Chapter 114 The only one

The letter was still clutched in Yun Zhan's hand, its edges crumpled from being squeezed.

She didn't want it to end so hastily; at the very least... she wanted to say goodbye properly.

If we can resolve Pei Yanxi's inner conflict, that would be the best outcome.

Yun Zhan stood up, haphazardly stuffed the documents and letters into her bag, and rushed out of the classroom. She had to find Pei Yanxi and make things clear to her; she couldn't let this relationship end in such a decisive way.

The board of directors' office is located on the top floor of the administration building, and it is rarely visited on weekdays.

Yun Zhan ran until he was out of breath, his palms were sweaty, and when he got to the office door, his hand was trembling slightly as he knocked.

She pushed the door hard, but it wouldn't budge, and the cold metal doorknob hurt her fingertips.

The door was locked.

"Senior!"

Yun Zhan called out against the door, his voice trembling with urgency, "Senior Pei, are you inside?"

The office was silent; there was no response.

Undeterred, Yun Zhan raised his hand and knocked on the door again.

The thumping sound echoed in the empty corridor, sounding particularly abrupt.

"Senior, I know you're inside. Can I come in and say a few words to you?"

After a long while, just when Yun Zhan thought no one was inside, a cold voice finally came from inside the door, without any emotional fluctuation: "You can leave now. I've given you everything I could."

The voice was cold... just like the tone Pei Yanxi would use when they first met.

Yun Zhan gripped the doorknob, his voice pleading, "Senior, I don't want those things. I just want to say a few words to you. I don't want us to end up like this..."

Silence fell again inside the door, with only faint, muffled breathing sounds confirming that the person inside was still there.

Yun Zhan held his breath, staring intently at the door, his heart filled with anticipation.

After a long silence, a long sigh echoed in the office, a sigh filled with weariness and utter relief: "We... have nothing more to say."

After a pause, Pei Yanxi's voice rang out again, even colder than before.

"From the moment you chose Wen Sixue, it was already over between us."

She pressed herself against the door, and in the instant she lowered her eyes, her eyes turned red.

Last night, Shi Mingyue was like this, and now Pei Yanxi is like this too... What should she do...?

The wind in the corridor blew in through the cracks in the window, carrying a chill that made her feel cold all over. Pei Yanxi's cold and silent attitude made it almost impossible for her to breathe.

There was no sound from the office anymore, only deathly silence, as Pei Yanxi silently drove her away.

Yun Zhan stood at the door, knocking countless times and calling out "Senior Sister" countless times, but received no response.

She knew that Pei Yanxi was truly letting go this time, and she had ultimately lost the person who had given her everything.

A very soft sigh suddenly came from inside the door, filled with undisguised weariness, breaking the silence.

"I never thought I would lose to Wen Sixue."

Pei Yanxi's voice came through the door, less cold than before, and more hoarse and fragile.

"No... Actually, I've never really admitted it until now."

"Yun Zhan... your taste really... isn't very good..."

Yun Zhan stopped in her tracks, her heart clenching. She pressed herself against the door, even holding her breath, afraid of missing a single word.

"Your choice of Wen Sixue really makes me feel very frustrated."

Pei Yanxi's voice carried a self-deprecating laugh, yet it made one's heart ache.

“I, Pei Yanxi, have lived for so many years and have never failed to get what I wanted. This is the first time I have tasted the bitterness of failure.”

These words were like a fine needle, gently pricking Yun Zhan's heart. She opened her mouth, wanting to apologize, but didn't know what to say.

Pei Yanxi inside the door didn't seem to expect a response from her. She just continued talking, her tone gradually softening, as if she were confiding in Yun Zhan, or as if she were making peace with herself: "I gave you those things not to sever ties with you, nor as compensation."

She paused, her voice becoming more serious: "It's because I acknowledge you, and acknowledge the fact that I once loved you. No matter who you choose in the end, no matter whether you end up with Wen Sixue or not, I will not deny you, nor will I deny this relationship."

Yun Zhan's tears finally fell, landing softly on the cold floor.

In truth, Yun Zhan understood that Pei Yanxi had given her so much money...

It's not just about paying the price for my own emotions, it's also about her...

Behind those seemingly cold assets lies Pei Yanxi's most tender heart.

Meanwhile, Pei Yanxi, who was inside the door, had her face buried in her palms, and no one could see the redness in her eyes.

Xue Qi was beside her when the property transfer agreement was signed.

Xue Qi frowned and asked her, "You've already broken up, why are you giving her so much money? Even if it's a breakup fee, it shouldn't be that high, right?"

Pei Yanxi signed the documents without making a sound. She leaned back in her chair and stared at the pile of documents: "These properties, funds, stocks... I prepared them on my own initiative. Wen Sixue's family is of ordinary means. I was afraid that Wen Sixue could not give Yun Zhan a stable life, and I was also worried that Yun Zhan would suffer injustice in the future."

"These things should be enough for Yun Zhan to live on for a lifetime. In this life, I will ensure she has no worries about food and clothing and never has to worry about money."

Pei Yanxi didn't voice her remaining thoughts, nor would she ever voice them again.

Proud as she is, even if she has something on her mind, she doesn't want anyone to know the tenderness hidden behind it.

"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say."

Pei Yanxi's voice returned to calm, carrying a final resolve.

"Go away, and don't come looking for me again."

Silence fell over the corridor once more. Yun Zhan stood at the doorway, tears streaming silently down her face. She knew that this time, Pei Yanxi was truly leaving her world forever, and this farewell filled with lingering affection would become a permanent regret in her heart.

Time passed second by second, and Yun Zhan never left. Only the occasional trembling of her shoulders betrayed her suppressed emotions.

Just then, Pei Yanxi, who was inside the door, spoke again, her tone a few degrees colder than before.

What are you still standing there for?

Pei Yanxi continued, "You're Wen Sixue's girlfriend now. What kind of person are you to stay here with an 'outsider' like me for so long?"

She paused, a hint of weariness in her voice: "Don't hurt your lover, Yun Zhan, this is the last thing I can tell you."

Yun Zhan's eyes reddened even more, and his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, so he couldn't even finish saying "I know".

"besides."

Pei Yanxi's voice suddenly softened: "Wen Sixue's family background is terrible, and she lacks security more than you think. Since you chose her, treat her well and don't let her suffer."

"Waaaaah, even in this state, Senior Pei is still thinking of you. Yun Zhan, you big bad guy." 21 sobbed a few times. Senior Pei's sincerity is truly admirable!

But Pei Yanxi, inside the door, suddenly froze after saying those words...

After saying those words to Yun Zhan, Pei Yanxi unconsciously thought of herself.

It seems that her family of origin wasn't much better. Those hypocritical elders, on the surface, were all concerned about her well-being, but behind her back, they were scheming against each other for the sake of family interests. On several occasions, they even tried to use "accidents" to pull her down from her position as heir and make her disappear completely.

The phrase "family of origin" acted like a key, unlocking a box of memories that Pei Yanxi was unwilling to touch...

She vaguely thought that her own family of origin wasn't much better, and was even more complicated than Wen Sixue's situation.

At least Wen Sixue still has people who genuinely care about her, whereas when she was a child, she was surrounded only by scheming and manipulation.

This daze lasted only a moment, and Pei Yanxi quickly came back to her senses.

"I've said everything I needed to say."

"Go quickly, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

...

As Yun Zhan walked out of the administration building's corridor, he stopped, raised his hand, and vigorously wiped his cheeks, erasing the remaining tears.

The touch of her fingertips on her cool skin calmed her chaotic thoughts a little.

Yun Zhan took a deep breath, raised his head, and muttered to himself, "Since I chose Wen Sixue in the first place, I shouldn't hesitate here anymore, and I shouldn't regret it."

"Actually, I've never regretted choosing Wen Sixue."

Wen Sixue always wears simple clothes, yet she handles everything perfectly.

She had two thousand yuan on her and was willing to buy herself a gift worth over a thousand yuan...

Wen Sixue is not good with words, but when she breaks down, she will support her with the gentlest hug.

She is a very good girl, so good that she cannot be measured by material possessions or appearance.

Wen Sixue's affection was filled with unreserved sincerity and tolerance.

This affection is absolutely no less than that between Shi Mingyue and Pei Yanxi.

Yun Zhan straightened her back, raised her hand to tidy her slightly messy hair, and turned to walk towards the classroom.

"It's good that you can understand. All three female protagonists in this world are outstanding... You can't bring yourself to hurt any of them."

21 thought about it and realized that no matter what choice was made, it would be wrong and would make people sad.

The wind in the corridor still carried a chill...

Yun Zhan touched the letter Pei Yanxi had written in his pocket, silently saying "thank you" and "goodbye" in his heart.

Her past with Pei Yanxi should come to an end, while her future with Wen Sixue has just begun.

As Yun Zhan approached the entrance of the teaching building, he saw Wen Sixue standing in the corridor, holding her textbooks and anxiously looking towards the administration building.

Upon seeing Yun Zhan, Wen Sixue's eyes lit up instantly. She rushed over, her voice filled with worry: "Where did you go? I've been looking for you for so long."

Yun Zhan looked at her reddened eyes, reached out and took her hand, and said softly, "I'm sorry for making you worry. Let's go back. I won't make you wait this long again."

Wen Sixue was taken aback for a moment, then gave a gentle smile: "Okay."

Wen Sixue held her hand tightly, refusing to let go. A thin layer of sweat had formed on her palm...

You must be very nervous...

When he went to find Pei Yanxi himself.

Despite feeling uneasy, he didn't come directly to take her away.

Yun Zhan knew there might be regrets in the future, but she would not waver. She had chosen Wen Sixue, and she would spend her whole life protecting this hard-won relationship...