Come with me

Qiao Hua turned at the sound of the voice and saw Chen Xingjian standing beneath a tree nearby.

She paused briefly. "What are you doing here?"

Chen Xingjian came up to her and studied her face. "You should know why I'm here."

Qiao Hua sighed. "I've already made myself perfectly clear."

Chen Xingjian looked utterly sincere. "Qiao Hua, come with me."

Qiao Hua shook her head. "I've made my decision. I'm staying here."

Chen Xingjian looked into her eyes. "Do you really think it's worth throwing away your chance to go back for someone like Gu Wenze?"

Qiao Hua pressed her lips together. "Gu Wenze isn't the only reason I'm staying."

Chen Xingjian cut straight to the point. "Gu Jinyang, too?"

Before Qiao Hua could answer, Chen Xingjian reminded her, "He's this body's child, not yours."

Although Gu Jinyang wasn't technically Qiao Hua's child, she had still nearly died giving birth to him.

Qiao Hua raised her head to meet Chen Xingjian's uncomprehending gaze and said firmly, "Whatever you say, I won't change my mind."

Seeing how determined she was, Chen Xingjian's expression grew graver. "Qiao Hua, do you really not care whether I live or die?"

Qiao Hua didn't know how to answer. All she could say was, "I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do to help you, I will."

Chen Xingjian stopped questioning her and lowered his gaze to the floor beneath his feet.

Just as Qiao Hua thought he had finally given up, Chen Xingjian suddenly smiled. "Qiao Hua, I didn't want to make things this complicated."

His abrupt change in attitude left Qiao Hua bewildered. Before she could grasp what he meant, a sharp pain pierced her neck.

The world spun before Qiao Hua's eyes, the colors draining from her vision as her body went