Chapter 46: A Visit from the Past

Duan Yan’s head was gently lowered, her expression hidden in the shadows.

Song Jin comforted her gently, “Sister Duan, although you haven’t forgiven me yet, please let me stay by your side for now, okay?”

Duan Yan’s gaze was fixed on their intertwined fingers, her attitude ambiguous, but she did not push Song Jin’s hand away.

Silent acquiescence was the best answer.

Song Jin gently retracted her cat ears and tail and walked out of the room with Duan Yan.

Outside the door, seeing them holding hands, Auntie Lian’s tense expression finally relaxed. “She’s waiting for you downstairs. You two should go.”

Duan Yan nodded slightly, and the two of them walked down the stairs side by side.

On the sofa downstairs, a woman with a similar appearance to Duan Yan but a completely different aura sat quietly.

Duan Yan was like a wild lotus in the mountains, fresh and refined; this woman, however, was like a rose of the night, mature and enchanting.

Duan Yao, holding a cup of tea, slowly turned her head, her tone revealing a bit of impatience. “Took you long enough. Don’t you want to see me?”

“What are you doing here again?” Duan Yan’s tone was cold.

“Am I not allowed? Isn’t it only natural for a mother to visit her daughter?” Duan Yao retorted.

Her gaze swept contemptuously over Song Jin and Duan Yan’s clasped hands, her tone full of disdain. “So you really are with a woman?”

Song Jin stepped forward, shielding Duan Yan behind her. “Is that any of your business? Which law forbids women from being in a relationship with other women?”

Duan Yao sneered, “Hmph, sharp-tongued. Let’s see how long you two can last. Let’s see how you’ll maintain your career after your relationship becomes public.”

“I’ve never heard of a judge refusing to give an award to an actress because of her sexual orientation,” Song Jin countered. “As for how long we’ll last, you’ll know when you come to our wedding.”

The woman snorted coldly, unconvinced.

“Young people are always impulsive. We’ll see in a few years,” she said.

Just as Song Jin was about to argue further, Duan Yan interrupted with a blank expression, “What do you want from me?”

A trace of loneliness flashed in Duan Yao’s eyes. “In a few days, it will be Mom’s death anniversary. If you’re free tomorrow, you should pay a visit.”

Duan Yan sneered, “I am merely her granddaughter. There has always been a barrier between us. What right do I have to go?”

Duan Yao stood up and accused her emotionally, “You have no right! If it wasn’t to save you, how would my mother have lost her life? Every time I see you, it reminds me of my mother’s death. You…”

Duan Yan bit her lip and said nothing, while Song Jin held Duan Yan’s hand tightly, her own heart filled with doubt.

She remembered that they had been pushed away by demonic power, and when she called for an ambulance, both of them had vital signs. How could it be…

Because it had been a long time, she had only managed to find out in the past few days that Duan Yan’s grandmother had passed away from a heart attack. The driver who caused the accident had gone into hiding and was still being sought, with no news so far.

Duan Yao’s words fell, and silence descended.

Finally, she calmed herself slightly, her voice somewhat choked. “I dreamed of Grandma the night before last. She said she missed you and wanted you to go see her. It’s up to you whether you go or not.”

After speaking, Duan Yao turned and left decisively.

Duan Yao’s figure had been gone for a long time, but Duan Yan still stood rooted to the spot, her eyes red, her body trembling slightly, almost unable to stand.

Seeing this, a pang of sorrow welled up in Song Jin’s heart. She helped Duan Yan sit down on the sofa. “Sister Duan, don’t be too sad. If you’re willing, you can tell me what happened. Maybe you’ll feel a little better.”

Duan Yan did not answer, merely staring blankly into the distance, lost in her memories.

Song Jin quietly accompanied Duan Yan. She knew that Duan Yan was in great pain right now.

After a long time, she finally spoke slowly, “I was very mischievous when I was little. I pestered my grandmother every day to take me out to play. That one night, we went out for a walk and were suddenly in a car accident. At the critical moment, Grandma pushed me, and then she fell into a coma. When I woke up again, Grandma was already gone, and I had survived…”

“I don’t remember the details very clearly. I only remember that the driver who caused the accident received the punishment he deserved. The memory is too painful, after all, so my brain automatically blurred it.”

Song Jin patted Duan Yan’s hand. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Are you very disappointed?” Duan Yan asked, as if she hadn’t heard Song Jin’s words. Tears couldn’t help but slide from her eyes. “I never thought I would have such a past.”

‘Don’t cry, my heart is breaking.’

How could Song Jin have ever seen such sorrowful tears from Duan Yan? The tears fell on her hand, feeling as if they burned her. For a moment, she was at a loss, unable to think of what to do.

Seeing that Song Jin was silent, Duan Yan held back the bitterness in her heart, turned away, and tried to slow the fall of her tears. “You should go. Don’t come back again.”

???

‘I didn’t do anything, did I? Am I about to be broken up with?’

Song Jin panicked. She subconsciously hugged Duan Yan tightly, enveloping her cold body in a warm embrace, her hand holding on tight, unwilling to let go, and whined petulantly:

“I won’t go!”

Duan Yan relaxed her body and leaned obediently into Song Jin’s embrace. Her eyes were teary, and her voice was hoarse, yet it held a hint of… pleasure that even she…

“It’s okay, it’s all my fault.”

Song Jin buried her head in Duan Yan’s shoulder, holding her tightly, afraid she would disappear from her sight.

Duan Yan asked softly, “What are you doing, holding me so tight? I can hardly breathe.”

“You just said you wanted me to leave. Anyway, you’re not allowed to make me leave.” Song Jin’s voice was tinged with a coquettish tone. She stared into Duan Yan’s eyes with unprecedented sincerity. “In my heart, no matter what you are like, or what happened in the past, I don’t care about any of it. I know that I like you now, love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be with you always.”

Duan Yan was amused by these childish words, and the heavy atmosphere lightened with her smile.

Just as Duan Yao had said, what would things be like in a few years?

In her heart, Duan Yan didn’t really believe that she and Song Jin could make it to the end, but she loved hearing Song Jin say such things.

No matter if Song Jin still liked her in the future or not, she would have no regrets.

Song Jin pouted in dissatisfaction. “What do you mean? You don’t believe me?”

Duan Yan smiled. “No, I believe you.”

Song Jin looked at Duan Yan’s expression and knew that although she said she believed her, in her heart, she didn’t.

But it didn’t matter. Time would prove everything.

Song Jin relaxed her tone, rubbing Duan Yan’s fingers, and asked, “Can I go with you tomorrow?”

Duan Yan nodded. “Mm.”

Although the tear tracks on Duan Yan’s face had mostly dried, her heart must still be dwelling on what had just happened.

Song Jin’s eyes darted around. Then, as if by magic, her cat ears and tail appeared. She asked deliberately, “So, have you forgiven me now?”

The cat tail silently wrapped around Duan Yan’s wrist, while the pair of cat ears, as if seeking favor, actively moved closer to Duan Yan’s hand, craving her affection.

Duan Yan couldn’t help but laugh. Looking at Song Jin’s pitiful appearance, she deliberately teased her, “Oh? I’ll have to think about that.”

She had long been suspicious of Song Jin, but had never been able to confirm it. It wasn’t until Song Jin admitted it herself that her suspicions were confirmed.

To be toyed with by Song Jin like that, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t angry at all.

But now, her anger had mostly dissipated.

Even so, forgiveness could not be granted too easily.

Duan Yan deliberately put on a hesitant look, making Song Jin’s heart leap into her throat.

“Forgive you? It’s not that simple. For the next few days, you’ll sleep in your own room and reflect properly on your actions.”

As soon as Duan Yan’s words fell, Song Jin’s head drooped powerlessly. She looked at Duan Yan with those pleading eyes, as if silently begging—don’t send me away—but Duan Yan’s attitude was as firm as iron.

Song Jin had no choice but to pack her things and return to her original room, dejected.

After Song Jin’s interruption, Duan Yan’s mood was not too greatly affected. After dinner, she washed up as usual and prepared for bed.

That night, Song Jin knocked on the door. She was still a little worried about Duan Yan and wanted to check on her.

Duan Yan’s expression was normal. Song Jin was about to leave when her gaze unintentionally fell on the cat bed and cat tree beside her, and an idea came to her.

Hehe, the mistake Song Jin made, what does it have to do with a little cat?

With a “swoosh,” Song Jin transformed into a cute orange cat. Taking advantage of Duan Yan’s inattention, she darted straight into the room.

However, before she could even climb onto the bed, she was gently grabbed by the scruff of her neck.

‘Who is it?’

‘How dare they treat me like this? Damn it!’

Song Jin had never been treated like this before. She was instantly enraged and raised her claws to strike back.

But the moment her claws touched the other person’s skin, Song Jin’s reason returned.

In this room, besides Duan Yan, who else could it be?

‘Wuwuwu, Wifey is going to discipline me. What can I do?’

Song Jin immediately retracted her strength, leaving only the gentlest of touches.

“Quite a temper you’ve got there.”

Duan Yan naturally noticed the little cat’s actions.

Before, she had viewed her through thick, rose-tinted glasses, feeling that being gently stroked by a cat’s paw was a blessing. She would even have been surprised if the little orange cat’s temper had improved and she had stopped hitting people.

But now, knowing that hidden beneath this cat’s fur was the Song Jin who had just “deceived” her, half of that filter instantly faded.

Song Jin immediately widened her moist eyes, which were filled with a bit of innocence and pleading, and gazed at Duan Yan with teary eyes.

Duan Yan sneered, “No acting cute, understand? I need some time to calm down right now.”

Song Jin had no choice but to change back into a person and dejectedly leave Duan Yan’s room, returning to the room Duan Yan had reserved for her.

In the room, the cold moonlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, spilling onto the cold bed.

Song Jin lay on the bed, the space beside her empty, with only a lonely pillow for company.

‘Wuwuwu…’

She took a deep breath, trying to find a trace of familiarity in this strange air, but everything here was completely different from the warm scent of Duan Yan’s bed, causing her sleepiness to vanish in an instant.

She didn’t know when Duan Yan’s anger would subside. She didn’t know how many more lonely nights she would have to spend on this bed that wasn’t hers. It wouldn’t be a month, would it?

Song Jin couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. She did her best to calm down and began to recall Duan Yan’s words.

Duan Yan said she needed a little time and space. She would have to put up with it for now and try again in a few days.

Coincidentally, in a few days, the matter from the past would be investigated clearly. At that time, she would tell Duan Yan about her childhood at the same time and help her overcome her inner demons.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell Duan Yan today, but she had no evidence, and Duan Yan had no memory of it. Why add to Duan Yan’s troubles?

But if she was still angry by then, she would have to be a bit more thick-skinned.

As long as she wasn’t thrown out by her Wifey, it counted as a victory.

With this thought in mind, Song Jin fell into a deep sleep.