Chapter 169

Young Master Shen’s plan was to swap seats with Xin Qing to allow Ying Qingcang a view of her. But the customer seated at the table between them suddenly up and left, and Tang Shuang was sitting at an angle which granted her a full view of Xin Qing.

“You brought her here?” Tang Shuang said, glaring at Young Master Shen. Young Master Shen chuckled. “Oh, yeah!”

Tang Shuang turned around to look at Ying Qingcang, and in a split second, Ying Qingcang suppressed all the yearning and longing from his eyes in favor of a bland expression. “Ah, what a coincidence,” Ying Qingcang said. “So that was why you left early? To come to see her?”

“Today’s Mimi’s birthday!” Young Master Shen yanked Zhang Mi into his arms with a straight face. Before Zhang Mi could voice out her protest, Young Master Shen whispered into her ear, “The latest products by Hermes. Limited edition. All yours.”

Zhang Mi schooled her features and then leaned into his arms. “It’s your fault for picking this shitty place. Now look, we’ve run into those adulterers,” she grumbled shyly.

All of a sudden, goosebumps formed all over Young Master Shen’s skin. “Haha! Haha!” he released a couple of fake laughs. “Let’s pick another place. Where would you like to go?”

Throughout the entire exchange, Tang Shuang’s attention was focused on Xin Qing, appraising her. At the sight of Xin Qing sitting there quietly, Tang Shuang smiled. “Well, since this is a chance meeting, why don’t we all share a table! What do you think, Ah Cang?”

Ying Qingcang noticed the slight tremors which shook Xin Qing’s body and was instantly hit by a surge of regret. But Tang Shuang was already seated at the table and was gesturing for the staff to serve up the dishes. Zhang Mi shot a glare at Young Master Shen, who shook his head and dragged Zhang Mi to sit down. In doing so, he had deliberately separated Xin Qing from Tang Shuang.

“Xin Qing, how are you lately? Also, aren’t you going to at least thank me? I’m the one who made your painkillers after all.”

Tang Shuang looked at Xin Qing smugly. “That’s right. It feels terrible to see me together with Ying Qingcang, doesn’t it? Haha! I’ll never tell you the truth. You’ll never know that you’ve once lost your memories. You’ll never know that I was the one who healed you. And the price you have to pay is that the man you love is now mine!”

“Thanks!” Xin Qing said, raising her head. Tang Shuang batted her eyelashes. “How about it? I’m prettier than you, aren’t I?” Tang Shuang thought. In Tang Shuang’s mind, Xin Qing did not remember her at all, so this was supposed to be their first meeting with each other.

Xin Qing smirked. “Miss Tang, you seem like the happy-go-lucky type, just that you’re a bit overconfident.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I don’t think that you’re prettier than me.” Xin Qing gave a tiny smile. “Hear, hear!” Zhang Mi said, raising her glass.

Xin Qing and Young Master Shen played along and clinked their glasses with Zhang Mi’s. A change went across Tang Shuang’s face. After that, she leaned her body closer to Ying Qingcang and pushed her steak towards him, no doubt to make a show of intimacy. “Ah Chang, will you cut it for me?”

Young Master Shen gave Ying Qingcang a nervous look. Xin Qing set down her glass suddenly and then stood up. “Excuse me. I need the bathroom.”

Feeling smug, Tang Shuang stared after Xin Qing, her eyes gleaming brightly. “I’m going to the bathroom too.”

Little did Zhang Mi know that underneath the table, Ying Qingcang’s hands were clenched into tight fists. She slammed her fork down onto the table. “Say, the world is so big, why do you have to come to France of all places? What is this? Are you trying to show off how lovey-dovey you are with your new wife? Is that it? Or do you think that Xin Qing still hasn’t suffered enough, so you’re here to give her poor heart another stab?”

“Hey, stop talking,” Young Master Shen said, nudging her. Zhang Mi shot him a glare. “This is none of your business. You either shut up or leave.” She turned to look at Ying Qingcang again. “I beg you. Please just let Xin Qing go. She’s very happy right now. Soon, other good men will start pursuing her and she’ll find happiness again.

“As for you? You’ve already become a page of her past. That page had been flipped over, and you’re the one who flipped it.” Zhang Mi’s eyes had become red-rimmed during her speech. Young Master Shen heaved a sigh and then handed a napkin to her.

Ying Qingcang sprang to his feet instantly. Then he pulled Young Master Shen to his feet, and stomped off, dragging Young Master Shen with him. Zhang Mi spat at his back.

When Xin Qing exited the bathroom, she saw Tang Shuang standing at the doorway. Pressing her lips into a tight line, Xin Qing tried to sidestep her.

“Hold on.” Tang Shuang blocked her path. “I don’t know if you’ve deliberately picked this place for dinner, but I hope there’ll be no repeat of this. You should just give up. Ying Qingcang is already my man. I’m his legal wife.”

Xin Qing stood there for a long time, not moving an inch. Tang Shuang frowned and was about to say something else before Xin Qing turned around and stared her down. “Miss Tang, I heard you came from the mountains. If so, I suggest you watch more TV and follow the gossip columns closely just to get a feel of how to be a missus of a wealthy husband.

“Instead of getting all defensive with me, you should be more worried about those mistresses or homewreckers who are younger and prettier than you.” Xin Qing laughed. “Do you know who I am? Well, if you don’t, then I suggest you read the intros on the most prominent jewelry in the world. I assure you that my name will be printed on each and every one of the intros you can find.”

Xin Qing raised a finger and pointed it at Tang Shuang’s earring. “This earring was designed by me last season. But yours isn’t the limited edition.” A look of panic formed on Tang Shuang’s face right then. Tang Shuang raised her hand, wanting to remove the earrings. None of those actions went unnoticed by Xin Qing, of course. “Tsk, tsk,” Xin Qing said. “If you don’t feel like wearing it, then you might as well just throw away your entire jewelry set when you get home. The ones you bought are no doubt the most expensive ones, which are all designed by me.”

Xin Qing chuckled. “Miss Tang, it’s best if we try not to get in each others’ way.”

With that, Xin Qing turned around and walked away. Tang Shuang grabbed her arm. “Hold it right there, you bit-”

Suddenly, the surrounding lights flashed a few times. After that, everything went dark. Countless screams sounded outside at the lounge, which was followed by the words of comfort offered to the customers by members of the waiting staff.

Xin Qing instantly went into panic mode and she began shuffling closer to the wall. The moment her feet touched the foot of the wall, Xin Qing felt a pair of arms snaking around her waist. By instinct, her mouth opened to scream. The next second, a hand covered her mouth firmly. Then she was dragged into a smaller room which appeared to be even darker.

Tears spilled from Xin Qing’s eyes the moment she felt the familiar embrace.

“Ah Qing…” A deep and husky voice sounded beside her ear. At that voice, Xin Qing began to struggle. Ying Qingcang tightened his arms around her. “Ah Qing, don’t move. Please. I beg you. Let me hug you. Please…”

“Wuwuwu…” Xin Qing began pounded his chest. “Why did you have to bring her here for no reason? Are you trying to make me suffer?”

Ying Qingcang lowered his head. “Ah Qing, let me kiss you.”

Xin Qing raised her head and wrapped her arms around Ying Qingcang’s neck. The moment their lips touched, it was as if a series of fireworks had exploded within the tiny, confined space of the room. Their mouths moved against each other, nibbling and sucking for dear life.

Gently, Ying Qingcang lifted her up, and Xin Qing responded by wrapping her legs around his waist. There, in the dark, Ying Qingcang slowly tasted the skin that he had been craving for nearly a year. Both of them were like fish, longing to be returned into the ocean. Finally, they had found support in each other, and they were unwilling to let go even if it killed them.

Sweat and passion pervaded the dark and crammed the space.

“Oh, baby! Baby!” Ying Qingcang kept calling her. Xin Qing bit down on the man’s shoulders, stifling her moans and cries.

When it was over and their heavy breathing was all they could hear, Ying Qingcang slowly ran a hand down Xin Qing’s back. “I’m sorry. I just miss you too much. I planned to just look at you from afar, but…”

“I get it!” Xin Qing said, leaning into his arms. Both of them were covered in sweat and their hairs were tangled together.

Boy did she ever miss him.

She had spent every night since her arrival in France wallowing in endless longing for him.

Back when she was still a student, she could never believe the words by the ancients: “Till death do us apart”. How could a person not be able to live without the presence of another. How could one love another more than oneself?

Now, after everything she had been through, she could fully appreciate those sentiments, and they were not exaggerated at all.

Ying Qingcang lowered his head and kissed her again. “Young Master Shen cut the power. We don’t have much time left. Just now… Did I hurt you?” Ying Qingcang knew just how forceful he had been just now. He was unable to hold back his lust for Xin Qing; he would swallow her whole if he could.

Xin Qing shook her head. “Don’t come here again. I won’t feel sad as long as I don’t see you.”

Ying Qingcang pinched her ass. “How cold. I missed you every second of the day, you know. By the way, you remembered what happened after your amnesia?”

“Mmhm!” Xin Qing nodded. “I remember everything.” Then, her expression suddenly grew serious. “Who’s trying to harm us behind our backs? So, that Tang Shuang is just a cannon fodder?”

Ying Qingcang kissed her passionately. “So clever! The person behind everything is most likely William’s lover. It’s a man. They’re gay.”

“So he’s trying to avenge William’s death!” Xin Qing could not help but shudder. Ying Qingcang tightened his arms around her. “He’s concealed in the dark, while I’m out in the open. I can’t go through another incident where you end up getting hurt. That’s why I did something like this to force you away.”

Xin Qing snuggled against his chest. “Won’t it be unfair to Tang Shuang?”

“I gave her a chance to back out. But she jumped right in.” Ying Qingcang heard the chaos outside. He released Xin Qing. “Let’s get dressed. The power is back on.”

They quickly got dressed. After that, Ying Qingcang held her against him and kissed her for a long time. “Give me some time!”

“Mm. I won’t get in your way,” Xin Qing said, sniffing.

Ying Qingcang gave her one final kiss before he opened the door and peeked outside. “You should head out first!”

After Xin Qing got out, she realized that they had been inside the storage room behind the bathroom. She turned around a corner and saw an anxious-looking Zhang Mi searching for her.

“I’m over here!” Xin Qing walked briskly towards Zhang Mi who sighed in relief when she saw Xin Qing. “Damn. You nearly scared me to death. Are you okay? This shitty restaurant had a blackout for half an hour, and they don’t even have enough emergency lights. I wanted to look for you, but they wouldn’t let me.”

Zhang Mi suddenly pointed at Xin Qing’s lips. “What’s wrong with your mouth? Cracked skin?”

Reaching up, Xin Qing touched her mouth and discovered that her entire lips had become swollen. She did not feel anything before, but now it stung upon the slightest touch. She rushed into the bathroom and splashed cold water onto her face. She glanced at herself in the mirror. She took note of the redness in her face, and her eyes which were hazy with lust. She covered her face with her palms, though the corners of her lips lifted inadvertently.

After she had calmed down her racing heart, she applied a layer of transparent lip balm to her lips; that would make the swelling less obvious. Before heading out, she wetted her hands with cold water and patted her cheeks.

When they returned to their table, Tang Shuang was the only one there. A dark scowl formed on Tang Shuang’s face when she noticed their return. “Where’s Ying Qingcang?” she asked.

Xin Qing had deliberately chosen a seat which allowed her to sit with her back facing the light. She picked up her fork and resumed eating. Zhang Mi shot Tang Shuang a sidelong glance. “Isn’t he your man? Why are you asking us?”

“Where did you go just now?” Tang Shuang stared at Xin Qing. Tang Shuang had noticed Xin Qing’s disappearance during the blackout. When the emergency lights came on, she had tried to look for Xin Qing, but she could not find her.

“There’s a rest area behind the bathroom. Don’t you know?” Xin Qing commented flatly.

Tang Shuang frowned at that comment. This was her first time here. Plus, the emergency lights were too dim just now. It was probably not surprising that she did not notice this supposed rest area. While Tang Shuang was wallowing in her suspicions, she saw Ying Qingcang and Young Master Shen returning to their table. A man was standing beside them.

Something flashed in Xin Qing’s eyes when she saw that man. Zhang Mi, on the other hand, let out a scream. “You guys know each other?”