Chapter 249: I Am Here Because of You

Before Su Qin stood a man with a slender figure, his handsome features softened by a gentle expression. A faint smile graced his face, yet his gaze was profoundly deep. Surrounding his body seemed to be a layer of crystalline light, bathing him in an aura of sanctity.

His figure was draped in a silver-white robe, lending him an air of nobility. This starkly contrasted with Su Qin's simple clothes and modest hairpin.

Su Qin's breathing was noticeably hurried, but the man effortlessly reached out, taking the milk tea she had just prepared, and took a light sip.

"It lacks a bit of sweetness. I remember your milk tea used to be sweeter. Is it less sweet now because your life is missing me?" His voice remained gentle yet deep.

At this moment, behind him, no single customer was left. For some reason, they had all vanished.

"Why did you come here?" Su Qin's voice was wooden and devoid of emotional fluctuations.

"I came only for you." His voice was soft, and his gaze was tender and warm, as if he wanted to melt her heart.

"Then you are too late," Su Qin said indifferently, her voice carrying a hint of coldness.

The man chuckled and sipped on his tea again. His words were gentle, yet imbued with a hint of natural dominance."It's never too late. I will take back everything that belongs to me, including you."

"What am I? Property?" Su Qin asked blandly.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"No, you're not. You are the one I love, the only one I've loved," the man said softly.

Su Qin's lips curved into a smile full of sarcasm. "Please. The one you love most in your life is only yourself."

The man's body stiffened slightly, as did his facial expression, but it didn't last long, and he quickly regained his composure.

"Perhaps. Who doesn't love themselves the most? I must make myself good enough first to be better for you, right? I've arrived a bit late, but not too late. Su Qin, you don't understand. In this world, without enough power, even what is gained can be lost. Only power is eternal. Power is what will allow me to protect you better. I told you to wait for me, and I've come back. All the past concerns are gone with the wind, and I now have enough power to protect you. You will never suffer again, nor will anyone prevent you from returning to my side."

Su Qin's eyes were cold as she said, "What if I am unwilling?"

The man paused, "No, you wouldn't be unwilling. After all, we love each other so much. How could you be unwilling?"

Su Qin said, "I am unwilling. And when I say no, it means no."

"Is it because of him?" The man asked as wisps of steam faintly rose from the milk tea in his hand.

Su Qin slightly lifted her chin, her simple cloth attire not making her presence any inferior to that of the finely dressed man before her. "Do you think anyone can dictate things to me? I am unwilling because I no longer love you. The moment you decided to leave, my heart turned cold. There's no place for you anymore. Yes, you've become powerful now, and you can certainly do as you please. But even if you have my body, it will be nothing but my body. I do not belong to you."

The composure and grace on the man's face finally vanished. He gulped down the milk tea in one go, and despite his immense cultivation, he was trembling slightly at this moment.

"No, no, it can't be. You've always loved me; we were so in love at the beginning. We, we..."

Just then, a pleasant voice rang out. "Mom?"

Su Qin was visibly shocked as she turned her head toward the sound. Mei Gongzi, with a hint of surprise on his face, was walking toward them.

"Why did you come back? Didn't I tell you to go back to the academy?" Su Qin said.

Mei Gongzi replied, "The road was closed, so I returned to keep you company for a while."

The finely dressed man's gaze shifted subconsciously toward Mei Gongzi. Upon seeing her, the look in his eyes instantly changed.

In a flicker, Su Qin silently moved in front of her daughter, using her body to shield her.

The man's voice trembled slightly. " Is this your daughter? Is she yours and his?"

Mei Gongzi had also noticed something was off with her mother. In her memory, her mother had never used her abilities in front of others, but now...

Moreover, she keenly observed that their surroundings had become empty. In the bustling Kali Square, this area alone had no passersby. There was only this one guest in front of them.

"Yes." Su Qin said as she drew Mei Gongzi into her embrace.

The man’s eyes reddened in an instant. He murmured to himself, "If I hadn't left back then, our children would... would they also be this age now?"

"Get out of here!" Su Qin suddenly roared. "You have no right to speak of children before me. Get out, far away from me! I never want to see you again!"

Mei Gongzi, in her mother's arms, was terrified. She had never seen her mother so furious, not even in the face of that person’s cold indifference. Yet, facing the man before them, her mother was angry, truly angry.

Who was he?

The man in fine clothes staggered back two steps, covering his cheeks with both hands, silent for a long time.

Su Qin's chest heaved violently, revealing her turmoil.

Mei Gongzi dared not ask; she could only feel her mother's trembling body and extremely agitated emotions.

After a long moment, the man in fine clothes slowly lowered his hands, his voice filled with nothing but regret as he said, "I regret it, Qin’er.[1] What does it mean to win the whole world? Without you, this world has lost its light. But I won't give up. I will prove my love to you and spend every moment of the future to make up for this."

After saying this, he took two steps back and turned around. The instant he turned, his back straightened up again, as if the man previously trapped by emotions was not himself. He walked away with large strides. A speck of purple light floated out and landed on the table of the milk tea shop.

"This is for the milk tea, and the extra is compensation for disrupting your business."

Everything in front of them seemed to become illusory for a moment. Mei Gongzi blinked, only to find that the man had disappeared. If not for her mother's breathing becoming more rapid, she might have thought that the man had never been there at all.

"Mom, who was he?" Mei Gongzi asked softly.

Su Qin muttered, "A bastard, just a bastard."

"Ah?" Mei Gongzi was stunned, having never heard such words from her mother.

She embraced her mother tightly. "Mom... are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Su Qin's emotions gradually calmed down, but soon, her pupils began to constrict.

He came... he actually came! But in that case...

"Little Mei, you can't stay in the city anymore. Leave immediately and go back to Kali Academy. Take a detour, or if necessary, leave from outside the city. There's going to be chaos in the city. Do not come back without my notice."

"Ah?" Mei Gongzi said, "What's wrong, Mom?"

"Don't ask. Just do as I say." Su Qin was clearly agitated.

"Okay, don't worry. I'm leaving now."

Not until her daughter was out of sight did Su Qin sit down. She stared blankly into the air, seemingly lost in her memories.

Even though many years had passed, the scenes from the past still lingered in her mind.

He came, he actually came.

1. The suffix “er” is a diminutive marker, a form of endearment added to someone’s given name. ☜