Hard to Escape/In Love with a Counterfeit Tall Rich Handsome - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

That night, I brought Yin Li to my mother’s grave .

I took off the ballet shoes I wore for the performance and lay them on the grave, along with flowers . Yin Li stood in the wind tightly wrapping his hand around mine . I planned to return to China with him . I wouldn’t settle in Paris . Perhaps, this was a farewell to my mother .

I felt so many things standing in front of the grave .

I was always thankful for my mom .

“Her dream was that one day, my autographed ballet shoes would fetch a record-breaking price at a charity auction . ” I saw my mother’s face engraved in the tombstone . “To a dancer, that was a status symbol . My mother hoped I would become a dazzling dancer that lived for her profession . ”

I crouched and rubbed the tombstone engraving . “Mom, at that time I really thought that achieving your dream would be achieving my own . But I can’t . I later discovered that it wasn’t what I really wanted . I gave the first half of my life to ballet . Now, I want to live the second half as I wish . ”

I spoke with my heart as I faced the tombstone . I firmly believed that somewhere out there, she forgave me for abandoning ballet halfway through and had given me her blessing . My mother was strict . I could be injured and she would still have me dance . She forbid romantic relationships and attending performances . But I remember how worried she looked when I fell sick . In the end, she loved me .

“You gave me my own piece of the ballet world to exist in . Now it’s time for me to go beyond the borders . ”

The cemetery at night was quiet and serene . My heart softened and I felt sad . My mother would never reply . I only heard the insects chirping .  

The next day I had planned to fly back with Yin Li . However, Li Jing had an accident .

He was recently commissioned to fix up a church’s mural . After the performance, he had drunk wine and then continued working . Unexpectedly, he fell off the scaffold . He broke his right hand and tore his muscles . But because he was drunk and tired, he fainted in the church . He wasn’t discovered in time and his wound became infected . Besides those “brothers” who fought to rob him of his inheritance, he didn’t have anyone else nearby . With no other choice, the private doctor flipped through his phone records and found me .

“He’s frequently come to the hospital . Last month, he drank too much causing his stomach lining to erode . He’s recently cut back . But after receiving the church mural commission, he’s been working to his bone . Every day, he’s been painting like crazy . I’m sorry to call you over so late at night, but his mother has gone to southern France . He also didn’t want his mother to worry . ” The doctor was helpless . “Your number was on speed dial . I’m really sorry, but I can’t do a major surgery . It’ll still be safer to quickly send him to the hospital . ”

Yin Li and I sent Li Jing to the hospital . Once we saw the surgery room’s lighted sign turn on, it was already morning and we had already missed our flight .

“No worries, it’s just a normal bone fracture . It’s not that bad . ” Yin Li passed me a hot cup of milk tea . I still couldn’t help but worry . I knew the dangers of infection better than him . There was even a possibility of amputation .

Three hours later, the doctor announced that Li Jing’s hand didn’t have major issues . I breathed a sigh of relief . Soon after, Li Jing’s anesthesia wore off and he wanted to see me . Yin Li naturally wouldn’t join me, but he gave me a hug before I went in . He was still guarded when it came to Li Jing, but he wouldn’t mention that .

In the hospital room, Li Jing’s face was still a little pale . He smiled at me . “Sorry . You even had to make a trip to the hospital in the middle of the night because of me . ” As he spoke, he tried to stand and I helped him up .

“Yan Xiao,” he called my name . Normally, he would call me Yi Yun or Alicia . This was the first time he called me Yan Xiao . I was a little suspicious .

Yet Li Jing didn’t seem to mind . “Sorry . I’d like to apologize for my selfishness . I always wanted to tell you this but I didn’t know how to face you . It was only till later that I learned it was an attempted suicide and that you didn’t love ballet . I was like all the others, and I could be considered an accomplice in pushing you to the edge .

“After learning the truth, I realized I needed to carefully reconsider things . Even after you had lost your memories, I still tried to force you back into Alicia’s shell . After your amnesia, your personality changed and I was very pained . But now that I think about it, perhaps I never understood you . In the past, you probably became that way because of the high-intensity ballet training . ” 

“Honestly, I never blamed you,” I confessed .

He smiled . “I was actually in low spirits for a while . But yesterday, I snapped out of it . I thought for a long time and concluded that whether you dance ballet or not, I’d love you regardless . I just want to ask now: do I still have a chance?”

I turned away from Li Jing’s handsome yet sallow face . “I don’t think we’re compatible . I already have someone I like . Also, after my amnesia I don’t have any past memories of you . To me, you are just a step above a stranger . ”

Li Jing didn’t say anything . The light of daybreak shone into the room . I awkwardly stood there, uncomfortable .

It’s not that I completely forgot Li Jing . Quite the opposite . As the days passed, my memories of him became all the more clear . I remembered him cracking walnuts for me . I remembered him waiting a whole evening in the snowfall just to send me home . On the way home, he didn’t mind his step and slipped, breaking a leg .

I said I didn’t remember him but that was a lie . Yin Li also lied to him but I didn’t correct him . My heart was filled with guilt .

He laughed bitterly . “Just one look at Yin Li and I know I stand no chance, let alone the fact that you don’t even remember me . Then I only have one last request . Can you accompany me until my right hand heals? That’s all I ask for . Just take it as your last gift to me . ”

“Sorry . ” I felt horrible, but I was harsh and said, “I’m afraid I have no choice . I must return to China with Yin Li immediately since our wedding is coming up . I will hire the best caretaker for you . If you want, you may also attend the wedding . ”

I lowered my head, not wanting to look at Li Jing’s pained expression . But I couldn’t give him false hope . Since I decided to be with Yin Li, then I must be responsible for my decision . If I wasn’t resolute trouble would come .

The conversation was awkward and ended abruptly . I bit my lip . After some get-well wishes, I hardened my heart and left .

I was surprised to see Yin Li standing right outside . When he saw me come out, he lifted me up in a hug . His eyes were brimming with joy .

“I didn’t know that we would be getting married as soon as we returned . ” His voice carried tones of laughter .

I blushed in embarrassment . “How dare you eavesdrop!”

Yin Li put me down . “I’ve made a lot of exceptions and done a lot of unseemly things for you . This is actually my first time eavesdropping . ” He magnanimously admitted his bad manners but he didn’t sound the least embarrassed . “I just couldn’t bear it . I was afraid that your heart would soften for Li Jing . Especially when he was begging you to stay . You don’t know how happy I was when you turned him down . ”

I was a bit embarrassed . “Actually, it’s not right of me to do things that way . We don’t know if Li Jing’s hand will fully recover . Keep in mind, he’s an artist . ”

Yin Li nonchalantly said, “You don’t need to worry . When he punched me in the face, my face was swollen for a whole two weeks . His hand won’t be crippled that easily . I will definitely arrange for the best nurses and doctors to take care of him . You don’t need to worry . Your sole responsibility is to come back with me and get married . ”

That afternoon Yin Li pressed on while the tides were high and bought plane tickets to return that very day .

The weather was a bit gloomy . I sat in the airport lounge spacing out .

Yin Xuan had already pulled herself together and starting mentoring under Madame Taylor . Later, she would attend the competition . Li Jing’s hand also had no further issue . Though he might not be able to get over his heartbreak in the short term, time would heal all wounds . These days, a young nurse was watching over him and they had a lot in common .

Life would go on and it wouldn’t stop for anyone .

Today, with Yin Li by my side, I could bid the past goodbye with no regrets and start a new beginning .  

When the plane took off, I could finally say that phrase in my heart: goodbye Paris .