Waterbound Love - Chapter 8

She opened her eyes to the same cold, lifeless pallor. Perhaps eternal sleep was a blissful yet extravagant luxury. She gave a helpless, bitter smile. Right now, she didn’t want to do anything; she didn’t even want to move. She remained in a comfortable, relaxed position.

She kept this posture for three days. People came and went, their blurred faces moving back and forth around her. The voices sounded like countless layers overlapping; she couldn’t discern them, so she didn’t bother to listen.

“Doctor, what’s wrong with her? Why is she like this?” Shen Yan really couldn’t describe Du Bai’s current state. No talking, no movement-the only sign of life was her opening her eyes to stare at the ceiling or closing them to sleep. If not for Du Bai’s steady breathing, Shen Yan would have completely lost it. She could hardly bear it now.

“We’ve conducted a thorough examination. There is really no external cause for her current condition,” the doctor explained to Shen Yan with professional patience. How many times would he have to repeat himself? God knows, he wanted to punch Shen Yan’s handsome face-if it weren’t for maintaining his esteemed image as a doctor. Ahem, also considering the kid’s background.

“Her unconsciousness is due to the car accident she had. Her eye lens’s response to red is abnormal, and retinal damage causes temporary vision loss when looking at detailed objects for too long. She might faint from these eye conditions. With adequate rest and proper eye management, she can be discharged.” He sighed. He could recite this in his sleep now. Why was he still repeating it?

“Then why is she still like this?” Shen Yan irritably ran her fingers through her hair.

“Du Bai must be very important to Shen Yan.” A heavenly voice-a true salvation from despair-reached Doctor Ke Yang’s ears, filling him with excitement. He looked up to see the figure of a dignified lady exuding an air of natural nobility.

“Are you… Professor Wen, the psychology expert?” Shen Yan asked, stepping forward excitedly and extending her hand. Wen Qiuyan brushed her hair back and subtly avoided the gesture, giving a slight nod as a greeting.

“Aunt Du, why are you back?” Shen Yan initially wanted to help Wen Qiuyan out of the conversation, but the words made her want to slap herself.

Wen Qiuyan realized and smiled, “I originally came to take Du Bai back to the ancestral home. But Shen Yan, you’ve changed a lot. You used to be so gentlemanly and wise; why are you so irritable now? Is it because of the so-called ‘concern leads to confusion’?”

“Auntie, go check on Du Bai,” Shen Yan frowned slightly, subtly ending the topic.

Wen Qiuyan looked at Du Bai on the hospital bed with a complex expression and slowly caressed her cheek, so seriously that it made her feel powerless at Du Bai’s lack of response.

Shen Yan wanted to explain something, but Wen Qiuyan gently shook her head and led the way out.

“She just wants to shut herself off, to escape some things she doesn’t want to admit. It’s like she’s entered a land of delusion, living only in her own consciousness,” Wen Qiuyan sighed. “Go wake her up, Shen Yan. If necessary, bring her here. After all, that girl has always been in her heart. It will be tough on you.”

This child is just like her father, too timid, too melancholic. I failed as well, mistaking the smiles in one’s eyes for genuine happiness. Hopefully, it’s not too late for Du Bai now. The children around her can help her get through this and not choose her father’s path.

“Old Wang, turn around, let’s go to the airport.” Wen Qiuyan sighed inwardly, realizing that it would be best to leave the matter to the younger generation. Her involvement would only complicate things further. The stance of an elder is awkward; as a young person, she hated the advice of the elderly, but now that she was older, she had to tirelessly intervene and advise those who were once like her?

Sunlight streamed through the window, dispelling the cold hopelessness and bringing warmth. That afternoon felt like a discordant note in a painful symphony, catching her off guard. At the moment she saw Lian Yinyun, Du Bai’s tears surged uncontrollably. She suddenly remembered that they seemed to have lived only yesterday. It turns out time can be both so long and so short. It was as if the world had given her hope again, like a priest baptizing you, conveying God’s words with a smile: “You are forgiven, child, your happiness will come soon.”

That day, neither of them spoke. Du Bai stayed silent because she didn’t want to shatter the delicate, bubble-like beauty between them; Lian Yinyun stayed silent because she didn’t know what to say. The things she had done had some connection to Du Bai, things she couldn’t speak of, and in her heart, she felt she owed Du Bai.

Shen Yan stood with her arms crossed outside the hospital room, the cold sensation from the wall seeping into her heart, making her feel tightly wound.

Lian Yinyun handed over a glass of water. The sunlight illuminated her slender, fair hand, and the hues from her jade bracelet cast a colorful glow on Du Bai’s face. Du Bai’s smile became a bit stiff, and her hand trembled slightly before she naturally took the glass. She remarked offhandedly, “That’s a very beautiful bracelet.”

Lian Yinyun hadn’t expected her to mention it and smiled awkwardly, feeling a bit uneasy. “Yeah, it’s a gift from a friend.”

“Make sure to keep it safe. Colorful jade like this is quite rare,” Du Bai swallowed her bitterness, feeling cold all over. She could barely hear what Lian Yinyun was saying. All she wanted was to find a quiet place where no one could disturb her.

After a long moment of sadness, Du Bai looked up into Lian Yinyun’s anxious eyes and shivered. Oh God, what had she done?

“I-I’m fine, just a bit tired. Shen Yan can take you back,” Du Bai said, sighing as she noticed Lian Yinyun’s downcast demeanor. That foolish girl was still the same; she always looked down when she was sad. “Let’s hang out after I’m discharged, okay?” She couldn’t bear to hurt her, after all.

Lian Yinyun smiled as she left. Du Bai greedily watched her retreating figure, longing for her to turn back.

She didn’t. She never did. Perhaps the journey was too brief, Du Bai reassured herself.

Maybe it was for the best; turning back would only be awkward. Still, Du Bai regretted not seeing Lian Yinyun’s crescent-moon-shaped smiling eyes. Not once from beginning to end.

Shen Yan returned quickly and felt a deeper sense of bitterness seeing Du Bai like this. “So, even with all of us in your heart, none of us can compare to a single Lian Yinyun. I’ve never figured out what’s so special about her that makes you so infatuated.” Shen Yan knew she had crossed a line, but she couldn’t hold it back anymore.

Du Bai quietly looked at Shen Yan, just looking, without saying a word. Her silence only fueled Shen Yan’s anger. “You knew everything from the start but said nothing. You watched me worry and scheme for you. Do you enjoy watching me make a fool of myself? I don’t blame you for using me, but I hate that you made me look like an idiot in front of you. Did you ever see me as a friend? Did you ever consider my feelings?” Let everything come to light today. It’s been buried too deep and too long-too exhausting.

“I’m hated now, huh?” Du Bai half-closed her eyes, hiding all the emotions in her peach blossom eyes. “I know far more than you think. Yunyun left partly because of your indulgence and instigation, didn’t she?”

Shen Yan slumped onto the couch. She had imagined this scenario countless times, but the anticipated panic didn’t come. Instead, she felt a sense of relief. “Ha! So, you knew all along. You used me to take revenge on Wei Jia and on me?”

“Yes, I couldn’t forgive you at that time,” Du Bai looked at her delicate fingers, which should have been holding a cigarette. The thought of the smoke curling up seemed somewhat appealing.

“Ha! I should never have underestimated you, a psychology master’s graduate,” Shen Yan felt an immense relief lifting the weight of the secrets. It was like the release of a tightly wound spring, and she spoke without restraint, revealing secrets hidden for years. “Your entire plan for revenge was based on the fact that both Wei Jia and I love you, right?”

Seeing Du Bai’s slight nod, Shen Yan continued with a bitter smile. Today, she would lay everything out. If she had to suffer, she would do it all at once and remember it forever.

“You knew I wouldn’t tolerate you loving someone else, so you slowly let me in on your affections for Wei Jia, prompting me to take actions against her, right?” Shen Yan bit her lip, holding back tears, but couldn’t stop her voice from trembling. “Unlike Wei Jia, I’m someone close to you. I only wanted to protect you. Did you never consider that I might be hurt, that I might be sad?” Tears finally escaped, bringing warmth to her cheeks. But why did the blood flowing through her heart feel so cold?

Du Bai just quietly looked at Shen Yan, as if staring at a stranger. “From the beginning to the end, Qian Fangyu’s actions were all under your instructions, right? The initial affair, the later videotape. You always knew everything that she did, didn’t tell me, and then landed a fatal blow to make sure Wei Jia couldn’t recover. Truly, you’re a master in the business world-steady, precise, and ruthless.”

Shen Yan closed her eyes, as though feeling herself sink into an abyss. “Yes, I knew you liked purity, so I wanted to shatter that façade she presented, to expose her dirtiest nature to you. But I never intended to hurt you. Her death was an accident.”

“Your love is selfish and filled with malice. Should I thank you for this love? But I only want to escape it. She was indeed terrifying, just like you.” Looking at Shen Yan’s pale face, Du Bai felt the lingering presence of Lian Yinyun in the room, thick and persistent. This presence urged Du Bai to cause further pain; it was what was best for everyone.

“I will never fall in love with you, so please, let me go. If you can, leave me. The farther, the better.”

“Ha, ha, ha…” Shen Yan’s dissonant laughter echoed in the quiet hospital room. She laughed so hard, trying so hard.

“No matter how ruthless I am, I can’t be completely heartless. Du Bai, you’re more ruthless than me; you really have no heart.” Shen Yan paused as if making a firm decision. “I will leave, but it won’t be forever. We will meet again. I hope that when we do, we won’t be too sad.” She burst out the door. Tears flowed freely-how long had it been since she cried? She took deep breaths, looking at the spot where Du Bai had been dazing through the doorway, foolishly hoping to see her lament and pain, to comfort herself that Du Bai did care for her.

Ultimately, she couldn’t let go.

Du Bai smiled in the midst of these loaded words, observing the empty hospital room. If only she weren’t so sensitive; many things could’ve been concealed. Secrets seemed to be a rare solace, and they no longer existed within her. Shen Yan might never realize that Du Bai already knew about the harm she intended to use as leverage. So, hearing her final words, Du Bai understood-they were three people now.

As for those despicable acts, I’ve never blamed you. When I used you, I already anticipated the results, but I went ahead anyway. So from the start to the end, the despicable one was me. I have no right to blame you. Whether you believe it or not, I wavered because of the emotions you evoked. That’s why I took full responsibility in front of Wei Jia, taking on the role of the sinful figure. Between us, there’s no room for forgiveness; it’s your excessive emotions that have created a barrier between us. Everything you did and what I’ve just discovered-I won’t pursue any of it.

Pushing you away is only to keep you from being hurt by me again. Maybe deep down, I still care about those things.

These words I will never tell you. All of it remains with me. I hope you can leave decisively, without hesitation or lingering attachments, and find your happiness.