Chapter 120 Meng Huaiyan's Confession
Chapter 120 Meng Huaiyan's Confession
"Are you really willing to give up the power and status you've worked so hard to obtain?"
Meng Huaiyan did not answer immediately. He looked down at Shen Tang with an unprecedented seriousness in his eyes.
His gaze was so heavy and serious that Chen Tang felt she couldn't bear it. She tried to turn her head away, but Meng Huaiyan held her face and held her still.
"If I told you I didn't love power and status, that would be a lie. But I don't want to lie to you now. I've struggled for over twenty years to finally reach my current position. Only I know the hardships and bitterness I've endured along the way."
"It's true that I love power and status, but I love you even more."
“Chen Tang, I can distinguish between what is important and what is not. I know that it is difficult to have both in this world, but if you have to choose between other things.”
"I will choose you without hesitation."
Meng Huaiyan gently stroked her eyebrows and eyes, his eyes filled with undisguised passion and love, and said.
“Chen Tang, I know that I have a despicable character, I am unscrupulous, I am not gentle or generous, I have many flaws, and I am not a qualified husband.”
"I've said many things against my conscience in my life, but it's true that I want to be good to you, and it's also true that I love you."
Meng Huaiyan rarely spoke such heartfelt words in his life, in fact, he never did. He found it difficult to say them, and the words he once wanted to say to Shen Tang were ultimately swallowed back down.
He thought he would never tell her what was on his mind.
But today, those words that he was once ashamed to say have finally reached Shen Tang's ears firmly and clearly after five long years.
“Do you know? If I hadn’t met you in Nancheng this time, perhaps in a year or two, when Meng Huaili had fully taken over the heavy responsibility of being the head of the Meng family, I would have followed you and the child in death.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang's lips trembled uncontrollably, and she looked at him with disbelief in her eyes.
Meng Huaiyan?! He actually...thought about dying...?
How could someone so cold-blooded, ruthless, and capable of weighing pros and cons, who would stop at nothing to gain power, have such a foolish idea?
She knew he liked her to some extent, but she always thought that his feelings for her were more of a possessive obsession and resentment.
After her "death," his feelings for her will gradually fade, and he will eventually marry a wife of equal social standing, dignified and virtuous, and then live a peaceful life with one or two children.
And she will eventually be forgotten by him in the long river of time.
But now, he tells her... he wants to follow her in death...
Shen Tang's belief completely collapsed at this moment, and her eyes were filled with shock and disbelief as she looked at Meng Huaiyan.
"Isn't it shocking? I find it unbelievable myself."
Meng Huaiyan smiled bitterly and said, "Do you know, Shen Tang, I once read a book about a man whose wife died. He felt so much pain that he followed her in death."
“My classmates all say that this man is affectionate and loyal, and they are moved and saddened by their love, but I think he is foolish and ridiculous.”
"Love is an extremely hypocritical and uncontrollable thing. He actually gave up his life for a false love. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"But it wasn't until your sudden 'death' five years ago that I finally understood that there really are people in this world who lose the meaning and courage to live because of someone's departure."
Meng Huaiyan felt as if his heart was being torn apart, as if he had returned to that extremely dark time five years ago.
That period was incredibly painful for him, so incredibly painful...
He couldn't eat or sleep well; he couldn't accept the fact that she was gone, to the point that he kept having hallucinations.
But every time he felt excited and wanted to touch her, reality would give him a painful blow, reminding him that she had already left.
I never knew love could cause such pain.
Tears welled up in Meng Huaiyan's eyes, and a faint pain shot through his heart. He stepped forward and gently embraced Shen Tang.
Meng Huaiyan's throat tightened, and he spoke in a trembling voice, "Chen Tang."
You can question anything I say, but you can't question my sincerity towards you.
Shen Tang's eyelashes trembled, and a myriad of complex emotions welled up in her heart.
Meng Huaiyan's love was too heavy, making her panic and feel somewhat overwhelmed.
The dock was bustling with traffic and crowds, and they embraced each other amidst the noise and excitement.
Everyone who passed by cast surprised and disdainful glances at them.
But Shen Tang couldn't care less about that.
At that moment, she seemed to lose her hearing and senses, as if everything around her had ceased to exist, with only Meng Huaiyan's resounding confession echoing in her ears.
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Tang seemed to come to her senses and spoke with a somewhat complicated tone.
Give me some time to think about it.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
*
The days passed slowly like flowing water, and the two of them returned to their previous lives.
Shen Tang's pastry shop business is still booming, and Meng Huaiyan continues to help her in the shop as before.
After finishing their business at the shop, the two of them would leisurely walk towards the school to pick up their daughter from school.
When no one was around, Meng Huaiyan would hold her hand, but he would let go immediately when they encountered someone.
Manman grew closer to him and became more dependent on him, and the yard was always filled with laughter.
Meng Huaiyan seemed to have shed his coldness and ruthlessness, becoming gentle and peaceful.
He would listen to everything Shen Tang said.
Meng Huaiyan is indeed changing step by step, just as he promised her.
A month has passed since our last conversation at the dock.
Shen Tang seemed to have forgotten about it and never brought it up again.
Meng Huaiyan didn't ask.
The three of them lived a simple yet happy life, just like any ordinary couple in the world.
One evening, Shen Tang, as usual, coaxed Manman to sleep, and Meng Huaiyan was holding his waist, preparing to go to sleep.
Shen Tang suddenly spoke calmly, "Meng Huaiyan, I'll go back to the capital with you, and we'll live a good life together from now on."
Meng Huaiyan's eyes snapped open, and he sat up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock. His lips trembled as he anxiously asked her for confirmation.
"What did you just say?!"
Shen Tang looked into his eyes and repeated, "I said I'd go back to the capital with you, and we'll live a good life together from now on."
Meng Huaiyan's muscles trembled wildly, his eyes gleaming with ecstatic joy. He pulled him into a tight embrace, his whole body shaking with excitement.
Tears streamed down his face as Meng Huaiyan choked back sobs and whispered a promise in her ear, "Chen Tang, I will treat you and Manman well for the rest of my life!"
Shen Tang didn't say anything, but simply reached out and hugged him back, gently patting his back.
When Shen Tang fell asleep later, Meng Huaiyan slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Shen Tang's sleeping face and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he gently kissed her forehead, silently saying, "Thank you for forgiving me, Shen Tang."
Meng Huaiyan never dared to tell her that he had remembered his past life. The more he loved her now, the more he felt that he had been a scoundrel and a worthless person in the past.
In this lifetime, he deeply understood the hopelessness, humility, and sadness that Shen Tang felt in her previous life when she fell in love with him but received no response.
The bloody past was tearing at his heart, and it also ripped away Shen Tang's deep love for him.
He shamelessly buried the past deep in his heart, becoming a cowardly escapist who dared not mention it in front of her.
Meng Huaiyan was genuinely grateful to Shen Tang for her tolerance and kindness, which gave him a chance to make amends.
The man who had always been cruel to her finally found her tenderness tonight.
Looking at Shen Tang's gentle expression and her eyes filled with undisguised, overwhelming love, Meng Huaiyan opened his lips and whispered.
"Chen Tang, I love you."
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