Chapter Forty-Eight: He Would Rather Be Hurt Himself Than See Her in Pain
“Tsk, you really are hard on yourself.” Shen Dongleng looked over Cheng Yunting’s medical report, then glanced at him lying in bed hooked up to an IV. “You can’t walk on that leg right now. You’ll need more treatment before it can heal. I used to think your godfather was ruthless enough, but your godmother is even more so. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if you’re really their biological child.”
Cheng Yunting responded, “I’ll go home after the IV is done.”
“Come on, my brother, you’re still running a fever and you can’t walk. Why go home?” Shen Dongleng tried to reason with him. “Come on, give yourself a break.”
“If I can’t walk, I’ll use a wheelchair. It’s nothing,” Cheng Yunting said indifferently.
“Fine, do as you want,” Shen Dongleng sighed, finally giving in. “I’ll prescribe you some ointment—apply it to your back every day and you’ll heal faster.”
“Alright.”
…
In the villa, inside Leng Zheng’s room.
While Aunt Li was out shopping for groceries, Leng Zheng had somehow found a knife and was playing with it.
“Baby, don’t blame your mother for being cruel. I will protect you. Even if I end up covered in wounds, I won’t let you be threatened.” She gently touched her belly, murmuring softly.
She vaguely remembered that there was a place on her body that, if hurt, wouldn’t harm the child but would bring her immense pain.
Carefully, Leng Zheng mapped out her acupoints, pricking herself lightly wherever her finger landed.
“If he saw me hurting myself with a knife, what would he do? Would he break down?” Leng Zheng knew Cheng Yunting’s weakness. Even if she had to hurt herself, she’d make sure he suffered too…
But Cheng Yunting was still on his way back, unaware of what was about to happen…
“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t give you a happy family.” Leng Zheng wiped away her tears. “I hope you won’t blame me.”
…
Some time later, Cheng Yunting returned.
He crept upstairs, limping and supporting himself against the wall.
Leng Zheng’s hearing was sharp—she heard him coming up the stairs. She sat down by the bed, playing with the knife in her hands.
“Xiao Zheng.” As soon as Cheng Yunting opened the door and saw her sitting by the bed, he called her name softly.
“Cheng Yunting, what do you think would happen if I died?” Leng Zheng looked at him and smiled. “Do you think the baby would blame me for being too cruel?”
“Xiao Zheng, don’t do anything foolish. Please, put the knife down, okay?” The moment Cheng Yunting saw the knife, his eyes turned red. He edged forward, step by careful step.
“Don’t move. If you do, I’ll…” Leng Zheng threatened, motioning with the blade.
“Don’t hurt yourself, please. I’ll do anything you want. You can even kill me if you must.” Cheng Yunting’s voice trembled as he pleaded, his eyes rimmed with red. “Xiao Zheng…”
Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, looking up at her in utter humility. “Don’t… please, Xiao Zheng!”
He inched closer, though his leg refused to obey him.
“Xiao Zheng… Xiao Zheng…” Cheng Yunting’s panicked gaze remained fixed on her as he forced himself to stand and called out in a low voice, “Hold on… Xiao Zheng…”
He swept her into his arms and carried her to the living room, immediately dialing the Qin brothers.
He couldn’t drive, and if he tried to bring Leng Zheng to the hospital himself, she might bleed out along the way…
His hands shook; he didn’t know how to help her, how to ease her pain…
Desperate, Cheng Yunting grabbed a knife from somewhere and stabbed it straight into his own shoulder.
“If you’re going to hurt, let’s hurt together. I might as well see what it feels like…” His face was deathly pale as he cradled Leng Zheng, whispering, “Don’t fall asleep. Stay with me. Xiao Zheng…”
He loved her down to his very bones—he’d rather suffer himself than see the woman he loved in pain.