Chapter 30: Kexin's Love

Shi Kexin had left.

She had departed before the sun even rose. Yan Tian, fully immersed in absorbing the vital energy from the jade, had heard the sound of a car engine starting, but he merely assumed one of the women, like Leng Bingtong, was heading off to work early.

When he finally completed his cultivation and went to her room to wake her, it was empty.

The previous night, after Yan Tian had helped Gao Lan wash up and settled her into a room, he had intended to sleep with Shi Kexin, but she had refused. She gave no reason, and Yan Tian, thinking she was just being shy, hadn’t given it much thought. Now, standing in her room and staring at the neatly folded bedding and the empty wardrobe and shoe rack, the realization struck him: it was Shi Kexin who had left that morning.

In his meditative state, he had lost all sense of time and did not know how long she had been gone. His first instinct was to call her, only to realize he didn't even have a phone—no mobile, no landline, nothing. Even if he could access a phone, he realized with a sinking heart that he didn't even know her number.

Cursing himself, he sprinted out to the courtyard. Her BMW was gone. He rushed out of the gate, chasing the fresh tire tracks along the dirt road, running at full speed. Yet, even after reaching the city, there was no sign of her.

A hollow, aching void settled in his chest, as if he had lost something vital. He knew that in his heart, Shi Kexin remained the most important person. From his childhood protector and elder sister, she had recently transformed into a sweet, endearing young lover. Why had she left? Why hadn’t she said a word?

He gazed up at the gray, overcast sky, pulling a smile that was more painful than a grimace. Shaking his head in defeat, he murmured, "Kexin..."

When he returned home, the women were already up. Gongsun Jing, who usually seemed neglected by everyone, had managed to prepare breakfast. While not as skilled as Yan Tian, it was passably well-made.

Seeing Yan Tian walk in, looking utterly dejected, Sun Shangxiang, who was munching on a pancake, stared at him with wide eyes and mumbled, "Yan Tian, did you go for an early morning workout?"

Yan Tian shook his head, too listless to speak, and went upstairs to Shi Kexin’s room. Scanning the space once more, he spotted a note tucked under her pillow. It was written in her handwriting:

"My dearest Yan Tian, please allow me to address you this way.

"Although our time together during this visit was brief, I was very happy. The little boy from the past, who was more delicate than a girl and always needed my help in a fight, has grown into a man of stature—a man who, in the most dangerous moment, could stand before me and offer me a sense of absolute security, telling me, 'From now on, I will protect you.'

"Do you know? I almost cried when you said that. Do you remember our childhood promise? Back then, besides promising to be your most beautiful bride, I also promised to always protect and look after you. But now, I feel I’ve lost the qualification to protect you. You have become so strong that you fear no one; you have become strong enough to be my protector, and the protector of Officer Leng and the others.

"I feel a sense of loss, yet I am also happy. Perhaps my personality was always too strong, so much so that I ignored the fact that I am a young woman who should be cherished by a man. Now, it is different. With you, I have tasted what it is to be cared for. Only now do I realize I was never as strong as I thought, and that I have always longed to be loved by you.

"Last night, when I saw you and that young girl... so intimately embraced, my heart ached terribly. Xiao Tian, I am not a jealous woman, and I don't care how many women you have—truly. But... I love you too much. I don't know when I fell in love with you; I only know that once I vaguely understood the meaning of 'love,' you were the one I thought of most, across the ocean. And that childhood promise to be your bride? I have never forgotten. Perhaps I was born to love you.

"Xiao Tian, do you love me? If not, why say you would protect me for a lifetime? My heart is in chaos. I don't demand to be the only one in your heart; I just want... I just want to be whole when I give myself to you.

"Please forgive my departure without a word. I need time to sort out my feelings. Promise me, don't come looking for me until you get into Peking University. I will be waiting for you there. I believe that by then, I will have moved past last night and will be able to give myself to you completely.

"Oh, I took your book on human acupuncture points and meridians. Since you said you would teach me martial arts, I will study it diligently. Before you begin teaching me, let me explore it on my own. Don't worry, I'm clever; with such detailed diagrams, I will surely master the points and meridians. When you arrive at Peking University, you can start teaching me the techniques directly.

"Keep going, Xiao Tian, you are the best. Even if your grades are not good now, I believe that if you work hard, you will get into Peking University. Don't forget, you are a genius—the man I, Shi Kexin, am destined to marry.

"Waiting for you.

"Yours, Kexin."

The paper held a faint fragrance and a few dried watermarks. Yan Tian shook his head, offering a self-deprecating smile. "What an idiot... how could I have such a foolish wife? Heaven is my witness, I didn't do anything with Gao Lan!"

"Hmm, it seems Sister Kexin really misunderstood," a muffled voice suddenly came from beside him, startling him. He turned to find Sun Shangxiang standing there, cheeks bulging with a pancake, peering at the note.

"Damn it! When did you get in? Why are you so stealthy?" Yan Tian exclaimed.

"Hehe, I've been here a while. I came to call you for breakfast and saw you staring blankly, so I took a peek!" Sun Shangxiang said with a grin, her mouth oily and bright red. "Yan Tian, you're quite something! Taking advantage of girls since you were three? No wonder Sister Kexin misunderstood!"

"Ahem..." Yan Tian cleared his throat, quickly folding the note into his pocket. "Little Xiangxiang, I thought you were a bright girl, but it seems..." He shook his head with mock regret. "Your little brain isn't that sharp."

"Why?" she asked, indignant.

"Kexin is clearly just venting her temper because she misunderstood me. Do I look like someone who would be a hooligan since childhood?" Yan Tian said righteously. "Don't just parrot others; trust your own judgment. That is what a wise person does."

"Oh..." Sun Shangxiang nodded. "I understand. But I think I saw you with my own eyes?"

"Ahem, enough..." Yan Tian coughed again. "Well... I'm going to eat."

He fled the room, heading downstairs, followed by Sun Shangxiang’s triumphant laughter.

"Oh, you're up? Why not sleep a bit longer?" Yan Tian bumped into Gao Lan as she exited her room.

Gao Lan blushed, lowering her head. "I slept enough. I wanted to go for a run. Could you... could you join me? I have something to tell you."

Yan Tian scratched his head. "Sure, no problem."

Gao Lan smiled sweetly, washed up, changed into sportswear, and followed him out. As they reached the gate, Sun Shangxiang called out, "Yan Tian, don't you dare let Sister Kexin down!"

Yan Tian turned back, flustered and annoyed. "Don't talk nonsense, kid! We are innocent! Completely innocent!"

"Heehee... Sister Kexin knows I'm in the class next to yours; she’s already asked me to keep an eye on you!" Sun Shangxiang leaned against the doorway, looking smug. "If you dare do anything to hurt her, I'll report you to the higher-ups!"

"Yan Tian, if it's inconvenient, maybe we shouldn't run together," Gao Lan suggested, sensing the tension.

Yan Tian shook his head. "Ignore her. That brat doesn't know when to quit. Hmph, one day, I'll show her who's boss..."

"What did you say?" Gao Lan asked, sensitive to his last comment.

"Uh, did I say anything? No, must have heard wrong. Let's run!"

He laughed awkwardly and jogged out with Gao Lan. Gao Lan had a great figure, especially when running. Though Yan Tian had seen her body more than once, she had a different, spirited charm today with her hair in a ponytail.

He stared at her, unabashed. Yan Tian was, in many ways, a "true villain." He liked beautiful women, so he looked at them, using a serious, sacred expression to cover it up if necessary.

Sensing his burning gaze, Gao Lan looked away, embarrassed. "What... what are you looking at?"

Yan Tian chuckled. "Just the scenery."

After a period of silence, Gao Lan brought up the serious matter she had come to discuss. "Yan Tian, you have brought a great disaster upon yourself."

"Oh? Has the Gao family realized I killed Gao Qian-duo?" Yan Tian narrowed his eyes. "Did you not keep my secret?"

"No, I did not reveal the truth," Gao Lan said, her clear eyes meeting his dangerous gaze. "No one knows you did it. But because of your actions, many people will take the fall for you, acting as scapegoats for Gao Qian-duo. In short, many people who have nothing to do with this will lose their lives because of you."