Chapter 82: Past Events 3

When Qin Dian uttered the words “friends,” they felt strangely foreign to her, like a sharp stab to the heart.

She rarely dwelled on the two of them anymore.

This was also the first time since their breakup that anyone had brought up their relationship.

Qin Dian had no connection to her.

The man standing behind her was the one tied to Bai You.

He was Bai You’s family.

Qin Dian clenched her teeth and turned her head toward Zhou Zhifan. “What are you standing there for? Sign it.”

“Right, right away.” Zhou Zhifan scrambled up from the floor without another word, signed the form, and handed it back to the doctor. “Here you go, Doctor.”

With the signed form in hand, the doctor returned inside, leaving the three of them alone outside once more.

Qin Dian’s mind had reeled from the earlier shock, her emotions surging before settling into a heavy low. She sank into a chair.

A heavy silence fell over the hallway. No one spoke first.

As the wait dragged on with no news, the gnawing fear of the unknown grew stronger.

Qin Dian hunched forward slightly, one hand covering half her face, her eyes bloodshot. She had never felt this afraid before.

Lu Ming placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. She’ll be fine for sure.”

She’ll be fine, Qin Dian repeated silently to herself. She’ll be fine. She sniffed and rasped out, “Old Lu, you should head back first.”

“Keep an eye on the company. Check on Huanhuan.”

Lu Ming looked at her with concern. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” Qin Dian shook her head.

With her reassurance, Lu Ming said no more. He glanced at Zhou Zhifan, who was still kneeling, and left ahead of them.

The night outside deepened. Time had passed far too long.

Qin Dian kept her head slightly bowed, her dark hair pinned up at the back, a few stray strands hanging loose around her temples. She looked disheveled.

A phone rang, shattering the quiet.

Zhou Zhifan answered the call. The voice on the other end rapidly explained the situation, snippets of urgent whispers leaking through.

His pupils dilated. “What happened at the venue?”

“Why was there a slip-up? Wasn’t that all arranged ages ago?”

“A bunch of useless idiots. Can’t even handle something this simple.”

“Fine, fine. I’m on my way.”

Learning there was trouble at the casino that demanded his presence, he hung up and turned to Qin Dian with a troubled gaze. “Qin Dian, I have to…”

She already knew what he wanted. Her voice came out hoarse.

“Get out.”

Zhou Zhifan climbed unsteadily to his feet. “Sorry, sorry. I’ll sort this out right away and come back.”

He glanced at the door and hurried off.

In the end, only Qin Dian remained outside the delivery room.

She clasped her hands together, bent forward with her forehead resting against them, and prayed silently through the night.

…

Until dawn, when the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window and sounds stirred from inside the delivery room.

The doctor emerged.

“Mother and daughter are both safe.”

Those were the words Qin Dian had waited all night for. Tears of joy streamed down her face. “Good… good…”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

The weight that had hung over her heart all night finally lifted.

When Bai You was wheeled out, she had already passed out. Seeing her pale, frail face, Qin Dian’s pent-up tears burst forth. She covered her mouth and wept soundlessly.

Qin Dian had never seen Bai You like this.

The thought of her enduring a night of agony alone in the delivery room twisted Qin Dian’s heart like a knife, pricking it like needles.

“Xiao Dian.”

Bai You felt a sliver of white light rouse her. She opened her eyes to Qin Dian’s tear-streaked face and softly called her name.

“I’m here.” Qin Dian forced her voice to steady, like always. “You did well.”

Bai You’s lips curved faintly, offering her a gentle smile before slipping back into sleep.

She was then wheeled to a recovery room to rest. Qin Dian stayed by her side the whole time, even helping watch the baby.

By then, Zhou Zhifan had returned after dealing with his mess, but Qin Dian wouldn’t let him in. She made him keep kneeling outside the delivery room.

When Bai You finally woke, Qin Dian had composed herself and was keeping vigil by her bed.

The moment Bai You’s eyes fluttered open, Qin Dian leaned in close to check on her.

“Mm…” Bai You tried to shift slightly and immediately squeezed her eyes shut, brow furrowing as she let out a muffled groan.

Pain was unmistakable in Qin Dian’s eyes.

She didn’t ask if Bai You hurt—she knew she did. Qin Dian had been through childbirth herself, and Bai You had suffered even more, far more.

Bai You noticed Qin Dian’s expression first. “It’s okay,” she said softly.

Qin Dian swallowed her emotions. “Mm.”

“Ah…” Bai You spotted the faint traces of tears on her face and reached up to brush her cheek. “Xiao Dian cried…”

Their eyes met, each seeing her reflection in the other’s gaze.

In those looks, there were bitterness, heartache, and regret—emotions too deep for words.

“Look at the baby.” Qin Dian wiped away a falling tear and changed the subject. She picked up the sleeping infant and held her close for Bai You to see. “Just like you wanted—a little girl.”

“Perfect. A girl…” Bai You’s lips curved into a soft smile.

With a blessing in her voice, Qin Dian said, “She’ll grow up just like you—gentle and strong.”

Bai You replied, “I hope so.”

Qin Dian asked her, “Thought of a name yet?”

“Jinjin,” Bai You said in a soft, clear voice. “From ‘the gentleman yields but does not strive.’ No need for great wealth or status—just a peaceful, happy life.”

Qin Dian nodded. “She will.”

“She’ll live safely alongside you.”

…

Qin Dian settled the baby back in the bassinet and checked on Bai You’s condition. After a few exchanges, though reluctant to bring him up, she asked, “So, what now?”

After what he’d done.

Bai You paused. “Has he come?”

“He’s kneeling outside.” Qin Dian avoided her eyes. “This is all his fault. He owes you an apology.”

Bai You glanced toward the bassinet. “Let him in.”

“He’s the child’s father, after all.”

Qin Dian’s pupils contracted slightly. She could see Bai You meant to forgive him and tightened her grip. “You’re really going to let him off like this?”

“The baby’s just born. She can’t grow up without a father. Have him swear he’ll change.” Bai You sounded exhausted. “Xiao Dian, I want to give him one more chance.”

“…All right.”

Qin Dian looked away and went to call Zhou Zhifan in.

Moments later, he burst in and dropped to his knees beside Bai You’s bed, apologizing profusely and admitting his wrongs. He promised to pull back all his business ventures, to never touch that life again.

His words grew more sincere with each one, brimming with remorse and vows of reform.

Bai You lay still, head turned aside, eyes closed, offering no response. Zhou Zhifan began kowtowing and swearing oaths.

“It’s my fault. I’ll treat you and the child right from now on. No more of that stuff.”

“I swear, I won’t touch it again.”

Qin Dian watched coldly from the side as he banged his head.

Finally, Bai You relented.

At her request, Zhou Zhifan held up three fingers and swore to the heavens never to touch those three vices again in his life.

“One more thing.” When he finished, Bai You said slowly, “Our daughter takes my surname.”

Zhou Zhifan agreed without hesitation. “No problem. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

With everything settled, Bai You closed her eyes wearily.

“I’m tired. You can go.”

Seeing her forgive him for the child’s sake, Zhou Zhifan looked relieved and left as she said.

Qin Dian watched him go until he vanished from sight, then turned away and murmured quietly, “A leopard never changes its spots.”

She could see it lurking in that man’s eyes. It hadn’t changed.

Bai You knew it too.

Yet memories of her own childhood flashed before her, giving her pause.

“I grew up in a broken home, so I don’t want the same for my child.”

“I hope my choice doesn’t come back to haunt me later.”

Qin Dian understood.

Bai You had always wanted a child because her own parents had divorced young, leaving her starved for maternal and paternal love. She wanted to pour every ounce of affection into her own child, to raise one brimming with happiness.

Precisely because she knew Bai You so well, Qin Dian didn’t try to dissuade or interfere with her decision.

“I respect your choice,” Qin Dian said, eyes downcast, her voice trailing off. “I’ll always be right behind you.”

Bai You smiled faintly.

“Thank you, Xiao Dian.”

…

Time passed.

After that incident, Zhou Zhifan promptly liquidated all his shady operations and washed his hands of that life completely. He never touched it again.

He hired a caregiver for Bai You and a nanny for the baby. His attitude toward her returned to what it had been right after their marriage—polite distance, mutual respect.

For a time, the company ran smoothly, and their days felt remarkably stable.

Their child grew steadily in that calm routine.

Bai You poured nearly all her love into Bai Jin, from swaddling to first steps, always by her side. Bai Jin, in turn, had been clingy with her since infancy, always wanting to stay close no matter where they were.

But when Bai Jin began learning to talk, Bai You’s grandmother fell gravely ill with no one to care for her.

Bai You had been raised by her grandmother and felt a deep debt of gratitude. When the old woman took to her bed, paralyzed and unable to rise, Bai You spent a long stretch living back at her family home.

During that period, it was Zhou Zhifan looking after Bai Jin.

Just a few months later, when Bai You returned, she found Bai Jin increasingly repelled by Zhou Zhifan.

From a young age, for some reason, Bai Jin had kept her distance from her father. At first it wasn’t so bad, but now she frowned whenever she saw him.

Bai You didn’t know exactly what Zhou Zhifan had done, but from Bai Jin’s words—reeking of alcohol, cigarettes, so smelly—she could guess.

He simply hadn’t taken proper care of the child those two months.

Bai You had gently brought it up several times already. “Smoke outside. Drink outside. There’s a child in the house.”

“I’m exhausted, okay? It’s just stress relief. What’s the big deal with a cigarette? Kids have strong immune systems. Why worry?”

“Zhou Zhifan, listen to yourself.”

Merely maintaining a peaceful relationship for three years was enough to send Zhou Zhifan back to his old ways. He began to think of himself as the center of the universe again, convinced that everything and everyone should make way for him.

After that, he and Bai You quarreled frequently—and Bai Jin often witnessed it.

Even though Bai You did her best to keep Bai Jin out of sight.

Bai Jin still caught glimpses of her own mother furtively wiping away tears in deserted corners.

—

One day, when Bai Jin was five, she wandered into the kitchen.

She picked up a paring knife left on the table and examined it closely.

If she stabbed this into someone, would red blood come pouring out?

If a person lost a lot—a lot—of blood, would they die? Would they just… vanish?

Would Daddy vanish too?

Bai Jin wondered to herself. Her soft little fingertip brushed across the sharp blade. She was still lost in thought when the door behind her slid open.

Bai You stood in the doorway, her head tilted slightly.

No matter what harsh realities life threw at her, whenever she faced Bai Jin, her expression was always one of pure gentleness.

“Baby, what are you doing?”

Bai Jin turned around and hid the knife behind her back. She looked up. “Mommy.”

Bai You noticed the object Bai Jin was concealing but said nothing—no scolding, no lectures. Instead, she walked over, wrapped her arms gently around her daughter, and stroked her hair. Softly, into her ear, she cooed, “Baby, give it to Mommy, okay? It’s very sharp. It could hurt you.”

There was magic in her mother’s words. Bai Jin slowly handed over the knife.

Bai You set it aside without a word of reproach. She simply kept soothing her. “Are you unhappy? If something’s bothering you, why don’t you tell Mommy all about it?”

But if Daddy disappeared, Mommy would be heartbroken, wouldn’t she?

Bai Jin’s eyes dimmed. She didn’t explain herself. Instead, she asked, “Will Mommy always stay with me?”

“Yes.” Bai You rubbed her head as she replied. “Mommy will always be right by Baby’s side. Mommy will always love Baby.”

Bai Jin nodded and melted completely into her mother’s warm embrace. “Jinjin likes Mommy.”

A mother’s embrace was the most intimate haven of tenderness. Her voice was the sweetest lullaby.

Whenever shadows darkened Bai Jin’s little heart, her mother would turn into a gentle breeze, dispelling the chill.

Bai You stroked her head with feather-light touches, like the gentle warmth of a hot spring basking under the winter sun.

“Good Jinjin.”