Overdo

She finally snapped back to reality and said softly, "Madam, hello."

Madam Murong smiled and nodded, then went to shake hands with other actors. She stood there as if all her strength had drained away. Finally gathering the courage to lift her eyes, she saw him standing in the distance, still as elegant and graceful as an orchid tree standing against the wind. Her face instantly turned deathly pale. She had thought she would never see him again, that his world had forever drifted away from her. Meeting unexpectedly in this narrow path, he remained the dashing young master, even the lines of his clothes as straight as ever.

She hastily took a step back, overwhelmed by a wave of desperate fear.

In the small dressing room, crowded with so many people and surrounded by noisy chatter, she only felt silence—a silence so unnerving it made her heart panic. Reporters were taking photos, someone brought in bouquets of flowers, and she felt suffocated, as if she couldn't breathe. Her companions were excitedly chatting and laughing. Mulan, supported by others, came over and held her hand to speak, but she didn't hear a single word. She kept her eyes lowered, yet her entire body was tense. When someone shook her hand, she extended hers; when someone took a photo with her, she posed—like an empty puppet, nothing but a walking corpse in a shell.

Finally, Madam Murong left, followed by the large entourage of aides and reporters, and everything truly quieted down. The director invited everyone for a late-night snack, and they excitedly debated where to go. She only claimed she wasn't feeling well and slipped out alone through the back door.

The rain was pouring down, and a cool breeze made her shiver. An umbrella shielded her from the rain, and she looked blankly at the person holding it—he said politely, "Miss Ren, long time no see." She remembered his surname was Lei. She glanced at the car parked in the shadows across the street. Lei Shaogong simply said, "Please, Miss Ren, get in the car to talk." But inwardly, he was a bit worried. This Miss Ren appeared delicate and timid, yet her temperament was quite stubborn. He feared she might refuse to meet Murong Qingyi. Unexpectedly, after only a moment's hesitation, she walked toward the car. He quickly followed, opening the door for her.

The entire journey was silent. Lei Shaogong's mind was filled with concern. Though Murong Qingyi was young and had many girlfriends, he had never seen him like this. Even after four years apart, the moment he saw her, his gaze remained as focused as ever. This Miss Ren, unseen for four years, had grown even more beautiful—but this beauty carried a subtle, unsettling worry.

Nine

The house at Duan Mountain had just been renovated, with brand-new elegance everywhere. Susu hesitated before getting out of the car. The living room, however, was still arranged as before. Lei Shaogong knew it was inappropriate to stay, so he closed the door for them and withdrew. The corridor was lit only by a small lamp, its soft yellow glow shining on the freshly poured concrete floor. Outside, the sound of rain filled the air. Having accompanied Madam Murong to the event, they were dressed in formal military uniforms. The fabric was too thick, and after pacing back and forth a few times, he already felt hot. Restlessly, he made another round. Faintly, he heard Murong Qingyi call out, "Xiao Lei!"He quickly responded and walked to the door of the living room, only to see Susu slumped over the armrest of the sofa, seemingly crying. Under the lamplight, Murong Qingyi’s face was deathly pale—he had never seen him like this before and was startled. He hurriedly asked, "Third Young Master, what’s wrong?" Murong Qingyi’s expression was complex, but his gaze seemed somewhat vacant, as if he had encountered an immense shock. Growing even more alarmed, he quickly reached out and grasped his hand. "Third Young Master, what happened? Your hand is so cold."

Murong Qingyi glanced back at Susu before walking out with him into the hallway. The faint glow from the living room’s chandelier slanted across his face, which still wore a dazed expression. After a long pause, he finally said, "I need you to handle something for me."

Lei Shaogong replied, "Yes," but after a long silence with no further instructions, he grew concerned and called out again, "Third Young Master."

Murong Qingyi said, "Go—go and find someone for me." After a pause, he added, "You must handle this personally. No one else can know."

Lei Shaogong replied again, "Yes." Murong Qingyi hesitated once more before continuing, "Go to Sacred Mercy Orphanage and find a child born on the seventh day of the seventh month, three years old this year."

Lei Shaogong responded, "Yes," then asked, "Third Young Master, what should I do once I find the child?"

At this question, Murong Qingyi seemed to freeze, and after a long while, he echoed, "What should we do—once we find them?"

Lei Shaogong sensed something unusual but dared not speculate recklessly. Murong Qingyi then said, "Report to me immediately once you find them. Go now." Lei Shaogong could only assent repeatedly, summon a car, and leave at once.

Murong Qingyi returned to the living room, where Susu remained motionless, slumped over with a dazed expression. He reached out and gently stroked her hair. She instinctively shrank back, but he refused to let her go, lifting her up instead. She struggled and pushed him away, but he held her tightly in his arms. She continued to struggle but could not break free, sobbing uncontrollably before sinking her teeth fiercely into his arm. He did not let go, enduring the pain as she bit down with all her might, drawing blood. He remained motionless, only frowning in silence. Eventually, she released her bite but continued to cry, soaking his lapel until it was cold and damp against his chest. He patted her back, but she stubbornly pressed against his chest, weeping without end.

Only when she had cried herself to exhaustion did she finally quiet down, her sobs subsiding. Outside, the mournful sound of rain fell drop by drop, the patter against the eaves continuing until dawn.

As day began to break, the rain still had not stopped. An aide received a phone call and tiptoed into the living room. Murong Qingyi remained seated, his eyes slightly bloodshot, while Susu had fallen asleep. He held her with one arm, half-reclining on the sofa. Noticing the aide’s entrance, he raised his eyebrows.

The aide whispered, "Director Lei is on the phone and requests you to take the call."

Murong Qingyi nodded slightly but frowned as he moved—one side of his body had long gone numb and lost sensation. The aide noticed and stepped forward to fetch a soft pillow for him. Murong Qingyi took the pillow, placed it behind Susu’s neck, and then stood up. His legs and feet were still numb, and it took a moment for the blood to circulate before he could go answer the phone.

Lei Shaogong, usually composed, now sounded slightly anxious. "Third Young Master, the child has been found, but they are gravely ill."Murong Qingyi’s heart was in turmoil as he asked, “How serious is the illness—exactly how bad is it?”

Lei Shaogong replied, “The doctor says it’s encephalitis. She can’t be moved right now, and I’m afraid the situation isn’t good. Third Young Master, what should we do?”

Murong Qingyi turned and looked through the gap in the screen at Susu in the distance. She was still sleeping in a daze, and even in her dreams, her faint brows were slightly furrowed, as if veiled in a light mist. His mind was filled with confusion, and he only said, “Keep a close watch on the child and call me at any time.”