Waterbound Love - Chapter 18

“Drinking alone again, not inviting me for a drink?”

Du Bai glanced at Shao with an “you’re so boring” look. “Go away, don’t block the beauties from coming over to hit on me.”

“Wow, really settled it? That was quick.” Shao deliberately ignored Du Bai’s look.

“Yeah, everything ended yesterday and left this morning,” Du Bai responded nonchalantly, as if reporting. Shao knew that once she mentioned it, it meant she had truly let it go, just like how she never talked about her and Lian Yinyun’s past because she never truly moved on. “No wonder you’re so cranky, still waking up on the wrong side of the bed. Played too hard last night?”

“Hey, can you stop making me insult you when we’re together?” Du Bai frowned at the woman in front of her. Being around this woman meant throwing all gentlemanly manners out the window.

“Sure, I’ve got news that you absolutely won’t curse me for hearing. Hey, what are you doing?” Seeing Du Bai’s intent to leave, Shao grabbed her sleeve tightly. Du Bai was truly speechless at this moment; after being around Shao’s relentless persistence for so long, she had gotten used to her touch. Anyone familiar with Du Bai knew she had a cleanliness obsession and couldn’t tolerate strangers touching her. To this day, Shen Yan and Tinna still vividly remember the solid hug Shao gave Du Bai when they first met, which left Du Bai’s face dark as night. Du Bai still believes that it was intentional on Shao’s part.

Looking at Shao’s tight grip, Du Bai said, “There’s no good news coming out of your mouth, I don’t care to hear it.”

“Alright, Lian Yinyun is back.” Du Bai’s heart tightened suddenly, but she pretended to be indifferent on the surface. “That’s it? I know.”

“Did you know she broke off her engagement?” From Du Bai’s surprised look, Shao had her answer. Du Bai also didn’t know about Lian Yinyun’s new catch. Shao smiled bitterly, pondering how to break the news. Bluntly would seem too cruel to Du Bai, but eventually, she would find out everything. Watching Du Bai’s departing figure, Shao thought to herself she really underestimated that person. Who knew she could so easily cancel Lian Yinyun’s wedding? But who will win in the end? Lian Yinyun wasn’t a simple character either, both of them merely using each other, all connected by the same person.

In truth, fate had already scripted everything; no one would win, not even Du Bai.

Du Bai wandered around downstairs for about half an hour, but still didn’t have the courage to knock on that door. She thought about lighting a cigarette but put it out when she remembered Yunyun was nearby. Forget it. What right did she have to see her now? As she turned, a flood of sunlight embraced her. The scene she had encountered countless times in her dreams appeared unexpectedly. The happiness was tantalizingly close, so much so that Du Bai hardly dared to breathe deeply for fear of shattering a fragile dream and being plunged back into darkness.

“Why are you standing here?” The same smiling eyes as in distant memories, emotions were welling up. Du Bai almost burst into tears. The person she missed day and night stood there, laughing under the sun.

“I… I came to drop off a friend nearby.” Du Bai tried her best to suppress the urge to pull her into an embrace.

“Oh, I see.” Du Bai’s sudden nervousness didn’t catch the fleeting disappointment in those eyes. They stood there in the sunlight as a gentle breeze swept by, painting a scene so beautiful it felt unreal, as if any touch would shatter it.

How she wished they could always see each other like this, where warmth could persist.

Who could make this moment eternal?

Who could remove the distances between them, one by one?

Who could bind their hearts together in unison, making separation inconsequential?

No one could, like water stains in the sunlight, leaving faint marks after evaporating, gradually worn away by the flow of time.

Do not say fate is unfair; it’s in their natures. Surrounded by a hard shell, the essence remains that soft, vulnerable spot. Time and destiny.

Seeing Lian Yinyun clutch her coat tightly, Du Bai sighed helplessly. “Let me take you to lunch.” Since she couldn’t let go, she decided to stay and see her smile at least.

“Hmm. Come to my place. I’ll cook for you.” Du Bai wanted to refuse, but seeing Yinyun clutch her coat even tighter, she couldn’t say no. She nodded slightly and followed her into the building.

The sunlight cast long shadows of them, slowly swallowed by the darkness.

As she left, Du Bai stood downstairs, looking up towards Lian Yinyun’s apartment. Their eyes met, and the warmth in that moment seemed more dazzling than the blood-red sunset, making Du Bai tear up. She ran away quickly. Watching Du Bai’s figure gradually disappear into the horizon, swallowed by the crimson remnants of the sun, Lian Yinyun touched her wrist, feeling a coldness akin to the indifference from the one she loved. She strained to look into the distance, trying to find that familiar, comforting silhouette, but was met only with desolation. The sunset’s afterglow painted a heartbreakingly beautiful emptiness. She smiled bitterly to herself, hoping in the end, she wouldn’t lose it all. No, that wouldn’t happen-Du Bai wouldn’t leave.

Du Bai wandered the streets aimlessly. It was unclear when and where she was, but as a chilling sensation touched her face, the sky began to scatter crystalline snowflakes. In the middle of the night, the streets were almost empty, a rare tranquility enveloped her. The streetlights cast a warm, embracing glow. Snowflakes danced like mischievous sprites, the light seemingly indulging them like playful lovers, transforming it into a scene so gentle and clear it seemed almost tangible. This unexpected tenderness moved her deeply. Tucking her cigarette back into its box, Du Bai didn’t want to ruin this indescribable beauty. Could she stay steadfast as the streetlights, offering warmth to her? She wasn’t sure.

Her heart was in turmoil.

Stubborn yet almost pathological.

A phone call jolted Du Bai from her reverie, a dream where white sands swirled around, but she couldn’t reach them. It was so vivid, so painful.

“Hello, Tinna.”

“Du Bai, are you crying?” Tinna’s voice trembled slightly, uncertain.

“No, it’s just that my voice is deep from waking up early.” Du Bai replied, touching her face and feeling the wetness.

“Well, it’s already noon. Come out and have some fun.”

Du Bai wiped her face, got out of bed, and poured herself a glass of water. “What’s the plan?”

“Oh, can’t I just want to see you?”

“Woman, your tone has already betrayed you. What is it? A bit of fun before the wedding?” Only by discussing such playful topics could she conceal everything else. Du Bai felt a bit relieved that Tinna couldn’t see her face; otherwise, she wouldn’t have the strength to mask the pain etched there.

“Hey, come on, you’re not a kid anymore. Why can’t you be more serious? Get your butt down here and meet your future brother-in-law.”

“So, you’re bringing your future husband to meet the family, huh? I definitely have to be there.”

“Enough with the smart talk. We’ll be waiting downstairs at your place in 30 minutes.”

“Got it, I’ll be there.”

Thirty minutes later, Du Bai got into Ji Feiling’s Audi Q7. It wasn’t a luxurious car, but it had great performance-steady, discreet, yet undeniably commanding. When she saw Ji Feiling, Du Bai paused for a moment, then joked with the couple, while Ji Feiling’s eyes briefly flashed with a cold light masked by a smile.

“Hey, Du Bai, what are you talking about? Don’t corrupt him,” Tinna, sitting in the front passenger seat, warned Du Bai while touching Ji Feiling’s face. “Feiling is very pure.”

“Oh, come on, woman. You’re talking like you’re in a drama. Even my arm hair is standing in protest,” Du Bai teased, glancing thoughtfully at the blushing Ji Feiling in the rearview mirror. She pulled out a cigarette. “But speaking of purity, I, the love rogue, am no match for your shy young man here. I’ve seen things he hasn’t, and I’ve done things he might never do,” she said, exchanging a cold look with Ji Feiling in the mirror. “Mr. Ji, got a light?”

Tinna didn’t quite understand Du Bai’s behavior but remembered that her friend hadn’t even met her boyfriend before, so it couldn’t be a feud. She passed Du Bai a lighter. “What are you talking about? Here, take the light.”

Du Bai lit her cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring. The act, albeit roguish, seemed elegant in her hands. “Being surrounded by beauties,” she said.

At that moment, everything fell into place. Du Bai must have recognized him from the beginning and was just trying to test him. Interesting, Ji Feiling thought.

Ji Feiling was indeed the man with glasses whom Du Bai had stumbled upon in room 611 at Shadow after mistakenly entering the wrong compartment. Despite being caught off guard, he had shown no embarrassment and had left a strong impression on Du Bai with his exceptional demeanor.

Ji Feiling focused on driving and didn’t respond, while Tinna, sensing potential awkwardness, playfully interjected, “He wouldn’t dare.”

Ji Feiling smiled and smoothed Tinna’s bangs with one hand, “With such strict rules from my dear wife, how would I dare?” He then glanced at Du Bai subtly.

Seeing Tinna’s bashful demeanor, Du Bai couldn’t help but frown for a moment, then quickly composed herself with that same mischievous smile, as if joking, “What if he really dares after marriage?”

Ji Feiling raised an eyebrow. This woman was no simpleton. She seemed to be implying that she was willing to let go of past grievances, but wanted a promise for the future. It stirred a desire in him to conquer her, to challenge her.

Tinna gave an awkward laugh. What was up with Du Bai today? But honestly, she’d never thought about that scenario before. “I believe in Feiling.”

Seeing the determination in Tinna’s eyes, Ji Feiling was momentarily taken aback. This kind of unconditional trust was new to him, touching a part of his heart that seemed to be crumbling. He quickly gave a self-mocking smile. Wasn’t this a pre-arranged marriage, a transaction? Then why was he feeling a bit moved, a bit unwilling?

“Du Bai would never let anyone hurt you and make you sad. If you ever get hurt, shall I seek justice for you?” Ignoring the embarrassment on Tinna’s face, Du Bai fixed her gaze on Ji Feiling. There are very few people in my life whom I care about. If anyone harms them, I will not tolerate it. Those who touch my reverse scale, whether they are gods or men, I will destroy them. Ji Feiling, if you dare to hurt Tinna, I will do everything in my power to destroy what you love and cherish right before your eyes.