Chapter 805: Boulder Waves
This accident, like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, caused huge waves and completely shattered his life which had just begun to calm down. The past that he could not bear to recall also came flooding back like a tide, plunging him into endless pain and confusion.
In the corridor, the dim light stretched the figures of Qi Tongwei and Gao Xiaoqin distorted and long, and the child's cry seemed particularly abrupt in this silent space. Qi Tongwei's hands fell weakly, and he looked at Gao Xiaoqin, his eyes full of struggle and pain.
"Xiaoqin, you said this child is mine. How old is she...?" Qi Tongwei's voice was hoarse and trembling, as if every word carried a thousand pounds of weight.
Gao Xiaoqin gently stroked the child's head, with a hint of tenderness in her eyes: "Tongwei, she is three years old. Three years ago, on that rainy night, do you still remember?"
Qi Tongwei's thoughts were instantly pulled back to three years ago. It was a stormy night. He was upset because of the setbacks at work and the quarrel with Liang Lu, and wandered alone on the street. In a small bar, he met Gao Xiaoqin. Gao Xiaoqin's smile and comfort made him find a brief comfort at that moment. They talked a lot about ideals, life, and those dreams crushed by reality.
"After that night, I found out I was pregnant. I knew you had a family, and I wanted to give birth to the child alone so as not to embarrass you." Gao Xiaoqin's voice was low and helpless, "But it's really hard for me to be alone. The child needs a father."
Qi Tongwei's head was buzzing, and the memories of that night came flooding back. He remembered that he drank a lot of wine and Gao Xiaoqin's gentleness, but he never thought there would be such a consequence. "Xiaoqin, why didn't you tell me at the beginning?" There was a hint of complaint in his tone.
"I don't want to destroy your family. I know your marriage with Liang Lu was hard-earned." Gao Xiaoqin's tears fell. "I asked you to leave and never come back. I thought I could handle everything by myself."
Qi Tongwei felt mixed emotions, and he thought of Cuicui. Cuicui was a woman he met during another period of confusion, and they had a short relationship. When he decided to return to his family, Cuicui chose to leave quietly. He thought everything was over, but he didn't expect that fate would play such a trick on him.
"What about Cuicui? Who is she?" Qi Tongwei's voice was a little excited. "You know that she and I..."
"I know, but who can tell clearly about love?" Gao Xiaoqin's eyes flashed with pain. "I can't help myself. I thought I could let you go and live a good life, but the appearance of the child changed everything."
Qi Tongwei felt dizzy. He leaned against the wall and slowly squatted down, holding his head in his hands. He had just been freed from the debt crisis and thought that life could finally return to peace, but he didn't expect to fall into such an emotional whirlpool again. He thought of the days when he ran around to pay off his debts and the fierce eyes of the creditors. That week seemed like a nightmare. And now, this nightmare seems to be continuing.
"Tongwei, I know this is very sudden for you, but the child is innocent." Gao Xiaoqin squatted down and gently held Qi Tongwei's hand, "She needs a complete family."
Qi Tongwei raised his head and looked at the child in Gao Xiaoqin's arms. The child was looking at him with a pair of bright eyes, full of ignorance and curiosity. His heart suddenly clenched. That was his biological daughter. How could he bear to let her grow up without a father?
"Xiaoqin, let me think about it. I really don't know what to do." Qi Tongwei's voice was full of helplessness and pain. "What should I say to Liang Lu? She and I just went through this debt crisis together, and our relationship has just eased a little."
Gao Xiaoqin bit her lip and said, "I know this is difficult, but we can't escape it anymore. Maybe we can find a suitable time to have a frank talk with Liang Lu."
Qi Tongwei smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You don't know Liang Lu. She is a proud woman. How can she tolerate such a thing? Once she knows, this family will be completely finished."
The corridor fell silent again, with only the child's breathing and occasional whispers breaking the silence. Qi Tongwei's mind was in a mess. He thought of his marriage life with Liang Lu over the years, the quarrels, the cold wars, and the days that seemed calm but were actually turbulent. He chose to compromise and endure for the sake of power and status, but now all this seems to have become meaningless.
He thought of Gao Xiaoqin again, and their previous encounter and that unexpected night. It's not that he didn't have feelings for Gao Xiaoqin, but these feelings seemed so fragile and vulnerable in the face of reality. And Cuicui, the gentle and kind woman, he once thought he could bring her happiness, but in the end he failed her.
"Tongwei, no matter what decision you make, I respect you." Gao Xiaoqin said softly, "I just hope the child can have a good future."
Qi Tongwei stood up and took a deep breath: "Xiaoqin, give me some time, I will handle this matter." He looked at Gao Xiaoqin, his eyes full of determination, but also a hint of confusion.
Gao Xiaoqin nodded, holding the child and turned away. Qi Tongwei looked at her back, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He knew that from this moment on, his life would once again fall into a storm, and at the center of this storm were his inescapable responsibilities and inescapable emotions.
When she returned home, Liang Lu was watching TV in the living room. When she saw Qi Tongwei come in, she put down the remote control in her hand and said, "Where have you been so late?" There was a hint of concern in her tone.
Qi Tongwei forced a smile: "Something happened, so I went out to deal with it." He didn't dare look Liang Lu in the eye, for fear that she would see through his panic.
Liang Lu seemed to notice his abnormality. She stood up and walked to Qi Tongwei: "What's wrong with you? Did something happen again?"
Qi Tongwei shook his head: "It's okay, just a little tired." He walked into the bedroom, closed the door, leaned against the door and slid down slowly, tears finally bursting out. He didn't know how to face Liang Lu, how to face this family that was about to break up, and he didn't know how to give Gao Xiaoqin and the child an explanation.
On this quiet night, Qi Tongwei lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.
The pale wall was like a huge curtain, reflecting his chaotic life. Outside the window, the hustle and bustle of the city gradually died down, but his heart was like a surging tide that could not be calmed down.