Chapter 028: It Is I Who Owe You

In He Yunqing’s eyes, Jiang Yao had leapt into Lake Reflection for the sake of that ring.

He rebuked her harshly.
“Your ring is lying safe and sound in my drawer!”

Jiang Yao brushed aside the wet hair plastered to her cheeks, not bothering to explain, and stretched out her hand. Her little hand, red and numb from the cold, gently held a brooch shaped like an auspicious cloud.

The joy of finding the object made her oblivious to He Yunqing’s scolding. She grinned at him, her lips stretching wide. “See if it’s damaged?”

He Yunqing’s gaze quietly fell upon the brooch. Suddenly, all the anger that had been boiling inside him was extinguished, as though doused by the lake’s waters.

At this moment, Jiang Yao looked utterly bedraggled, but the moonlight spilled softly over her, cloaking her with a gentle glow. Her face was flushed, her smile radiant and guileless, and her wide eyes sparkled with excitement.

Yet in He Yunqing’s heart, there was no trace of joy—only a strange, growing ache.

Seeing him unmoved, face still frosty, Jiang Yao grabbed his hand and pressed the brooch into his palm. “What are you standing there for? Take it.”

He Yunqing felt the icy chill against his skin. He slowly opened his palm and stared at the brooch. “Was it really worth it? Just for this thing?”

“Why talk about worth or not?” Jiang Yao shivered from the cold. “Since you carry it with you, it must be important to you.”

If something is important, then no matter what, you have to get it back.

“What could possibly be more important than your life?” He Yunqing’s eyes were cold and severe.

Jiang Yao had never thought about that. She was utterly unconcerned.

Over the long years, she had learned not to care too much. To care excessively meant becoming obsessed; and some things, if she cared too much, she would not survive.

“It’s fine. See, I’m perfectly alright.” Jiang Yao brushed water from her clothes. “I’m really fine—it’s not even that cold.”

Her words stoked He Yunqing’s nameless anger once more.

He turned on his heel and strode forward with long, quick steps.

Jiang Yao trotted after him, suddenly remembering what he’d said about the ring being safe in his drawer. She called out hastily, “Hey, He Yunqing, did you just say the ring?”

He ignored her and continued ahead.

She kept on, refusing to drop the matter. “Does that mean you can give it back to me now?”

He remained silent, his handsome face as cold as ever.

“He Yunqing, wait up!” Jiang Yao finally grew tired, struggling to keep up as she called out to him.

Lost in her pursuit, she stepped on a stone, twisting her ankle. She stumbled, crying out instinctively.

He Yunqing turned immediately and caught her just in time.

Jiang Yao gasped in pain and looked up at him, only to find his expression still rigid and stern.

“Come on, I found your brooch for you—can’t you at least smile?” she said helplessly.

He Yunqing frowned, crouching to inspect her ankle. “I don’t know how to smile.”

Jiang Yao rolled her eyes, muttering, “Weren’t you laughing quite happily with someone else at the set just now?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. It sounded far too much like jealousy.

Embarrassed, she noticed He Yunqing had already lifted his head to look at her; his previously cold expression had softened somewhat.

His gaze unsettled her, and she turned her face away, clearing her throat. “It’s nothing. Let’s go. I can walk.”

“You always say it’s nothing,” He Yunqing said, rising and giving her a sidelong glance. “Do you think you’re tough for enduring everything? If you can’t, then don’t.”

His tone was harsh, but Jiang Yao was taken aback.

She was used to enduring.

Just like back then, when her mother would carry her, battered and bruised, out of that beast’s room and tell her, “Endure it, just endure it and it will be over.”

No one had ever told her that she didn’t have to endure.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yao felt her eyes grow hot and red.

He Yunqing saw her reddened eyes, every trace of emotion laid bare before him. His voice softened considerably. “You just said you were fine—so why are you crying from the pain now?”

“I’m not crying,” Jiang Yao sniffed. “It’s just too cold.”

“Oh? Now you say you’re cold?”

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she thought she caught a fleeting tenderness in He Yunqing’s tone—a hint of affection hidden beneath his reproach.

He Yunqing glanced around, compressed his thin lips, and then suddenly swept her into his arms.

Jiang Yao’s feet left the ground, and the unexpected embrace startled her. She struggled to get down. “What are you doing? Put me down.”

“If you want to move faster, stop squirming.”

Jiang Yao pushed weakly at his chest. “I’m not used to being carried.”

“Then why did you let Cheng Yanchi carry you?” He Yunqing walked on with long strides, frowning. “Or do you actually like being carried?”

“Huh?” Jiang Yao blinked in confusion. “Cheng Yanchi, that was…”

“Shut up.” He cut her off before she could finish.

Jiang Yao fell silent, biting her lip, her face pressed against his burning chest, her hands awkwardly not knowing where to go.

After a while, she finally spoke, “You don’t have to feel guilty. You lost your brooch saving me. You saved me, so I owe you. Finding your brooch is just me repaying that debt.”

Jiang Yao disliked owing anyone.

In her eyes, debts created entanglements. It was best to keep relations clear, with neither side owing the other.

He Yunqing’s steps faltered for a moment.

He didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the darkness ahead, but his voice was deeper and gentler than ever. “It’s I who owe you.”

Jiang Yao didn’t understand what he meant, but a strange warmth rose in her heart, slowly melting something inside her.

Not far from Lake Reflection, a red sports car sat quietly.

Inside, a woman with curled hair leaned on the window, watching the scene by the lake, lost in thought.

She took out her phone and snapped a few photos, scrutinizing the image of Jiang Yao with a slight frown.

Lighting a cigarette, she took a drag, then sent a message: “Find out about this woman for me.”

Attached was Jiang Yao’s photo.

Soon, a reply came: “Not long ago, Yunqing also had me look into this woman. I’ll send you the information I found.”

Irene opened the file and read every word.

The more she read, the deeper her frown became.

“So this is the kind of woman she is.” Irene scoffed coldly, started the engine, and murmured to herself, “Yunqing, your taste isn’t what it used to be…”