After I uttered these words of "self-justification," Yang Sisi's eyes seemed to shoot flames that could turn me, this immoral man, into ashes... She pointed at me and said, "Look me in the eyes, and then say it again."

"Do you feel that I have overturned the image you had of me?"

Yang Sisi's face flushed red and then paled, clearly shaken by the immense emotional turmoil... But the next moment, she shook her head firmly and said to me, "I don't believe it... You're definitely not that kind of man... You're the man I, Yang Sisi, have chosen. I know your character better than anyone... Yes, there's so much infidelity and betrayal in this world, but you wouldn't... Although you've never stood up for me, you wouldn't do that for Ye Zhi... So, in all these years I've been by your side, you've never done anything to me... I'm a very confident woman... You even let me go... How could I possibly give up my determination to wait for someone for another woman..."

"Everyone has moments when they want to let loose."

"You don't need to say so much... What do you think I'm doing by your side without complaint?... Do you think I'm waiting for a man who would choose self-indulgence for a moment of pleasure?... Don't be ridiculous, I'm not that bad at judging people... Only you think I'm stupid, but in other people's eyes, I'm quite clever."

I remain silent.

Yang Sisi continued, "I really know you too well... So, I think Lu Jia did this, and to protect her reputation, you took the blame yourself... Your parents must have believed it, they said a lot of hurtful things to you, and you broke down... So you started hurting yourself... And then, that's what I saw... Ha, thinking about it this way, everything makes sense... I'm not wrong, if you really made a mistake, you wouldn't have the nerve to throw such a tantrum... Also, your actions in protecting Lu Jia are very admirable!"

I looked up at Yang Sisi and even suspected that she had disemboweled me and looked into my heart.

Am I right?

My heart was filled with mixed feelings. After a moment of contemplation, I finally asked Yang Sisi in a low voice, "Was what I did wrong?"

“If Lu Jia knows how to be grateful to you, then it’s not so bad… I’m afraid everyone will blame you, and in the end, even Lu Jia herself will feel that you betrayed her… You should know that it’s human nature to blame others for mistakes.”

“I don’t need Lu Jia to be grateful to me. I just hope we can part amicably… She’s a woman, and her reputation is much more important than mine. I’ll take responsibility for this.”

"Aren't you being a little too naive!?... Your personality of always putting others first will make you suffer a lot."

"I don't always put others first... I only care about those who are currently or have been around me... I hope everyone is well... I'm not a saint, so back then..."

When Jiulongju was reaping wealth, even at the expense of so many people, I didn't hold back... In fights, I'm always the most ruthless one... The only people I care about are those around me... Do you understand?

"I understand."

"It's good that you understand... If my parents could understand me like this, I wouldn't have to be so troubled... To be honest, when my dad said those things to me today, I really hated him...!"

"Michael, never hate your parents."

Looking at Yang Sisi's serious face, I couldn't believe these words came from her mouth, because when I first met her, she was the one who rebelled against her parents the most.

"Do you find it unbelievable that I'm saying this?"

"It's quite incredible."

"Don't forget, I've also experienced the ups and downs of my family... It was during that time that I realized how hard my dad's life had been..."

After a brief pause, Yang Sisi spoke to me earnestly, "Michael, remember what I told you... With parents alive, life still has a source; without parents, life only has a destination... So, while you can still be with them, never hate them... They may not understand you sometimes, but they are the ones who want the best for you the most... If what you and Lu Jia are going to do really damage your family's relationship... then don't keep it from her... You didn't do anything wrong; she betrayed you again!"

Looking at Yang Sisi, I suddenly realized that she had truly matured; she now understood many principles that even I didn't.

But I still didn't answer her directly. I just changed the subject and said to her, "Could you take me out for a walk?... Everyone thinks I should rest and recuperate, but I really can't stand the air here!"

...

Yang Sisi was a different person from others. With a little trick, she fooled the nurse, then took my crutch, helped me, and we escaped outside the ward... We hailed a taxi and headed towards the ancient city.

...

Leaving the hospital wasn't just to get some fresh air; I also had a selfish reason... I needed to explain things to An'an in person, otherwise she would be very upset. First, she would feel that she had trusted the wrong person, and second, she would feel heartbroken about being the other woman.

Being a mistress is indeed immoral... but to me, she's just a friend who cares about me a lot, so I don't want her to be implicated because of my messy affairs.

If one day she is condemned by others for being a mistress, I will not defend her... This is my value system. She has to bear the consequences of her own mistakes; I have to bear the consequences of my own mistakes... One thing at a time.

...

After learning the whole story, Yang Sisi understood me, but she still said some sarcastic things, saying that my knowing An'an was a sign of me being promiscuous... and that I couldn't live without women around me.

But she herself clearly has many male friends with whom she gets along well; Dali is a place with this kind of atmosphere, where people make friends, drink together, and don't really care about gender.

...

Because I didn't want Yang Sisi to know that An'an was a mistress, I asked Yang Sisi to wait for me outside the apartment complex, while I, leaning on my crutches, went to An'an's building and called her to come down and talk...

It was really inconvenient for me to go up there because the building she lived in didn't have an elevator. Although it only had three floors, it was still quite difficult for me.

(End of this chapter)