Chapter 33 You Don't Deserve His Love

"What?" Su Hexi's eyes widened in disbelief. "My grandfather? Impossible! How could he... How could he let you do something like this to hurt me?!"

That was her grandfather who had held her in his hands since she was a child! Even if the family fell into poverty and had to entrust her to the Zhou family, there was no way he would let Zhou Lin possess her in this way!

Zhou Lin looked at her expression of shock and disbelief, his lips curling into an extremely bitter arc. He knew she wouldn't believe him. That gentle and refined old man, who always loved his granddaughter, held too high a profile in her heart. Telling the truth would only seem like a clumsy evasion and slander, especially since he was the one who had truly hurt her.

He fell silent, no longer trying to explain. Anyway… they'd already come this far, so what was the point in saying more? It would only add another layer of embarrassment before parting.

He took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, raised his eyes, and his gaze had returned to its previous calmness and numbness. He even asked softly with a hint of urging:

"When... shall we go to complete the formalities?"

Su Hexi's heart felt like it was soaked in sour sea water, tightening and aching.

A strange, turbulent emotion surged within her. She suddenly realized that, perhaps unconsciously, she had grown accustomed to Zhou Lin's presence. Accustomed to his silent protection, his clumsy concern, and the sense of security that he stood firmly by her side no matter how she struggled.

This habit had unknowingly turned into a dependence, and even... it had given rise to some feelings that she didn't want to delve into and couldn't explain.

But her stubbornness, affectation, and that ridiculous sense of nobility made it impossible for her to bow her head and admit that she was wrong, and admit that she might... care about him.

Zhou Lin spoke in a hoarse and heavy voice:

"What happened last night... was such a big deal that everyone in the neighborhood knew about it. Jinglin... she's an unmarried girl, and her reputation has been ruined because of me. I... I have to be responsible for her innocence."

"Responsible?" Su Hexi looked up suddenly as if burned by the word. All her chaotic emotions instantly turned into sharp sarcasm and jealousy that she herself didn't even notice. "Zhou Lin, you really like to take responsibility! You can't wait to take responsibility before you even touched her? And you touched me, took advantage of me, and now you're urging me to get a divorce?"

These words were thrown out like a knife, cutting herself as well.

Zhou Lin's face turned even paler, and he didn't know how to explain his complicated feelings.

He just felt that he could not drag her down any longer. Tang Yuelin could give her a better future, and Cai Jinglin's reputation was indeed damaged because of him.

He lowered his head, not daring to look her in the eye, and said in a clumsy voice: "Jinglin... She is not as smart as you, nor as capable as you..."

He originally meant to say that Su Hexi was strong enough and could live well without him, but when Su Hexi heard it, the meaning was completely changed.

She laughed out loud, her laughter thick with self-mockery and sadness. "Not as smart as me? You mean to say I'm calculating and will do anything to achieve my goals, right? That's right, how many people can stand someone like me who stirs up trouble and is insidious and cunning? You've really suffered a lot over the past year, enduring the disgusting wait on me."

Every word is like cutting into my heart with a knife.

"No! That's not what I meant!" Zhou Lin raised his head abruptly and tried to defend himself hastily. Looking at her eyes filled with self-mockery and pain, his heart ached violently. "Don't talk about yourself like that... You're very good... It's me who doesn't..."

"That's enough!" Su Hexi interrupted him harshly, as if she could no longer endure this mutually torturous conversation. She straightened her back, trying to maintain her last bit of pride and indifference. "From now on, you'll have some peace and quiet. Go out and wait for me. I'll change my clothes, and then we'll go and handle the paperwork."

Zhou Lin looked at her resolute expression, and all the words stuck in his throat. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists tightly, and dug his nails into his palms. He used all his strength to suppress the reluctance and pain that threatened to overwhelm him. Then he turned abruptly and strode out, as if he would collapse if he stayed a second longer.

As soon as he walked out of the shop, he saw Cai Jinglin waiting not far away, looking at him with complicated eyes.

Cai Jinglin walked forward and asked quietly, "How did your conversation go?"

Zhou Lin closed his eyes tiredly, then opened them again, his voice dry and heavy: "We are getting a divorce." He looked at Cai Jinglin, his eyes filled with pain and an almost numb sense of responsibility, "Last night... your reputation was ruined because of me. If you want me to take responsibility, I will. But I want to tell you, I don't know if I will forget her and fall in love with you in the future, but now... I love her very much..."

Cai Jinglin looked at the deep sadness and struggle in Zhou Lin's eyes, at how he didn't even hide his love for Su Hexi in front of her. Her initial resentment and jealousy suddenly transformed into a deep sense of powerlessness and... pity for him. He loved so humbly, so painfully, yet so stubbornly.

Just then, the door of the shop opened.

Su Hexi walked out. She had changed into a new outfit of her own design that perfectly complemented her temperament. She even carefully applied a touch of light makeup, making herself look as bright and charming as ever, as if she were not going for a divorce, but rather attending a grand banquet.

She immediately saw Zhou Lin and Cai Jinglin standing together at the door, and the sharp pain and jealousy in her heart surged up again. She raised the corners of her lips, revealing an extremely sarcastic sneer, and said frivolously:

"Oh, you're not avoiding suspicion anymore? It just so happens that we're getting a divorce. Sister Jinglin, why don't you come with us? Once we get the divorce certificate, you can go directly in and get the marriage certificate. It won't be so convenient if you don't make another trip."

Cai Jinglin raised her head abruptly, all her pity and complex emotions instantly ignited by these words, turning into immense humiliation and anger! She rushed forward, and before anyone could react, she raised her hand and slapped Su Hexi hard in the face!

"Pa!" The crisp sound of the slap was particularly harsh.

Su Hexi's face was knocked to one side, and a clear fingerprint instantly appeared on her fair cheek. She was stunned, and so was Zhou Lin.

"What are you doing!" Zhou Lin instinctively pulled Cai Jinglin away and stood in front of Su Hexi. He glared at her with shock and anger, his tone unprecedentedly harsh! He even subconsciously raised his hand to touch Su Hexi's face to check her injuries, but his hand froze halfway, his eyes filled with heartache.

Cai Jinglin watched Zhou Lin's subconscious act of protecting Su Hexi, saw the undisguised heartache in his eyes, and then looked at Su Hexi's face, which was still sneered with sarcasm. She felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She pointed at Su Hexi, her voice trembling with excitement, and said word by word clearly:

"Su Hexi! Look at him! Even at this time, he is still protecting you! You don't deserve his love at all!"

Su Hexi covered her face. The searing pain and Cai Jinglin's accusations had caused a crack in the fortress in her heart, but her pride prevented her from bowing her head. She sneered, hiding all her emotions beneath this cold smile:

"Yes, I don't deserve it, but you do! Okay? Now, I'm returning this undeserving person to you! I wish you a happy marriage!"