Chapter 061 Side Story: In Dreams and Reality

Chapter 061 Side Story: In Dreams and Reality

Qin Ce found out about his origins when he was eight.

Back then, his mother was still alive, suffering from severe depression, living alone in a villa to recover.

Since Qin Ce was born, he was raised by a nanny and lived with Old Master Qin. He had never lived with his biological father and rarely saw him; as for his mother, he hadn’t met her at all.

Like any child, he naturally had hopes for his parents. But after meeting his father, he no longer felt that sense of anticipation toward him and instead became curious about his mother.

However, he couldn’t visit her. Every day, he had countless lessons to complete. The old man said these were skills the Qin family heir had to master, and he was very strict.

Qin Ce had a naturally aloof personality, rarely showing expressions on his face. He was mature beyond his years—perhaps this trait came from his biological mother.

When he was eight, Old Master Qin gave him one million and tasked him with doubling the principal. If he succeeded, he would be allowed to see his biological mother.

Qin Ce had read many books since childhood, and he sensed something unusual. Why would a father-in-law control his daughter-in-law like that? It was too abnormal.

So he accepted the challenge but secretly went to see her, hiding it from everyone.

His biological mother was very thin, but she had a proud, dignified air. However, tormented by her inner demons, her expression was dark and gloomy. She seemed too oppressed.

When she saw him, she went berserk, grabbing him, hitting and cursing him, before collapsing into sobs. There was no one else in the villa; no one would hear the commotion.

“Since you gave birth to me, why do you look at me with disgust?” Qin Ce didn’t leave. He didn’t resist her beating either, letting the pain land on his body and face.

He calmly asked, which made the madwoman freeze and stare blankly at him.

That was how Qin Ce first learned the truth about his birth.

No wonder she felt disgusted. His existence was indeed repulsive.

His mother came from a family of scholars. They weren’t extremely wealthy, but they were well-off. However, his maternal grandfather was swindled and nearly ended up in prison, so she was forced to marry Qin Ce’s father.

The two had no love for each other. After marriage, they rarely shared a bed, mainly to produce an heir.

But one time, when they went back to the old mansion for dinner as usual, Qin Ce’s father got drunk and went out to his mistress, finding his wife boring, leaving her alone in the mansion.

That night, the old man went into the wrong room and raped her. Whether it was truly a mistake, no one can say.

This incident left an indelible scar on her. Worse, she was threatened and forced to endure it a second and third time. She was in agony until she got pregnant with Qin Ce.

Old Master Qin needed a worthy heir and would never let anyone sabotage his plan.

After Qin Ce was born, he took him away, raising and teaching him personally, posing as his grandfather. The child born from a carefully chosen mother would surely be molded into a formidable new head of the family.

He was half successful. But he forgot that Qin Ce was no puppet—he had a mind of his own.

After that, Qin Ce pretended to know nothing and visited his mother at the villa from time to time.

But his mother, who lived solely on hatred, had resolved to die after telling her child the truth.

She couldn’t face this life, nor could she face Qin Ce. She knew it wasn’t the child’s fault, but she still hated him.

On her deathbed, Qin Ce was finally able to stay by her side in the open. Only the two of them were in the hospital room.

“Do you want me to get revenge for you?” Qin Ce watched her life slip away and asked quietly.

Since their first meeting, he had never called her “Mom,” and she never brought it up.

He wasn’t worthy. His identity would only bring her shame. His very existence was proof of the harm she had endured.

In her final moment, as if in a brief moment of clarity, she seemed to have so much to say but couldn’t. She just stared at Qin Ce for a long time, slowly closed her eyes and let a single tear fall.

She was gone. No more breath. Such a fragile life.

Qin Ce looked at her for a long time, then silently went through the funeral rites and buried her with his own hands.

Born human, but he seemed… like the product of a demon, not truly a person.

At fifteen, Qin Ce went abroad, under the guise of further studies, and started building his own career.

Every step he took afterward was according to his plan. Those who deserved to die were dead. He himself deserved to die too.

Meeting Ji Pushu was a fluke. She left a mark on his heart. But he never expected to run into her again, and she became someone he couldn’t let go of.

Qin Ce was far too clever. Of course he knew Ji Pushu approached him with ulterior motives, saying sweetly that she liked him, but her feelings were shallow.

Yet he knowingly and willingly let himself fall.

Since she came to him willingly, there would be no chance for her to leave. There was only one choice—stay.

She never understood. She thought she could leave anytime. But some people… aren’t really human.

However, Qin Ce would never let her know that.

In his life, born with a stain, he would protect his only pure land and plant deep roots.

She was the tree, and he was the vine that clung to her for life, entwined tightly, sharing both life and death.

*

Qin Ce had a dream.

In the dream, he actually had someone he loved deeply. He would watch her smile, never taking his eyes off her.

They would hug, kiss, share the deepest intimacy, walk hand in hand with fingers laced together, enter the wedding hall, and live a happy life together.

He was like an outsider, a thief peeking at someone else’s happiness, watching them grow old together, love each other to the end, and even die together.

When he woke up, Qin Ce felt a sense of loss.

It was just a dream, but his heart felt empty, as if something needed to fill the void.

Qin Ce put down his work and retraced every step of the two in his dream, walking the same paths alone.

But he didn’t meet that person from his dream. His hands were empty. Occasionally, he would subconsciously reach out, but only caught air.

Qin Ce let out a bitter laugh. “It was just a dream.”

Yet he couldn’t pull himself out of it.

Someone like him didn’t deserve happiness anyway.

He might seem glamorous on the surface, but his soul was rotten.

Qin Ce let out a long sigh. Just as he was about to leave, he kicked a badminton ball. It rolled a few steps forward.

He stared at it for a moment, then bent down to pick it up.

“Uncle, can you give us back the ball?” Two children ran over, looking up at him with a hint of fear.

Qin Ce returned it to them. Instead of leaving, he turned to watch the badminton court, where they were playing in the sunset light.

This scene seemed to overlap with his dream again.

"Brother Ce, let's go play badminton! Dr. Zhuang said that staying at home without exercise can lead to mental health problems. You already have them, and it's really serious!"

Those words echoed in his ears, as if that person were right beside him—so vivid, and also sly.

"Okay."

Qin Ce responded subconsciously.

His eyes crinkled as he gave a faint smile.

Qin Ce thought, he must be sick—actually imagining someone accompanying him, talking to himself at home, decorating his home exactly like the dream.

But he didn't want to be treated. It was fine this way.

Sometimes living is not a reward from God, but a cruel, painful punishment.

Qin Ce never married, yet he wore a wedding ring.

He adopted a child from his mother's side.

When he was white-haired and his life was coming to an end, he instructed that they be buried together in the same tomb—just the two of them.

This time, he could stay in the dream forever.