Chapter 11: Self-Proclaimed Sacrifice
But how could she make Luo Fan let go of her?
Short of distorting or utterly destroying her image in his mind - making him believe he'd misjudged her - she could think of no better solution.
So she randomly found a seemingly wealthy and influential man to stage that scene. She hoped Luo Fan would completely misunderstand her because of it, let her go, and live his own splendid life.
Yet her lying skills before him proved painfully inadequate. The grievance and sorrow in her eyes clearly betrayed her true intentions.
In truth, from the moment she began speaking - avoiding his gaze while claiming to love another - he partially understood.
She wanted to use this method to drive him away completely.
What he couldn't forgive was precisely this, perhaps only this.
Even if she truly loved money, he might have overlooked it.
What was money? He could earn it.
But she wasn't after wealth - she was forcibly pushing him away. Regardless of her reasons, he found this unbearable.
That's why he left in disappointment, not knowing what words could retrieve her or alter her choice.
But he thought it didn't matter. He could wait. Wait until she regretted losing him. Wait until she returned.
Because he believed if she truly loved him, she would inevitably come back.
Instead, what came was her complete disappearance.
She blocked all his contacts, changed her phone number, and moved to a new apartment.
He felt she'd left their shared hometown entirely, hiding somewhere he could never find.
During this time, countless texts sank without response. Endless calls rang unanswered. Numerous emails vanished into void.
He grew decadent, melancholic, and indifferent.
He shut himself away, sealing his heart completely. No love remained - only indifference and resentment.
She had entered his frozen world like spring breeze, bringing smiles and warmth that made his life blossom. Yet she ultimately withdrew like a knife from flesh, leaving wounds that gushed blood - how could this not hurt? How could it not ache?
Did he lack a heart? Was she the only one capable of pain?
He wanted to demand: When abandoning their love, why didn't she consider his feelings? Why didn't she realize he wasn't stone, but living flesh - equally vulnerable to heartbreak?
Eventually, emerging from self-isolation, he obeyed his mother's wishes to study abroad.
With complex emotions gone, he reasoned he should build a career - life needed ups and downs to have flavor.
Overseas, he studied relentlessly, sometimes collapsing from exhaustion-induced neurasthenia.
Only through constant busyness could he avoid remembering past joys, the girl who brought both happiness and sorrow, delight and anger.
Initially abroad, he had no friends or compatriots.
Facing cold and loneliness alone, he closed his heart further.
He ultimately became an exceptional corporate leader, but lost all youthful sunshine, vitality, warmth, and optimism.
How could he not hate Yun Xinyu? How could hatred not consume him?
Without her, he might never have become this version of himself.
Re-experiencing loneliness after knowing warmth felt like falling from heaven to hell - the cruelest injury of all.
She never understood: he never wanted noble sacrifices, unmatched status, or wealth.
Only simple warmth - the happiness she'd once given.
Even mundane married life would suffice, so long as they were together.
Now everything differed.
No domestic simplicity remained, only hollow extravagance. No love endured - merely the last ember of resentment.
(End of Chapter)
