Song Xinya’s body went rigid, and she felt as though she were about to burn up.
How could he…
At any time, in any place, he could…
She hadn’t even done anything.
Well, all right—she had squirmed a little on top of him.
She felt as though she’d been wriggling back and forth like a caterpillar.
But in Qin Yuhe’s eyes, she was fluttering about like a butterfly.
She hopped down from his lap. “I think I’ll lie down on the bed instead.”
Qin Yuhe didn’t stop her, knowing she was still in pain.
He lowered his eyes for a glance, then ignored it and continued working.
That sort of thing came and went quickly. If he didn’t pay it any attention and simply shifted his focus to work, it would soon wilt on its own.
Qin Yuhe worked at the computer while Song Xinya leaned against the headboard, waiting for him.
She casually picked up a book from the bedside table. It was the English edition of *Wuthering Heights*, which he often read.
She looked up at him. “Can I read your book?”
Qin Yuhe kept his eyes on the computer screen and didn’t turn around. “Sure.”
Song Xinya opened the book and saw the silver-white one-yuan coin.
She picked it up, slowly running her fingertip over the number 2000 and carefully tracing the ridges engraved upon it.
A searing heat rushed through her fingertip.
Qin Yuhe had a one-yuan coin minted in the year 2000.
What were the odds?
A line of English caught Song Xinya’s eye—
*Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you.*
In Chinese, it meant—
*Don’t leave me in a hell without you.*
The pages of the entire book were pristine. Only this one line had been heavily marked over and circled several times in red pen by Qin Yuhe.
A man like Qin Yuhe, with his family background, impeccable upbringing, excellent education, sound values, and lofty political ideals, would consider his family’s interests in everything he did.
Could a man like him also yearn for a fierce, blazing love—the kind that was as reckless and all-consuming as a moth flying into a flame?
Or had Qin Yuhe once felt such love for another woman?
The moment Song Xinya imagined that possibility, it felt as though a sharp blade had sliced through her heart. Even breathing brought a bone-deep ache.
She knew all too well how intense Qin Yuhe’s desire could be.
Before he met her, how had he dealt with it?
He was so powerful, wealthy, and handsome. Surely he couldn’t have kept it all bottled up forever.
The thought of his sexy, powerful body having been touched by another woman turned Song Xinya sour with jealousy.
Had he once worked another woman into a dazed, blissful state, making her soar to the heavens just as he had done to Song Xinya, sweating over her body?
The more she thought about it, the more miserable she felt.
Then again, she hadn’t given her first time to Qin Yuhe. What right did she have to demand that she be the only woman in his life?
Thoughts battled noisily in Song Xinya’s head, leaving her dizzy and overwhelmed.
Love really was a troublesome little demon.
Just as Song Xinya lay on the bed, sighing deeply, the mattress beside her sank. Qin Yuhe pulled back the covers and climbed in.
“Did the world end, or did the earth explode? What are you sighing about?”
Song Xinya turned over, presenting him with her back. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
Qin Yuhe: “??? Did I do something to offend you?”
Song Xinya: “No.”
Qin Yuhe: “If you’re not mad at me, then why are you turning your back on me? We’ve only been married for a short while, and you’re already giving me the silent treatment. If we make it ten or eight years, won’t you end up taking a knife to me and abusing me?”
“…”
Song Xinya: “You’re a man. Are you really worried about being abused by your wife?”
Qin Yuhe: “It’s not easy being a man these days. We have to guard against both women and men. We need to know how to protect ourselves when we’re out and about.”
Song Xinya: “You really know how to let your imagination run wild.”
Qin Yuhe: “I’ve had a vivid imagination since I was little. I even won first prize in a science-fiction writing contest once.”
Song Xinya: “With skills like that, why haven’t you gone to the moon?”
Qin Yuhe: “Because I have a business empire to inherit, so I never became an astronaut.”
Song Xinya: “It’s not too late to become one now.”
Qin Yuhe: “Now that I have the best wife in the entire world by my side, how could I bear to go up into space?”
Song Xinya could no longer keep a straight face. She burst out laughing.
She turned around and rolled into his arms.
Qin Yuhe wrapped his arms around her. “Feeling better now?”
Song Xinya: “I wasn’t really angry to begin with…” It was just that the thought of him having slept with other women made her feel a little uncomfortable.
She took his hand and ran her fingers over the scar in his palm.
“Han Jingyi…”
Before Song Xinya could get to the point, Qin Yuhe interrupted her. “Why are you bringing him up?”
Song Xinya: “I’m not allowed to?”
Qin Yuhe: “You’re lying in your husband’s arms, talking about another man. Don’t you feel embarrassed?”
“Count on your fingers how many times you’ve mentioned Han Jingyi tonight.”
Song Xinya actually held up her fingers and counted. “Twice. But you brought him up the first time, not me.”
Qin Yuhe felt like his brain had short-circuited. Why had he brought up that old man in the first place?
Song Xinya lifted her head from his arms, her expression turning serious. “I have something important to tell you. That’s why I mentioned him.”
Qin Yuhe: “What important matter could possibly involve him?”
Song Xinya: “Something related to treating your hand.”
Qin Yuhe: “That does sound pretty important.”
Song Xinya smiled and said, “His hospital has a project with the United States that can provide the most advanced treatments for burn injuries.”
Qin Yuhe: “Is it reliable?”
Song Xinya: “Absolutely. Brother Jingyi is someone you can trust.”
Qin Yuhe: “Okay. I’ll go take a look tomorrow. But for now, please stop praising your precious Brother Jingyi.”
The next day, Qin Yuhe arrived at Han Jingyi’s hospital.
Song Xinya stood between the two men and suddenly felt as though her toes were curling into the floor.
Qin Yuhe: “I’ve heard for a long time that my wife has a ‘bro-bro’ she’s known since childhood, and that he takes exceptionally good care of her.”
Han Jingyi: “Xinxin and I have known each other since we were children. We’re as close as siblings, so naturally I should look after her.”
“You certainly play the role of ‘bro-bro’ well.” Qin Yuhe’s voice was dripping with sarcasm as he called out to Han Jingyi, “Bro-bro.”
Han Jingyi, however, assumed that Qin Yuhe was addressing him respectfully and treating him like an older brother.
Worried that the situation might spiral out of control, Song Xinya steered the conversation back to business.
“Dr. Han, could you give my husband a detailed explanation of the treatment plan?”
Song Xinya had already obtained the treatment plan from Sheng Changpu and handed it over to Han Jingyi.
Han Jingyi, the middleman, handed the treatment plan to Qin Yuhe.
Qin Yuhe read through it carefully before closing the file.
“The doctors treating the burns on my hands are all leading experts in the country, but this treatment plan isn’t available here.”
Han Jingyi replied, “That’s right. The cutting-edge technology involved is currently limited to the circles of wealthy elites in the United States and hasn’t yet been made available to the general public.”
Qin Yuhe asked, “Then how did you persuade them to cooperate and obtain their latest research findings?”
Song Xinya’s heart tightened. She knew Qin Yuhe was beginning to suspect something.
Han Jingyi answered smoothly, without leaving a single flaw in his explanation. “My mentor is the world’s foremost cardiovascular specialist. Our team possesses the most advanced cardiovascular research in the field, so we exchanged resources and expertise with them.”
The explanation sounded reasonable enough.
Qin Yuhe wanted to heal his hands, and now an opportunity had been placed right in front of him. He had no reason to refuse.
“All right. When can the treatment begin?”
“If you’re willing, tomorrow,” Song Xinya replied.
Qin Yuhe smiled. “You make it sound as though this treatment plan was tailor-made for me, with everything arranged around my schedule.”
Han Jingyi smoothly filled in the gaps. “A doctor’s priority should always be the patient. When circumstances allow, we’re naturally willing to accommodate the patient’s schedule.”
After leaving the hospital, they sat inside the Rolls-Royce.
Qin Yuhe gazed deeply at Song Xinya and said, “Why do I feel as though a pie has fallen from the sky and landed right on my head? And this particular pie seems to have been made especially for me.”
Song Xinya wasn’t sure whether he had noticed something. She avoided his eyes and stared straight ahead.
“You’re such a good person. Why shouldn’t a pie fall on you? Why should it only land on other people? You’re blessed, and good things are bound to come your way. Every beautiful thing in the world ought to find its way to you.”
Qin Yuhe smiled, reached over, and ruffled her hair.
“When do you think it would be best for me to go to the United States?” he asked.
“Today.”
“So eager to get rid of me?”
“Of course I don’t want you to leave. I just want you to recover as soon as possible.”
The Rolls-Royce moved smoothly along the road. Sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the car with a golden glow.
Qin Yuhe raised his arms and held both hands up in the shimmering sunlight.
“Yaya, do you know why I want to heal my hands?”
“To make them as beautiful as they used to be. So they won’t hurt when you hold a pen. So people will stop staring at them with that look of disdain.”
Qin Yuhe smiled faintly.
“No. It’s not because of any of those things.”
“I want to heal my hands because…”
He turned his head and gazed into her eyes, his voice gentle.
“I want to play the piano for you.”
