Chapter 48: The Debt of the Past Part 2

Her past and present with Shen Lideng were shrouded in mystery. Just as when Ming Li had pretended to casually ask about their relationship, the only answer she had received was that she was “special.”

On this matter, Gu Qingshuang couldn’t explain things clearly.

So, Gu Qingshuang hoped Ming Li would be the one to ask, to start the conversation, ideally leading to a resolution.

Just like many times before.

But the matter with Shen Lideng was entirely different.

In the past, it was always small things that Ming Li could resolve with a few words. The most complex issues had been her history with Liu Siwang and Chun Liuyi, and Ming Li had heard bits and pieces of those stories from others; she was happy to listen to Gu Qingshuang’s past.

But the history between her and Shen Lideng was kept strictly hidden.

There were over ten years of shared history—a bond others couldn’t compare to, a decade of a past no one could intrude upon.

Exactly how special it was, Ming Li didn’t know, and Gu Qingshuang wouldn’t say.

Ming Li didn’t even know how much Gu Qingshuang remembered or how much longing remained. Asking too much or too little was a mistake; it was better not to ask at all.

Moreover, the moment she asked, she would be overstepping.

Ming Li had finally managed to regain a sense of control over her emotions in a short time. She didn’t want to break down again after chatting for a while.

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

After a simple skincare routine and drying her hair, Ming Li watched Gu Qingshuang emerge from the bathroom in a bathrobe. Ming Li instinctively glanced at her legs again.

Gu Qingshuang noticed her gaze, turned her head away, and pressed her lips together in silence.

Once Gu Qingshuang was in bed, Ming Li took a tube of ointment from the bedside drawer and tossed it to her. “Put some on your neck.”

Gu Qingshuang reached up to touch her neck.

Shen Lideng had scratched her.

…

Back in the lounge, large beads of sweat had formed on Shen Lideng’s forehead. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face flushed red, and she looked to be in excruciating pain.

Yet she gritted her teeth and didn’t make a sound.

Gu Qingshuang had been frantic, calling for a doctor, until Shen Lideng grabbed her hand and chuckled weakly. “A-Shuang, you’ve lost your head from worry. You are the doctor.”

Gu Qingshuang froze for a few seconds, as if suddenly transported back to when she was thirteen—isolated, helpless, and completely drained of strength.

At that time, she hadn’t started her growth spurt and was short and thin. When they were trapped in the jungle, struggling for survival, she could do nothing.

Later, she had used every ounce of strength to carry the unconscious Shen Lideng out, only to collapse herself due to days of starvation.

In the lush jungle, towering trees blotted out the sun, and the heat was enough to cook a person alive.

It was the young Shen Lideng who had carried her out of that jungle. When Gu Qingshuang was on the brink of death from hunger, Shen Lideng had sliced open her own wrist…

Seventeen years later, Gu Qingshuang still couldn’t remain calm in such a situation.

But in that instant, Ming Li’s face suddenly appeared in her mind—the way she had looked standing on the path as Gu Qingshuang carried Shen Lideng away, her face drained of all color as she called out.

A paleness that even blush couldn’t hide.

Gu Qingshuang didn’t know what she was afraid of, but Shen Lideng bit her lip and stared at her, whispering, “Just take a look for me. It’s nothing major.”

She was still the same as before, acting as if she didn’t know the meaning of pain. Even with such a serious injury, she could endure it without a word.

Gu Qingshuang took a deep breath and reached out to examine her. She pressed on several spots, and Shen Lideng winced in severe pain each time.

“You need an X-ray,” Gu Qingshuang finally calmed down. “It’s not just a muscle strain; there’s a risk of a spinal fracture. You have to go to the hospital.”

With that, Gu Qingshuang called the director of Huaxing Hospital and told them to send an ambulance.

Only then did the Shen family’s doctor arrive. After a brief diagnosis, he gave the same answer as Gu Qingshuang.

But Shen Lideng was stubborn. “I haven’t seen my sister’s wedding yet.”

She grabbed Gu Qingshuang’s dress. “A-Shuang, take me back to watch my sister get married, okay?”

Gu Qingshuang shook her head. “You can’t walk right now.”

“Carry me…” As soon as the words left her mouth, Gu Qingshuang’s eyes widened. Shen Lideng knew the request was inappropriate, but she couldn’t bear the thought of appearing at the wedding in a wheelchair.

“I’m married.” Gu Qingshuang’s rationality was gradually returning. For some reason, Ming Li’s face kept appearing in her mind, making her thoughts more chaotic and her tone sharper. “Carrying you earlier was an emergency. As for us, I thought I made it clear before. Lideng, we’re finished.”

“I know.” Shen Lideng smiled. “I was just speaking without thinking.”

As they spoke, Shen Chu entered the lounge to check on Shen Lideng’s injuries. She snapped coldly, “Why wasn’t I notified about tonight’s performance? Was that stage even meant for dancing? Now that you’ve fallen, what will you do? If you can’t dance on the stage in Paris, are you just never going to dance again? What about your dreams! A-Li, are you as muddled as Father?”

Shen Lideng stared at her blankly. “Sister…”

“Don’t call me that,” Shen Chu gritted her teeth. “What did I tell you when I sent you away?! Once you’ve made a decision, don’t regret it. Why did you have to come back?! And what are you doing now?!”

Shen Lideng remained silent for a long time, cautiously watching Shen Chu’s expression. Once Shen Chu’s face softened slightly, she said in a low, placating tone, “Sister, I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Stop pretending,” Shen Chu said. “When the ambulance arrives, go to the hospital for treatment. I’ll find the best doctor for you. You’d better pray nothing is wrong, or else there will be chaos in this family. Today is my wedding, and I don’t want any more complications. A-Li, put your schemes away. Don’t let Father sell you off. He’s a muddled, shameless fool, but you shouldn’t follow him in degrading yourself.”

Shen Chu whispered those last two sentences into her ear, clearly furious.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingshuang rummaged through the medical kit the family doctor had brought, finding tools to give Shen Lideng some basic treatment.

After Shen Chu left, Shen Lideng struggled to stand up, wanting to watch the ceremony.

Gu Qingshuang stepped in front of her and pressed down on her waist. Even the stoic Shen Lideng couldn’t bear the pain and let out a piercing cry.

“A-Shuang, don’t stop me,” Shen Lideng said. “I can stand. I can walk there myself.”

“Then you’ll be crippled!” Gu Qingshuang said coldly. “Your spine is already misaligned. Every step will be agonizing. If you walk there and wait until the wedding is over to go to the hospital, you’ll spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.”

Shen Lideng looked at her in shock. “What did you say?”

“I said you might be paralyzed.” Gu Qingshuang paused, but decided to be blunt about the consequences. “Even if you go to the hospital now for immediate treatment, you might never be able to dance again.”

“Impossible…” Shen Lideng looked as if she’d been struck. “I want to dance… it’s impossible…”

She still insisted on going to the ballroom to watch Shen Chu’s wedding, shouting desperately, “Sister… Sister… A-Shuang…”

Gu Qingshuang held her back. In the struggle, Shen Lideng scratched several marks onto Gu Qingshuang’s neck.

At that moment, Gu Qingshuang felt a sharp sting of pain and snapped angrily, “Enough!”

Shen Lideng was startled by the shout and froze.

In the seventeen years Gu Qingshuang had known Shen Lideng, she had never spoken to her in such a tone.