Chapter 135 No Turning Back

But she jumped in without hesitation, like a moth drawn to a flame.

But now, everyone thinks she's an unreasonable, petty, crazy woman.

On the contrary, Fang Xiaolin, the one who really did the bad thing, seemed like an innocent victim.

With tears in his eyes, his simple statement, "I just wanted to make her happy," easily won him sympathy.

"OK."

Qiao Wanyin spoke as coldly as the wind, without a trace of warmth.

Her gaze was fixed on Meng Zhiyuan's face.

"Since you've made up your mind, I have nothing more to say. It's your freedom to believe whoever you want and go with whoever you want."

She gave Meng Zhiyuan one last look, her eyes filled with heartache and deep helplessness.

"I just hope that by the time you realize what kind of person he is, it won't be too late to turn back."

Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

After saying that, she strode away without looking back.

"Miss Meng..."

Fang Xiaolin spoke in a low voice, her eyes revealing just the right amount of worry.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't expect things to turn out like this. I just wanted to... get to know more of your friends, but I ended up embarrassing you instead."

Meng Zhiyuan stood frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the doorway where Qiao Wanyin had disappeared.

Her mind suddenly went blank; she had no thoughts at all.

No...it's not your problem.

She replied blankly, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

She had no idea what she was answering; she was just instinctively trying to prove that she was right.

Fang Xiaolin thoughtfully handed her a handkerchief, the clean white fabric folded neatly.

"Wipe your hands. Your fingers got wet when you were serving tea."

"Sister Qiao may have just been in a bad mood and said something harsh. Don't take it too seriously."

His tone was gentle, with a soothing rhythm.

"Once the anger subsides, we can all make up again. You've had a relationship for so many years, how can it just end like this?"

When Meng Zhiyuan's fingertips touched the soft fabric, he suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

She wiped her fingers blankly, her movements mechanical and slow.

But all he could think about was Qiao Wanyin's desperate look from earlier.

Sister Wanyin, why can't you trust me just this once?

Ever since that argument at the teahouse, Meng Zhiyuan has been deliberately avoiding Qiao Wanyin.

She dared not meet her gaze; it was like a thorn stuck in her heart, impossible to pull out or escape.

They hadn't seen each other for seven whole days.

"Zishu, come down for dinner!"

Her mother called out to her from downstairs.

"They're here."

She responded softly, but remained seated on the edge of the bed.

These days, Fang Xiaolin has taken her to many high-end restaurants that she never dared to enter before.

Every meeting is like opening a door I've never seen before.

Fresh, mysterious, and with a dizzying allure.

She felt both anticipation and a vague sense of panic, as if she were standing on clouds and could fall at any moment.

"Sister Wanyin..."

Meng Zhiyuan murmured the name.

But as soon as those three words left my mouth, it felt like an invisible hand had clenched my heart, causing a dull, aching pain.

"Sister Wanyin is really stubborn."

She looked at herself in the mirror and muttered something to herself.

"Mr. Lin is such a considerate person. He broadened my horizons, spoke gently, and was good to me. What's wrong with him?"

She refused to admit that the words "you've changed" were etched into her heart like a knife.

She didn't want to recall the last look in Qiao Wanyin's eyes when she looked at her; it was so painful, so cold.

At the same time, Qiao Wanyin was standing under the old locust tree at the entrance of the military compound.

She was clutching a letter in her hand.

The words on the letter were written by her stroke by stroke last night.

I wrote and erased, erased and wrote again, for a full four hours.

But she didn't know how to send it out, and she wasn't sure if Meng Zhiyuan would even look at it.

So she decided to wait.

She's been standing here for almost two hours.

My legs are a little sore, and my temples are throbbing slightly.

"Director Qiao, are you waiting for Zishu again?"

Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, came out of the duty room and handed her a cup of cold tea.

"I haven't seen her at all these past few days, and I heard she hardly ever comes home for meals."

Qiao Wanyin forced a smile and reached out to take the cup of cold tea.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

She spoke softly, her voice slightly hoarse.

Just then, she saw a dark green jeep slowly approaching.

With the car window half open, she glanced around and immediately recognized Meng Zhiyuan in the passenger seat.

She turned her head to the side and smiled at Fang Xiaolin, who was driving.

"Zi Shu!"

Qiao Wanyin blurted out, with a hint of urgency that she herself didn't even realize.

Meng Zhiyuan, who was in the car, suddenly stiffened, and his shoulders seemed to tremble.

She must have heard it, but she didn't turn around.

She simply lowered her head slightly and continued talking to Fang Xiaolin.

Qiao Wanyin stood frozen in place, her body seemingly nailed to the spot, unable to move.

She looked down at the unopened letter in her hand, her eyes gradually dimming.

"Zishu, Zishu, you're willing to throw away our sisterhood of so many years for a man?"

She murmured to herself, her voice filled with deep disappointment and bitterness.

"Director Qiao..."

Old Zhang stood to the side, seemingly wanting to say something.

But seeing her pale face, he swallowed his words.

"It's alright, Uncle Zhang."

Qiao Wanyin slowly raised her head and forced a smile.

"I'll come another day."

Inside the car, Fang Xiaolin looked at the increasingly smaller figure in the rearview mirror, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Did someone just call you?

He asked casually.

Meng Zhiyuan's eyes flickered, and he shook his head somewhat flusteredly, "No...no, you must have misheard, there shouldn't be anyone there."

Fang Xiaolin didn't ask any further questions and simply said "Oh".

Then his tone became lighter: "I'm taking you to a special place today. I had someone bring back a few records from France, all limited editions, I'm sure you'll like them."

"real?"

Meng Zhiyuan's eyes lit up immediately. "Is it the new piece by that French pianist you mentioned? The one that premiered in Paris last year?"

"You got it right."

Fang Xiaolin turned to look at her, her eyes full of tenderness.

He reached out and gently covered her hand, which was resting on her knee; his palm was warm.

Meng Zhiyuan's face flushed red, but he didn't pull his hand away. Instead, he unconsciously squeezed it back.

In that instant, she felt like a girl in a fairy tale, being quietly led by the hand of her beloved.

The jeep slowly came to a stop in front of a small white house.

Fang Xiaolin turned his head and looked at her intently.

"Zishu, I like you. I liked you from the first time I saw you."

These words were like a bomb that suddenly exploded in Meng Zhiyuan's mind, and his heart began to race.

She had never been in a relationship before, and hearing such a direct confession made her feel like she had been electrocuted.

As Fang Xiaolin's face drew closer and closer, just as their lips were about to touch...

Suddenly, the shrill ring of the telephone cleaved through the ambiguous atmosphere like a sharp blade.

Fang Xiaolin frowned, clearly annoyed by the interruption, and got up to answer the phone.