Waterbound Love - Chapter 26

Du Bai’s anger had actually dissipated the moment she saw Yaoyao’s lonely figure turning away, leaving behind a deep sense of guilt. She fled; she truly didn’t know how to face Yaoyao next. Somn hadn’t opened yet, and Du Bai aimlessly wandered, clueless about where to go. She thought to herself how desperately barren her life was.

Eventually, she ended up at Shadow, booked a private room, and skipped to the song “Glass Cup,” listening to it over and over again, but she couldn’t find any peace, just growing more irritable, resorting to smoking to suppress her agitation.

It was getting dark when Du Bai finally left the room, planning to head to Somn. Strangely, she wanted to go home, to see if Yaoyao was still there, to see if she needed comforting, but the thought of possibly finding the room empty made her want to flee.

As she was leaving the front desk, Du Bai saw Ji Feiling approaching, still flanked by companions. Seeing Du Bai, he showed no sign of restraint.

Du Bai flashed a wicked smile, a smile that sent chills, “Mr. Ji, always so elegant, coming to see a show again?”

Ji Feiling was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Du Bai, then quickly thought it a good chance to probe into Du Bai’s intentions, “Du Bai, we really are fated, aren’t we?”

“Indeed, fate has let me witness Mr. Ji’s romantic escapades time and again,” she replied with a smile. “I’m curious, does your libertine nature allow for a woman to make you settle down and think of marriage and children?” Without waiting for Ji Feiling’s response, she added, “I must be going. I have matters to attend to.” With that, she walked away.

Ji Feiling watched Du Bai’s departing figure, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light, unsure if she was hinting at letting Tinna know or if she knew about Xiaoyu’s situation. No, that couldn’t be possible. Given his meticulous planning, Du Bai couldn’t possibly know about Xiaoyu and the others. Ji Feiling approached the front desk, “The woman who just left, who was she with, in which room?”

The cashier checked the computer records, “Sir, that lady came by herself, in the small room on the second floor.”

Ji Feiling felt relieved, even more certain that Du Bai was not to be feared. Even if she knew something, it wouldn’t cause much of a stir. Perhaps it was time to consider keeping Tinna away from her, wondering how much arrogance Du Bai would have left without Tinna as a shield.

Du Bai returned to Somn and was downing her drinks one after another when suddenly, a hand appeared out of nowhere and snatched her glass. “What’s the matter? Got a lovely wife at home and still drowning your sorrows in alcohol? Du Bai, don’t make me too jealous, okay?” Shen Yan teased, her eyes playful as Du Bai raised an eyebrow.

“Sit down and have a drink with me.”

Hearing Du Bai’s invitation, Shen Yan shrugged her shoulders, her heart churning with emotions. It had been a long time since they had shared such intimacy; those days seemed very distant now. She requested another glass. Although no words were spoken, the atmosphere wasn’t awkward. Shen Yan told herself to be content.

“Shen Yan, are you leaving again this time?” she asked gently, almost as if talking to herself.

“What do you hope?” Shen Yan regretted her question immediately after asking, but her eyes held a plea. Seeing Du Bai’s silent response, her heart sank, and she couldn’t help but smile bitterly. She knew, after all, that she was never one to lie, “Neither of us is going anywhere now.”

Du Bai’s hand, bringing the cup to her lips, stiffened slightly, then she continued drinking as if nothing had happened, her demeanor calm. Then, turning to face Shen Yan, she said, “I’m planning to bring Ji Feiling down; do you want to get involved?”

Shen Yan gave a bitter laugh, “What has he done?”

“A lot, too much for me to tolerate,” Du Bai knew Shen Yan could find out if she wanted, no need for her to elaborate, just adding to the frustration.

“Let me know if there’s anything I can help with; after all, the three of us have been through so much over the years.” Whatever you want to do, I’m with you.

“I need detailed information on Ji Feiling, everything you can get, the more detailed, the better.”

“Alright, I’ll get it to you tomorrow,” Shen Yan said, finishing her drink in one gulp.

“I don’t want Tinna to know about this.”

Shen Yan looked into her glass, “Can I know why you’re protecting Tinna so much? Just because she’s your friend?” What Shen Yan really wanted to ask was why Du Bai couldn’t do the same for her. But she knew better than to voice this thought.

Du Bai studied Shen Yan intently, who unusually did not hide her deep affection, letting it show through, “I value every friend who is sincere. You and Tinna are both treasures to me. We are alike, seemingly harmless but deep and rarely moved by emotions. This temperament saves us from harm. But Tinna is different. Though she appears fierce, she’s actually very tender-hearted and endures much for those she cares about. She deserves to be protected.” And about you, I have protected you too, just never told you. It’s just adding to the hassle, and Du Bai, always averse to fuss and complications.

Is it heartlessness? But why don’t you speak of the devoted love behind that heartlessness? Well, even if mentioned, it’s unclear whether it’s about me or yourself.

As Shen Yan drank the sake named “Forgetfulness,” watching Du Bai’s departing figure, can this forgetfulness really make one forget?

It was already the wee hours, and Du Bai was ready to be enveloped in the pitch darkness of the room. As she opened the door, it indeed swallowed her whole, leaving her somewhat astonished, unable to discern her emotions-was it relief? Loss? Perhaps a bit of both.

“You’re back.” A low sob, thick with nasal tones and full of grievance, floated into Du Bai’s ears, so ethereal, so unbelievable.

Du Bai turned on the light and saw Yaoyao curled up in the corner of the sofa. She squatted down to meet her eyes, seeing her swollen eyes made her feel a pang of heartache. Yaoyao threw herself into Du Bai’s arms, bursting into tears, “I thought you weren’t coming back, I thought you didn’t want me anymore.” Du Bai gently patted her back, “No, no. I was just held up.” Even Du Bai herself didn’t realize how unusually tender and indulgent her voice sounded.

“You can’t come back this late again.”

“Okay.”

“You can’t come home smelling of alcohol.”

“Okay.”

“You have to tell me where you’re going.”

“Okay.”

“You have to play with me tomorrow.”

“Not okay.”

“You-huh? Why?”

Du Bai raised an eyebrow, looking at the beautiful girl in her arms, “You have classes tomorrow.”

“No, no, I can skip them. You’re much more charming than my singing teacher.” Saying this, she began to wriggle in Du Bai’s embrace.

The room filled with laughter, lifting the long-standing gloom. Whether this atmosphere could linger in this space, like whether Du Bai would allow skipping classes tomorrow, only heaven knew.

“This is all the information.” Shen Yan looked at Du Bai, who was examining Ji Feiling’s documents and beginning to relax her frown, knowing that Du Bai had some strategies in mind. “What do you plan to do?”

Du Bai closed her binder and picked up her cup, remembering last night’s promise. She set the cup down and asked the bartender for a glass of water. Shen Yan watched and couldn’t help but frown. Du Bai glanced at Shen Yan and said with self-mockery, “I don’t want to go home reeking of alcohol.”

Shen Yan, having been friends with Du Bai for many years, immediately understood the implication and blurted out without thinking, “Have you let go of her?”

Du Bai was momentarily stunned. Her heart still ached, but it seemed it no longer hurt to the point of suffocation. Perhaps she had become numb. “Lian Yinyun is already with you, shouldn’t I let go?” ‘Should’ and ‘no longer hurts’ mean the same thing. I’m sorry, Shen Yan, forgive me for playing with words.

“How could you, you know-”

“Shen Yan, some things should not be said,” Du Bai glanced at Shen Yan and sighed helplessly. “I think I know what to do now.” Shen Yan knew Du Bai was changing the subject and didn’t point it out, realizing she had been too harsh just now. She quietly waited for Du Bai’s plan.

“Tinna has fallen for him, so Ji Feiling should be with her.”

“How can he be faithful? He has Xiaoyu, who bore his child, and so many other women.”

Du Bai laughed, a sinister laugh that made Shen Yan’s heart sink. “If I’m not mistaken, Ji Feiling’s philandering is merely a way to protect Xiaoyu. His disguise is nothing but fear of Tinna’s family’s power, creating illusions, while his true affection lies only with Xiaoyu.”

Shen Yan had to admire Du Bai’s meticulousness, imagining the consequences of opposing her. The past incidents seemed lenient, sparing her own “betrayal”-she had indeed saved her own life, having seen Du Bai’s methods before. “If he’s so devoted to Xiaoyu, what chance does Tinna have?”

Du Bai merely smiled, her expression filled with indescribable mockery. “There’s a chance. Since he has entangled himself with Tinna, it shows his love for Xiaoyu is shallow. In the face of money and power, that bit of love turns to froth. Just for that, there are plenty of opportunities. I wouldn’t hesitate to make him drown his own child.”

Seeing Du Bai’s cruel smile, Shen Yan frowned. “But that child and his mother are innocent.”

Du Bai’s lips curled into a cold smirk. “Shen Yan, since when have you been so compassionate? That woman’s situation, still tangled with Ji Feiling, is either too deep in love or too scheming. Given her quiet demeanor, can that be deep love? Who would tolerate so much? Since she dares to scheme, she should be prepared to pay the price. That child is that price, a tool to make Ji Feiling see clearly and a thorn in his side for life, and also what Tinna needs to get her way. Why wouldn’t I use it? Moreover, as evidence of sin, how can they claim innocence? If there’s anyone to blame, it’s them for mistaking a dragon for a snake and provoking someone they shouldn’t have.”

Shen Yan was left speechless by such ruthlessness, knowing and witnessing are not the same. Witnessing the cruelty of a loved one and still being unable to extricate oneself is cruelty to oneself. And in this painful entanglement, the only hope that blossoms is that this cruelty was not directed at herself.

Du Bai never hid her darkness from herself.

Is this, perhaps, her own luck?

Maybe, who can really say?