Chapter Seventeen: "I Almost Never Saw You Again"

"Master Cheng, the villa next to Madam’s has been purchased. It’s ready for move-in," Cheng Wu reported to Cheng Yunting.

"Alright, I understand. Prepare the car, let’s go," Cheng Yunting replied, gazing out the window. He wondered what Xiao Zheng was doing at that moment—perhaps she, too, was looking at the scenery outside.

"Yes, Master Cheng." Cheng Wu nodded and quietly withdrew.

…

"We’ll head off now, Sister Xiao Zheng. We’ll come play with you again next time," Tang Shiying said as she climbed into the car, waving to Leng Zheng.

"You’re always welcome," Leng Zheng replied, closing the car door for Tang Shiying and waving back with a gentle, "Bye."

"Bye-bye!" chirped Tang Shiying.

Song Cijin drove Tang Shiying home, and once again Leng Zheng was left with a sense of loneliness.

She was about to return inside when she spotted Cheng Wu directing the movers. He noticed her, too.

"Miss Leng, hello," Cheng Wu greeted, catching himself just in time before addressing her as Madam.

Leng Zheng nodded. "Is your master moving in here?"

"Yes, Miss Leng," Cheng Wu answered respectfully, fully aware that she was the future young lady of the house—someone he mustn’t offend.

"Oh, I see. I’ll head back now," Leng Zheng replied, her heart a mix of surprise and delight, though she kept her feelings hidden.

"Very well."

…

Returning inside, Leng Zheng finally saw the figure who had been lurking in the shadows emerge.

Through the window, Cheng Yunting watched Leng Zheng preparing desserts. His heart melted at how adorable she looked.

"Sir."

"Let’s go inside."

"Yes, sir."

…

Night fell.

Leng Zheng sat in her study, gazing through the glass at the neighboring villa’s owner. His profile was mesmerizing—so handsome that she couldn’t help but lose herself in the sight.

As she continued watching, she grew absent-minded.

Cheng Yunting had originally meant to see what Leng Zheng was up to, but he hadn’t expected her to be standing there, staring at him.

He chuckled, opened his window, and, since the distance wasn’t too great, reached out to gently pat her head.

Seeing his face, Leng Zheng snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushing as she looked at him.

"Tsk, my little one is truly adorable," Cheng Yunting said affectionately.

"Who’s your little one? You’re being ridiculous," Leng Zheng retorted, cheeks burning as she closed the window and hurried downstairs.

Watching her retreat, Cheng Yunting smiled, then turned his gaze to the moon outside, which seemed especially beautiful tonight.

…

Downstairs, Leng Zheng’s heart raced as she looked at the villa next door. She was thrilled—he really had come to live here.

But memories of the past surfaced, and her mood darkened.

She slid down the wall, hugging her head, suddenly overwhelmed with pain.

Propping herself up, she made her way to the wine cellar, seeking to numb her nerves with alcohol.

…

At four in the morning.

The quiet villa unsettled Cheng Yunting, as if something had gone wrong.

He went to his study, stepped onto the balcony closest to Leng Zheng’s house, and deftly removed the window before climbing inside.

Worried, he hurried downstairs. "Xiao Zheng! Xiao Zheng!"

When he reached the living room, he spotted Leng Zheng drinking alone and instantly felt relieved.

"You… why are you here?" Leng Zheng slurred, gazing at him in disbelief. "Why did you come back…?"

"Xiao Zheng, you’re drunk." Cheng Yunting gently lifted her and placed her on the sofa. "Be good, I’ll make you some sober-up soup. Try to sleep a little—it’s already four in the morning."

"No, I don’t want that. I’m perfectly sober, not drunk at all…" She pushed his hands away. "Go away, I don’t want you anymore…"

Her words stabbed Cheng Yunting’s heart, leaving a pain that would not fade. Yet he remained gentle. "At least drink the soup, so you won’t feel as bad when you wake. I’ll leave after you drink it."

Leng Zheng shook her head, burying her face against his shoulder, and suddenly began to cry.

Seeing her tears, Cheng Yunting fumbled anxiously, cupping her face to wipe her tears. "Don’t cry, Xiao Zheng. I’ll leave right away if you want, alright?"

Leng Zheng fell silent, and just as Cheng Yunting was about to rise, she clung to him.

"Don’t go. Are you going to disappear for months again, like you did before?" she asked, looking at him.

Cheng Yunting froze as Leng Zheng went on, almost to herself, "If you must leave, do it quietly. Don’t let me know…"

She let go, sitting obediently on the sofa, whispering, "Go. If you’re going, go thoroughly. Don’t let me know…"

Cheng Yunting hugged her tightly, unwilling to let go.

"Cheng Yunting, if you’re going to leave, then just do it cleanly. Don’t leave me with any hope!" Leng Zheng struggled, her eyes brimming with tears. "Do you know what these past four months were like for me…?"

"I won’t go, Xiao Zheng. I won’t leave you. I’ll stay by your side forever," Cheng Yunting choked out, his own eyes growing red.

Leng Zheng pulled away and looked directly at him, steadying her breath.

…

After a while, she spoke quietly. "These four months, I’ve barely slept a night. I kept hoping, waiting for you to come back.

I used to imagine that if you hadn’t left, by now… by now, we’d probably be engaged. But that was just a fantasy."

Cheng Yunting’s heart ached as he embraced her.

"I wanted to die at one point, but then I thought of you—I wanted to see you one more time, just once," Leng Zheng whispered in anguish. "I truly thought I couldn’t make it, that I’d never see you again. These four months have been so overwhelming… so overwhelming…"

She curled up in his arms, her makeup long gone, leaving only beauty and exhaustion on her face.

Perhaps it was being with the one she loved, or maybe it was the alcohol, but she let all her true feelings pour out.

"Please, don’t leave again, alright? This constant uncertainty is so painful… so suffocating…

On countless nights, I wished on the stars for your swift return, but they never listened…"

Like a young girl confiding her deepest secrets, Leng Zheng spoke with vulnerability, though she was no longer that girl.

At the height of her youth and liveliness, her heart felt old and weary, as if in her forties or fifties—a shadow of vitality.

…

As he listened, Cheng Yunting’s tears fell silently. He had never known any of this—not even when she’d developed depression and insomnia.

It was as if his heart had been stabbed, the blade twisted, leaving him bleeding.

But her pain was even greater.

…

When Leng Zheng finished, Cheng Yunting carried her to the bedroom, undressed her, and helped her shower.

He dried her off, dressed her in pajamas, and tucked her into bed.

(Don’t misjudge Cheng Yunting—he’s a true gentleman.)

Throughout, Leng Zheng didn’t resist, letting him care for her.

He lay down beside her, wrapped her in his arms, and said, "Sleep now, Xiao Zheng. I’m here with you."

She nodded, nestling into his embrace like a small, insecure creature, and soon drifted into sleep.

…

Once he was sure she was asleep, Cheng Yunting picked up his phone and made a call.

"Well? What can I do for the head of the Cheng family?" The mysterious man was sitting on his own rooftop, sipping a drink.

"Keep your voice down—she’s sleeping," Cheng Yunting scolded softly, glancing at the girl in his arms. "Come over, I have questions."

"Hey, wait, you didn’t do anything to her, did you? How am I supposed to explain that? Wait, why is she asleep?"

"She got drunk, I was worried and came in. She cried for a long time and now she’s asleep in my arms, alright?" Cheng Yunting replied quietly.

"Alright, then. I’ll come over now," the mysterious man agreed, realizing that after all the crying, the secret could no longer be kept.

"Good."

PS: Well, here I go breaking hearts again. Do you know why I hint at what’s to come? Because you’ll never guess what I write next.

Heh, I play by my own rules.

You probably thought this would be just like other stories—the heroine pushes the hero away despite loving him, and then the hero has to win her back in a grand, regretful pursuit?

No, my story never follows that path. I want her to stop suffering like that.

I’ve been writing it this way since April—always a bit cheeky.

I’ll probably write up to thirty thousand words, then move into the face-slapping and big reveal parts.

Around a hundred and fifty thousand words in, there’ll be another wave of angst, and then it’ll be time to wrap up.

As for the extras, I’m planning to write side stories about Tang Shi and Song Ci, as well as Chu Yuxiu and his other half, and finally about Xiao Zheng’s child—then it’s the end.

The whole thing should take about two months at most.

Come on, everyone, let’s enjoy the sweet moments together.

That’s it for now—see you all tomorrow.