ATGJSY: Chapter 25
The night was deep, it was one in the morning. Rong Qian lay on the sofa, hands behind her head, lazily swinging her crossed legs. She had slept too much during the day and was now wide awake. With no TV and her phone out of battery, she could only stare at the ceiling.
After a long while, just as Rong Qian was finally feeling drowsy and yawning repeatedly, she suddenly heard something. In a flash, she sat up straight, like a carp flipping out of the water!
Listening closely, without a second thought, Rong Qian jumped off the sofa and headed straight for Shen Yi's room.
Shen Yi was dreaming again.
He dreamed of Yan Qingyao jumping out of the window in front of him, the bloody scene haunting his mind. That moment had become his nightmare.
Shen Yi's happiness turned to despair in just a few seconds.
At that time, he hadn't even recovered from the joy as he watched her leapt from the window sill.
When he realized what had happened, he walked to the window in shock and looked down. It was only then that he came to his senses. His limbs began to go cold, and tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes. He wanted to shout something, but his throat couldn't produce any sound.
The suffocating feeling of oppression was something Shen Yi could still vividly feel. It was like a giant claw trapping him, a narrow space enveloped by a cruel darkness.
Countless times in his dreams, Shen Yi nearly suffocated to death from this. Every time he woke up, he would cough violently, as if he wouldn't be satisfied until he coughed up blood.
Over the years, Shen Yi had become accustomed to these sudden ailments. He just had to endure them until they passed.
At most, each time he woke up to the dark and silent room, he would feel a sense of desolation and reflect on whether there was really any point to his existence.
He looked at the night outside the window, feeling that even the darkness was mocking him. It mocked him for living such a pitiful life.
However, this time, when Shen Yi woke up from his dream and opened his eyes, he found the room brightly lit, and someone was looking at him with a worried, concerned gaze.
"Are you okay?"
Rong Qian had heard him coughing from the living room. She knocked on the door, but there was no response. The door was unlocked, so she just pushed it open and came in.
She saw Shen Yi struggling in his sleep, coughing violently. She called out to him several times before he woke up.
Shen Yi stared at her blankly for a long time before he came to his senses. Before he could say anything, he felt his throat tighten. He hurriedly covered his mouth and ran to the bathroom.
By the time Rong Qian followed him, the bathroom door was already locked, and the sound of running water could be heard from inside.
Rong Qian thought about knocking on the door but decided against it. She withdrew her hand and turned to the kitchen to boil some water.
When Shen Yi came out of the bathroom, Rong Qian was waiting for him in the living room. Shen Yi lowered his eyes, head bowed, and tried to go back to his room, but Rong Qian called out to him, "Shen Yi, come here."
Rong Qian's gaze left him no room to refuse.
In the end, Shen Yi sat down but said nothing. He had washed his face, and a few strands of wet hair dripped water onto his forehead. His long, thick eyelashes fluttered like wings, and his large, watery eyes made him look like a fragile beauty, delicate and moving.
Rong Qian had never seen someone like him. The more disheveled he was, the more beautiful he looked!
Every time she saw him, she felt like she was hit by his stunning looks. He was only in his teens, yet his beauty was already so lethal. What would it be like when he grew up?
"Drink some water," Rong Qian handed him a cup of water.
Shen Yi took it. The water was warm, not cold. He took a sip. His throat, still sore from the dry cough, felt like it was burning. He forced himself to take a few more gulps.
Rong Qian watched him quietly, waiting for him to speak. After a long while, Shen Yi finally looked up at her, his voice hoarse with emotion, "Do you know what she said to me then?"
Rong Qian shook her head. Shen Yi looked down at the cup in his hand, rubbing its rim with his finger. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see Yan Qingyao leaning close to his ear, speaking to him.
Yan Qingyao had said three sentences:
"You are a good child, but I am not a good mother. Don't hate me."
"Your life is just beginning, while mine has reached its end. I'm sorry, don't blame me."
"You are guarded by angels, and I can only fall into hell…"
Rong Qian remained silent after hearing this. The last sentence Yan Qingyao said meant: You are guarded by angels, and I can only fall into hell…
Yan Qingyao had indeed freed herself, but she had dragged Shen Yi into hell with her. Over the years, he had suffered endlessly, trapped in a nightmare from which he couldn't escape.
Rong Qian had considered this possibility back then. She had planned to provide Shen Yi with psychological counseling when he woke up, but she had unexpectedly left.
Although four years had passed, fortunately, it wasn't too late.
For Rong Qian, who had studied psychological trauma healing and frequently interacted with the families of victims, Shen Yi's situation wasn't difficult to handle. However, for complete recovery, it would require medication alongside the counseling.
After gaining Shen Yi's consent, Rong Qian began to help him gradually lighten his mental burden. This wasn't something that would take effect quickly; it required prolonged guidance.
Rong Qian wasn't in a hurry. Right now, she has plenty of time.
"Alright, let's go back to sleep. I'm tired too," Rong Qian glanced at the time; it was already three o'clock. She stretched lazily, considering that he had classes tomorrow and persuaded him to go back to bed.
However, Shen Yi suddenly asked her a question, "What will I be like in the future?"
"Hmm?" Rong Qian didn't expect him to ask that suddenly, but she answered seriously, "Completely different from how you are now."
Shen Yi furrowed his brows. Completely different?
Rong Qian recalled the first time she saw him and continued confidently, "In the future, Shen Yi will be graceful, cultured, always wearing a gentle smile on his face, making people feel like they're basking in a warm spring breeze. He'll be a very elegant gentleman."
"Are you sure you're talking about me?" Shen Yi couldn't help but doubt.
Rong Qian laughed heartily, "That's for you to find out. I never expected you to have this personality when you were younger. I guess as you grow older, your personality naturally changes."
"I'm not that young anymore." Shen Yi didn't like how she always treated him like a child.
Rong Qian adopted an elder's posture and patted his head, "You're only sixteen; how grown-up can you be? Just because you're in college doesn't mean you're an adult. Your future path is still long."
Shen Yi looked up at her, and under his gaze, Rong Qian subconsciously withdrew her hand.
Rong Qian had to admit that despite Shen Yi's young age, he already exuded an aura that couldn't be violated. This kid had boundless potential!
"You said you're a time traveler. So, what's the relationship between you and me?" He had been wanting to know the answer to this question for a long time, staring into her eyes, eagerly awaiting an answer.
Uh-oh! Ambush alert!
Alarm bells rang in Rong Qian's mind. She pretended to be profound, pondering for a while, seemingly hesitant to speak, but actually crafting a response.
Got it!
Rong Qian cleared her throat lightly, assumed a serious posture, and said with great solemnity, "It's a cooperative relationship!"
"A cooperative relationship?" Shen Yi frowned.
Rong Qian nodded solemnly, "Exactly, it's a cooperative relationship. Future you needs my help, so we each take what we need and reach a cooperative agreement."
"Is there anything else?" Shen Yi wasn't sure what he was still expecting.
Rong Qian countered, "Such as?"
"...Forget it." Shen Yi stopped there, not pushing further. But he still had one more thing he wanted to know. He asked her, "What kind of—person do you like?"
He had originally wanted to ask "me," but he changed his wording at the last moment.
"Kid, you're a bit nosy, aren't you? Go to sleep!" Rong Qian refused to answer such gossipy questions, but Shen Yi was stubborn. If she didn't answer, he wouldn't go back to his room.
Only at times like this did Rong Qian feel like he was a sixteen-year-old boy—stubborn, childish, and rebellious.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you, alright?" Unable to resist him, Rong Qian compromised, "Of course, I like someone mature and stable, with a good personality, kindness, someone who can tolerate me, oh, and they have to be able to beat me!"
After finishing her words, Rong Qian suddenly realized a truth. She enlightened herself, murmuring, "No wonder I can't get married. It turns out I'm looking for someone who can beat me…"
Rong Qian shook her head with a laugh. Those outstanding young men introduced by her mother, elite professionals, how could they possibly beat her?
Of course, Rong Qian was just joking when she said these things.
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