Heart Flutter

Chapter 122

Pei Wen drove around the streets searching, and it was only after quite a while that she finally caught sight of someone who looked like Tang Yan, crouched on the side of the road with her head buried in her knees. If she hadn’t been so sharp-eyed, she might’ve missed her entirely.

She quickly pulled over, scanned the area to make sure there weren’t any surveillance cameras, then jumped out, crossed the street, and hurried straight to Tang Yan. “Finally found you. So this is where you were hiding.”

At the sound of her voice, Tang Yan quickly sniffled and wiped her eyes with her hand before standing up. Luckily it was dark—her tear-streaked face wouldn’t be easily noticed.

“Come on, let’s get back in the car. I just parked wherever. Don’t want to get a ticket.”

Tang Yan didn’t say anything, but quietly followed her back across the street and got in the car.

Pei Wen turned on the AC and started driving. “Wanna grab something to eat?”

Tang Yan shook her head and hesitantly asked, “Can I stay over at your place tonight?”

Pei Wen paused, already imagining the drama. “You had a fight with her?”

Tang Yan stayed silent, so Pei Wen didn’t push. “Alright, I’ll take you back to mine.”

Pei Wen’s apartment was outside the third ring but before the fourth—still ridiculously expensive. It was a one-bedroom in a new development, so at least the facilities were decent.

“My place isn’t as big as Aunt Ji’s, hope you don’t mind,” she said as she unlocked the door.

Tang Yan didn’t respond, just sat down on the couch and stayed quiet. Pei Wen sighed. “Want something to drink? I’ve got cold Coke.”

Tang Yan shook her head again, wiped her eyes when Pei Wen wasn’t looking, and said, “Sorry for showing up so late and bothering you.”

“Oh, come on.” Pei Wen cracked open a can of Coke. “Don’t be a stranger. If you need anything, just ask. You can have the bed tonight—I’ll crash at my coworker’s.”

“Pei Wen… I can just sleep on the couch.”

“No way. If Yuqing finds out I didn’t take good care of you, she’s gonna scold me for sure,” Pei Wen said with one hand on her hip.

“Really, it’s fine. I don’t want to trouble you,” Tang Yan insisted, and eventually Pei Wen relented.

Tang Yan had been holding everything in all this time. Only after she showered and returned to the living room—now dark and quiet—did the tears finally fall.

She didn’t blame Aunt Ji. She didn’t even blame her mother. What hurt was knowing that her father was a rapist. That single fact made her feel worthless, like she’d never be able to lift her head high again. Especially not in front of Aunt Ji.

If it hadn’t been for Aunt Ji—if she hadn’t had that one person she wanted to live up to—Tang Yan felt like she would’ve given up on the world the moment she found out.

She cried quietly in the dark, trying not to let Pei Wen hear. Then she pulled out her phone and sent a message to her mother:

Tang Yan: My father… he’s a rapist, isn’t he? I’m the daughter of a rapist, right?

Her mom, who normally never replied promptly, answered instantly.

Tang Huiyi: Who told you that? Don’t say things like that.

Tang Yan: It doesn’t matter who told me. I just want the truth.

Tears streamed down her face as she typed, her vision so blurred she could barely read the screen.

Instead of replying, Tang Huiyi called.

Tang Yan answered and held the phone to her ear.

“I never meant for you to find out,” her mom said. “But now that you know, I’ll tell you everything. Remember last year after your college entrance exam? I mentioned that Aunt Ji once helped me. I was a senior then, and she was a freshman, but we were already close friends.

“She was being harassed by a guy from outside school—he had a girlfriend, and when she rejected him, he retaliated. I happened to witness that retaliation. They mistook me for Yuqing. I was supposed to meet her, but she was late. The guy and his accomplices were caught and punished in the end, but the damage to me… it was done. I couldn’t go on. I dropped out of school and went home.

“Yuqing stayed by my side that whole time. I could feel how guilty she was. On the day I left Huadu, she hugged me and said that no matter what happened in the future, if I ever needed her, she’d be there. I smiled and nodded. I never thought I’d come back to this place.

“Not long after I got home, I found out I was pregnant. Your grandma yelled at me in front of the whole village, said I’d brought shame to the Tang family. I planned to get an abortion, but the weather was awful that day—raining nonstop. The doctor did a scan and said the baby was healthy and already formed. I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take away your right to see the world. I couldn’t tell you who your father was either. I didn’t want you to grow up sad. I know I haven’t been a good mom… I’m sorry, this is all my fault…”

Tang Yan was already sobbing uncontrollably. She shook her head, saying, “Mom, it’s not your fault. I used to hate you, I really did… but if you hadn’t made that choice, I wouldn’t have had the chance to see how beautiful life can be. I don’t blame you anymore.”

“My sweet girl… I’ve always loved you most, more than your little brother,” her mom said. It was the first time she’d ever said something like that aloud. The barrier between them—mother and daughter—seemed to finally fall.

The call ended with both of them crying.

Tang Yan finally understood. Back then, her mom was just a girl in her twenties. What she went through was unimaginable. All the resentment she’d held… it quietly melted away in that moment.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuqing called Pei Wen to ask if Tang Yan had contacted her. She wasn’t sure, but even a 1% chance was worth trying.

Pei Wen didn’t hesitate. “Tang Yan’s with me. When do you want to come pick her up?”

She lowered her voice, trying not to let Tang Yan hear that she’d “snitched.”

Ji Yuqing paused and then said, “Let her stay with you tonight. It’s late. I’ll come get her in the morning. Thanks for helping.”

“Come on, don’t be polite. Tang Yan’s my friend too. Of course I’d tell you right away.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up, Ji Yuqing stood on her balcony and finally let out a breath. Tang Yan was safe. She smiled, feeling lighter.

Then another call came in—it was Tang Yan’s mother.

Ji Yuqing’s heart skipped. She answered, guilty.

“You told her, didn’t you?” her tone accusatory.

“I’m so sorry,” Ji Yuqing said immediately. “It was my fault—I didn’t keep the secret.”

To her surprise, Tang Huiyi actually laughed. “Well, it’s out now. Maybe that’s not a bad thing. Tonight must’ve been chaos on your end, but… it helped me and Tang Yan. That wall between us? It’s gone. I should be thanking you. You raised her well, Yuqing.”

Ji Yuqing was stunned. Tang Yan wasn’t angry? She understood? She’d grown so much.

The next morning, Ji Yuqing came to pick her up. Tang Yan seemed much calmer than the night before. Ji Yuqing gently took her hand and said, “You’ve been through a lot. Go home and rest.”

Tang Yan nodded and turned to wave at Pei Wen. “Thanks for letting me stay.”

On the way back, she said nothing, just stared out the window. Ji Yuqing kept glancing at her, sensing that something had changed overnight.

Back at home, Ji Yuqing told her to go rest. Tang Yan nodded and went straight to her room, sleeping all the way till nightfall.

When she got up to wash up, a thought kept popping into her head—everything Aunt Ji had done for her… maybe it was just because she owed her mom. Maybe there were no other feelings behind it. That thought hurt.

Restless, she paced her room. She couldn’t keep pretending everything was normal. She needed to know—needed to speak her mind.

She opened the door. Ji Yuqing was watering the plants on the balcony. Something was cooking in the kitchen—pork ribs, maybe. It smelled amazing.

Ji Yuqing looked back and smiled softly. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

But Tang Yan didn’t stop. She walked right up to her, her gaze more determined than ever.

“Aunt Ji.”

“Hmm?” Ji Yuqing bent over to water the plants, her graceful figure outlined perfectly. “What is it?”

“Have you always treated me well just because of my mom?” Tang Yan asked suddenly.

Ji Yuqing froze, watering can in hand.

Tang Yan continued, “Whether you know it or not, I have to say this today—I like you, Aunt Ji. I really, really like you…”