Chapter 118: We Are Lovers

Qin Haiyue was on top of her, panting heavily, her fists raining down like hail. Just as Ye Xingmian had thought, she was getting a bit tired.

Finally, she climbed off of Ye Xingmian, her face showing some exhaustion.

At this point, Ye Xingmian knew she seemed to have succeeded.

She had held her ground, not cowardly bowing her head to Qin Haiyue. For the first time, she felt a sliver of relief in her heart, even though she was covered in wounds.

Under her thin pajamas, her body was covered in shocking bruises. Her arms, legs, chest, abdomen—everywhere bore the marks of being beaten.

She was in pain, so much pain she could barely move. It had never hurt this much before. Hugging herself, scalding tears rolled down her face and splattered onto the floor.

Should she be happy? After all, she wouldn’t be beaten for a little while. But she couldn’t feel any joy at all. Who could feel happy after going through something like this, if not a masochist?

Her body trembled uncontrollably, she gasped for air in big gulps, her whole body soft as a puddle of mud.

She had just woken up, yet she was already getting sleepy again. She wanted to close her eyes, but then she started coughing violently.

Covering her mouth with her painfully sore hand, when she moved it away, there was a smear of bright red blood on her palm.

It should be fine, right? It was just a beating, she just bit her lip too hard.

But the eyes she wanted to close wouldn’t shut, she could only lie there unable to move. And right then, Qin Haiyue crouched down again, sitting on top of her.

Ye Xingmian instinctively closed her eyes, thinking she was going to hit her again, her body trembling with fear.

“…Alright, stop pretending to be pitiful.”

The expected pain didn’t come. Instead, a somewhat weary voice reached her ears. She didn’t dare move, afraid this was just Qin Haiyue tricking her.

Qin Haiyue reached out, pulled her to her chest, lifted her up, and held her in her arms.

The movement tugged at her wounds, the intense pain making Ye Xingmian tremble. Qin Haiyue held the chain behind her neck with one hand, supporting her with the other.

“Don’t move.” Qin Haiyue frowned.

But how could Ye Xingmian listen to her now? She was truly in unbearable pain.

The pain from having her wounds pulled was even worse than when she was being hit! She still desperately bit her lower lip to keep from screaming out loud.

Qin Haiyue dragged her all the way, carried her into the bathroom, and placed her on a chair. Then she went out herself, who knows to do what.

Ye Xingmian leaned against the chair, not daring to move; moving hurt everywhere. Tilting her head back, she looked at the white ceiling, taking a long time to finally stop her tears.

Why… why do I have to be treated like this? Why…

Just when she had finally seen a glimmer of light to escape the Lin family, she was forced to give it up. Holding on and refusing, only to be viciously beaten again.

Fate is so unfair to people. Qin Haiyue can openly enjoy immense wealth and bully others as she pleases; Liu Yinuo has enviable parents and a privileged family background; Lin Ziyan, though from a relatively poor family, has parents who dote on her excessively, granting her almost every wish.

And her?

Like a lonely, helpless blade of grass, she has to swallow her grievances, bear her pain alone. The only light is a distant promise that someone will come for her.

Anyone can step on her.

So far, the little comfort she’s had is only Liu Yinuo’s kindness of unclear motive, and that toy bear she begged for, which in her eyes symbolizes a mother’s love.

Everything feels rootless, unsettling, terrifying.

Her life is built on naked malice, on numbness and despair.

That final hope won’t be in vain, right… She can only pray her savior will come sooner. She has no ability, so she starts to rely on others.

So, anyone, please, save me.

Please, save me. I don’t want… I don’t want to stay here anymore, I don’t want to be beaten anymore. I just want to eat peacefully, go to school peacefully, or have a normal hug.

Naturally, she thought of those tea-colored eyes brimming with gentleness. She remembered the girl who reached out to help her, her gaze gradually becoming hollow.

Save me… please. Just for the sake of me holding on for you.

Please.

Click.

The bathroom door opened.

She jolted violently, her eyes filled with fear as she lowered her gaze. The one opening the door was, of course, Qin Haiyue—that tall villain with golden hair and sapphire blue eyes.

Qin Haiyue’s face was calm now, holding a tray in her hands. Ye Xingmian didn’t dare ask what she was going to do; she was afraid of being hit again.

Even though she had just endured so many blows, just recalling the feeling made her think she couldn’t withstand even one more punch of pain.

Qin Haiyue didn’t speak either. She first crouched down, placed the tray beside her.

Then she turned on the faucet, adjusted the water temperature, took out a towel and put it in the water. Finally, she turned and looked at Ye Xingmian.

“Take off your clothes.”

Ye Xingmian shuddered all over, but gritted her teeth and didn’t move.

Qin Haiyue didn’t say anything more. She probably knew what she had done to Ye Xingmian, so she simply went ahead and removed the thin layer of pajamas from her.

Large patches of snow-white skin were exposed to the air, covered in shocking bruises. Qin Haiyue’s movements halted for a moment, but soon continued.

She used the towel soaked in warm water to wipe the girl’s body, from top to bottom, starting with her hair and face, finally her pale feet.

Naturally, she touched many wounds along the way. Ye Xingmian didn’t dare make a sound, only trembling all over from the pain.

Qin Haiyue took in her reactions but didn’t deliberately avoid the injured areas. Even when Ye Xingmian hissed in pain, trembled violently, or twitched slightly, she didn’t care.

After wiping her body, she picked up the tray and said coldly, “Don’t move.”

Only then did Ye Xingmian realize she was holding some medicine for external injuries. Using a small cotton swab, she applied the ointment to the wounds all over her body. The cool sensation suppressed some of the pain, making her feel much better.

It seemed Qin Haiyue had given up on making her send a voice message to break off with Liu Yinuo.

Her eyes darkened. Ye Xingmian didn’t feel happy, just a sense of relief—relief without joy. Because she didn’t know when punishment might suddenly descend, she remained constantly anxious.

In silence like this, Qin Haiyue applied medicine for her. It hurt, but after the pain passed, she felt much lighter.

The application took nearly half an hour. It was already past midnight. Ye Xingmian was mentally exhausted, but Qin Haiyue seemed unchanged.

Putting away the medicine and throwing the cotton swabs in the trash, Qin Haiyue suddenly stood still, staring straight at her.

“We are lovers, right?” she suddenly spoke, her tone carrying an undeniable emphasis.