Echoes of Lotus District | Chapter 58 | Lovers at the World's End | Novela.app

The weather began to turn, and a chill settled into the mornings and evenings. Those sensitive to the cold had already begun wearing long sleeves. That day, Qi Lian was tiling a kitchen in Xinjia Garden. He was only halfway through the morning when his phone buzzed repeatedly in his trouser pocket. His hands were dirty, and he initially intended to ignore it, but by the third time, he had no choice but to wipe his hands and answer. For a long time afterward, he would regret picking up that call, wishing time could have frozen in the moment before it rang. The call was from Yu Mo. His heart skipped a beat for no reason. "Xiao Duo’er, what’s wrong?" He stepped toward the window. "Qi Lian, I have to go to Shanghai for a few days. I’m packing my bags now and leaving shortly. I just wanted to let you know." Yu Mo’s voice sounded rushed. His heart tightened. "What happened? Did something go wrong? I’m coming home right now. Wait until I get there." As he turned to leave, Yu Mo stopped him. "No need. I’m leaving immediately; the car is waiting at the door. My mother’s test results weren't good, and I need to be in Shanghai to accompany her. Qi Lian, don’t worry. Just focus on your work. My mother’s side doesn't lack money or people; she’ll be fine. I just need to be there." She hung up before Qi Lian could say another word. Qi Lian’s heart sank to rock bottom. He couldn't quite name where that sense of loss came from. She was facing a massive upheaval, yet she didn't need him, and he couldn't help her. He rested his hands on the windowsill and took several deep breaths. The apartment was on the eighth floor. Looking down, he could see a row of lush osmanthus trees. Upon closer inspection, the branches were covered in tiny buds. Autumn had arrived. The autumn wind brought a profound sense of melancholy. From then on, he would recall this phone call countless times, remembering the osmanthus trees below. At the fork in the road of destiny, one often mistakes the moment for just another ordinary day. *** Three or four days passed, and Yu Mo still hadn't returned. She replied to his texts sporadically. It was only at night that she would call him. On this particular day, she mentioned that her mother’s surgery had been scheduled for the following morning. She let it slip that Xue Shen had been the one to find the specialist. So, they had been together this whole time. Qi Lian pretended not to hear it. He simply told her, "Take care of yourself." Since receiving that first phone call, he had been walking a tightrope—not daring to move, to think, or to ask. He feared the truth surfacing even more than she did. His concern for her physical and emotional well-being outweighed everything else. As he had said before, between himself and her, he chose her. His own joys and sorrows could wait. "Duo’er, I’m coming to Shanghai to find you tomorrow. I don’t have to show my face. I’ll just stay outside the hospital to be near you." "Don’t come, Qi Lian. If you care about me, then listen to me. Don’t add to the chaos right now," she said wearily. *** Around ten that night, Yu Mo stepped out of the hospital. A gust of cold wind made her shiver; she hadn't realized the weather had turned so cold. Two consecutive nights of vigil had left her exhausted. This was the third night after her mother’s surgery, and her father had insisted she return to the hotel to rest while he and the nurse stayed behind. Xue Shen had been there for the first two days, but he had finally flown to Guangzhou for a meeting that day. To keep up appearances, they had booked a suite; once the doors were closed, no one would know if they shared a bed or not. Yu Mo took a shower and lay in bed to video call Qi Lian. She was actually so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. "Duo’er." Qi Lian’s voice was as deep and mellow as ever, a soothing balm to her soul. "Qi Lian, I’m so sleepy. Today was so exhausting." "Mm, then go to sleep. Dry your hair first. I’ll watch you sleep." Qi Lian faced the camera and began to softly hum a song. "Da-da... da-da-da..." It was a song his mother used to hum to him before bed when he was a child. His voice carried an indescribable tenderness. Yu Mo opened her half-closed eyes. She suddenly missed him terribly. Qi Lian’s face was shrouded in darkness. "Where are you?" she asked. "In the car." A car drove past him, its headlights illuminating his face before it faded back into shadow. "Do you miss me, Qi Lian?" She felt as though she hadn't seen him in an eternity. At the thought, the massive wave of longing she had been suppressing felt as if it were about to burst forth. Qi Lian remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Go to sleep. Don't overthink things. It wasn't easy for you to finally get a chance to sleep in a bed tonight." His face flickered between light and shadow. "Why are you still in the car so late? Where are you going?" "Just sleep. Put the phone aside. I’ll watch over you." "Qi Lian," Yu Mo sat up. "Turn on the overhead light. Let me see you." "Lie down and sleep. Weren't you so tired you couldn't open your eyes?" Yu Mo stared at him, her voice resolute. "You’re nearby, aren't you? Where are you?" "Who told you that? You’re imagining things. Be good and go to sleep." Yu Mo threw back the covers and stood up. "Tell me where you are right now. Otherwise, I’m coming out to find you. I know you’re around here. You can’t lie to me." Sometimes, there was truly nothing he could do with her. They had reached a point where words were unnecessary. After a few seconds, Qi Lian sighed. "You’re so weak you can barely walk. Wouldn't it be better to just sleep?" Yu Mo grabbed her phone and rushed out. She wanted to see him; she couldn't wait another second. "Where are you? Where?" She had already burst out of the room. It was too late for Qi Lian to stop her. "I’m at the hotel entrance. You’ll see me as soon as you step outside." Yu Mo sprinted through the hotel lobby and out the doors. She saw him instantly, standing under the neon lights of the entrance. The red glow washed over him as he stood there like someone waiting for a late-returning traveler. Choking back a sob, she threw herself into his arms. Qi Lian lifted her up. Her long white nightgown billowed like a sail. He quickly carried her into the car; he didn't want to cause her any trouble. Yu Mo desperately sought his mouth, like an infant seeking its only source of nourishment. Qi Lian met her halfway, and they held each other’s burning breath for a long time. The dark red neon of the hotel cast a glow over their joined silhouettes. "Do you miss me?" Yu Mo asked, nipping at his lip. It wasn't enough; she needed to hear him say it. Qi Lian’s voice was hoarse. His large hand steadied her restless head. "What do you think? I’ve driven here twice. The day before yesterday, I waited outside the hospital but didn't see you. Today, I finally saw you come out. I followed you to the hotel. Seeing you so tired you could barely lift your feet... it broke my heart. I didn't want to disturb you; I just wanted you to get a good night’s sleep. I only needed to see you from afar to be at peace." Yu Mo bit his lip harder, pulling at it. "Take me to another hotel, Qi Lian. Not this one." Qi Lian’s last shred of reason tried to stop her. "You need rest. Go back inside, be good." "I need you." Yu Mo didn't understand the sensation surging through her body, making her blood boil. Perhaps it was something she had never experienced before—something so heavy and so scalding. Qi Lian set her down gently and started the car without a word. The area around the hospital was mostly filled with budget hotels. He drove for a long distance without seeing anything better. "Just find any place," Yu Mo urged. He didn't listen, continuing to drive slowly in search of a suitable spot. He had stayed in the worst of inns himself, but not Yu Mo. He wouldn't let her stay in such places. Finally, a Hilton appeared by the roadside. He turned the steering wheel and pulled in. The hotel reception was professional; they didn't give Yu Mo a second glance despite her being in a nightgown. This Hilton featured deep blue carpets and dark abstract paintings. Only the bedding was white, like the sole salvation in a filthy world. The room was on the twentieth floor, a long, rectangular space. Upon entering, the first thing they saw through the floor-to-ceiling windows was the city skyline and flickering neon lights. Qi Lian closed the door. Yu Mo pulled him toward the window. Halfway there, she released his hand, turned her back to the window, and slowly shed her nightgown, tossing it aside. The dim neon light from outside traced her sculptural curves, making her silhouette appear ethereal and indistinct. All the fear, anxiety, longing, and doubt lurking within Qi Lian could no longer be suppressed. They screamed for control, turning him into a beast. His vision was clouded with a primal red. He gripped Yu Mo’s slender neck and pushed her against the window without mercy. Her body hit the glass with a dull thud. He gave her no time to breathe. Like a meteor striking the earth at terminal velocity, he displayed a brutality he had never shown before, his own clothes still mostly intact. Everything was too late, too urgent. He couldn't wait a single second; it had to be now. They tore at each other. Yu Mo saw figures moving in the windows of the building directly opposite them. Nothing felt real; it was like a dream. At the final moment, Qi Lian retained a sliver of sanity. "Let go, sweetheart... I can't stay inside." Qi Lian collapsed with her onto the white bed. She looked like a broken doll, covered in marks, her limbs limp and soft, with faint scratches where teeth had accidentally grazed her skin. Qi Lian held her tightly. This was the person at the very center of his heart. "I’m sorry." The corner of his mouth was bitten raw, and his lips were swollen. "Don't say sorry, Qi Lian. I’m happy." She touched the corner of his mouth. "Does it hurt? I shouldn't have bitten so hard." Qi Lian kissed her fingers. "It doesn't matter. This pain is nothing. As long as you’re happy." Yu Mo’s eyes grew wet. She didn't know why her body had been so out of control tonight, as if possessed by an inexplicable force. "Qi Lian, I’m so glad I met you. I’m so glad I met you in Lianhua." "What are you talking about?" Qi Lian propped himself up, staring at her, not missing a single flicker of expression on her face. Her lips were swollen, and her eyes were red. "I don’t like it when you talk like that. We have a whole lifetime ahead of us. If you like, we can keep living in Lianhua. If you don’t, we’ll move wherever you want. We will always be together." "I feel like I don't even deserve someone as good as you." Qi Lian pinched her cheek, looking deep into her soul. "What do you mean by that? Huh?" Yu Mo reached out, tracing his cheek down to his jaw, then his lips, and his high-bridged nose. "The first day I saw you, when you helped me fix the light... I saw your profile and thought, 'This man has such a high nose.' And your eyes—when we weren't close, they were so cold, as if nothing had anything to do with you. Qi Lian, you really don't look like a good man, but why are you so wonderful? You might be the best person I’ve ever met." Qi Lian pressed her tightly against his chest. "What the hell are you saying? Are you trying to kill me? Did I hurt you just now? Are you angry?" "No, I just suddenly wanted to tell you these things. I wanted you to know what’s in my heart." "I don’t want to hear your 'innermost thoughts' right now. We have plenty of time in the future. You can tell me whenever you want, and I’ll listen." He rolled over, pulling Yu Mo on top of his chest, his large hand gently stroking her hair and back as if soothing a kitten. He whispered into her ear, "Does it hurt?" Yu Mo shook her head, then nodded. "If it keeps hurting, we’ll go to the hospital." "I’m not going. It’s too embarrassing." "Then we won't go. Just sleep now. Don't think about anything." He began to hum that song again. Amidst the slight vibration of his chest, Yu Mo quickly fell asleep, the corners of her eyes still damp. *** "Duo’er, wake up. Wake up." Qi Lian gently patted Yu Mo’s face, whispering in her ear. His voice didn't sound like he wanted to wake her, but rather like he was afraid of startling her. Yu Mo finally drifted up from her deep slumber, feeling as if she had been pulled back from billions of light-years away, unsure of what year it was. She struggled to open her eyes. Qi Lian leaned down to kiss her cheek, coaxing her softly. "Time to get up. It’s almost six." Yu Mo looked out the window. The sky was already a pale, duck-egg teal. She woke up instantly. She sat up, her body aching all over, her movements sluggish. Her thick hair was a wild mess, half-covering her face. Qi Lian helped smooth her hair back, revealing her face, then picked up the nightgown that had been discarded on the floor the night before and helped her into it. They both looked at the disarray on her chest, a startling sight in the morning light. Both of their faces flushed. "It’s okay. Wear my T-shirt." Qi Lian turned and grabbed his white T-shirt, pulling it over her. Now, she was completely covered. Fortunately, he had retained enough sense last night to spare her neck. Yu Mo looked at his bare torso, which bore her own bite marks. "What about you?" Qi Lian stood up. In the morning light, his tall frame looked like a beautiful, agile leopard. He grabbed a hotel bathrobe, put it on, and reached out to Yu Mo. He took her hand, their fingers interlacing, as they walked through the empty hotel corridor. They looked like a pair of lovers fleeing the apocalypse—disheveled, with no tomorrow and no future. "Duo’er, take care of yourself. Don't overthink things," Qi Lian said at the hospital entrance as Yu Mo turned to get out of the car. "I’ll be waiting for you in Lianhua." *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 新加花园 | Xinjia Garden | A residential complex or neighborhood. | | 小朵儿 | Xiao Duo’er | A pet name/diminutive for Yu Mo (Muo means Jasmine, Duo is a classifier for flowers). | | 鸭蛋青色 | Duck-egg teal | A traditional Chinese color description for the pre-dawn sky. | | 莲花 | Lianhua | Likely the district or street where they live (literally "Lotus"). |