Chapter 42.2
For the next month, Liang Manqing remained unconscious. Qin Qin waited patiently, all the while taking excellent care of Liang Yiyi.
Qin Qin was not depressed; she remained strong because she believed Liang Manqing would definitely return.
This morning, Qin Qin woke up and prepared for discharge.
Aunt Tao came in from outside, her face beaming with joy: “Xiao Qin, Manqing is awake.”
Qin Qin paused her packing. The anxious feeling in her heart was not soothed by the news of Liang Manqing waking up; instead, it grew slightly with worry.
“Aunt Tao, you watch Yiyi. I’m going to see Manqing.” Qin Qin composed herself, took a deep breath, and slowly walked toward Liang Manqing’s room.
When Qin Qin pushed the door open, she saw Liang Manqing, who was usually lying in bed, sitting up, eating the steamed bun and congee Aunt Tao brought her with gusto.
Liang Manqing was eating somewhat roughly, completely disregarding her image. When she looked up and saw Qin Qin, she only glanced quickly before continuing to eat, as if Qin Qin were less important than the bun and congee in her hand.
Qin Qin’s heart sank. She forced a smile: “Eat slowly.”
Liang Manqing finished eating before finally looking at Qin Qin properly. Even with that look, Qin Qin could guess she was the one referred to as ‘Wife.’
Qin Qin watched her for a few minutes. Liang Manqing’s eyes were cold. She couldn’t see any shadow of the previous Liang Manqing.
Qin Qin asked tentatively: “Do you remember me?”
Liang Manqing, in the hospital bed, seemed bothered. She simply pretended to have amnesia: “I don’t know you. If you don’t need anything, please leave.”
Qin Qin’s eyes grew warm with tears. It was just as she had thought.
The current Liang Manqing was no longer the previous Liang Manqing.
Qin Qin retreated from the room. Aunt Tao, holding Yiyi, saw Qin Qin’s lost expression and quickly asked: “What’s wrong? Did something happen to Manqing again?”
Qin Qin took Yiyi into her arms, shaking her head slightly: “She’s fine. She just doesn’t recognize me.”
Aunt Tao gasped: “What? Impossible! I just brought her food, and she recognized me as Aunt Tao, and she remembered Liang Xue. How could she not recognize you?”
“I’m tired. I’m taking Yiyi back to rest first.” Qin Qin returned to her own ward, picked up her packed luggage, and drove home.
Qian Haiye was already waiting at the hospital entrance. Since Liang Manqing fell asleep, Qian Haiye had driven Qin Qin wherever she needed to go.
Qian Haiye had said that Liang Manqing instructed him to ensure Qin Qin’s safety whenever she went out.
Qian Haiye always remembered.
Only sitting in this car did Qin Qin finally feel that the real Liang Manqing had never left her side.
Yiyi slept soundly. The car drove very smoothly.
Qin Qin looked at the changing street scenery outside the window, feeling a sense of unreality, as if this world had nothing to do with her.
They returned to the Liang house.
Qin Qin curled up in the room they used to share. After a month, the residual scent of Liang Manqing still lingered there.
But the strong tequila scent was gradually fading, so faint that if she took a deep breath, the last trace would disappear.
Qin Qin breathed carefully. She dared not cry and didn’t want to admit the truth.
As long as she pretended nothing had happened, Liang Manqing would definitely still be there.
After some time, Qin Qin heard noise outside—Aunt Tao and that person’s voices.
Qin Qin stood by the hallway and looked down. Aunt Tao was smiling: “Xiao Qin, the doctor said Manqing is fine. She remembers everyone. She remembers me as Aunt Tao, and she remembers Liang Xue.”
That person followed Aunt Tao, looking around: “Nothing has changed here.”
Qin Qin looked at that face, identical to Liang Manqing’s, but with a completely different demeanor, and was utterly disappointed.
This person is not Liang Manqing. Qin Qin was certain.
That person walked straight upstairs toward her previous room, but Qin Qin blocked the door: “This room is mine now.”
That person peered inside—a double bed, and a small crib next to it.
“Oh.” That person retracted her gaze and said to Aunt Tao: “Aunt Tao, help me prepare a guest room.”
Aunt Tao found it strange: “Why don’t you sleep with Xiao Qin? Why sleep separately?”
Qin Qin was about to speak, but that person casually answered: “I want to sleep alone. I’m used to lying alone in the hospital.”
Aunt Tao laughed awkwardly: “How can partners sleep separately? You should try to adjust. You two can take care of the baby at night.”
That person glanced at Qin Qin. Qin Qin spoke faster: “Aunt Tao, I want to sleep alone.”
Qin Qin didn’t say anything more, locking the door from the inside.
Aunt Tao didn’t know what happened between the two, but seeing their distant, unfamiliar interaction, she remembered Qin Qin saying Liang Manqing didn’t recognize her. It felt true.
However, Liang Manqing was very clear about everything in the house. Aunt Tao quickly dismissed her concerns. It must be that Liang Manqing’s strange illness hadn’t fully healed yet.
Just wait a little longer.
Qin Qin shut herself in the room until Liang Xue knocked. Only then did she unlock the door.
Qin Qin looked at Liang Xue and asked: “What is it?”
Liang Xue looked at the baby inside the room and asked: “Can I come in?”
Liang Xue had visited the hospital daily to kiss and hug Yiyi. Back home, Liang Xue’s habit remained the same.
Before, Liang Manqing was unconscious. Liang Xue, as her sister, felt obligated to take care of Qin Qin and Yiyi. Now that Liang Manqing was awake, Liang Xue felt she should take care of Qin Qin and Yiyi even more.
Liang Xue looked at Yiyi sleeping soundly, her heart melting. But thinking about how Liang Manqing had spoken to her just now, Liang Xue really wanted to punch her.
“I don’t know why, but I feel like Liang Manqing has changed. I called her Sister just now, and she asked what my motive was for calling her Sister.” Liang Xue scoffed: “Did she lose her mind?”
After Liang Xue finished speaking, the two heard that person’s exaggerated laughter coming from the living room. The TV volume was very loud.
Qin Qin didn’t speak, simply covering Yiyi’s ears quietly.
A surge of anger rushed to Liang Xue’s head. She opened the door and ran downstairs, turning off the TV: “Yiyi is sleeping! Why are you making such a racket?”
That person frowned at Liang Xue: “You’ve got some nerve. You’re trying to control me now.”
Liang Xue walked over and sat seriously next to that person: “Sister, is there something wrong with your head? Can you please stop acting like your former irresponsible self? I prefer the reformed you.”
That person spat out the chewing gum in her mouth and chewed another piece: “If you prefer her, go find her.”
Liang Xue’s words seemed to strike a nerve. Although Liang Xue disliked her before she left, she didn’t expect Liang Xue to wish she would disappear after coming back.
Why should she?
She spat out the gum. That person planned to check her bank accounts to see how much money she had. Given Liang Manqing’s business skills, she should be very rich now.
However, after checking, she found she didn’t even have a bank card.
All her previous bank cards had been canceled.
Even the shares in the Liang Group, her house, and her car all belonged to Qin Qin.
How ruthless.
She didn’t leave her anything.
Liang Xue came out of the Liang Group. That person blocked her way and extended her hand: “Give me some money.”
That person’s appearance made Liang Xue feel utterly disgusted: “No.”
That person spat out her gum and smiled: “If you don’t give me any, I’ll ask her.”
She meant Qin Qin.
Liang Xue had gotten used to that person’s threats over the past few days. She seemed like a completely different person, doing nothing but eating, drinking, and playing.
She didn’t even want her wife and child.
She came home drunk and disheveled every night. Liang Xue had to clean up her messes while taking care of Qin Qin and Yiyi.
“You should just drink yourself to death.” Liang Xue had entertained that thought countless times. She kicked that person’s body, which was lying on the floor, and left her there.
Liang Xue spent almost all her time with Qin Qin these days.
Liang Xue was worried that Qin Qin would feel depressed and become mentally ill.
Qin Qin smiled faintly: “Is she drunk again?”
Liang Xue sighed, humming: “Don’t pay attention to her.”
Qin Qin only smiled, very calmly.
Liang Xue had never seen Qin Qin break down emotionally. She always spoke calmly and rationally.
But Liang Xue knew Qin Qin was waiting for the gentle, loving Liang Manqing to return.
Liang Xue gently hugged Qin Qin: “My sister will definitely come back.”
Qin Qin nodded softly. She believed it too.
After Liang Xue left, a book appeared on Qin Qin’s desk.
When did this show up? Qin Qin didn’t remember owning this book. She never read this kind of novel.
But this time, as if guided by fate, Qin Qin opened the book and read it from beginning to end, only to realize it was the story of her previous life.
How could this be? How could she be in a book?
However, Qin Qin remained very calm about all this. She was already a reborn person; nothing could shock her now.
When Qin Qin reached the last page of the book, six prominent characters jumped out at her.
Qin Qin recognized the handwriting. It was Liang Manqing’s.
—Wife, wait for me to come back.
At this moment, the long-held tension in Qin Qin’s heart finally snapped. Tears of grievance, sadness, and longing streamed down her face.
Qin Qin tightly hugged the book: “I’ll wait for you.”
On the other side, Liang Manqing woke up in her office. The book was gone.
Liang Manqing thought she was imagining things. She rubbed her eyes and searched everywhere. It was nowhere to be found.
The book is gone. Why am I not gone?
Liang Manqing sank to the floor, powerless. A month had passed. She tried every method, but why was it still not working?
In the past month, the company, led by the professional manager, was gradually getting back on track.
The employees who had been threatening to quit were now willing to stay.
Everything was moving toward a positive direction.
But Liang Manqing no longer cared about any of this. She wanted to know how Qin Qin and Yiyi were doing now.
A loud sound suddenly echoed in her mind. Liang Manqing covered her head. A voice was asking her: “Why did you give all my money to your wife and child?”
Liang Manqing reacted and immediately asked: “How are you talking to me?”
“I have the System.” That person was furious: “You haven’t answered my question! Why is all my money gone?!”
Liang Manqing said lightly: “I earned it. I can choose how to spend it.”
That person, in her original world, didn’t even have the dignity to earn money for drinks, always asking her sister.
Liang Manqing knew she wanted money. She got straight to the point: “Let’s swap back. No one will control how much money you want.”
“Your company is almost bankrupt! Where would you get the money?” That person hadn’t reformed in Liang Manqing’s world either. She didn’t know how to run a company and didn’t bother to learn. She only regretted it when the money ran out and she couldn’t pay the employees’ salaries.
“I hired professionals to manage the company. You only need to supervise, not manage.” Liang Manqing offered a strong temptation, but she didn’t know the situation on the other side.
That person’s heart wavered. After returning to her original world, she found that Aunt Tao and her sister despised her even more than before.
Although they had little affection to begin with, this made that person feel even more resentful. Why was Liang Manqing excellent in every way, and everyone liked her?
The System told her that as long as both parties were willing, they could swap back by falling asleep again.
That person’s heart was swayed. She had nothing to keep her here. After drinking, she would pass out on the ground, and no one would care if she froze to death.
No money, no family affection—more pathetic than a beggar on the street.
The next time that person went to ask Liang Xue for money, she felt utterly humiliated. Although she was accustomed to living without working, she had never resorted to begging others for money.
Liang Xue tossed her a few hundred yuan and walked away.
That person counted the money and sneered: “Am I a beggar being thrown scraps?”
She then shifted her attention to Qin Qin upstairs.
Qin Qin heard a knock on the door. She thought it was Liang Xue, but was shocked to see that person.
They rarely spoke, and that person seldom sought out Qin Qin.
Qin Qin asked: “Is there something you need?”
That person’s eyes lingered, glancing inside. She couldn’t help but feel envious that this person had a wife and child.
“Give me some money.” That person spoke entitledly. It was just a little money; Qin Qin surely wouldn’t refuse.
Qin Qin’s hopes were dashed. She half-opened the door and said: “Wait for me.”
She took one thousand yuan from the drawer and handed it over. That person took the money and left without a second of hesitation.
Qin Qin slowly clenched her fist, her eyes stinging with tears: “Sister, when will you come back?”
That night, well past midnight, Qin Qin was drifting off to sleep when she vaguely heard a commotion outside.
Liang Xue was carrying that person back, tossing her onto the sofa, and kicking her hard for good measure.
That person was bruised and swollen, bleeding, looking like she had been beaten by someone.
Covering her head with her hands, she murmured: “I want to leave. I want to leave. This is too horrible…”
If Liang Xue hadn’t received that person’s phone call, she wouldn’t have bothered with her.
Liang Xue went upstairs and saw Qin Qin. She stopped and asked: “Did I wake you?”
Qin Qin shook her head softly: “No. What happened to her?”
Liang Xue gnashed her teeth in anger: “Jiang Hejing and his crew beat her up. Can you believe her audacity? She went to drink with Jiang Hejing for no reason. Is she crazy?”
“Ah?” Qin Qin looked down at that person. Although she wasn’t Liang Manqing, it was Liang Manqing’s body. If she was beaten that badly, shouldn’t she go to the hospital?
Liang Xue waved her hand: “I can’t be bothered with her. Go to sleep. Her bones are hard; she’ll be fine.”
Qin Qin looked at that person one more time, then withdrew her worried gaze. She only wanted her Sister to come back quickly.
Before Qin Qin and Liang Manqing met, Liang Manqing was already Liang Manqing. She and that person were complete strangers.
Qin Qin closed the door tightly. Her slender fingers traced the six words on the piece of paper.
The next day, Qin Qin woke up, and there was no one in the Liang house.
Liang Xue was gone, that person was gone, and even Aunt Tao was gone.
Yiyi in the room whimpered softly, seeming to call for her Mommy.
Qin Qin held Yiyi, comforting her. Yiyi rarely cried, mostly smiling. It was Yiyi’s presence that allowed Qin Qin to keep going.
Yiyi’s little hand touched Qin Qin’s cheek. She babbled, seemingly trying to comfort her Mommy.
Qin Qin kissed Yiyi’s small hand: “Wait for Mommy, okay? Mommy will come back.”
Liang Xue called and said that person had been badly beaten and was hospitalized. Her nose was dislocated, and she was undergoing surgery by a specialist.
Liang Xue spoke nonchalantly: “It’s nothing serious. The doctor said the surgery will be quick, about four hours. Aunt Tao and I are watching over her at the hospital.”
Qin Qin just hummed: “Understood.”
Liang Xue didn’t blame Qin Qin for being so cold. If it were her, she wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t have beaten Liang Manqing up herself. But Qin Qin’s calmness made Liang Xue realize Qin Qin was hurting more inside.
From the phone, she heard that person’s familiar voice wailing: “Will the surgery hurt?”
Liang Xue scoffed: “Yes, it will hurt, especially. Your nose is broken. How could it not hurt? You should just hurt yourself to death.”
That person was in too much pain to argue with Liang Xue: “Isn’t that disfigurement? It’s over! I need to leave! I need to go to sleep quickly.”
Liang Xue let out another cold laugh: “Go in. The surgery will be over after you fall asleep.”
Then the doctor and nurse wheeled that person into the operating room.
After explaining the surgery, Liang Xue told Qin Qin not to come to the hospital and just wait at home for news.
Qin Qin only hummed in reply. Although she spoke little, she was praying in her heart that Liang Manqing’s nose, which was very straight and beautiful, would heal smoothly.
Time passed slowly, four hours felt like an eternity.
Liang Xue paced back and forth outside the operating room leisurely. She wasn’t worried at all; she was even a little happy.
Perhaps after the surgery, the previous Liang Manqing would be returned. The fool and burden could go as far away as possible.
Liang Xue wished she could kick her far away.
Aunt Tao was praying nearby. Liang Xue pulled Aunt Tao to sit on the bench and comforted her: “It’s fine, Aunt Tao. You rest. It’s just a small surgery.”
Aunt Tao didn’t want to leave the hospital. Liang Xue pushed Aunt Tao out: “She has doctors watching her. What could possibly happen?”
Aunt Tao couldn’t resist Liang Xue and reluctantly went home.
When Liang Xue and Aunt Tao returned home, it was nearly noon. Liang Xue had bought food on the way back.
When Liang Xue returned, Qin Qin was playing with Yiyi in the courtyard.
Liang Xue placed the food on the table: “Come and eat quickly. It’s still warm.”
Everyone was running around because of that person. In less than a month, that person had caused so much trouble.
Liang Xue ate and complained: “My savings are almost drained because of her.”
Qin Qin slowly chewed her rice, listening to Liang Xue’s complaints as if she were hearing about someone else.
She wasn’t wrong. That person wasn’t Liang Manqing. To her, she was just someone else.
Qin Qin didn’t have much appetite. After a few bites, she went to play with Yiyi.
Liang Xue sighed, feeling sorry for Qin Qin.
In the courtyard.
Qin Qin sat on a stool, smiling as she entertained Yiyi in the crib.
Yiyi smiled back.
The wind blew gently.
Suddenly, a voice reached her ears.
“Wife.”
Qin Qin heard the familiar voice, her eyes warming. She was afraid she had misheard and dared not look up immediately.
The voice came closer. A slightly injured hand gently grasped Qin Qin’s fingers. The voice trembled: “Wife, you’ve gotten thin.”
Qin Qin looked up.
Tears fell.
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