Chapter 137: Entanglement
Li Baiyu's body trembled slightly as she felt the warmth and determination in Su Qing's embrace. She gently patted Su Qing's back, her voice low and powerful. "Don't worry, I will. You must take care of yourself too. Wait for me to come back."
After speaking, Li Baiyu slowly released the embrace and turned to walk towards the car. Her steps, though resolute, seemed to bear a heavy burden with each stride. Meanwhile, Su Qing stood in place, watching as her figure gradually disappeared into the distance.
As night fell, the lights at the station lit up, enveloping everything in a hazy glow. Su Qing stood alone in the square, her mind filled with endless thoughts. She recalled the moments spent with Haochuan, those warm scenes replaying in her mind like a movie. She couldn't help but start to doubt whether all of this was just her imagination. How could the affectionate Haochuan turn into a woman?
Just as Su Qing was lost in thought, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in her sight. The person quickly walked towards her, with a mysterious smile on their face. Su Qing blinked, and it was Li Baiyu!
"You... why are you back?" Su Qing exclaimed, her mouth wide open, utterly unable to believe her eyes.
Li Baiyu smiled as she walked up to Su Qing, her eyes sparkling with complexity. "Actually, I didn't really leave. I just wanted to test whether I could maintain inner peace after leaving you."
Upon hearing this, a surge of inexplicable emotion rose in Su Qing's heart. "Haochuan, you... you care about me, right?"
Li Baiyu gently nodded, her gaze full of tenderness. "Yes, Su Qing, you hold an irreplaceable place in my heart. But I must tell you a secret."
Su Qing's heart tightened. She sensed that the words Li Baiyu was about to say might completely overturn all her previous understanding. "What secret?"
Li Baiyu took a deep breath, as if she had made some decision. "Actually, I am not truly Haochuan. I am Li Baiyu, a person with Multiple Personality Disorder. Haochuan is just a sub-personality within me."
Hearing these words, Su Qing froze as if struck by lightning, standing still, utterly unable to believe her ears. She looked at Li Baiyu, her eyes filled with confusion and shock. "Is... is this true?"
Li Baiyu slowly nodded, her tone filled with helplessness and bitterness. "Yes, it's true. I know it's difficult to accept, but please believe that everything I say is true."
Su Qing's mind went blank; she felt as if her world had collapsed in an instant. She looked at Li Baiyu, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "Then... then how is Haochuan? Is he okay?"
Li Baiyu sighed softly, her look full of worry. "Haochuan... he's very weak right now. Due to my Multiple Personality Disorder, he cannot occupy my body for long periods. Each time he appears, he consumes a lot of energy and then falls into a deep sleep."
Upon hearing this, a strong sense of concern surged in Su Qing's heart. "Will... will he be okay?"
Li Baiyu shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty. "I don't know. But I will try my best to protect him, so he can exists safely within me."
The atmosphere between them once again turned heavy and oppressive. Su Qing looked at Li Baiyu, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She didn't know how to face this sudden truth, nor did she know where her future lay.
The night was like ink dotted with stars, the bustle of the city gradually fell silent, leaving only the rustling sound of the wind brushing leaves.
Su Qing sat on the park bench, staring blankly into the distance, her heart filled with mixed feelings. The conversation she just had with Li Baiyu was like a sharp knife, slicing through her once peaceful life, leaving everything she cherished in tatters.
"Haochuan... is just one of your sub-personalities?" Su Qing whispered softly, her voice exceptionally clear in the silent night, yet so powerless. She tried to grasp a shred of reason to process this shocking fact, but the inner chaos like the surging tide overwhelmed her repeatedly.
She closed her eyes, images of Haochuan's smile flashed in her mind, that warmth like the first light of dawn, once a bright spot in her dark world. His words, his gaze, everything about him seemed so real—how could he be just an imaginary existence? Su Qing's fists clenched tightly, the nails dug into her palms, bringing a stabbing pain as if trying to prove her own clarity.
Suddenly, footsteps broke the night's silence, and Su Qing's eyes shot open, seeing Shen Jingqi walking slowly towards her, his steps hesitant and uneasy. Under the moonlight, those clear eyes contained a complicated emotion beyond words.
"Su Qing..." Li Baiyu called softly, her voice carrying an apology and concern. She stopped in front of Su Qing, seemingly wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin.
Su Qing raised her head, looking at Li Baiyu with complex eyes; those eyes usually lively were now like a deep pool, impossible to fathom. "Tell me this isn't true." Her voice trembled, every word forced out through gritted teeth.
Li Baiyu lowered her head, her hair covering half her face. She took a deep breath as though gathering courage. "I'm sorry, Su Qing, it's true. Haochuan, he... indeed is one of my Multiple Personalities."
Su Qing's heart felt as if it had been struck hard, causing a suffocating pain. She stood up, staggered back a few steps, her gaze filled with despair and disbelief. "Why did you tell me? Why!" Her voice was tearful, tears welling in her eyes but stubbornly refusing to fall.
Li Baiyu hurried forward a few steps, wishing to comfort Su Qing, yet fearing her touch might cause further pain. "Su Qing, I know it's hard to accept, but I can't deceive you. You're very important to me in life, and I don't want to let you fall deeper."
"Deeper?" Su Qing laughed bitterly, her tears finally unable to help but slip down as she raised a hand to wipe them away, her gaze filled with anger and sorrow. "How am I supposed to believe? How am I supposed to accept that the one I love is merely an illusion?"
Li Baiyu stood silently, allowing Su Qing's emotions to surge. She knew that at this moment, any words were pale, the only thing she could do was accompany and wait, wait for Su Qing to break free from this emotional whirlpool.
Shen Jingqi held Li Baiyu's hand, silently providing her comfort.
Su Qing saw Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu's tightly held hands, and her shoulders couldn't help but tremble. She turned around, not wanting to see any of this.