Chapter 77: Bedtime Story

The next morning, Ming Jin took Lin Chuan to a real estate agency first, explaining the situation with the house to the agent.

“Your house is a two-story standalone building right in the center of the county. It can definitely fetch a good price, but the problem is, someone’s currently living in it. If they refuse to move out, it could get quite troublesome later on.”

Ming Jin handed over a copy of the property ownership certificate to the agent and said decisively, “You’re in the real estate business—this can’t be the first time you’ve dealt with something like this. I’m sure you know how to handle it better than I do.”

The agent smiled. “There’s a way to deal with it, but there’ll be additional costs.”

“Fine. I’ll leave it to you,” Ming Jin replied. “Just one thing—don’t hurt anyone or break the law. Other than that, I don’t care how you handle it.”

“Of course not. Everything we do is legal—what they call a ‘lawful eviction’.”

Ming Jin signed the contract, paid the fees, and left, handling everything cleanly and efficiently.

Outside the real estate agency, Lin Chuan stood tall and strikingly handsome, drawing the attention of both young and old women passing by, many of whom couldn’t resist turning their heads for a second glance.

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Ykdt Kkd oyzjle shla, pxkzkdt. “Rv’p esdl. Nlv’p ts—zwdnb kp sd xl.”

Fbl vssj Nkd Ubwyd vs y asypv ewnj alpvywaydv. Mbl rzynl oyp cwpvzkdt, rynjle okvb nwpvsxlap ewakdt vbl zwdnbvkxl awpb. Xdnl vblu olal plyvle, Ykdt Kkd kdvasewnle vbl zsnyz prlnkyzvu: “Mbkp kp pyzv-nakpru asypv ewnj—ekqqlaldv qasx vbl wpwyz jkde. Mbl pjkd kp lmvay nakpru yde qwzz sq qzyhsa.”

Nkd Ubwyd zssjle y zkvvzl lxcyaaypple. “R eked’v alyzzu blzr usw okvb yduvbkdt, cwv dso usw’al valyvkdt xl vs zwdnb.”

“Zsw blzrle xl y zsv,” Ykdt Kkd pyke zktbvzu. “Mbyv tsfk claau yde casod pwtya vly usw xyel oyp lprlnkyzzu pollv.”

“Fs… yal ol blyekdt cynj dso?”

“Msxsaaso. Mseyu, R’zz pbso usw yaswde. DkdDkdt kdvldele vs tkhl usw y calyj, cwv usw ldele wr awddkdt laaydep okvb xl—kv’p zkjl y osaj vakr dso.”

Fbl oayrrle y rklnl sq asypv ewnj kd y rydnyjl, ekrrle kv kd pywnl, yde rzynle kv sd Nkd Ubwyd’p rzyvl.

“Psd’v pyu vbyv. Gp zsdt yp R’x okvb usw, yduoblal kp qkdl.”

She just smiled and said nothing.

After lunch, Ming Jin took Lin Chuan to the countryside. They walked along a muddy, winding mountain path, passing several hills.

“The scenery here is pretty nice,” Lin Chuan said, trying to make conversation. “The air’s fresh too.”

Ming Jin didn’t respond. She seemed lost in her thoughts. Lin Chuan assumed she just wanted some peace and quiet, so he stayed silent, simply keeping her company.

They arrived at a small bamboo grove. On a slope, there were two graves—one with a tombstone, the other unmarked and overgrown with weeds.

Ming Jin stopped, hands in her pockets, and stared at the graves in silence.

Lin Chuan stood beside her, curious. “Are these your relatives?”

“The one with the tombstone is my mom. The unmarked one is my stepfather.”

“Oh.” Lin Chuan didn’t know what else to say.

“My stepfather was a heavy smoker. He died of lung cancer. My mom built his grave.” Ming Jin’s voice was calm but cold. “There used to be a tombstone, but I tore it down.”

A gust of wind rustled the bamboo leaves.

“I despise him. I even thought about digging up his grave and throwing his bones into the river to feed the fish,” she said through gritted teeth. “But then I realized—what did the fish ever do wrong? Eating the flesh of someone like him would just be disgusting. Let him rot in the dirt.”

Her tears began to fall silently down her cheeks, but her voice remained steady. “I was 14 that year. My mom was in the next room—she didn’t say a word, no matter how much I screamed and begged her to save me. She just stood there, unmoved. My little sister was there too. She was only seven—she cried and tried to run to me, but my stepfather kicked her away. She was so scared, she couldn’t even cry properly. She just stood there, watching.”

“One night, when he got drunk and tried to hurt me again, I ran into the village. I begged my aunt and uncle to take me in, to help me—but they didn’t even open the door. Eventually, I realized no one would save me. I could only rely on myself. I dropped out of school, found a job with a drama troupe in the city, and enrolled in a vocational arts school. I brought my sister with me—away from that monster.”

“I never told anyone about this. I kept it buried inside me. Then one night, I got drunk and told Jiang Zhi. He said I should’ve gone to the police—that people like my stepfather deserved to be punished.” Ming Jin’s voice shook with anger. “But before the law could deal with him, heaven took care of it first.”

Lin Chuan grasped Ming Jin’s hand tightly and pulled her into a firm embrace.

Her body was so tense, like a rubber band stretched to its limit — no one knew when it might suddenly snap.

Lin Chuan moved closer to her tear-streaked face, gently “shushing” her in an attempt to soothe her emotions.

For the first time in his life, Lin Chuan felt what it meant to want to protect someone. This surge of compassion and tenderness caused a shift — not just in his heart, but in his very being.

“I wasn’t planning on telling anyone about this,” Ming Jin said, wiping her tears away harshly and gripping Lin Chuan’s hand tightly. “I thought it was better to let it rot inside me — no need to disgust others. I’m telling you this so you can understand that my own life is a mess. How can I bring happiness to others?””

She pushed Lin Chuan away slightly, curling her lips into a bitter smile. “Forget it, Brother Lu. You deserve someone better.”

On the way back, she walked ahead, and he quietly followed behind. Neither of them spoke a word.

That night, after Lin Chuan fell asleep, Ming Jin sneaked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge, and went out onto the balcony.

She had been holding back for days, not wanting him to witness her drinking — it was the most shameful part of her. On countless long nights in the past, alcohol was the only way she could fall asleep. Yet these past few nights, with him by her side, she had slept surprisingly well.

Maybe it was his presence — a strange, calming force in the air.

But tonight, she couldn’t resist.

The small town night was especially quiet. A few dim lights flickered, ready to go out. The cool night breeze brushed against her skin.

Just as she was about to unscrew the bottle, the sliding glass door behind her opened. Lin Chuan stood there, calm and composed.

He wore simple shorts and a sports t-shirt, his hair slightly tousled — a youthful look.

Without a word, he walked over and took the wine bottle from her hand.

“You’re on your period. You can’t drink.” His voice was firm.

“You were pretending to be asleep?” Ming Jin raised an eyebrow, a tinge of annoyance in her voice. “What an actor.”

“I knew you were upset today. I didn’t dare sleep too deeply.”

“I can’t sleep,” Ming Jin said, turning back to the room. “I can’t sleep without drinking. Will you sit with me until morning?”

Lin Chuan followed her inside and sat at the edge of the bed. “I’ll stay with you.”

She playfully nudged him with her foot. “Why are you so stubborn? You’re the chief assistant to the president of Shang Group — a man who commands respect. Yet here you are, acting like a lovesick fool.”

Lin Chuan caught her foot in his hand — small, soft, and smooth.

Ming Jin flinched but didn’t pull away.

“Don’t try to take advantage of me, Assistant Lu.”

“I’ll tell you a story,” Lin Chuan said softly, his eyes steady on hers. “I’ll help you fall asleep.”

“Do I look like a child to you?”

“I’ve never told this story to anyone before. Do you want to hear it?”

Under the deep night sky, Ming Jin met his sincere gaze. She shrugged. “Fine. I guess I’m not getting that drink tonight anyway.”

Lin Chuan smiled. “Lie down.”

“Why?”

“You have to lie down to hear a bedtime story.”

She chuckled, sliding under the covers. Lin Chuan carefully tucked the blanket around her, making sure the edges were neat. Then, without hesitation, he lay down beside her, wrapping her gently in his arms.

From this angle, Ming Jin could see his sharp jawline — a few faint stubbles on his chin, adding a rugged charm.

“This seems a bit against the rules, Assistant Lu,” she teased.

“With how you’re feeling, what could I possibly do?” Lin Chuan replied. “Fight a battle of passion? I’m not that kind of guy.”

Ming Jin realized — this man wasn’t as straightforward as he appeared. There’s no such thing as a truly honest man, is there?

“Go on, tell the story.”

“Let me gather my thoughts.”

“For what?”

“The right emotions.”

“You need emotions for a story?”

“It’s my own story.”

For the first time, fully conscious and sober, Lin Chuan shared his story with someone.

His past — the dark, unbearable days living in the Lu household — was something he had always kept hidden. Every night, those painful memories replayed in his mind before he fell asleep. They fueled his determination, pushing him forward. He swore he would one day repay every bit of humiliation he’d suffered.

“I used to be locked inside a wardrobe — the kind so dark you couldn’t see your own hand in front of you. They’d leave me there all day, with only a small piece of bread to eat.”

“I screamed and cried until my voice gave out, but no one ever came to save me.”

“I knew I couldn’t beg the devil for mercy. Like you said — you can only rely on yourself.”

“You’re not the only one who can’t sleep at night.”

Lin Chuan lowered his gaze, gently brushing his fingers along her chin. “There’s too much pain and trauma in this world. If you let it consume you, the only person you destroy is yourself.”

Ming Jin was silent.

“Carrying the guilt for someone else’s sins — it’s not worth it.”
She blinked, staring at his long eyelashes. “Lin Chuan… have you moved on?”

“No,” he admitted softly. “But I will.”

“When?”

“When I take away everything they care about — only then will I be free.”

Ming Jin sighed. “Thanks for telling me. I feel a lot better now.”

One kind of pain can sometimes heal another.

We feel alone because we believe we’re the only ones suffering in this world.

But that’s never really the case.

Seeing that her expression had softened, Lin Chuan relaxed a little. He adjusted her pillow and said, “But you have to keep this a secret. If the Lu family finds out, it’ll ruin the plan Mr. Shang and I have.”

Ming Jin flashed a playful smile. “So you just spilled all your secrets to me?”

“Pretty much.”

“You trust me that much?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

A gentle smile tugged at his lips. He ruffled her hair.

“Why else? Because I like you.”

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Sansukini: This chapter is chock-full of emotions. (ुŏ̥̥̥̥ ‸ ŏ̥̥̥̥) ु

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