Chapter 14

That was slapping her in the face.

Zhao Mantian felt angered and humiliated, and she immediately turned to leave the place with Miao Jiayu following her.

Ling Yiran felt as if she were watching a show. The minute she stepped out of the bazaar, she saw a few people smashing a car that seemed to belong to Zhao Mantian.

"What happened? Has she offended someone and that person is taking revenge?" Ling Yiran asked.

"Who knows!" Yi Jinli replied as his eyes glittered, lips pursed.

"Anyway, it's none of our business." Ling Yiran took Yi Jinli's arm and walked to the bus stop.

Suddenly, Yi Jinli stopped walking. Ling Yiran turned to look at him and saw that he looked pale. He looked shocked as he fixed his gaze on the bus stop.

"What happened?" Ling Yiran asked, looking worried.

"N-nothing," Yi Jinli replied when his expression resumed to normalcy. Earlier on... he had mistaken a woman who was getting on the bus for that woman.

The woman who had deserted her husband and son couldn't have appeared in that area.

...

"Jin, don't follow in my footsteps. Even if you were to fall for a woman, don't love her whole-heartedly.

"The most unreliable thing in this world is love. When she no longer loves you, it will be useless even if you were to kneel before her.

"Jin, one day, when you fall in love, you will realize that someone in this world has the power to control your emotions. She could make you live or die. However, if possible, Dad hopes that you will never get to experience that."

"Who's that? Who is saying these things to me?

"Stop saying these things to me. Don't stay here! It's cold... it's so cold... Don't stay here... if you continue to stay here... you will freeze to death!"

"Jin, I'm leaving. I don't want to hear your father telling me how much he loves me and is yet unable to give me the kind of life I want! I've already done my best."

"Who's that, who's talking to me now?"

"Don't...go..." "Who's that talking now? Oh, it's him. He's begging the woman. If she leaves, my father would..."

"Don't go! Don't go!" Yi Jinli struggled to catch hold of her, but he couldn't do so. The surrounding area became darker and he was about to drown. He felt so terrible that he found it difficult to breathe.

He struggled to grab hold of something, even if it was only a straw!

Suddenly, he caught hold of something warm. A gentle voice rang beside his ears, saying, "Jin, Jin, I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid!"

"This voice... belongs to Sister. She's Ling Yiran, the woman who has asked me to address her as Sister!"

The minute Yi Jinli opened his eyes, he saw a pretty face. Her black Almond Eyes were full of anxiety, her pink lips opening and closing as if she were talking.

She was telling him not to be afraid!

When Ling Yiran saw that Yi Jinli had awakened, she heaved a sigh of relief as she asked, "Jin, what happened? Did you have a nightmare?"

Yi Jinli let out a turbid breath. He had not had that dream for some time. He dreamt that the woman had left him and his father without considering them. Although his father knew about it, he did not stop her. He was heartbroken, smiling wryly.

"Yes, I had a nightmare," Yi Jinli replied. He suddenly realized that he was holding Ling Yiran's hand tightly as though she was his life-saving straw.

In his dream, while he was about to drown, he had caught hold of a life-saving straw that felt warm... "Was that her hand?

"When have I ever considered anyone as my life-saving straw?!"

Yi Jinli immediately let go of her hand and the warmth in his hand disappeared. He furrowed his brows, his face looking pale all of a sudden. He curled up his body into a ball, pressing his hand on his stomach.

When Ling Yiran saw his actions, she became concerned again, asking, "Are you not feeling well?"

"It's nothing." He muttered as he tried to suppress the pain, saying, "It's just... stomach cramps. I'll be fine in a while."

"Does the pain come about because of the nightmare?" When Yi Jinli was young, he would suffer from stomach cramps whenever he had tried to suppress his emotions. However, he had not been having that experience over the past few years.

When Ling Yiran saw that Yi Jinli's face turned paler, she swept the bangs away from his forehead and saw that he was breaking out in a sweat that soaked his hair.

Ling Yiran poured a glass of warm water and helped Yi Jinli to sit up.

He managed to take a few sips of water before pursing his lips. He clenched his teeth occasionally as if he was trying to use his willpower to endure the pain.

Ling Yiran looked worried. She suddenly stood up, saying, "I'm going out for a while. Wait for me!" Before she left, she covered him with a blanket, afraid that he would feel cold and that would worsen his pain.

The door clicked as it closed. The sound of footsteps outside the house became distant.

Yi Jinli was left alone in the house.

He continued to shut his eyes, waiting for the pain to leave his body. It was nothing new for him to be alone.

Ever since his father had passed away, Yi Jinli had been taken back to the Yi family. Although he had a grandfather and many servants around him, he felt lonely.

After some time, the door opened. Yi Jinli heard a familiar voice panting, speaking gently, "Jin, I've bought medicine for you. You will not feel as painful after you have taken the medicine."

Yi Jinli opened his eyes and saw her panting. Her hair was in a mess, as she had been running. Her pretty face looked worried. She had a cute nose and slightly red lips. Although Yi Jinli had seen many women more beautiful than Ling Yiran, at that instant, he couldn't shift his gaze away from her.

He felt as though there was another person in this world beside him.

...

Ling Yiran poured a glass of warm water and took out two tablets, according to the prescription. She helped Yi Jinli sit up and fed him the medicine.

Having done so, she wiped away the sweat from his face.

"If you still feel terrible, shut your eyes and try to sleep," Ling Yiran said. "Today, you shall sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor." As Ling Yiran spoke, she was helping him to the bed.

As she was about to turn around, Yi Jinli suddenly caught hold of her hand.

"What happened? Are you still feeling terrible?" Ling Yiran asked, looking worried.

He was in a daze as he looked at her. He had caught hold of her hand unconsciously, as he didn't want her to leave him.

After some time, Yi Jinli said, "I'd like... Sister to keep me company."