Meeting the person who would amaze her for a lifetime in her youth, she was deeply smitten and had no way out, nor any retreat.
It bypassed the sentimental tales of romance and moonlit nights, and the unworldly acts of eloping.
Aunt Liu simply recounted her past with Xiang Xueyuan.
"Our lives after eloping weren't particularly rough. He was exceptionally talented, and I had friends who could introduce me to translation work for documents. Even if he didn't teach at the school, we could live quite well." A mist surfaced in Aunt Liu's eyes. "During that time, he joined an energy research lab. New energy research in the country wasn't very mature then, and he was very optimistic about it, but... it wasn't going smoothly."
Aunt Liu didn't elaborate on this part, perhaps because she herself didn't know why Xiang Xueyuan's research wasn't progressing smoothly.
She only knew that during that period, Xiang Xueyuan left early and returned late, his smiles grew fewer, and he became increasingly silent. Though he never lost his temper unreasonably, she knew Xiang Xueyuan was unhappy.
Around that time, Aunt Liu became pregnant. Her late-pregnancy reactions were severe, and she had to suspend her translation work. Xiang Xueyuan's pressure grew even greater.
Later, she gave birth to Qingyu, and she herself suffered from postpartum depression. Her overall condition was very poor.
Aunt Liu replaced those unpleasant memories with a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Later, on one occasion, he came back and prepared a table full of food, and said many, many things to us." Aunt Liu murmured, "I thought he wanted to leave the research lab and live a good life with us."
She gave a wry smile and looked at Xia Qingtian. "Unexpectedly, he wanted to leave us, to fully immerse himself in his research from then on."
"It seemed research was his primary goal, while we..." Aunt Liu's smile held a touch of self-mockery. "Were dispensable."
"Aunt Liu..." Xia Qingtian felt a pang of sympathy for Aunt Liu. She squeezed Aunt Liu's hand, unsure how to offer comfort.
Xia Qingtian felt that any words at this moment would seem shallow in the face of the visceral pain a woman had endured.
"It's all in the past," Aunt Liu said, taking a deep breath. "I was raising Qingyu alone back then, and I got through the hardest times. As for anything else... I don't dwell on it anymore. Why waste time on people who aren't worth it?"
"Yes, he doesn't deserve it," Xia Qingtian said seriously. "To abandon two wonderful family members like you, he deserves to be single for his entire life."
"The day I gave birth to Qingyu, it was raining heavily. He was busy with research in the lab and couldn't come back. I couldn't get a taxi by myself. Just as I was about to faint, your parents passed by and rescued me, taking me to the hospital. They didn't leave their phone numbers then, so I couldn't even thank them." Aunt Liu paused. "And after Qingyu's father left us like that, I was introduced to work as a caregiver at the hospital, where I met your parents again. I knew your mother wasn't in good health, so I took care of her with a heart full of gratitude. She was truly a very gentle, very kind person." Aunt Liu looked at Xia Qingtian, her gaze seeming to look through Xia Qingtian to see Yue Qiyan. "She was exceptionally talented, and even while bedridden, she was always conducting research and designing.
She researched the energy fields of jewelry crystals and also designed jewelry crystal styles. Every time, I had to persuade her for a long time before she would agree to rest.
While others disliked caregivers bringing their children along, she never minded me bringing Qingyu over on holidays. She was only worried that the hospital's many germs would damage Qingyu's immunity. So, every time Qingyu went, she would ask the family to prepare an extra portion of chicken soup for Qingyu.
She always prepared snacks and picture books for Qingyu, who really liked her."
Thinking of Yue Qiyan's passing, Aunt Liu felt a surge of bitterness. "She stayed in the hospital for a long time, and I took care of her for a long time, until she passed away.
It was many years later that I met your father again. I was being harassed while working a part-time job, and he intervened to help me. During our conversation, I learned that he had never remarried and was struggling to manage his business and take care of you.
Qingtian, I have always greatly respected your father. He saved me several times, and whenever I was at my lowest, it was always him who pulled me up. We only reconnected after that. It was absolutely not like the rumors spread outside, that I got involved with your mother's bedside. I took meticulous care of your mother, and I never had any inappropriate behavior with him."
Aunt Liu's gaze was sincere as she looked at Xia Qingtian. She knew that Xia Qingtian's aversion to her initially was due to external rumors: that after taking care of Yue Qiyan by her bedside, she had immediately climbed into Xia Honglang's bed.
She hadn't. She truly hadn't.
"Aunt Liu, I believe you," Xia Qingtian said, patting Aunt Liu's hand. She knew Aunt Liu had had a difficult time over the years. Having lived two lives, she believed what she saw.
Aunt Liu treated both her and her father with genuine sincerity. Such a person would never do such a thing.
Hearing Xia Qingtian's words, Aunt Liu finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"But Xiang Xueyuan abandoned his wife and daughter. Why are you so afraid of seeing him again?" Xia Qingtian didn't quite understand this. If what Aunt Liu said was true, shouldn't Xiang Xueyuan be the one afraid of meeting Aunt Liu?
"Gentle, charming, humorous, and gentlemanly were merely his outward appearance. In reality, he is an extremely driven and fanatical person." As his bed partner, Aunt Liu knew this better than anyone. "He was obsessed with research, studying energy magnetic fields. He was a teacher at our school because our school was the first institution in the world to conduct energy research. His initial goal was energy, and it remained so from beginning to end."
After a pause, Aunt Liu seemed to have made up her mind. "The day Xiang Xueyuan left us, I hadn't drunk much, but I soon felt weak all over and my consciousness became blurred. Qingyu, who had only drunk juice, was also drowsy and in a semi-conscious state, just like me.
At that moment, I saw him splash the unfinished wine onto me and Qingyu, onto the sofa and curtains, and then... he lit a lighter."
"Heavens!" Xia Qingtian couldn't help but cover her mouth, looking at Aunt Liu in disbelief.
"I just watched him, and he met my gaze for a very, very long time..." Aunt Liu continued. "Then he withdrew his hand, not igniting the alcohol poured on us, and only left a sentence, 'I'm sorry,' before he left."
Even now, recalling that day, Aunt Liu still felt her entire body go cold and numb. Her bed partner, the man she had eloped with, abandoning a comfortable life, the man she admired and relied on...
He wanted to burn her and their daughter alive.
Simply because they were in the way, a burden to him.
Those cold eyes, which had appeared in Aunt Liu's nightmares many times, had reappeared once more.
Fear began to grow wildly within her, coiling around her like a mad serpent.
Chu Qi has something to say: Only one chapter today, double updates will resume tomorrow. Happy Golden Week everyone!