After driving Jian Zihan back to her hotel, I went to the hotel where Lao Mi and my mother were staying. Even at this point, the conversation between Jian Zihan and me kept echoing in my mind... These words not only made me more conflicted, but also made me miss Ye Zhi even more.

I knocked on the door, and to my surprise, it was Lu Jia who opened it for me, which was a bit unexpected, since I had been outside for quite a while.

My mom spoke first, saying to me, "Thank goodness Lu Jia came to chat with us... It was so boring in the hotel!"

"If you're feeling bored, go for a walk in the old town."

"It's so late, and there are no buses running. It's not worth wasting money on a taxi."

As I sat down on the sofa, I placed the fruit I had bought on the way onto the coffee table, then turned to Old Mi and said, "Dad, the hospital for your nasal surgery has been arranged. Arrive at the hospital at 8:30 tomorrow morning for routine checkups, and then the surgery..."

"Um...do we need to be hospitalized?"

"Yes, stay for a week... Tomorrow morning, I'll go to the supermarket to buy you daily necessities... I've already arranged everything else."

Lu Jia picked up where I left off and said, "I'll go to the supermarket to buy daily necessities... You stay at the hospital with your uncle."

"It's okay, I'll go when I have surgery, it won't be a problem."

"With you at the hospital with me, Uncle feels most at ease... Don't argue with me about this!"

In my opinion, Lu Jia should not be involved in this matter under any circumstances. I looked at Lao Mi and my mother, but neither of them expressed their opinion... This further confirmed my thoughts. Although they did not "force" me, they really wanted me to get back together with Lu Jia.

Finally, my mother spoke up. She said, "Let Lu Jia buy the daily necessities... I don't understand the local dialect very well. If you stay at the hospital, you can handle any situation promptly. Don't let anything go wrong."

I glanced at Lu Jia and then nodded.

The atmosphere was a bit somber, as if everyone had something on their mind but couldn't bring themselves to say it.

...

After a long silence, I finally spoke: "I have to get up early tomorrow morning, so I'm going back to rest first. You guys should rest early too... Lu Jia, are you coming with me, or what?"

"I'll take a taxi back myself. I need to go to Xiaguan to buy some things later, so I won't make you take a detour."

My mother and I both disagreed and insisted that I give Lu Jia a ride...

Lu Jia was right. In Lao Mi's and my mother's hearts, she was indeed the most ideal daughter-in-law candidate. Therefore, their words and actions revealed their protection and favoritism towards her.

I won't be disgusted with Lu Jia because of this, but I am really sad... because it means that they have never truly accepted Ye Zhi from the bottom of their hearts, even though I once brought Ye Zhi into my home.

...

On the street, where all the streetlights were on, I drove Lu Jia towards Xiaguan. Lu Jia spoke up, saying to me, "Don't you want to know at all what I talked about with your parents?"

I focused on passing the truck in front of me before replying, "If you want me to know, you'll tell me even without me asking."

"Don't worry, I didn't say a single thing that I shouldn't have."

"Um."

In the brief silence, I sped up. I wanted to end this chaotic night as soon as possible. I desperately needed some private space where I could calm down...

Right now, I seem to have no choices, yet I am full of choices, and each of these choices troubles me.

In the blink of an eye, the car passed another bus stop. Lu Jia finally broke the silence and said to me, "Michael, could you pull over for a bit? I want to have a good talk with you."

"What's wrong?"

"Can you move aside?"

I glanced at Lu Jia; her emotions were fluctuating wildly. I didn't know what was affecting her, so, with these doubts in mind, I found a relatively safe place, parked the car, and turned on the hazard lights at the same time.

I looked at her; her face flickered in and out with the changing lights, making her very enigmatic.

She lowered her head, and after a moment, whispered, "Do you know? Before the night we broke up... Wang Lei found me."

"I heard from Peach, what exactly did you two talk about?"

I asked her seemingly calmly, but I couldn't help feeling nervous inside... And this night was really a bit 'mysterious,' as if many mysteries were about to be revealed all at once under such a night sky.

Lu Jia looked up at me... I saw the corners of her mouth trembling...

She finally spoke to me, saying, "She told me to leave you... She told me that you were living a very painful and insecure life back then, and that it was all my fault... She asked me to let you two be together, saying that she truly loved you..."

I looked at Lu Jia, my heart churning with turmoil, but I still replied with skepticism, "Wang Lei is gone... How can you expect me to believe what you're saying?"

"Whether you believe it or not... please let me finish what I have to say, okay?"

I lit a cigarette and then rolled down the car window.

Lu Jia shifted her gaze from me, then stared blankly at the guardrail in front of her, lost in thought for a moment…

After a moment, with a strong sense of loss, she said, "We were together for over three years, and you probably don't even know me that well... I always pretend to be a decisive and intelligent woman, but deep down, I'm more indecisive than anyone else... So, the night we broke up, I said a lot of heartless and cold-blooded things to you... but I still ended up in your bed, and after you left, I was so heartbroken I felt like I was going to break down..."

Tears welled in Lu Jia's eyes. She clutched her clothes tightly, her emotions spiraling out of control. She sobbed as she told me, "I really hate myself for being so hesitant and self-righteous... If I had stuck to my own beliefs back then... Wang Lei might not have died in that accident... I feel so sorry for you, and for Wang Lei. So even though you came to Dali, I didn't dare come to see you. I only dared to secretly care for you through other people's stories... I was so self-righteous, thinking love was about sacrifice, but I wasn't that noble at all... I made one mistake after another, finally driving myself to the brink... I know you really don't love me anymore... But if I could choose again, I would rather die than let you go... I don't want to lose you, not because you're so great now... but because I truly love you, and that has never changed!"

Lu Jia leaned on my shoulder, her tears quickly soaking it. Her fingers dug deep into my flesh, seemingly punishing me, but more like punishing herself.

Her sobs broke my heart... I wished I could split myself into two people, one willing to die to follow Ye Zhi, and the other to go back to a year ago and, undeterred by difficulties, continue my love with Lu Jia.

This feeling is truly painful... I want to chat with more like-minded people about "My Tenant Miss." Follow "Youdu Literature" on WeChat to read the novel, discuss life, and find kindred spirits~