Waterbound Love - Chapter 27

“What do you want to do?” Shen Yan suppressed the panic and depression welling up inside her.

“Wait, in three months it will be Lin Xiaoyu’s pregnancy term, and that will be the best time to strike back. It will also be Tinna’s wedding. I want Tinna’s long-delayed wedding to be held in a pure setting surrounded by love,” Du Bai spoke, resolved to bear the dirt alone. “After all, I am already tainted, and I don’t mind an extra layer.”

Shen Yan silently watched Du Bai, understanding her intentions from the despair in her eyes. “What do you need me to do?” Shen Yan asked softly, her voice firm. “We three are friends, aren’t we? There are things I will do for her with you, just as there are burdens I will share with you.” What Shen Yan really wanted to say was that she would be there for her.

Knowing what Shen Yan was thinking, Du Bai smiled wryly, “Of course I need your help. Find someone who can have an ambiguous relationship with Xiaoyu early in her pregnancy. If not, create one to make Ji Feiling aware. It won’t change anything but will plant a seed of doubt. By the time the child is born, the doubts will settle, and it will be time for us to close the net.” After pausing to observe Shen Yan, she added, “As for the child’s fate, it will depend on whether Ji Feiling can accept it. We’ll leave it to fate.”

After Du Bai left, Shen Yan was left in a daze, drinking ‘Forgetfulness’ one glass after another. This drink she created for her now seemed to be named for her, and yet now she was the one consuming it. She couldn’t understand when this trio’s complicated affairs would ever resolve. Shen Yan couldn’t fathom what could make Du Bai so engrossed, despite living with Lian Yinyun for so long.

But then again, who can ever clarify feelings? She herself had unknowingly fallen deep, and by the time she realized it, it was already too late to turn back.

Du Bai walked under the starlit sky, slowly making her way home. She tried to slow down her pace, unable to adjust yet, not ready to hide her messiness before facing that pristine, transparent glass. Yes, as clear as water.

Upon returning home, she saw Yaoyao, who busied herself like a wife waiting for her husband at night, taking care of Du Bai from head to toe. Looking at the lavish late-night meal on the table, Du Bai couldn’t help but smile; this girl really went all out. Wondering if honestly commenting on her cooking skills would dampen her enthusiasm, she glanced at the bright eyes and hopeful face beside her and decided against it.

“You don’t have to be so busy; your studies are exhausting too. Next time, you can just order takeout.”

“I don’t want to. Seeing you eat what I’ve cooked makes me very happy and fulfilled,” Yaoyao said, her face beaming with happiness.

Du Bai couldn’t help but smile wryly, thinking that it would be a while before she could indulge in different tastes, at least not until this young girl’s studies showed some promise. Well, if she could brave the college cafeteria food back in the day, what couldn’t she eat?

After dinner, Yaoyao, as usual, poured a glass of water for Du Bai, who thought contentedly, “Maybe this is quite nice, isn’t it?”

It was the first time she had ever expressed such feelings aloud. However, Du Bai was unaware that these reflections would become insignificant with the arrival of Lian Yinyun, so fleeting that they began to dissipate before the wind even touched them. This insignificance caused Du Bai many restless nights, but that’s a story for another time.

Three months had passed this way, filled with much helplessness. Du Bai could see Tinna’s increasing frailty; even her smiles did not reach her eyes. She just hoped Tinna wouldn’t know too much.

The hospital situation was as Du Bai had anticipated. When Shen Yan relayed the news of Xiaoyu giving birth, Du Bai immediately had Dr. Wang, who had been on standby for a long time, switch the baby with another one who had type O blood for a check-up. It was an impossible act, yet made feasible by privilege, which explained her audacity-she simply had the means to be so.

Ji Feiling was furious, and the situation escalated rapidly. Ji Feiling, a type B blood carrier, knew that Xiaoyu, who had type AB blood, could not possibly have a type O blood child. Coupled with suggestive hints from the hospital, no one could remain indifferent. Naturally, Ji Feiling was no exception. To think that he had been manipulated so much and even ended up playing the role of a cheap father was unbearable. It was only natural that he insisted on a DNA paternity test for the newborn. The results were very satisfying-of course, to Du Bai. Watching Ji Feiling storm off and Xiaoyu’s tearful, miserable state, Du Bai simply smiled faintly. Was the cost not yet settled, and they were already exiting the stage? It seems they had no choice in the matter.

Du Bai stood in the nursery, gazing at Ji Feiling’s true child, lost in silence. When Shen Yan entered, he found her in this state, her face showing no sadness or joy, revealing no emotion.

“What are you thinking about?” Shen Yan asked softly, standing next to Du Bai.

Still deep in thought, Du Bai responded, “I’m considering what to do next.”

“Planning to give up now?” After all, it’s a precious, living being.

Du Bai shook her head gently, “No, being soft-hearted doesn’t suit me. I’m thinking about how to make Ji Feiling’s life a perpetual misery, unable to vent, and to make Xiaoyu’s situation even more pitiful. Or rather, to perfect these two outcomes.”

Shen Yan’s expression remained calm, unreadable. Du Bai looked at her and chuckled, “I gave him a chance, you know. The plot I arranged had flaws, didn’t it? From the beginning to the end, he never discovered them. His concern clouded their judgement, disturbing their rationality. The deeper the emotions, the less likely the discovery.” After a pause, her expression darkened, “And I don’t like such emotions. For the sake of these emotions, shouldn’t I present them with a grand gift? One day, I will reveal this flaw to them, becoming their eternal agony and regret.”

Shen Yan turned slightly, softly smoothing the hair at Du Bai’s ear, “Why be so obsessive?” Her whisper was barely audible, more like a murmur to herself.

Du Bai scoffed coldly, “Do you think Ji Feiling is at a disadvantage now? You’re wrong. In his subconscious, he might be pleased, as it allows him to abandon Xiaoyu without guilt and step into a marriage that could elevate him. Like my subconscious, it’s dark, a base human nature, and I, I simply acknowledge it without disguise.”

“Do what you must, I’ll be with you.” But please don’t end up heartbroken alone like with Wei Jia. Although you never say it, I still know that she is a knot in your heart, one that no one but you can untangle, and yet these things remain unsaid.

When Ji Feiling concluded that the child was not his, Du Bai switched the babies back. The child, now silently sleeping in the Infant Room, received none of the blessings it deserved at birth. Du Bai watched her, feeling a moment of tenderness, “Child, welcome to this world. What you are now experiencing is a cruel world’s trial. Whether you live or die is up to fate.”

A month is not a long time, but many things can happen. It could make Ji Feiling fall in love with Tinna, who with her delicate, silk-like care pulls him out of his gloom; it could make Tinna’s face bloom with a happy smile. Throughout it all, Du Bai never told Tinna, not wanting to tarnish Tinna’s pure view of love. If Tinna knew, she wouldn’t be able to harden her heart and would end up heartbroken with guilt. Du Bai would not allow that. Of course, there were ups and downs; Xiaoyu had held the child, made a fuss, and cried, but Ji Feiling managed to calm her down. Du Bai thought, Tinna must not be completely unaware, but her deep love perhaps allowed too much indulgence, which made Du Bai all the more sympathetic.

Walking through the old corridor, Du Bai frowned at the sight of the long-accumulated dust on the handrails and garbage scattered everywhere. Knowing Du Bai’s penchant for cleanliness, Shen Yan stepped forward to knock on the door for her. When the door opened, the hope in the eyes of the person who answered quickly faded. Lin Xiaoyu’s face showed signs of hardship but lacked the despair of a mother who had lost her child, all of which Du Bai observed keenly. “Such a vile woman, Ji Feiling, you are degrading Tinna. She doesn’t deserve to upset Tinna.”

“What are you here for?” Lin Xiaoyu asked, her eyes wary of them.

“Ms. Lin, we’re here to discuss Mr. Ji and the child,” Du Bai said calmly.

“Really? Did Ji Feiling really send you? I knew he wouldn’t abandon me,” Lin Xiaoyu said excitedly, stepping forward to grasp Du Bai. Shen Yan stepped ahead and subtly blocked Lin Xiaoyu’s touch, while Du Bai, disgusted, shook off her hand, “Let’s go inside,” she said, and proceeded to walk in.

Looking around, the place was filthy and littered with trash. Du Bai felt nauseous, “Ji Feiling, for such a woman, you’ve truly broken Tinna’s heart.” Obviously, Lin Xiaoyu didn’t notice Du Bai’s reaction.

“When is Ji Feiling planning to take me back?” Lin Xiaoyu asked anxiously before Du Bai even settled down, understandably eager as she could no longer stand her current living conditions-dirty, lowly, barely survivable. She missed the dignified and elegant life she once had, but clearly, Du Bai had no intention of sitting down.

Du Bai, infuriated yet amused, thought, “So, she feels no remorse.” “Ms. Lin, I think you are mistaken.”

“Mistaken about what?” Lin Xiaoyu’s smile froze on her face.

“Mr. Ji has no plans to take you back, or rather, he has no right to.”

“That’s impossible, he wouldn’t do this to me. I don’t want to talk to you, have Ji Feiling come see me, he’ll change his mind,” Lin Xiaoyu insisted.

Du Bai was displeased with Lin Xiaoyu’s interruption, “You think, after everything I’ve done, I would let you see him again? Let him trust you again?”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that all your confusion was orchestrated by me. Let me think… your dead child’s blood type, the cheap father Ji Feiling mentioned out of nowhere, what else?” Du Bai glanced at Lin Xiaoyu, “Ah, right, the most crucial part I almost forgot-the DNA was definitely key.”

“It was you, why would you do this? Give me my child’s life back!” Lin Xiaoyu charged at Du Bai, but Shen Yan blocked her, and she collapsed onto the sofa.

“Ms. Lin, calm down,” Du Bai said and threw twenty thousand cash onto Lin Xiaoyu, “Stay quiet and listen, this money is for you.”

Perhaps the allure of money was too strong, as Lin Xiaoyu began to quiet down. Du Bai couldn’t help but sneer internally, “Ji Feiling, are these the sorts of people you use to trample on Tinna? Truly infuriating.”