Chapter 27: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love
Having politely declined Grandma Pan’s offer to walk them home, but accepting a handful of snacks, Tao Ning, pockets filled with small pastries, accompanied Xu Qiuyi to pick up Zhichun.
Before they left, Grandma Pan complimented Tao Ning’s burgundy highlights, saying they suited her pale complexion and made her look vibrant.
Tao Ning accepted the compliment, knowing it stemmed from the elderly woman’s affection for Xu Qiuyi.
If Tao Ning was friends with Xu Qiuyi, then she must be a good person too. And there was nothing wrong with young people following fashion trends.
“Say goodbye to Grandma,” Xu Qiuyi said to Zhichun. “We’re going home.”
Zhichun, raising both hands, chirped, “Bye-bye, Grandma!”
Grandma Pan, standing at the doorway, waved. “Bye-bye! Go home now!”
Xu Qiuyi, holding Zhichun’s hand, led her towards their apartment building, Zhichun’s twintails bouncing as she walked, her curious gaze fixed on Tao Ning.
Tao Ning smiled back. This was the first time she had met Zhichun in person. She bore a striking resemblance to Xu Qiuyi, her eyes larger and rounder, their dark color giving her a feline look.
Tao Ning had seen photos of Zhichun before, and her thought had been, It’s hard to imagine this sweet little girl growing up to steal her sister’s ashes and escape from a sanatorium.
Zhichun, caught staring, blushed and tugged on Xu Qiuyi’s hand. “Jiejie, carry me.”
Xu Qiuyi usually encouraged Zhichun to walk, but considering she had just been discharged from the hospital, she relented.
She scooped Zhichun up, her arms tightening around her. “You’ve lost weight,” she said, her brow furrowing with concern. “The hospital food must be terrible.”
Zhichun, hearing the word “thin,” panicked, imagining her mother and sister forcing her to eat bowls of soup and meat to “recover.” “No, I ate a lot! I’m not thin!” she insisted.
Worried Xu Qiuyi wouldn’t believe her, she puffed out her cheeks. “See? Chubby cheeks!”
Xu Qiuyi, amused, smiled. “Yes, I see. Chubby cheeks.”
Zhichun, relieved, whispered, “So no more soup?”
Xu Qiuyi replied, “We’ll see.”
Zhichun continued to puff out her cheeks.
Watching them, Tao Ning remembered something. Mingrui held an annual sports day, a grand event broadcast on television. During her freshman year, Xu Qiuyi had been assigned to the shot put event, which no one else wanted to participate in.
Many had anticipated her failure, cameras ready to capture the spectacle, convinced that the frail, studious girl would be a disaster.
The outcome, however, had been… unexpected.
Many Mingrui students knew that Xu Qiuyi, despite her delicate appearance, possessed surprising strength, her shot put throws second only to the athletes on the track team.
The revelation had deterred many admirers, who feared being launched into orbit by a rejected confession. After the incident with the principal’s car, the number of potential suitors had dwindled even further.
Now, Tao Ning realized where that strength came from: years of carrying Zhichun.
Intrigued, she turned to Xu Qiuyi. “Let me hold her.”
Xu Qiuyi, seeing the eagerness in her eyes, thought, She’s treating my sister like a toy.
After obtaining Zhichun’s consent, Tao Ning adjusted her hold, asking, “Is this okay? Are you comfortable?”
Zhichun, her arms wrapped around Tao Ning’s neck, her face buried against her shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent, shook her head. “I’m comfy.”
“Let me carry her. You’re not used to it,” Xu Qiuyi said, reaching for Zhichun.
Tao Ning dodged her. “No, I’m not done yet.”
Zhichun, due to her frail health and poor nutrient absorption, was small for her age, light as a doll in Tao Ning’s arms.
Tao Ning wondered if their difficulty absorbing nutrients was genetic. It must be challenging to gain weight with such a metabolism.
Holding Zhichun securely, Tao Ning started walking, her steps steady and confident. Xu Qiuyi, hearing her speak without even a hint of breathlessness, realized she wasn’t just pretending.
As they passed by windows, their reflections flickering on the glass, Xu Qiuyi imagined Tao Ning as a mother.
Tao Ning, chatting with Xu Qiuyi, suddenly tilted her head. “Are you playing with my hair?” she asked Zhichun.
Zhichun, carefully stroking a strand of burgundy hair, replied, “It’s pretty, Jiejie. Like Ariel’s hair.”
Tao Ning said, “You can dye your hair too, when you’re older. All red, or maybe a different color every week. Like a magical girl, transforming.”
Looking at Zhichun’s twintails, she added, “Or you can wear wigs. They have wigs for all your favorite characters. Dress up, put on the wig, and you can be anyone you want.”
Zhichun, still a child, captivated by the idea of vibrant colors, gasped, her eyes shining. “Wow!”
Xu Qiuyi, hearing Tao Ning’s increasingly outlandish suggestions, intervened. “Dyeing your hair is bad for you. You can’t change it every week.”
Tao Ning replied, “It’s fine. If she likes it, let her do it. She’ll get tired of it eventually. You only live once. Try new things. You’ll have stories to tell when you’re older.”
Xu Qiuyi, wanting to argue, couldn’t find a valid counterargument.
As they reached their building, Zhichun insisted on walking.
The old woman on the first floor was still sorting through her recyclables, her back bent, but her movements surprisingly strong, a mountain of cans and bottles beside her, which she meticulously placed into a large sack.
Hearing Zhichun’s voice, she looked up, about to say something, then saw Tao Ning standing behind them.
The girl’s fair skin and dyed hair suggested a privileged upbringing.
This must be the wealthy friend the neighbors had been gossiping about, the one who often visited Xu Qiuyi. This was an opportunity to cause trouble.
But Xu Qiuyi was faster. Having lived next door to the old woman for over a decade, she knew exactly what was coming. Not wanting to subject Tao Ning to the inevitable barrage of insults, she whispered, “Run.”
The old woman only managed to say, “Is that your friend?”
Xu Qiuyi, grabbing both Tao Ning and Zhichun’s hands, pulled them towards the stairs, calling back, “Yes!”
The old woman’s intended comment about dyed hair and short skirts and inappropriate company died in her throat as the three figures disappeared up the stairs.
She stared at the empty stairwell, muttering, “What’s the rush? Being chased by dogs?”
Upstairs, Xu Qiuyi unlocked the door, retrieved two pairs of slippers, and went to the kitchen to pour them some water.
Zhichun, squatting on the floor, taking off her shoes, her breath still coming in short gasps, turned to Tao Ning. “Don’t listen to her, Jiejie. Pretend you didn’t hear anything.”
Children learned from their families, and her upbringing wouldn’t allow her to speak ill of an elder.
Tao Ning smiled, sitting on a small stool, and gently tapped Zhichun’s cheek. “Don’t worry, Zhichun. I choose my friends carefully. I don’t rely on gossip. Your sister is a good person. I like her very much.”
In the kitchen, Xu Qiuyi’s hand, holding a glass, trembled slightly.
Zhichun, reassured, smiled and ran into the kitchen. “Jiejie, I’ll help you get a glass for Jiejie.”
Xu Qiuyi’s reaction suggested this wasn’t the first time such an incident had occurred. Three universal truths: there’s no such thing as unprovoked hatred, people don’t attack unless provoked, and it takes two to tango.
Yet, reality often contradicted these truths. A single hand could clap loudly enough to cause damage. There was no need to seek approval from those who disliked you, and no one could please everyone.
Tao Ning, standing up, looked around the small two-bedroom apartment. It wasn’t spacious, but it was clean, meticulously maintained.
There was no balcony, just a rod extending from the window, clothes hanging from it like a makeshift clothesline.
The TV stand looked old, burdened not only by the television but also by Xu Qiuyi’s numerous trophies, the apartment too small for a display cabinet, yet each trophy, polished to a shine, was prominently displayed.
Framed certificates adorned the walls, only the provincial and national awards deemed worthy of display, the lesser awards relegated to a large binder.
Tao Ning even spotted a few of Zhichun’s “Good Student” awards from kindergarten, displayed alongside her sister’s achievements.
Sitting on the sofa, she thought, So this is where Xu Qiuyi grew up.
Xu Qiuyi, emerging from the kitchen with a tray of drinks, found Tao Ning squatting in front of the TV stand, admiring her trophies. “If I were as accomplished as you, my mom would have built a museum,” Tao Ning said, impressed.
Xu Qiuyi: “…That’s a bit much.”
Tao Ning gestured expansively. “Like an art gallery. A rented hall, glass display cases, spotlights… each trophy in its own case, with a detailed description.”
Xu Qiuyi: “…That sounds more like public humiliation.”
Zhichun, carrying a glass, walked over, her eyes wide with curiosity. “What descriptions?”
Tao Ning, never short of words, readily provided an example. “‘In the year XXXX, Xu Qiuyi won first place in the Lily Cup Competition, held in XX Province… From a young age, Xu Qiuyi demonstrated exceptional dedication…’”
Zhichun listened, mesmerized.
Xu Qiuyi, handing Tao Ning a glass of water, said, “Please, stop.”
Tao Ning, silenced, took a sip, then looked surprised. “Lemon water? It’s sweet?”
Xu Qiuyi was used to compliments, both genuine and sarcastic, but Tao Ning’s always seemed to fluster her.
A wave of inexplicable embarrassment washed over her.
She poured herself a glass of lemon water, her voice weary. “I added honey.”
Tao Ning nodded. “That explains it. Good for… cooling down.”
Zhichun, looking up, puzzled, asked, “Lemon water cools you down?”
Tao Ning smiled. “Of course. Look how red your sister’s ears are. The lemon water will cool her down, and the redness will disappear.”
“Oh…” Zhichun, her eyes wide, nodded, completely taken in.
Xu Qiuyi: “…Are my ears red because I’m… overheated?”
She had never noticed Tao Ning’s talent for… creative explanations. But technically, she hadn’t lied.
Xu Qiuyi, setting down her glass, reached for Tao Ning’s arm. “Tao Ningning, that’s enough.”
She had to stop her, or Zhichun would be asking endless questions later.
Tao Ning dodged her hand, also setting down her glass.
Then, catching Xu Qiuyi off guard, she grabbed her wrist, pulled her closer, and wrapped her arms around her, holding her tight. “Why did you call me by my full name?”
Xu Qiuyi, finding herself trapped, her face flushing crimson, said, “Let go of me first.”
Tao Ning replied, “No. Tell me why.”
Zhichun, wanting to join in, climbed onto the sofa, her voice filled with excitement. “Jiejie, me too! Hug! Hug!”
Tao Ning, leaning closer to Xu Qiuyi’s ear, her voice a low murmur, asked, “Tell me. Why did you use my full name?”
Her warm breath against her ear sent shivers down Xu Qiuyi’s spine.
The sofa creaked under their weight, the cushions rustling. Xu Qiuyi’s mind was a whirl of confusing emotions.
Tao Ning, oblivious to the effect she was having, looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Xu Qiuyi’s ears burned, her body flushed despite the cool air, and she finally confessed, “It sounds… more imposing.”
Tao Ning burst out laughing, collapsing against Xu Qiuyi, her weight pinning her to the sofa.
Xu Qiuyi, now a human cushion, sighed. “Is it really that funny?”
Tao Ning, clutching her stomach, said, “Don’t talk. I’m going to start laughing again.”
Xu Qiuyi: Laugh all you want. Laugh until you lose your voice.
Despite her annoyance, she refilled their glasses, the ice clinking against the glass.
Tao Ning, having finished her lemon water, finally left before sunset.
As they walked downstairs, Zhichun chattering beside them, the old woman, who had been waiting for them, seized the opportunity.
Xu Qiuyi tried to hurry past, but Tao Ning stopped, her expression clearly saying, I’m waiting.
The old woman, momentarily thrown off balance, hesitated.
After listening to a litany of insults – “bad influence,” “unladylike,” “you’re probably giving her money to give to her gambling addict father” – Tao Ning finally responded.
“I am rich,” she said, her voice calm. “So rich I don’t know what to do with all my money. I could even hire people to follow you around, empty every trash can before you get to it, just so you don’t find a single can or bottle.”
The old woman, her worldview shattered by this audacious display of wealth and pettiness, exclaimed, “I’ve never done anything to you! Why would you do that?”
Tao Ning replied, “Exactly. We have no quarrel. So why are you insulting me?”
The old woman retorted, “I’m just warning you! She has a gambling addict father! He’s borrowed money from everyone in the neighborhood!”
Tao Ning said, “And I’m just being charitable. I’ll have my people donate all the money they make from selling your recyclables to charity.”
The old woman, realizing she was getting nowhere, decided to try a different tactic. She clutched her chest, swaying dramatically. “Oh dear, I feel faint… my blood pressure…”
Tao Ning, her voice a low, menacing murmur, said, “My family owns a hospital. If you faint, I’ll have you admitted for a full checkup, all expenses paid. And if there’s nothing wrong with you, then you’re committing fraud. That’s a criminal offense.”
The old woman immediately straightened up.
Fight fire with fire, Tao Ning thought, smirking as she walked away.
The old woman, defeated, stomped her foot, yelling, “What’s wrong with this world?!”
The woman who ran the breakfast stall across the street, having enjoyed the spectacle, and having long resented the old woman’s constant littering and unpleasant demeanor, laughed. “Serves her right,” she said, then went back inside, closing the door.
The old woman glared at the closed door, fuming.
Xu Qiuyi, after walking Tao Ning to the intersection and watching her car drive away, returned to her building, finding the old woman no longer sorting through her recyclables, but busy cooking in her kitchen.
Back in her apartment, the door closed behind her, Xu Qiuyi was struck by how… empty it felt.
Standing at the sink, washing lemons, she muttered, “Maybe I should… keep some other drinks at home. She always ends up with lemon water.”
Zhichun, playing with the glasses in the sink, pushing one down only to have another pop up, looked up and asked, “Is Ningning Jiejie coming back? I like her.”
Xu Qiuyi paused, then replied, “I don’t know. Probably.”
Hearing the sound of the key turning in the lock, Zhichun jumped off her stool. “Mama’s home!”
Xu Qiuyi dried her hands and poured a glass of water.
The setting sun cast long shadows across the room.
A figure sat on the sofa, her slender frame almost swallowed by the cushions, her shoulder-length hair tied back, the ends slightly disheveled from a long day.
“Have some water, Mom,” Xu Qiuyi said, handing her the glass. Zhichun, sitting beside Guan Ruolin, reached for a tissue.
Guan Ruolin took the glass, then set it down without drinking, her voice hoarse. “I went to the police station today. Qiuyi, let’s… leave him. Okay?”
Xu Qiuyi, her eyes downcast, a mixture of relief and sadness washing over her, nodded softly.
She had wanted this for a long time, but not like this, not under these circumstances. Last night, she would have preferred the familiar misery to this… finality.
Every child held onto a idealized image of their parents.
Guan Ruolin, grabbing Xu Qiuyi’s hands, buried her face in them, her tears hot against Xu Qiuyi’s skin, her voice choked with sobs. “You’re still so young… how could he… I wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head… how could a father…?”
Zhichun, not understanding what was happening, looked from her mother to her sister, her eyes wide with confusion, then started crying too. “Mama, what’s wrong?”
Guan Ruolin rarely complained, preferring to shield her daughters from her problems, often feeling guilty about the arguments with their father.
But she was hurting, the pain too deep for words. “I… I thought… he still cared… I didn’t think… he would actually…”
Xu Qiuyi’s eyes filled with tears, a single tear rolling down her cheek. “He… he took thirty thousand yuan in cash, and agreed to… a favor… in exchange for having a fifty-thousand yuan debt forgiven.”
Guan Ruolin slowly straightened up. “What favor?”
“To… lure me to the Crown Club.”
Xu Qiuyi, recalling the details from the documents, said softly, “He was told the contract wasn’t legally binding, that it wouldn’t hold up in court, that he could just… report them to the police. They assured him it would be fine. So…”
Guan Ruolin’s voice rose. “So he agreed? He believed them? The Crown Club? Does he think it’s that easy to just… walk away?”
Xu Qiuyi replied quietly, “I don’t know.” She didn’t know if he had known, or if he had simply chosen to believe the lies.
She didn’t mention the other details, the deeper implications, because she couldn’t understand them herself.
“Why? Envy. Resentment. Insecurity masking as arrogance,” Tao Ning explained to 520. “Loving someone means wanting them to succeed, not hoping they’ll fail so you can ‘rescue’ them.”
520, a veteran matchmaker, had encountered countless manipulative male leads.
Most hosts, seeing this type of scenario, would have refused the mission, declaring it a lost cause.
The Romance Department… was notoriously laid-back. Their team leader, Zang Hongyu, consistently ranked last in performance reviews, her presentations a running joke, often referred to as “From Red Fish to Salted Fish.”
But this level of self-sabotage was unprecedented. Or rather, it was unprecedented until Tao Ning arrived.
Tao Ning, her tone exasperated, continued, “Haven’t you noticed the similarities between Xu Qiuyi and… him? Both targeted by rumors, both exceptionally talented. Xu Qiuyi has a gambling addict father holding her back, while he at least has a… pretend father, maintaining the image of a stable family, never having to worry about money.”
“He’s constantly being told by his mother to prove himself, to surpass his… half-siblings. Then he sees Xu Qiuyi, living the life he desires, achieving the recognition he craves. That’s a void no amount of money can fill. Look at what he does. He targets her, tries to drag her down.”
520 frantically reviewed its records.
Tao Ning, already familiar with the details, continued, “He was always at the top, always number one. Even in his senior year, despite all the distractions, he maintained his ranking. Is Nangong Yunfei blind? Deaf? He didn’t see the bullying? The only explanation is that he was complicit.”
“But even that wasn’t enough. Xu Qiuyi, despite everything, was accepted into a prestigious research program, a rising star. He was still stuck fighting with his half-siblings, a nobody, while she was on her way to becoming a renowned scientist. No one knew who he was.”
“He wanted to drag her down, taint her, convinced that if she was ‘damaged,’ he could claim her as his own.”
“A powerful, devoted underworld prince? He’s more like a parasite, sucking the life out of everyone around him.”
Including the original host, and the fiancées who followed, even his own parents. None had escaped unscathed.
Looking at the list of people he had been close to, 520 felt a shiver down its non-existent spine.
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