The firelight cast shadows on Qi Chengyan's face, lending a gentle hue to his stern features.
"Do you like it?"
Cheng You nodded vigorously, her small face beaming with surprise. "I love it!"
The joy faded, replaced by a somber mood.
"Qi Chengyan, do you miss your mother? I miss mine so much..."
He gently stroked her head, his voice exceptionally clear in the darkness.
"When I was little, I didn't live with my parents. My grandmother raised me."
His parents had their own careers. Their first child, a daughter, was doted on like a precious jewel. When Qi Chengyan was born, his father held a high position, and his mother had her own thriving career. Neither had the time to raise a child.
After some deliberation, they sent him to live with his grandmother.
By the time he was old enough to understand, his grandmother's health began to decline. His parents wanted him back, but he refused.
Shortly after he was sent to his grandmother, they had adopted the child of a fallen comrade.
In Qi Chengyan's eyes, they were a family of three, and he and his grandmother were the real family.
Cheng You hadn't expected him to grow up in such circumstances. Her heart ached as she listened.
"Every New Year's Day, Grandma would take me to release river lanterns."
She continued, "If you miss Grandma, just release river lanterns, put what you want to say to her inside, and she'll hear it."
He had found it peculiar then, laughing, "I'll release river lanterns with you every year. I'll tell Grandma in person."
Only later did he realize that his grandmother had known her health was failing.
Cheng You fiddled with a river lantern, murmuring, "Can she really hear? I want to tell my mother to be more discerning in the next life, not to marry someone like Cheng Tianhua."
Qi Chengyan said, "Even though your father is not a good man, your mother probably doesn't regret marrying him, because she had you."
"Waaaa... I'm not good at all. I even call Song Yulian 'Mom,' recognizing a thief as my mother."
Cheng You wiped her tears, lamenting her own shortcomings.
If she had been more vigilant back then, her mother's dowry wouldn't have fallen into Song Yulian's hands.
Whether she could get it back now was uncertain.
Qi Chengyan wiped her tears and pulled her into his embrace.
"Youyou, I'm even worse than you."
If his grandmother saw him now, would she be disappointed?
Cheng You sniffled, her nose red and her eyes wide.
"How are you worse than me?"
She felt he was mocking her.
Qi Chengyan's gaze fell on the river lantern. His inner turmoil belied his calm expression.
"Do you know how I left the army?"
Cheng You paused, then slowly shook her head.
"Wasn't it because of your leg injury?"
Qi Chengyan sneered, his voice turning several degrees colder.
"That's just a nice story."
He placed his hand on his leg. "This leg was broken by my own father."
Cheng You stared at him, as if she had heard a shocking secret.
"Your dad? Is he your stepfather?"
Qi Chengyan chuckled and flicked her forehead.
"What are you thinking?"
Of course, he was his biological father.
It was just that when he broke it, he didn't realize it would prevent Qi Chengyan from ever being a soldier again.
Cheng You frowned. "Why?"
Qi Chengyan sighed silently and began to tell her what had happened.
He had just returned from a mission. Based on his previous achievements, he had been promoted from a regular battalion officer to deputy regimental commander.
In the eyes of many, he was a celestial being, outstanding in ability and from a privileged background.
At the same time, his former partner had died during another mission.
Grief-stricken, he was deployed to take over his comrade's mission.
Upon his return, before he could even visit his comrade's grave, trouble found him.
The wife of his comrade, whom he had long called "sister-in-law," had personally written a letter of accusation, reporting him.
She had vehemently claimed that he, Qi Chengyan, had behaved inappropriately towards her.
"Impossible!"
Cheng You blurted out instinctively. Impossible.
She didn't need to think; it was a reflex to believe him completely.
Qi Chengyan's gaze faltered, his voice hoarse. "Youyou, why is it impossible?"
He had confronted her. She had produced his comrade's medical report, stating he was infertile.
And the child in her womb was the best proof.
Qi Chengyan was unable to defend himself. His superiors, his parents, and the soldiers he led all looked at him with suspicion.
He refused to confess, and his father broke his leg, trying to force a confession.
No one believed him.
Cheng You shook her head. "It's just impossible."
Qi Chengyan was absolutely not that kind of person.
The heavy stone that had been weighing on Qi Chengyan's heart suddenly loosened.
He felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Cheng You gently stroked his leg, pouting and crying even harder.
"It must have hurt terribly, right?"
Qi Chengyan wiped away her tears and whispered, "It doesn't hurt anymore. You've already healed it." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Cheng You was his medicine.
She had healed his leg and his heartache.
"Your father was too cruel."
If his son refused to confess, shouldn't he have tried to exonerate him?
Why would he break his leg to force his son to admit guilt?
"What about your mother?"
Qi Chengyan pulled at his lips, his gaze growing cold.
His mother was scolding him, this son of hers, for being a disgrace.
Only the Qi Chengyan who always completed his missions with flying colors, the one who brought her glory, was her son.
Cheng You didn't ask further. His expression said it all.
"Qi Chengyan, they will regret this."
Qi Chengyan smiled. He no longer cared if they regretted it.
Although the army had not convicted him, the woman had miscarried and left Yancheng.
This incident became a persistent nightmare, one he could never escape.
He made one last visit to his comrade's grave, staying there for a day and a night, before finally choosing to leave the army.
Thus, the legend of Qi Chengyan came to an end.
Cheng You patted his back, her voice soft and comforting, "It's okay. I'll treat you well from now on."
Qi Chengyan hadn't been overly sad to begin with, but hearing Cheng You say that, the gloom lifted completely.
"Youyou, will you look down on me?"
Cheng You's face grew serious as she shook her head.
"I won't."
"Then can we start dating now?"
Cheng You: "..."
She felt something was off.
Was Qi Chengyan playing the victim?
Before she could answer, she heard him say, "I knew you'd look down on me."
"I don't!"
"Then why aren't you answering?"
"Okay, okay, I forgive you. But if you ever mention breaking up with me again, I'll never speak to you again!"
Before her words could fully register, he leaned in and kissed her lips, a kiss he had long dreamt of.
He wasn't foolish enough to let her go again.