His jet-black hair was soaked from the rain, dripping in knotted strands plastered to his gaunt cheeks. It made him look pathetic.

He was frighteningly pale, looking like he would keel over if a gust of wind so much as blew at him.

His well-defined hands knocked on the window, and his pale lips opened and closed as he said, “Baby, open the door. I have something to say.”

Qin Shu sat at the table, unmoving. She stared at the man knocking against the window, seemingly contemplating whether she should bother answering. Eventually, she relented and opened the window just a crack. Anyone who saw him would have felt sorry for his bedraggled appearance.

“What is it?”

When the window was opened, a warm current flowed through Chao Yan’s cold heart. His lips curled into a smile. “If you promise me one more thing, I will let you leave.”

Qin Shu furrowed her delicate brows. “Is threatening me all you know how to do?”

Chao Yan pursed his lips. Would she have agreed if he did not put some pressure on her?

His smile never faltered. “If you accompany me to the prairie, I’ll let you leave. I promise I won’t disturb you or appear in front of you in the future. You have my word.”

Qin Shu eyed Chao Yan suspiciously. He was behaving very strangely, not like how he had spoken to her just a few days before.

She did not want to shed all pretence of cordiality with Chao Yan. What if he trapped her here and did not let her leave?

After gathering her thoughts, she asked, “How many days will we be at this prairie?”

“Three days. You may leave as you wish once those three days have passed,” Chao Yan replied.

Qin Shu was afraid he would go back on his word, so she sought confirmation of his plans, “You’re not pulling my leg now, are you? You’re saying you’ll let me leave if I spend three days with you at this. Can I trust your word?”

“Yes, you can.”

Chao Yan was afraid she would not believe him, so he took out her phone and handed it to her in the act of good faith. “Here’s your phone.”

He had kept it close to his body so it would stay dry.

Qin Shu decided to believe him with the return of her phone. Her fingers brushed along its sleek surface, feeling a chill. It was too cold to have been kept on someone’s person; too cold for a regular human body.

She regarded Chao Yan solemnly. He was drenched. Yet, his poor condition did not damper the cheery smile he wore.

It was as if he was in a good mood and unconsciously revealed a smile he hoped to conceal.

It was a smile she was familiar with. Something about it pricked her memory. A smile she had often seen in the past…

She stared dazedly for the longest time, not registering how soaked Chao Yan had become. When she awoke from her stupor, she admonished, “Go and take a hot bath. You’ll catch a cold if you stand there any longer.”

Chao Yan smiled and nodded. “Okay, we’ll set off tomorrow morning.”

Qin Shu opened the window a little more and squeezed an umbrella out the window. She subconsciously reached out to grab his arm and said, “Be careful. There’s a step.”

Chao Yan smiled at her. “Thank you.”

Qin Shu did not answer.

She opened the oil-paper umbrella for Chao Yan and directed him to the door.

When Chao Yan accepted the umbrella, their hands brushed against each other, and Qin Shu felt the bone-piercing cold again. It was not the icy touch of rain-soaked skin but something deeper. Not even she would be as cold to the touch if she were to be caught in the rain.

Chao Yan gripped the umbrella tightly as he trudged away. He took a few steps and stopped, turning around as if he had something to say.

Qin Shu, who was about to close the window, paused, waiting for him to speak.

However, Chao Yan did not say anything. He merely stood in place, one man and an umbrella against the pelting rain.

Time passed at a snail’s crawl, minutes passing in the footsteps of an age. When motion returned to him, he moved slowly, plodding down the steps, weighed by something she could not grasp.

Qin Shu watched him leave, the umbrella shielding him from a paltry fraction of the elements, his figure disappearing behind a large tree.

Why was his hand so cold?

–

When dinner rolled around the corner, Qin Shu went to the restaurant to eat. She and Chao Yan had reached an agreement, and there was nothing else she needed to fret over.

It was just a few days of peaceful coexistence before she was free.

At the dining table…

Qin Shu quietly ate the food in front of her.

Chao Yan sat opposite her and quietly ate his dinner. He did not look up because even if he did, he would not have seen anything.

After dinner, they went back to their rooms to sleep.

Qin Shu held her phone. It was fully charged now that she had an opportunity to plug it in. Nothing was out of place, and she could contact anyone she liked. Still, she did not call her husband. Chao Yan had promised her freedom, and she agreed to his bargain. Since that was the case, there was no need for her to alarm him. She would send him a message just before she left.

The night passed in silence.

–

Dawn of the next day…

Qin Shu got up early. She did not have anything to pack. The clothes, food, and shelter were all prepared by Chao Yan.

She changed and stepped out of the house with her phone in hand. A large private jet was parked in the space not far away.

Chao Yan stood on the cobblestone path, waiting for her. Lamps lining the path were lit, bathing the area in warm orange light. The light illuminated Chao Yan’s sharp features, features that seemed too gentle for a man of his calling.

She walked up to Chao Yan.

“I’m ready. We can go now.”

“Okay,” Chao Yan nodded with a smile. He looked around as if he was looking at the scenery on the mountain and suddenly said, “I spent three years building this place. The trees were planted ten years ago…”

“This is my first time living here, but also the last. I won’t return in the future. We won’t see each other again. If you like the scenery here as much as I do, please take the memory of it as my parting gift to you.”

Chao Yan’s voice was a little hoarse as if he had caught a cold. Without waiting for Qin Shu’s reply, he marched off and boarded the jet.

Qin Shu took in her surroundings. Chao Yan was right. It was an exceedingly beautiful environment.

No wonder the trees here had grown so big. They were planted ten years ago…

Chao Yan must have put in a lot of effort building the house and planning its scenery.

She turned her sights to Chao Yan’s retreating form. He returned her phone and said they would never see each other again. It seemed like he was not joking.

Had she said too much in their previous encounter?

Qin Shu did not know. What she did know was that she had been in the right.

Although he had never said he liked her, his actions were more than sufficient proof of his affections.

She had someone she loved and a son, but he still trapped her. No matter what she said, it would never be too much.

Resolved, she moved onward towards Chao Yan and the plane.

Without sparing him another word, she boarded the jet.

She sat on one side while Chao Yan sat on the other, the aisle separating the two.

Not a word was exchanged.

Qin Shu stared out the window with mixed feelings.

She wondered if there was anyone else like her out there who faced a similar situation as she did. Would they have a relationship where one party would threaten the other, only to reverse the situation by pretending to be pitiful and helpless, as if the whole world had abandoned them?

Sometimes, he was an unreasonable threat.

Sometimes, he was as gentle as jade, and his voice comforted as no other sound could.

How was anyone to face such a person?

She wanted to lambast him for what he had done to her but could not; not without sounding like the villain in their complicated relationship.

… Since this was goodbye, perhaps it would not hurt to be nice.

When Qin Shu reconciled herself to the answer she sought, which was arguably not to her liking, she felt depressed.

Chao Yan broke the awkward atmosphere, asking, “Baby, is there something you need me to do? I’ll do my best to help you in these final three days. After which, we will be strangers.”

Qin Shu was stunned when she heard Chao Yan’s suddenly pleasant voice. She did not understand. A few days ago, he was cold-blooded and heartless, but now…