Chapter 141: The Letter

Seeing that the person sitting inside the Ferrari was not Jingjing, I couldn't help but feel deeply disappointed. The surge of energy I had just felt suddenly drained away, and my legs went weak, leaving me unable to stay upright as I collapsed onto the ground.

The stranger in the car remained indifferent to my fall, resting one hand on the car window while watching me with curious eyes. I struggled to climb back up. Judging by the girl’s tone, I feared she was also part of the Hua family. Aside from Jingjing, I had no fondness for anyone in that family and preferred to avoid them whenever possible.

Gritting my teeth and favoring my injured leg, I walked forward without a word. I had barely taken two steps when I heard the girl call out, "Hey! Cripple! Don't you want your crutch?"

I paused, only then realizing that the wave of disappointment had made me so miserable I’d forgotten my crutch. I had to turn back, trudging past the Ferrari with difficulty, bending down to retrieve the crutch, tucking it under my arm, and limping away.

The Ferrari started, but instead of driving forward, it reversed to follow alongside me. The girl inside watched me with continued interest and suddenly asked, "Cripple, do you know Hua Jingjing?"

I froze. Had she heard me say Jingjing’s name earlier? Out of caution and wariness, I shook my head. "I don't know her!" I said, continuing to walk.

The Ferrari kept reversing alongside me. The girl continued, "Then why did you look so disappointed the moment you saw me?"

I didn't answer. I turned a corner, hoping to head down a different side street. Before I had even taken five steps, I heard the girl call out sharply, "Tang Qian! Stop!"

My scalp tingled, and I stopped instinctively. The girl behind me laughed. "So, you really are Tang Qian. You’ve got nerve, daring to show up at my uncle's doorstep!"

Realizing my identity was exposed, I decided to stop hiding. I turned around and said solemnly, "I, Tang Qian, walk upright and sit straight. There is nowhere in this world I cannot go."

The girl just smiled. Her eyes fixed on my limping left foot as she said, "I heard you were beaten up by people my uncle hired. It looks like you were hurt pretty badly; has it still not healed after all this time?"

I sneered, "Is your uncle Hua Qiming? Thanks to his 'gift,' I’ve been in the hospital for nearly two months. You can go back and tell him that Tang Qian will never forget his kindness and will repay it sooner or later." With that, I turned and quickened my pace. After all, this was Hua family territory. It was one thing to talk tough, but staying long enough for them to catch me would be foolish.

After crossing the side street, I reached the main road by the river, ready to hail a taxi back to the hospital. Unexpectedly, headlights flashed, and the Ferrari pulled up from behind and stopped beside me. The girl leaned out and said, "Tang Qian, I was just looking for you. Get in, I'll give you a ride."

I looked at her suspiciously. This woman and I were complete strangers; why was she looking for me? Was she planning to trick me into the car and drive me straight to Hua Qiming? That seemed like too much effort, though. If Hua Qiming wanted to find me, wouldn't it be easy? For over a month, I hadn't seen a single move from him. I had almost assumed he wouldn't bother with a nobody like me anymore. Surely he wouldn't go to such lengths now?

If that wasn't the case, then why was this woman looking for me? Did she want to tell me something about Jingjing? At that thought, my blood began to boil. The girl seemed to be Jingjing’s cousin. They were likely close; perhaps she sympathized with Jingjing and wanted to relay a message to us.

Although I couldn't be certain, for Jingjing's sake, I had to take the risk.

Without hesitation, I walked over, opened the door, and sat in the seat. The girl asked, "Where are you going?"

"Bo'ai Hospital!"

"I'm sorry, I haven't been back in a long time and don't know where that is. Could you give me the address?"

I looked at her strangely and said, "It's on Huayue Street."

"Oh, I know Huayue Street. B City has changed so much in these years; I can hardly recognize many places. Look at those skyscrapers—they’re no worse than Los Angeles now!" As she spoke, the Ferrari pulled away.

I asked, "Did you... just return from the United States?"

"Yes! I've been back for three days and was wondering how to find you. By the way, let's get acquainted—my name is Liu Qing. Jingjing is my cousin, and we grew up together."

I murmured an acknowledgment, but I had no interest in hearing about her affairs. My concern was Jingjing's current situation, so I asked, "How is Jingjing? Is she... doing alright?"

Liu Qing was silent for a moment before saying, "My cousin is in the United States now. She’s not living a happy life; she thinks of you day and night."

I was shocked and said, trembling, "Jingjing... went to the United States? How... long ago?"

"Almost a month!"

"What? That... long? Why... hasn't she contacted me?"

"It’s very inconvenient for her. There are people... watching her day and night, and besides..."

"Besides what?"

Liu Qing sighed. She pulled the car over to the side of the road, reached out a hand, and said, "Let me see your ID card!"

I asked in confusion, "Why?"

"I need to confirm that you really are Tang Qian!"

Hearing her say this, I sensed she had something extremely important to tell me, which was why she needed to verify my identity. I hurriedly pulled my wallet from my pocket, took out my ID, and handed it to her.

Liu Qing looked at it for a while before returning it. She reached for the handbag beside her, opened it, and pulled out a thick envelope. "This is a letter my cousin wrote to you. She didn't dare send it by mail, so she asked me to bring it to you."

"Really?" Filled with joy, I hurriedly took it and opened it impatiently. The envelope wasn't sealed. The Ferrari started moving again, and by the light of the interior lamp, with a heart full of excitement, I read the first message I had received from Jingjing in over a month:

"Qian, are you doing well? I’m in the United States now, and I’m afraid I won't be back for a long time. I miss you so much; I think of you day and night..."

I had barely read the opening when my nose stung and tears began to stream down my face uncontrollably. I was thinking of you day and night too! My Jingjing, you really have me worried to death.

I wiped away my tears and continued holding the letter, reading on. I could almost hear a sigh from Liu Qing.

"But I can't see you right now, and I can't call you. I know you must be very anxious, so I wrote this letter for my cousin to bring to you. Qian, we may not see each other for three years. I gave my father my word—I swore on the name of my only grandmother that I would have no contact with you for three years. In exchange, I received his promise: if after three years I am still determined to be with you, he will no longer interfere. Qian, I know this isn't fair to you, but I have no other choice. I have fought for the best possible chance. My father is my family, after all, and I cannot do anything against him..."

At this point, Liu Qing interjected, "I read the letter, too. There’s something I have to tell you that my cousin didn't write. During the Lunar New Year, my cousin was locked up by my uncle for several days, and all her contact with the outside world was cut off. But after she begged my brother to find out what happened, she learned that you had been severely beaten by my uncle and were lying in the hospital. My cousin began a hunger strike to show her resolve, saying she would rather starve than not be allowed to see you! My uncle ignored her at first, but she didn't eat or drink for two days and two nights, finally collapsing in her room. When my uncle and the others found her, they rushed her to the hospital for emergency care, but even after she was revived, she refused treatment and wouldn't eat. After several days of this, she had almost exhausted all her life force. In the end, my uncle had no choice but to tell her that if she continued the hunger strike, he would immediately send someone to kill you, but if she stopped, things could be discussed. The result was that my cousin swore on her grandmother's name—to prove that her love for you wasn't just a moment of confusion or being misled—that she would not see or contact you for three years. If she succeeds and her heart remains unchanged after three years, my uncle promised he would stop interfering and would never hurt you during those three years, provided your heart hasn't changed either. Time will test the love between you!"

Hearing this, my tears flowed incessantly again. I had never shed so many tears in my entire life as I had today. No wonder Hua Qiming hadn't come to trouble me since; it turned out Jingjing had fought for it with her life. Oh, Jingjing, how lucky am I, Tang Qian, to have such deep roots of love planted in you! Thinking of her hunger strike, my heart ached beyond measure. I felt that no matter what it cost me to repay Jingjing, I would do it without hesitation.

I wiped my tears again, enduring the heartache, and continued reading: "Qian, three years isn't short, but it isn't long either. I believe you can make it through, can't you? We once had one happy night; that is the day most worth remembering in my life. I am so glad it happened a day before my father found out, or I wouldn't know how to get through these three years. Qian, I am your woman! Always! Don't worry too much about me, and don't come looking for me, because this place is full of people my father sent to watch me, and there's no way to keep it from him. I will miss you every day here while I pursue my doctoral degree. Three years will pass quickly. In these three years, you can also calm your heart and focus on building a career. I don't want you to have a certain amount of money, but I want you to prove to my father that the man Hua Jingjing values is definitely not an ordinary person! Qian, you won't let me down; I have faith in you. Also, it was that lowlife Shi Huaizhong who snitched to my father. If you get a chance, get back at him. He is the one who caused us to be separated for three years; I hate him the most. Qian, I beg you not to hate or retaliate against my father. Although he is hateful and heartless, he is the one who gave birth to me and raised me, and I have no choice but to acknowledge him. I know this request is hard for you to accept, but please, for the sake of how much I love you, forgive him this once. I beg you! Qian, love that has survived adversity is true love; it will be unbreakable. I firmly believe this. When we are together again in three years, we will be the happiest and most joyful couple in the world. I am looking forward to that day coming soon. I can't write more because I am being watched. All my thousand thoughts are contained herein. I hope you stay safe; I am praying for you here every day! Your woman, Jingjing."