gulps of water, and stood up to make a run for it. “I… I should head home. Get some rest, Sister Qiu.”

Qiu Wan called out softly, “Wait.”

“Yes?”

Cheng Yingqiu watched as Qiu Wan’s tall silhouette disappeared into the bedroom and returned with a box. Sitting beside her, Qiu Wan looked at her with an unwavering, sincere gaze. “A gift for you—and I’m here to collect my answer.”

Qiu Wan had shed her professional sharpness, appearing elegant and gentle. “Back at Waiyuan, I heard you mention your camera was acting up and needed repairs. I took the liberty of buying you a mirrorless one.”

It was a Panasonic full-frame mirrorless camera, retailing for over 10,000 yuan. Knowing the price, Cheng Yingqiu blurted out, “This is too expensive…” Her family was wealthy, but to avoid being controlled by her parents and to have the confidence to come out later, she hadn’t asked them for money since graduation. The camera she had sent for repairs was a birthday gift from Cheng Zhijiao five years ago.

“Xiao Qiu, listen to me first.” Qiu Wan paused, her soft lips moving slightly. “Although I only realized I liked you less than half a month ago, I did wonder if the age gap was too large.”

“But perhaps because I’ve failed once before, I’ve become more cautious with age, leading to a lack of interest in romance over the years. You are the only person who has walked into my heart in a long time, giving me the impulse to start a relationship.”

Cheng Yingqiu gazed at her, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Qiu Wan smiled. “When we’re together, I’m always drawn to your bright smile and your free-spirited nature.” She solemnly spoke the words she had pondered for so long: “So, Miss Cheng, will you allow me to wake up every day and see your smile?”

Cheng Yingqiu had rarely seen Qiu Wan be so direct. Her heart felt like it was melting. Seeing the warm yellow light reflected in the woman’s eyes, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around Qiu Wan’s neck and tilt her head up to plant a light kiss on the corner of her mouth.

“It’s what I’ve dreamed of.” Having initiated the kiss, Cheng Yingqiu leaned her head against Qiu Wan’s chest. A brilliant blush covered her cheeks. She bit her lip and whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum, “Can I stay over tonight?”

Fearing Qiu Wan would think she was being bold, she quickly added, “Just… just talking under the covers.”

“Alright.” Watching the girl’s rapidly changing expressions, Qiu Wan felt a wave of tenderness.

However, the “night chat” lasted barely ten minutes before Qiu Wan, exhausted and normally a deep sleeper, fell into a heavy slumber. Half a foot away, Cheng Yingqiu—wearing one of Qiu Wan’s oversized T-shirts—was immersed in the woman’s scent. A smile crept onto her face. She boldly snuggled into the warm embrace on her left and closed her eyes, her wish finally fulfilled.

Cheng Yingqiu was a habitual late riser. When she woke the next morning, the blankets were warm. Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked at the woman she had pined for. Confirming it wasn’t a dream, she was about to say good morning when Qiu Wan spoke first: “It’s 7:20, Reporter Cheng.”

“Ah! Why didn’t you wake me!”

Qiu Wan’s eyes were soft. “At 7:00, a certain someone said ‘two more minutes.'”

“I… I need to change…” Cheng Yingqiu scrambled out of bed, grabbed her clothes from the chair, and bolted into the bathroom.

After getting ready, they headed downstairs and bumped into Qiu Huiyu coming out of the kitchen. Cheng Yingqiu greeted her with a flush: “Good morning, Grandma.”

“Oh, Yingqiu! Stay for breakfast before you go. Fish soup noodles,” Qiu Huiyu said. “Xiao Wan made poached fish last night, so the broth is perfect for noodles.”

Cheng Yingqiu glanced at Qiu Wan. “But…”

Qiu Wan took the hint and intervened. “Grandma, we’re short on time. We both start work at 8:00.”

“But you work right across the street! It’s a five-minute walk.”

“I have to drop her off at the TV station first.”

“I see. Go on then. Remember to buy some buns at the breakfast shop next door for the road. Don’t let Yingqiu go hungry.”

Qiu Wan replied cheerfully, “Will do.”

Leaving the shop, the blush on the back of Cheng Yingqiu’s neck hadn’t faded. She whispered, “Grandma… does she know?”

“Grandma knows. I told her this morning.” Qiu Wan was disciplined and had a set biological clock, waking up at 7:00. She had gone downstairs first to inform Qiu Huiyu, reminding the elderly woman not to pry too much so as not to scare Cheng Yingqiu.

“I know you young people are shy. I won’t pester her.”

“Mhm. She’s spirited, but this is her first relationship.”

“So, since you’re older, you have to be the patient one.”

“Did Grandma approve?” Cheng Yingqiu’s question pulled her back to the present.

“Of course. She’s very happy.” Qiu Wan picked out food at the breakfast stall, consulting her new girlfriend before buying a steamer of buns, two flower rolls, and two cups of soy milk. Cheng Yingqiu couldn’t stop sneaking glances at her, her heart swelling with joy.

Once she reached her desk, Cheng Yingqiu—who had originally planned to wait a few days to tell Li Hewei—pulled out her phone.

Li Hewei: [Didn’t come home last night?]

Cheng Yingqiu: [Sister, you do care about me after all, knowing I wasn’t home.] [Official announcement: I’m off the market! She confessed! I was still thinking about what gift to get her, and she beat me to it.] [Cat rolling around emoji] [Sister, hurry up and confess too. I want a sister-in-law.] [Shrug emoji]

Li Hewei: [Transfer: 999 yuan.] [Wishing you longevity together.]

Cheng Yingqiu: [Why do you send red packets at the drop of a hat? I asked for a sister-in-law, not money.]

Li Hewei: [For good luck.]

Cheng Yingqiu: [Is that so? Then I’ll reluctantly accept.] [Thanks, Sis.] [What about Sister Tao Ling? When is she moving to a regular ward?]

Li Hewei: [Around 3 or 4 PM.]

Cheng Yingqiu: [So you’re heading there after work?]

Li Hewei: [Mhm. I’m staying at the hospital tonight. You and Sister Qiu don’t need to go.]

Cheng Yingqiu: [Got it. I won’t disturb your ‘world for two.’]

Cheng Yingqiu put her phone away as Chen Man sat down opposite her.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Miss Cheng, you’re glowing! What good news happened?” Chen Man, from the neighboring video editing group, had sneaked over to gossip.

“I’m finally no longer ‘single since birth,'” Cheng Yingqiu opened a folder and shifted into work mode. “I have to be at the Procuratorate at 9:00. We’ll talk after work; dinner’s on me.”

“What are you doing at the Procuratorate?”

“Experience a prosecutor’s interrogation of a suspect at the detention center firsthand.”

“A major case? No way.”

“Theft. Now go back, don’t stop me from working.”

“That’s what you get for not replying to my WeChat!”

After Chen Man left, a message came from Qiu Wan: [Going to the Procuratorate at 9:00? I can give you a lift; it’s on my way.]