Cracks Beneath the Strong

Facts proved that Qin Huairen understood Wen Yuzhi very well.

The sky hadn’t fallen, and the one crying wasn’t Wen Yuzhi, but Yan Qing.

When Qin Huairen rushed over, Yan Qing was standing in front of Wen Yuzhi’s car, holding a milky-white plastic bag, her eyes red from crying.

Meanwhile, Wen Yuzhi sat inside the car with the lights off, leaning back against the seat, looking oddly calm.

Qin Huairen felt anger surge instantly.

Yan Qing had followed Wen Yuzhi for so long—whether for merit or hardship, she deserved better.

No matter what, how could she be left standing in the cold wind crying?

The car interior was dim, and Qin Huairen could only see Wen Yuzhi’s pale side profile.

Her anger softened slightly, and her tone became gentler.

“What can’t be talked out properly? You made her cry and won’t even let her into the car. What if she catches a cold?”

Wen Yuzhi didn’t respond.

Yan Qing, however, walked behind Qin Huairen and tugged her sleeve.

Qin Huairen didn’t turn back and continued, “Since you called me…”

“I didn’t call.”

Wen Yuzhi’s voice was hoarse, completely different from how she sounded at the temple earlier.

Qin Huairen grew annoyed again.

“What do you mean by that? Look me in the eyes and say it—was I not supposed to come?”

Wen Yuzhi turned her head away.

“I didn’t mean that.”

Qin Huairen guessed the blind date at the Wen family hadn’t gone well.

Suppressing her anger, she asked, “Then Yan Qing and I can get in the car, right?”

Wen Yuzhi stayed silent.

Qin Huairen tried the door—it was locked.

“Unlock it.”

There was no room for negotiation in her tone.

“Now.”

Yan Qing immediately unlocked the car.

The difference between people was really that big.

Qin Huairen opened the back door, but Yan Qing refused to get in.

Instead, she shoved the bag into Qin Huairen’s hands and pushed her toward the passenger seat.

Before Qin Huairen could react, Wen Yuzhi’s voice turned cold.

“Yan Qing, that’s enough.”

Yan Qing sniffled but didn’t open the door.

She squeezed Qin Huairen’s hand tightly, as if entrusting her with something important, then turned and left.

Qin Huairen tried to call her back but failed.

“Ah Ren, let her go,” Wen Yuzhi said.

Qin Huairen opened the bag and saw boxes of medicine.

The cold wind cleared her mind instantly.

She leaned down to look into the car and said firmly, “You’re injured…”

One look—and her anger flared again.

Wen Yuzhi’s right cheek was swollen, her lips split, and there were scratches near her eye.

Just a little more, and it would have hurt her eye.

Qin Huairen yanked the door open and slammed into the passenger seat.

“Who hit you?”

Her eyes turned red.

“Do you not have hands? Couldn’t you fight back?”

Wen Yuzhi turned away.

Qin Huairen grabbed her shoulders and forced her to face her.

“I’m asking you—who did it?”

Her fierce tone trembled when she saw Wen Yuzhi’s face.

Such a beautiful face, ruined like this.

It made her furious.

“Wen Heyun, right? What are you afraid of? Why do you let him bully you every time? Where’s that attitude you use against me?”

“When are you going to stop enduring this?”

Her words came rapid-fire.

Wen Yuzhi didn’t even get a chance to interrupt.

But as Qin Huairen spoke, her voice began to shake.

Wen Yuzhi looked up and saw her reddened eyes, tears brimming.

All the emotions she had been suppressing—pain, resentment, hatred—collapsed into a single feeling: grievance.

She wasn’t afraid of harsh words.

What she couldn’t bear was Qin Huairen’s concern.

And she couldn’t stand seeing her cry.

The moment tears fell, Wen Yuzhi leaned forward and hugged Qin Huairen tightly.

So tightly that Qin Huairen’s ribs hurt.

Qin Huairen froze.

She didn’t know how to react.

They had fought before, even gotten physical, but those contacts were always rough.

They had never been this close in a gentle way.

At this moment, Wen Yuzhi’s warm body pressed against her.

Her slight trembling reminded Qin Huairen of a frightened animal cub separated from its mother.

The cub would pretend to be strong, but once the mother returned, it would hide under her wings, trembling and crying softly.

In that instant, Qin Huairen understood something.

Why, no matter how badly they fought, she would always rush forward when she saw Wen Yuzhi surrounded by her family.

To outsiders, Wen Yuzhi was strong and untouchable.

But within the Wen family, she was just a bird whose wings hadn’t fully grown.

And the very family that should protect her was her greatest enemy.

She lived in that hostile nest, enduring everything.

Qin Huairen could relate too well.

That feeling awakened something deep inside her—a desire to protect.

Or perhaps… she was protecting her younger self.

Her resistance faded.

A longing to embrace grew within her.

Slowly, she raised her arms.

And hugged her back.

Her heart trembled violently.

This was the embrace she had longed for since childhood.

The comfort she had always wanted but never received.

A strong, warm embrace that could chase away fear and pain.

They held each other quietly.

Tears soaked into each other’s shoulders.

This was something Wen Yuzhi had never dared to dream of.

If time could stop at this moment…

But suddenly, loud sobbing broke the silence.

They both snapped back to reality.

Through the windshield, illuminated by the headlights, Yan Qing appeared—covered in mud, crying as she walked back.

Her messy hair, red eyes, and muddy clothes made her look like a character from a horror movie.

They both rushed out of the car.

“What happened?”

Yan Qing sobbed and stammered,

“Why… why didn’t you drive and follow me…”

Only then did Qin Huairen learn—

Whenever Yan Qing got upset, she would walk it off.

And Wen Yuzhi, though she wouldn’t comfort her, would follow with the car lights on.

But today, she had forgotten.

Qin Huairen was about to comfort Yan Qing when she suddenly noticed something.

“You… you cried?”

Yan Qing stared at Wen Yuzhi in shock.

She had only seen her cry twice before.

Now it was the third time.

“I’m sorry, President Wen. I shouldn’t have argued with you.”

Wen Yuzhi didn’t respond to that.

Instead, she pulled Yan Qing under the headlights and checked her injuries.

“Where did you fall? Let me see.”

Yan Qing explained she had slipped into a muddy pit while walking.

It didn’t hurt much, just a bit embarrassing.

“I was also at fault…” Wen Yuzhi said.

Both Qin Huairen and Yan Qing stared at her in disbelief.

Wen Yuzhi… admitting fault?

That was unheard of.

She frowned slightly.

“What are you two looking at?”

Qin Huairen finally snapped out of it.

This was Yan Qing.

Wen Yuzhi wouldn’t clash with her the way she did with Qin Huairen.

A strange hint of jealousy flickered inside her.

“So… can we leave now?”

Yan Qing quickly grabbed Qin Huairen.

“Don’t go. You have to judge this.”

Qin Huairen sighed.

She couldn’t just leave them like this.

On the way back, Wen Yuzhi drove.

Qin Huairen suggested going to her hotel first.

In the back seat, Yan Qing complained endlessly about Wen Yuzhi.

Her accusations were almost endless.

When Yan Qing explained what happened at the Wen family banquet, Qin Huairen realized things were worse than she thought.

At the banquet, with the old master absent, tensions rose.

Wen Yuzhi was pressured into marriage.

When she refused, Wen Heyun slapped her in front of everyone.

Qin Huairen slammed the seat angrily.

“You’re just a paper tiger! You act tough with me, but let him hit you?”

“I swear, one day I’ll beat him up myself!”

Yan Qing blinked.

“Beat him how?”

Qin Huairen quickly changed the topic.

“Was no one there to stop it?”

Yan Qing hesitated, mentioning Su Muchuan.

Qin Huairen immediately cut in,

“Don’t judge by appearances. People can fake everything.”

She spoke firmly.

Even Wen Yuzhi agreed.

Yan Qing began to waver.

“So… should we return his gifts?”

“Not yet.”

Wen Yuzhi stopped the car.

“Get out.”

Qin Huairen looked outside.

This wasn’t the hotel.

It was Swan Lake.

“Wen Yuzhi!”

Qin Huairen shouted.

“I’m hungry,” Wen Yuzhi said softly, her swollen face making her look pitiful.

“I want hotpot.”

Qin Huairen sighed.

She couldn’t resist that tone.

After getting out, Yan Qing suddenly ran back.

She whispered the truth to Qin Huairen—

She had called her using Wen Yuzhi’s phone on purpose.

Because only Qin Huairen could control her.

Before they could continue, Wen Yuzhi walked over.

“Are you done talking?”

Yan Qing immediately fled.

Qin Huairen turned around.

Wen Yuzhi was already right behind her.

“What did she tell you?”

She nudged Qin Huairen playfully.

Qin Huairen crossed her arms.

“I’m not telling you.”

Wen Yuzhi tickled her.

Qin Huairen burst into laughter, trying to dodge.

“Stop it! I’m going to get mad!”

They both laughed.

Then Qin Huairen retaliated and grabbed Wen Yuzhi’s ear.

But suddenly—

Her fingertips felt warmth.

Under the light, Wen Yuzhi’s face was flushed.

Her ears turned red as well.

Their eyes met.

Qin Huairen’s heart pounded loudly.

Then—

Wen Yuzhi spoke softly.

“I have something to say.”