Chapter 290 - A lone tear of regret.

Just as Qi Shuai had known Yi Lan the best, Yi Lan has also known him in the ways no one has ever. Maybe even better than her own brother.

When a person knows you in this deep way, they are capable enough to bring you the pains that no one else could. But Yi Lan has never thought that she would ever be that type of person for Qi Shuai. She has never thought that one day she would be the one who would bring back the pain that she has once helped the man hard to forget.

That has never been in her plans! Even not in her last dreams!

She regretted the moment it came to her lips. But it has already been too late to take her words back as the man sharply bit back at her.

"Panic is certainly a common thing. But it's capable of bringing dangerous hazards to one's life. No one can know this better than me, you are right! That's why I said he is not capable of you. If he can't control his panic around you, then how do you think he can take proper care of you in the future��. 

"I … I did not mean it …." She tried to make amends but her words were like the arrows that have already been shot in the air and could not be taken back into the quiver.

"You can take some rest. I will go and fulfil the discharge formalities". He cut her in the middle of her words and turned around to leave the room. But just at the moment, he was about to take his step away, he suddenly felt a pair of arms getting stubbornly wrapped around his lower torso from behind. His movements halted along with his thoughts.

"I am sorry, Brother Shuai. I never meant to hurt you. Please don't get upset about it" her tone came frail and light.

For a moment, Qi Shuai felt like his lost little girl was back. This was how Yi Lan has always been around him … All clingy to him!

His lips curved slightly from both sides as he looked down at the fair hands. His fingers trailed lightly over her skin, soothing her guilt. "It's fine. I am not hurt, Yi Lan. You don't ever have to feel guilty for me because I have always known that none of your intentions has been to hurt me. I know that you have always cared for me".

When he has thought that he has found back his lost Yi Lan, everything went back to starting point again, as if he was playing some video game where the game got over and he has to restart the thing from the beginning again.

The arms pulled away with a speed of lightning. Like it was scared of committing some unknown sin. He turned to look back at the woman with confusion, not knowing what suddenly happened to her.

There was a look of disappointment on her face. Was she disappointed? Why and for what?

Qi Shuai was about to ask her what exactly happened to her but before he could, Yi Lan said in a very firm tone, "No! You don't have to take care of me. I can manage myself. You just don't have to …"

"Yi Lan …" he started with a low voice which instantly got rejected by her.

"I already said it. I would invite Su Fai or Li …"

"My decision would not change. For now, take some rest. I will go and check the discharge formalities." His words came out, much stronger than from before. Feng Yi Lan was about to retort it back but the man simply did not give her any opportunity to do so. Turning around he already made his way out from the room.

Yi Lan looked at his leaving silhouette until it disappeared out of the room. Once he was out of her sight, she let go of the toughness she was holding up all this while. A lone tear proving many things rolled down her eyes as she cursed herself.

"Yi Lan, how can you be so mean to him? How could you bring his forgotten pain back on the surface just to revenge him for the concern he is showing to you? How could you when you know what he has suffered back then?"

Back then Qi Shuai had lost her mother, the only person to whom he has been close to in his family because he was not fast enough to react to her situation. He blamed himself for whatever happened to his mother, though it was known to everyone that was not his fault in the first place.

The guilty one was his own father whom he has started hating after that incident. Only if he would have remained loyal to his wife and family then all that would not have happened.

Yi Lan was deeply drowned in a stream of self-blame when suddenly the ringtone of her phone brought her back. It was Su Fai calling her. A smile curled her lips up when the clenched jaws of Qi Shuai's face flashed in front of her eyes. That man still does not know how to cover his true emotions of the heart.

"Hello, Su Fai!" she said, connecting the call just after a few rings.

***

"Wenting, how are you going to help us. I mean help, Li Xue. I am fine if you choose to help her over me" Wen Sying said demurely, avoiding to look at Zheng Wenting while slipping back her clothe.

The man too looked back over his shoulders and when felt her low spirits, he said, "Darling, do you really think that I will ever have thoughts of choosing anyone above you; let alone be Li Xue."

"I … I …", the woman intentionally tried to let out a weak reluctance at the scene and as planned by her the man instantly came to coax after her.

Holding her close to himself, he said with all love and care, trying his best to look like the best doting boyfriend in the world, "Sying, here look at me". He said, lightly cupping her cheeks into his wide palms as he continued, "You come for me first. If I ever have to help anyone then it would be you and for you"

The woman smiled at his words, pretending the well behaved, understanding girlfriend and said, "I know and I can't doubt you in that. But I am just feeling like I am kind of increasing your stress when what I should do is to reduce it. But believe me, Wenting, if I had been back in condition as I was before then you wouldn't have to help any of us. I, myself, would have taken care of Li Xue. But now …"

She paused showing her reluctance in completing her words and making the man's curiosity rise. "But now what, Sying?" He asked and instantly tears streamed down her eyes.

She showed reluctance at first but then said, "My agency thinks that I am no longer capable of making money for them, so they don't want to give me good resources. And even I have heard some juniors mentioning that I was famous before because I slept with you and you supported me in the industry. But now since you have lost your interest in me, my career will take the downfall first".

Zheng Wenting felt his heart clench as he looked at the woman's frail self. A feeling of guilt washed over him. Had he been so selfish that he had not cared to look after her? This was wrong. Being her boyfriend, it should have been his responsibility. What will people think if they would come to know this? Won't they look down at him?

Suddenly he remembered the words of the trash man from last night in the club. And his fist clenched tight at that remembrance.

Knowing the things are going according to her thoughts, Wen Sying thought to give the last finishing touch to her plan. Wrapping her arms lightly around him, she said in a weak voice, "Wenting, I am sorry I did not want to trouble you with my things, that's why I never let you know all this. Are you upset with me?"

The man did not say anything. For a second, his expressions turned fearsome, almost making the woman step back.

Instead of making the things go fine for herself, did she ruin it all?