Chương 70: Su Yuqing's Worries

While Xing Shuang was at the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, having that conversation with Director Roland that touched the very foundations of the world, Su Yuqing, who had already returned home, was alone, deeply troubled.

The afternoon sun shone through the window, casting a slanted golden hue on the living room sofa, giving the otherwise cozy scene a soft golden glow, but Su Yuqing had no mood to appreciate the view.

She curled up in a corner of the sofa, her hands tightly wrapped around her knees, her chin resting on them. Her usually bright and lively eyes were now dull and lifeless, revealing an unconcealable worry.

In her mind, two diametrically opposed ideas were engaged in a fierce tug-of-war.

"It's okay, everything will be alright. I just went to buy a gift. A-Che will definitely be back soon." She repeatedly comforted herself in her heart, trying to dispel the uninvited gloom.

However, that image etched itself into my mind like a carving knife: Xiao Li, wearing such a beautiful dress, with an expression rarely seen on her face, being held tightly in A Che's arms...

And then there's what Chu Yao and the others said about "girlfriends" and "they seem so intimate"...

A certain thought coiled around her like a venomous snake, devouring the most vulnerable sense of security deep within her heart, reminding her of her helplessness when her sister and mother left in her past life, and of Lin Che's departing figure in the rainy night.

The fear of being abandoned again surged up like a tidal wave, almost drowning her.

But soon, another voice would stubbornly emerge, carrying her deep trust in Lin Che: "No! Impossible! A-Che wouldn't! He promised me he wouldn't leave me again."

"He went with Xiaoli because he was helping me pick out a gift! He said that! It was just an accident, a misunderstanding!"

This thought would bring a glimmer of light, allowing her to relax her tense nerves a little. She would remember how good Lin Che was to her, and those moments of tacit understanding that only the two of them knew.

He would save the sweetest, crispiest shell for himself; he would hold an umbrella for him in the rain; he would ruffle his hair when he was sad; he would remember every word he had said; he would burst out laughing at her funny face...

Those memories crashed against her like ocean waves, each wave carrying the warmth and sweetness of the past—all of which were his unique tenderness for her!

He cares about her so much, he wouldn't, how could he... abandon himself...?

However, Xiao Li looked really beautiful today. That light blue dress wasn't her usual style, and even I had never seen her like that before.

She was dressed so beautifully, as if she were going to an important date. She looked so shy, so... like a girl who was truly cherished and loved.

And that hug... Although it might have been to protect her, the posture, the intimacy... such a scene was too shocking, too real, making it really hard for her to convince herself that it was an "accident" or a "misunderstanding."

"Why is she dressed like that today? Why is she so close to A-Che? Does A-Che... have some special feelings for her?" These questions pierced her like thorns, making it hard for her to breathe.

Two conflicting thoughts battled in her mind, leaving Su Yuqing confused and restless.

She was completely unable to calm down; her body was tense, and she hugged her knees tightly with both hands, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

"No way! He wouldn't!"

"Ah Che promised! He promised he would always stay with me and wouldn't leave!"

Just as Su Yuqing's thoughts were racing like a wild horse, and unease was about to overwhelm her, a gentle voice briefly interrupted her train of thought.

His uneasy movements and unusual expression caught the attention of Su Wanyi, who was busy in the kitchen.

"Yuqing? What's wrong? You seem unhappy," Su Wanyi asked softly.

"Did something upset you?"

Su Yuqing's body trembled, and she suddenly came to her senses. She forced herself to hide the worry on her face and showed a slightly forced smile: "Ah, it's nothing, Mom, it's just... I walked too much while shopping and I'm a little tired."

She knew she absolutely couldn't let her family discover her worries, and she absolutely couldn't let her insecurity ruin this newly formed, wonderful family again.

This is a treasure that she and Lin Che protect together. No matter how much pain or fear she feels inside, she cannot let this pain affect her family, even if A-Che really has feelings for Xiao Li... it's the same.

She stood up and stretched, saying, "I'm a little sleepy. I'm going upstairs to my room to lie down for a while."

"Okay, go ahead. If you feel unwell anywhere, just tell your mother," Su Wanyi said without adding anything else, but instead gave her instructions.

Su Yuqing nodded, then quickly walked towards the stairs, silently convincing herself as she went.

She remembered what Lin Che had told her—about Luo Bingli, about that "important" promise.

He once said that he knew he cared about Xiaoli a lot and felt sorry for her. He would help her, watch over her, and not leave her alone.

He once said that he would not leave her and would always be by her side.

She remembered her promise to him to protect the family together, and the tenderness with which he hugged her and stroked her hair.

Between her and him, there were so many memories, so many bonds, and so many promises.

Even though what she saw today shocked and disturbed her, she had to believe him. She had to believe that he wouldn't lie to her or abandon her.

Because he had promised to protect this new family together, she could even convince herself that Lin Che's kindness and care for Luo Bingli were also because of her—because Luo Bingli was her friend and the child she cared about.

With this thought in mind, and with the deep trust she held in Lin Che and the immense unease she was trying to suppress, Su Yuqing rushed into her room, closed the door, and threw herself onto the bed.

She hugged the pillow tightly, burying her face in the soft fabric, trying to suppress the unease surging in her heart.

Time passed slowly, each minute and second feeling exceptionally long. Lying in bed, her thoughts churned, and a sense of unease washed over her like a tide, only to be suppressed time and again by her trust in Lin Che and by memories of the past.

Then, as if grasping at a straw, she waited for his return, waiting for that familiar voice to ring in her ears.

She waited for A-Che to open the door and ask her what was wrong in that helpless yet doting tone, and then explain everything that had puzzled her.

The light outside the window gradually dimmed, the afterglow of the setting sun finally disappeared on the horizon, and night gently enveloped the city, plunging the room into darkness.

She heard the sound of a door opening downstairs, her heart pounded, and she immediately sat up in bed.

"I'm back." It was Lin Che's voice.

She heard him ask, "Mom, is Yuqing back?"

"You're back, you're in your room upstairs." That was Mom's reply.

Then, she heard her mother's voice, tinged with worry: "I don't know what's wrong with this child today. She seems to be in a bad mood, but she doesn't seem to want me to know. Xiao Che, why don't you go and ask her?"

Lin Che did not respond immediately, and Su Yuqing's heart was in her throat. She was afraid that Lin Che would refuse, afraid that he would choose to avoid her emotions like he did in her previous life.

However, what she received was Lin Che's firm reply: "Okay, I'll go take a look."

She heard his footsteps, one step at a time, going up the stairs. Each step felt like a hammer blow to her heart. She gripped the blanket tightly, her body trembling slightly.

The footsteps stopped at her room door.

Without hesitation, without knocking, the doorknob began to turn the next moment.

"Click".

The door was pushed open.