Chapter 454 It pains me to see him troubled by love.
Zhou's mother didn't rush to speak, as if she were simply receiving an ordinary guest in her own living room.
She looked up at Cui Xiao, her eyes not filled with the expected reproach, but rather with the understanding of an elder towards a younger person. "I know you're upset. Mu Bin's situation isn't your fault. He's just been like this since he was a child, and once he's made up his mind about someone or something, he's extremely stubborn."
Despite this, Cui Xiao's tension did not ease at all; instead, it was as if a small pebble had been thrown in, causing even more subtle ripples of unease.
The dignified, elegant, and composed aura emanating from Zhou's mother was so powerful that even her calm tone made Cui Xiao feel inexplicably oppressed.
She subconsciously lowered her head, her gaze fixed on her pale knuckles, her fingertips still unconsciously picking at the calluses on her palms, filled with an overwhelming sense of guilt. "Mrs. Zhou, I'm sorry... If I hadn't said those harsh words to him in the car, he wouldn't have lost control of his emotions, and he wouldn't have hurt himself in such an extreme way... The root of all this is because of me."
Zhou's mother slowly put down her water glass, raised her hand to straighten the pearl buttons on the cuffs of her suit, her movements still elegant.
She looked at Cui Xiao, who was hanging her head and looking full of guilt, and a complex emotion flashed quickly in her eyes.
There was heartache for her son, understanding for the girl in front of her, and a hint of barely perceptible regret.
She paused for two seconds before slowly speaking, her tone more serious than before, carrying an unavoidable solemnity, "Ms. Cui, I won't beat around the bush. I'll ask you a few questions. You don't need to feel guilty; just answer me truthfully."
Seeing Cui Xiao nod, her hair swaying gently with the movement, she continued to ask, her gaze fixed on Cui Xiao's profile, "Tell me honestly, even now, do you still love Mu Bin?"
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness, her pupils slightly contracting.
Do you love me?
Before this, she had told herself countless times that all she felt for Zhou Mubin was resistance and disgust. She was disgusted by his unscrupulous harassment and resisted his attempts to intrude into her life in various ways.
Just a few hours earlier, when she saw the dagger plunge into his chest and the blood instantly stain his white shirt, an overwhelming fear and lingering dread overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, making even breathing painful.
That feeling clearly transcended all negative emotions; it was the extreme panic that only someone who cares about another person could experience.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say "I don't love you," but felt as if something was blocking her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word.
In the end, she could only close her eyes tightly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with a weary bitterness. She gently shook her head and said, "I don't know... My heart is in a mess right now, I can't sort it out at all."
Looking at her conflicted expression, Zhou's mother seemed to have anticipated the answer. There was no surprise on her face. She simply nodded slightly, her fingertips gently stroking the inside of the water glass, as if she was carefully choosing her words.
Instead of pressing for details, she shifted to a more practical and direct approach. Her tone remained calm, yet carried a heavy weight: "Then let me ask you again, setting aside all your concerns and past entanglements, are you willing to accept him? Are you willing to try to let go of your resentment, live a good life with him, and respond to his unwavering devotion?"
This question struck Cui Xiao like a heavy boulder, making her hold her breath.
Accept Zhou Mubin?
The moment the thought popped into her head, countless images flooded her mind.
After a full minute of silence, she finally raised her head with difficulty, her voice filled with obvious hesitation and struggle, "Mrs. Zhou, I might not be able to do it..."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhou's mother gently raised her hand to interrupt her.
A genuine pity flashed in Zhou's mother's eyes.
She felt sorry for her son, but also for the girl in front of her who was overwhelmed by love and didn't know what to do.
After a long pause, Zhou's mother seemed to have made up her mind. She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying the decisiveness and understanding of an elder, "Miss Cui, I understand what you mean. In that case, let me give you some advice. Leave this city, go somewhere he can't find you, and live your life peacefully."
"leave?"
Cui Xiao suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide open, her pupils filled with disbelief and shock, and she even forgot to breathe.
She almost thought she had misheard, and instinctively asked, "Mrs. Zhou, what...what did you say?"
In her mind, Zhou's mother would either try to persuade her to stay by appealing to her elders, or she would accuse her of not knowing how to cherish what she had and of betraying Zhou Mubin's deep affection.
But to her utter surprise, Zhou's mother would take the initiative to suggest that she leave, and there was no blame in her tone, but rather a sense of concern for her.
"Let me finish speaking first." Zhou's mother raised her hand to signal her to calm down, her tone firm and composed. "Mu Bin has always been stubborn. Once he's made up his mind, he'll stick to it no matter what, and no one can persuade him. You're unwilling to accept his love, and he won't let go. If you continue like this, the result will be that you both suffer. Although I know how hard Miss Cui has worked, he is my son. It hurts me to see him hurt and troubled by love."
Zhou's mother paused, then continued, "Leave now before he wakes up. I'll arrange everything for you. I have an old house in Shanghai that Mu Bin doesn't know about; I'll transfer it to your name as compensation. Also, I'll arrange your job properly. Xinyang Technology in Shanghai is doing very well these past two years; you can go there and remain as the vice president, with a salary that will only be higher than your current one. In addition, I'll give you some more money. At the same time, tell everyone you know not to reveal your whereabouts. I guarantee he won't be able to find you even if he searches the whole country. As time goes by, his obsession with you will fade. Whether you want to return to Hong Kong or settle there is up to you."
Cui Xiao stared blankly at Zhou's mother, her mind completely blank, unable to process this sudden suggestion.
Zhou's mother's words were clear and logical, even considering the details, indicating that it was not an impulsive decision but rather something she had thought about carefully beforehand.
She thought Zhou's mother would stand on her son's side and persuade her to stay, or even accuse her of not appreciating Zhou Mubin's deep affection. But Zhou's mother was paving the way for her "escape" and preparing all her escape routes.
For a moment, she felt a mix of emotions.
Moreover, there was a strange sense of loss, as if a corner of my heart had suddenly become empty.
She looked at Zhou Mubin's pale face on the hospital bed, then at Zhou's composed mother in front of her. After a moment's thought, Cui Xiao opened her mouth and said, "Okay, I promise you."
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