Chapter 150 Everyone Has Their Own Fragility

Qingli opened his eyes and gazed at the familiar ceiling, a surge of joy rising in his heart. He then cast his eyes toward his hand; Qin Yu was slumped over the edge of the bed, fast asleep with her hand resting on his.

As Qingli moved his fingers, Qin Yu jolted awake. She looked up, her face bright with delight, and said, "You’re finally awake! You’ve been asleep for two whole days."

Qingli offered a gentle smile. "Yes, I’m awake. Yu'er, I missed you so much."

Qin Yu blushed, pulling her hand away to adjust his quilt. Watching him as he stared intently at her, she smiled and said, "Rest for a moment; I’ll go make you some porridge."

Qingli nodded. "Come back soon."

Qin Yu replied softly and turned to leave. As Qingli watched the door close, his gaze darkened. He pulled his hand from beneath the covers and stared at the faint, lingering markings on his wrist, his lips pressed into a thin line as he sank into deep thought.

Before long, Qin Yu returned with the porridge. She fed him with great care. Although his wounds had mostly healed during his two-day slumber thanks to her water-element ability—meaning he could easily hold the bowl himself—she remained worried. As for Qingli, he was more than happy to be doted on by her.

After setting aside the bowl, now mostly empty, Qin Yu looked at Qingli, who was watching her with a smile. "Why do you keep staring at me?"

Qingli patted the empty space beside him. "Because my Yu'er is beautiful! Come, sit here."

Qin Yu walked over and sat down, asking with a chuckle, "Beautiful? What are you talking about?"

"Mmm, you are beautiful!" Qingli replied with a touch of childishness.

Qin Yu laughed helplessly. Ever since he had woken up from his injuries, he had become so boyish—she felt as though their roles had been reversed!

Watching her smile, Qingli reached out and pulled her into his embrace. As Qin Yu struggled to break free, she heard him murmur, "Yu'er, don't move. Just let me hold you." His tone was heavy with longing and the lingering fear of having lost her.

Qin Yu stopped struggling and let him hold her. She listened to his heartbeat—steady and strong—and felt her own heart gradually settle. The nerves that had been frayed for days finally began to relax to the rhythm of his heart.

With his left arm wrapped around her, Qingli stroked her long hair with his right hand, his eyes filled with immense tenderness. The atmosphere in the room was exceptionally warm.

Downstairs, Zhao Heng was pulling Xia Cheng aside, whispering something. They were the only two in the large living room; as for the others, they had all collectively decided they didn't want to be "abused" by such displays of affection anymore.

"Xia Cheng, is that woman really your mother?" Zhao Heng asked.

Xia Cheng nodded, his expression complex.

"Then why..." Zhao Heng looked at his complicated expression, puzzled.

"Xiao Heng, can I tell you about her another time?" Xia Cheng asked.

Zhao Heng immediately stiffened. She looked up at him, full of dissatisfaction. "Husband! We are a married couple! If you have something on your mind, say it now! We should face it together!"

Xia Cheng’s eyes dimmed. He took a deep breath, led Zhao Heng to sit down, and asked, "Xiao Heng, do you really want to hear it?"

Zhao Heng nodded firmly. "Yes!"

Hearing her unwavering answer, Xia Cheng smiled and began to recount his story.

"I was abandoned by them when I was very young. Well, it wasn't exactly abandonment; they simply traded my freedom for their own. Later, I was thrown into various training camps, learning countless things. The people in my family were like vampires, trying to drain every ounce of energy from me. I knew they were grooming me into a perfect heir to maintain the family’s precarious status.

"Over those years, I learned everything they wanted me to learn, but the one thing they never taught me was love.

"As I grew older, I began to crave love. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I had always longed to be loved. But the people around me did everything they could to stop me, and everyone I met had ulterior motives. I felt resentful, fearful, and forced to endure.

"By chance, I heard the housekeeper tell the story of my parents. I learned about the love story between the parents who had abandoned me. I hated them for discarding me for the sake of their love, yet at the same time, I longed for that kind of love—a love that could sacrifice everything.

"I projected these conflicting emotions onto them, vowing that I would find them! But until the apocalypse began, I had never seen them in person, only in photographs.

"Xiao Heng, don't you think I'm a fool?" Xia Cheng asked with a self-deprecating smile.

Zhao Heng didn't speak. Instead, she stood up and pulled him into her arms, patting his back with her left hand and stroking his hair with her right.

Xia Cheng took a deep breath in her embrace, inhaling her unique scent, which provided him with an unprecedented sense of security.

"I am here," Zhao Heng said firmly. Xia Cheng’s body stiffened for a moment before he completely relaxed.

He pulled away slightly to look at her, then pulled her into his arms again, resting his head on her shoulder and letting out a low, soft laugh.

"It’s so good to have you," he whispered.

Zhao Heng patted his cheek, saying lightheartedly, "Of course! I’m a super invincible beautiful girl, after all!"

Xia Cheng nodded in agreement, which made Zhao Heng feel quite satisfied.

"Oh, right. Now that she has come to find you, what do you plan to do?" Zhao Heng asked.

"I don't know. Does my wife have any good suggestions?" Xia Cheng replied.

Zhao Heng pondered for a moment. "How about I go talk to her?"

"Talk about what?"

"Hmm, talk about why she did what she did back then! And what she wants now by coming to find you," Zhao Heng said.

Xia Cheng shook his head. "Let the past stay in the past. I have you now, and that’s enough. As for why she came... I don't think she would tell you even if you asked."

Zhao Heng frowned. "Husband, are you suspicious of your own mother?"

Xia Cheng gave a bitter smile. "Suspicious? What could I possibly be suspicious of? Aside from blood relations, what else do we even have?"

Hearing this, Zhao Heng pressed her lips together, unsure of what to say.

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. Let nature take its course. Sigh, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go find Qin Yu and the others and ask about the next plan."

Zhao Heng nodded obediently, then stood up and headed upstairs with Xia Cheng.

In the kitchen, Qian Xiao leaned against the wall, her head tilted slightly upward, a bitter smile lingering on her lips, refusing to fade.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, though it was unclear whether she was apologizing to the past or to an unpredictable future.