Regretting Giving Birth to You

The white light flooded her vision, causing her eyes, which had grown accustomed to the darkness, to throb with pain. Her body lacked any strength; perhaps she couldn't even manage a simple movement. Lifting her heavy eyelids, Chi Qing stared blankly at the surrounding steel walls, momentarily unclear as to why she was lying there. Then she saw the person sitting beside her, and her hazy mind suddenly snapped awake.

"Xiao Bai?"

Chi Qing saw Bai Lin sitting by the bed. She felt the other party was incredibly strange at this moment. Even if her appearance remained the same, the gaze looking at her no longer held warmth or infatuation; all that remained was coldness and distance. Noticing the other was dressed in a black suit, Chi Qing realized something was wrong. Logically, Bai Lin rarely wore such clothes, and now... Due to the confusion, her mind felt a surge of blurred images like a revolving lantern.

The birthday party, then Zeng Kehen suddenly appearing, the silver blade flashing with blood-red light, and Bai Lin's icy gaze—she had even respectfully addressed Bai Jun. All the memories struck her mind now, leaving Chi Qing's gaze dazed. Sounds echoed in her head; at first, they were just blurry noise, but later they grew clearer.

*If you hate me, wake up and find me for revenge. Chi Qing, I am waiting for you.*

The pain in her abdomen and the bandages all over her proved that everything before her was the truth, and that sentence—not a pleasant thing to have lingering in her head—was indeed spoken by Bai Lin herself. Chi Qing thought, if only she woke up and everything returned to how it was before. It would still be that person who loved and pampered her, a gentle and quiet Bai Lin. The other party had never betrayed her, let alone hurt her. However, reality is always cruel, presenting the opposite of one's dreams. Seeing Bai Lin's contemptuous gaze, Chi Qing turned her head, not wanting to look anymore. That gaze would only cause her pain.

"Why go to so much trouble to save me? Wouldn't it be better if I died?"

Chi Qing asked, her voice carrying a hint of blurriness. Her body was still very weak; she fundamentally couldn't speak loudly. And she also felt that the reason her body couldn't move wasn't because her injuries were too heavy, but because she had been injected with an anesthetic.

"It was Bai Jun who wanted to save you. You slept for three days because of the anesthesia. You were injected with an amount sufficient to keep an elephant from moving."

Bai Lin did not dodge Chi Qing's question, even explaining the doubt about her body's inability to move. Hearing this, Chi Qing only felt a pang in her heart, the bitterness right before her causing tears to well up. But she knew at this moment, even if she bled, she could not shed tears.

"Although asking this is foolish, I still really want to know why you are helping Bai Jun?"

From the beginning of the conversation until now, Chi Qing had kept her eyes closed. It wasn't that she didn't want to look at Bai Lin, but in reality, she was still in a state of self-delusion, her heart still thinking of Bai Lin. From then until now, looking at Chi Qing, the person she thought of day and night, she still didn't dare open her eyes. The other party feared that seeing her would reveal too much emotion, and even more so feared her weak state being discovered. Chi Qing was exactly that kind of person; even if there was pain in her heart, she wouldn't let herself appear weak.

"I chose to help Bai Jun because he gave me the things I needed. Power, ability, status. Things that many always dream of, and I am no exception."

"So to speak, you did this to satisfy your own selfishness?"

Hearing Bai Lin's answer, Chi Qing asked with some helplessness. She really didn't want to believe Bai Lin was a mundane person, but everything happening before her eyes left her no choice but to believe. Bai Lin had never liked her; the attitude of no resentment or hatred toward her was just a layer of disguise. In the other party's heart, she hated her mother to the bone, hated her so much she couldn't not kill her.

"These things aren't important to you, but to me, they are indispensable."

After Bai Lin finished speaking, she looked at her watch, wanting to leave. At this moment, Chi Qing suddenly called out.

"Bai Lin, you hate me, you want revenge, I can understand that. But why did you choose such a way to humiliate me? You really..."

Chi Qing wanted to ask what Bai Lin was really thinking, but unfortunately, she couldn't say it. She didn't understand why Bai Lin would enter that kind of relationship with her and even offer her body to her. Both were women; using normal ways to approach her would have been not only faster but simpler. Why did Bai Lin choose that bizarre method? Chi Qing didn't understand, and she despised herself even more for not being strong enough, actually letting Bai Lin deceive her so easily.

"What? Do you actually care why I carried the name of incest on my back to be with you? Or do you care that I used this tactic to deceive you?"

Bai Lin stopped, returning once more to Chi Qing's bedside, looking down from above at the person lying on the bed. At this moment, Bai Lin felt very lucky that Chi Qing's eyes were closed; that way, the other party wouldn't see the emotion in her eyes.

"Chi Qing, the reason I used such a method to be with you was simply to see what kind of ability you had to make Bai Jun so infatuated. I said I liked you, loved you, just because playing like that was fun, but I really didn't expect you to be so careless as to fall for it. Chi Qing, in the end, is only worth this much."

Bai Lin's final sentence made Chi Qing open her eyes. By the light, Chi Qing clearly saw the madness flashing in the other's eyes, along with the faint smile at the corners of her mouth. Chi Qing had never seen this side of Bai Lin, not even in her nightmares. Seeing the other party looking like a bloodthirsty monster, Chi Qing tried to sit up, but finally fell back, collapsing at Bai Lin's feet.

The needle in the back of her hand was pulled out due to the force, and fresh blood poured out. Her abdomen also writhed in pain. Despite this, Chi Qing didn't care, regardless of how pathetic she looked at this moment. She only knew she wanted to look at Bai Lin, wanted the other to look at her and repeat those words.

"What do you want to do? Chi Qing, I advise you not to be so self-righteous. If it weren't for Bai Jun wanting to keep you, do you think you'd still be alive now?"

Chi Qing's figure wasn't very full to begin with, and the recent torture had caused her weight to drop significantly. At this moment, her figure was frail. Bai Lin grabbed her wrist and suddenly pulled her up, just like pulling a kitten.

Chi Qing's body was pulled up and then thrown back onto the bed. She coughed, trying to take every breath. Her chest felt very painful, and her vision grew dark. Her mind was filled only with Bai Lin's words and the gaze the other gave her, devoid of any emotion. Thinking of this, Chi Qing shook her head. At this point, what was she still hoping for? Bai Lin would act this way; had the other party truly stopped loving her?

"Bai Lin, you truly are the daughter of Bai Jun. I really regret giving birth to you, you... hmph!"

Before Chi Qing could finish, her shoulder was forcefully grabbed by Bai Lin, who pressed her powerfully against the steel wall. Chi Qing didn't expect Bai Lin to suddenly strike, so she couldn't help but let out a sound. Her wound was pressed multiple times, and at this moment, it tore open again. Seeing fresh blood gradually staining her abdomen red, a flash of apology appeared in Bai Lin's eyes, but upon seeing Chi Qing before her, it immediately vanished.

"Chi Qing, I told you, don't challenge my patience again. I'm telling you, right now, aside from being tortured by me, don't even dream of committing suicide. If you know what's good for you, I might even let you die more comfortably."

Bai Lin was very frugal with her words, but at this moment, she said a lot. Hearing the other party growl every word, Chi Qing stared blankly at the face so similar to her own; there truly was a sense of liberation.

That's right, the Bai Lin of this moment proved how much the other party loathed her. The gaze that person gave her, every time she kissed her, the actions and expressions—it was all hard work acting. Today, finally, there was no need to pretend anymore. And she herself didn't need to be like a fool, sinking deep beside that deceiver. Yes, she had nothing left. If possible, she hoped Bai Lin would kill her. That way, they would both be liberated.

But why... did her heart feel so much pain?

"Take care of yourself."

Seeing Chi Qing's eyes darken without a trace of light, Bai Lin let go, turned, and left the room, also calling the doctor in. Not wanting to see the situation that made her feel miserable, Bai Lin didn't stay there but immediately left the base. As soon as she got into the car, she received a message from Bai Jun, calling her to his place.

***

Bai Jun's villa was very far from the base. By the time Bai Lin arrived, two hours had passed. Standing in the living room, she saw Bai Jun sitting on the sofa and turned to greet him respectfully. Bai Jun didn't answer for a long time, not even making a sound. After a while longer, when Bai Lin's back grew stiff from bowing for too long, Bai Jun finally spoke, telling her to sit.

"Do you know why I called you here today?"

"I don't know."

"Today, the doctor called me, saying you hurt Xiao Qing again. Lin, regarding this matter, I've said it many times. I understand you hate her, but at least wait until her injuries are a bit better before you strike. I said, Chi Qing must live, do you understand?"

"I don't understand why Father likes this kind of woman. She clearly..."

"What do you know! Do you think I spent so much effort with you to catch her just for pleasure? She's in that mysterious organization; until now, we still don't know who the Boss really is. She is the key point for a breakthrough. In short, before her injuries improve, you are not to hurt her again."

"Yes, Father."

"Mhm. Furthermore, you've grasped the company's affairs very quickly. Among the three of you, you are still the most outstanding, and also the youngest. Although I always say I place the three of you on three equal pillars, you must always remember, Bai Xi is ultimately not my biological child, and your elder sister Zeng Kehen is someone I cannot fully trust. Right now, the only one I can trust is you, so I hope you don't do anything to disappoint me."

"Father, I understand your meaning. I will not do anything outside the plan. Father can rest assured."

"Mhm, good. You may go back."

"Yes, your daughter takes her leave."

After finishing the conversation with Bai Jun, the submissiveness she had just shown vanished as soon as she stepped out. She got into the car and drove far away. After confirming that no one was following her, she took a few pills from the drawer and put them in her mouth, then took out a recording pen and pressed it into the storage box. Looking at the gray recording pen in her hand, Bai Lin took out the mobile phone from the bottom drawer and dialed a number.

"It's me."

"How is the progress?"

"Everything is proceeding according to plan. Speed it up."

"Understood."

Hanging up, Bai Lin took the SIM card out of the phone and snapped it with force. Looking around the car to ensure no one was there, she quickly threw it out, then slowly closed her eyes.

Perhaps, this is the last thing I can do for you...