Qian Meigui woke up tangled with Song Sheng, their arms and legs entwined like a human knot. Because of their body heat, both of them were very warm. Qian Meigui stirred out of bed, untangling herself from him. Song Sheng felt her movements, instantly waking, his eyes meeting hers. He sighed in relief as if what they did last night indeed was not a dream.

Qian Meigui would have thought it was a dream too, were it not for the marks on her body and how much her lower abdomen ached. Her strength wholly diminished, and he smiled at her with his gleaming white teeth and dimpled grin, at what they did, at how he knew her body was sore.

She remembered that at one point in the night, she asked him about a condom, but all he did was shrug his shoulders. Qian Meigui gritted her teeth in response, but he didn't care, continuing to make love to her despite the consequences.

Qian Meigui rose to collect her clothes. It was just before dawn, the sun had not yet risen, and members of the Lin house did not wake, yet.

Song Sheng had an elbow propped up, gazing at her as she quickly placed on her clothing. Qian Meigui looked around the room, not sure where she put her phone or bag. She found her cellphone underneath the bed, and she picked it up when Song Sheng said to her, "this feels like a one-night stand."

Qian Meigui chuckled leaning in to kiss him on the lips. "Hmm, but who would only want one night with you?" she said, smiling. Song Sheng grinned, nodding, "you're right," he said. Qian Meigui shoved him, "c.o.c.ky." Song Sheng grabbed her arm gently, wanting to kiss her more, deeply. After a few moments, Qian Meigui had to push him away because their pa.s.sion was still too raw, too soon, and they were sensitive and p.r.o.ne to merge like animals again.

"I will send you messages with updates," she told him. Song Sheng then hugged her tightly. "I've missed you," he admitted. Qian Meigui warmed, "I know," she began. "You expressed it many times last night." Song Sheng chuckled against her neck as he hugged her. When they parted, he kissed her once more. "If there is anything goes wrong, let me know right away," he said. Qian Meigui nodded, taking in a sharp breath.

"I will," she promised.

"When this is over, I will take you somewhere far where we can forget about the past. We only will look forward to the future," Song Sheng a.s.sured her. Qian Meigui smiled, gently caressing his face with welled eyes. "Together?" She asked him. Song Sheng leaned in, pressing their foreheads. "Together," he breathed.

Song Sheng understood how she felt. Qian Meigui was never able to move on because there were many things she did not know, many gaps that did not fill, many questions that she still had. She hated involving other people she loved, but she was grateful towards him, towards his beautiful family that took in an orphan that had nothing but liars and traitors that followed her to the dark corners.

Qian Meigui left the hotel room with this persistent, gaping hole in her gut. She felt like something terrible was going to happen, and she could not shake off the feeling. She was only grateful now that she had seen Song Sheng, made love to him, before—before, she wasn't sure what came next.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to herself, to him who was far away. If it was the last time, she had seen him, at least their final moments were happy.

Qian Meigui went to the Lin house with a deep breath. She slipped back into her room, changing her clothes. She pretended to sleep for another few hours before going to the dining hall, playing with the children; they made her feel safest in the house.

In the afternoon, Qian Meigui walked around the garden, needing some fresh air. As she walked, she stopped, abruptly, when she noticed Lin Anni speaking to someone. She then hid behind a hedge, looking through the small gaps of branches and twinges. She saw the man's silhouette talking to her aunt, but they appeared to be arguing about something.

Lin Anni rose her hands agitated as she appeared to be disagreeing on something. After they finished speaking, the man walked away, getting into his car when she noticed that it was that man, that man in the photo. Qian Meigui slouched down the hedge, to the ground nervously. She felt like she couldn't breathe. She then rose, walking through the garden, heading inside towards the kitchen. She poured herself a gla.s.s of water when she heard someone walk through the front door, grabbing his keys. He paused at the sight of her. Qian Meigui stilled; their eyes locked, her heart raced. f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k, She thought.

The man looked at her curiously, stepping forward. "Who are you?" he asked her unkindly. He was tall, broad, his dark hair brown with grey strands, his beard connected with patches in between.

Qian Meigui gulped, not knowing how to answer. She could only confess what she had been pretending to be for half of her life. "Song Mei," she replied sharply, confidently.

The man's eyes widened, but then he chuckled. "You're lying," he responded.

Qian Meigui held her breath still, looking at him unwavering. "Why would you think that?" she asked him. "I am Song Rui's daughter," she said.

The man approached her slowly steadily. "Why would Lin Anni have anything to do with someone from the Song family?" Qian Meigui kept her chin high, her face neutral, unbothered.

"I am working for her," was all she said.

"You expect me to believe that?" he chuckled. "You look just like Lin Anni. But she never had any children," his words drifted off as he took another step towards her. "You must be Aiguo's girl," he reached out to caress her cheek. Qian Meigui stared at him with half-lidded eyes, unwavering. "Who is Aiguo?" she told him. The man nearly barked in laughter, amusingly. "Oh, I thought you were dead," he said sinisterly.

"Get out!" they both turned to Lin Anni, who was looking at him. She approached Qian Meigui swiftly, stepping in front of her, ensuring that she was behind her. Lin Anni stood in front of her protectively. "Get out," she said with a choked up tone. "And leave her alone," she told him. Qian Meigui stared at her in surprise.

The man took the keys from the table, nodding with a wicked, cruel, knowing smile.

Lin Anni swiftly turned around with worried eyes, making sure that she was okay. "Are you all right?" she asked her.

Qian Meigui nodded.

Lin Anni sighed in relief.

"Can you tell me who he is?" Qian Meigui asked her desperately. Lin Anni hesitantly nodded.