Chapter 133 Chapter 133 The main text ends. The winter solstice has passed and...
"Where do you want to take me on a date?" Xu Qinghu glanced at He Shengnian.
"Let's go." He Shengnian took her hand and walked towards the car not far away. "I have a surprise prepared for you today."
When Xu Qinghu walked to the front of the car, he realized that he didn't bring a driver.
"It's just you and me today." He Shengnian opened the passenger door. Xu Qinghu glanced at him, bent down and sat in.
He Shengnian came to the driver's seat and drove towards the planned route. It was not until they were far away from the city that Xu Qinghu realized that he was going to take her to the mountains in the suburbs.
"Why do you want to go there?" She was a little surprised. "Just find a place to have dinner."
"I've made all the arrangements," He Shengnian said. "I won't take you too far."
Xu Qinghu leaned back in his chair and said, "Then I'll listen to Mr. He."
She had been filming for a whole day and was feeling a little tired. She closed her eyes without saying a few words to He Shengnian.
He Shengnian lowered his eyes and looked at her for a few seconds, then played some soft instrumental music in the car.
When the car stopped at the foot of the mountain, Xu Qinghu discovered that there was a holiday villa halfway up the mountain. The entire area was like a lighthouse in the night, emitting warm light in the wind and snow.
The car drove through the winding mountain road and soon stopped at the hotel entrance. The doorman approached attentively and said kindly, "Mr. He? Dinner is ready."
He Shengnian nodded, bent down to take Xu Qinghu out of the car, raised his hand to pull her coat tighter, and said, "Come with me."
He pushed open the door and walked into the hotel with Xu Qinghu. It was warm inside. A young woman in a white dress was standing by the dining table by the window, playing the violin gracefully. Her fingertips were nimble and light, and the strings sang beautiful music.
On the dining table was placed a bouquet of flaming red roses, with a velvety texture and a faint fragrance.
He Shengnian took her hand and walked over. On the dining table were several delicious appetizers. He Shengnian picked up the bouquet and handed it to her, saying with a gentle look, "Happy birthday."
Xu Qinghu took the bouquet, raised his eyes and smiled, "Thank you, Mr. He."
After saying that, he lowered his head and smelled the rose, and exclaimed: "It smells good."
She was wearing a dark fishtail winter dress today, her hair fell softly on her shoulders, and her makeup was light, which matched the bouquet in front of her very well.
He Shengnian pulled out a chair for her to sit down. "Eat first. I have a gift for you later."
Xu Qinghu blinked, "Can't I give it to you now?"
A hint of smile flashed across He Shengnian's eyes. "If you want to see it now, of course you can."
He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out an exquisite gift box. "Open it and take a look."
Xu Qinghu took the gift box and couldn't tell what was inside from the outside. He couldn't help but ask, "Could it be a ring?"
As she spoke, she wrinkled her nose and said deliberately, "If it's a ring, I won't take it. You're completely smuggling something in. I have to refuse."
"No," He Shengnian said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "If you want a ring, I will propose to you tomorrow."
"No," Xu Qinghu said immediately, "I haven't agreed to marry you yet."
He Shengnian laughed, "Then I'll wait for you."
Xu Qinghu opened the lid of the box, revealing a dazzling pink diamond necklace set in rose gold. The interior was flawless and emitted a breathtaking light.
Xu Qinghu had learned about pink diamonds; their rarity made them a treasure that could only be found once in a blue moon. The one He Shengnian had given her was almost identical to the one that had fetched a whopping price at an auction a few days earlier.
Its enormous weight and pure color make it a treasure in the collector's world.
"Is it the necklace that was sold at an auction abroad?" She raised her head.
"Well," He Shengnian said with a smile, "I was on a business trip abroad before, so I took a picture of it and gave it to you."
The necklace was sold at a sky-high price of nearly 500 million yuan and became a hot topic at the time. Many netizens were speculating about how noble one's status had to be to be able to wear this unique necklace.
But now, He Shengnian gave it to himself.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Xu Qinghu lowered his eyelashes and said, "This is too expensive."
She pushed the gift box back in front of He Shengnian and said, "I can't accept it."
"This is your birthday present," He Shengnian frowned slightly, "Besides, it's just a necklace. If it can't provide value to people, then its existence will be meaningless."
He took out the necklace, stood up and walked behind Xu Qinghu, "I will give you other gifts in the future, don't you want to accept them?"
Xu Qinghu also stood up. "You gave me a gift like this. What should I give you on your birthday to match you?"
Although she received film pay and could give him expensive gifts, there was still a huge difference between the two.
"The value of a gift doesn't lie in its price," He Shengnian raised his hand and pressed her shoulder. "As long as it's from you, I'll be surprised no matter what it is."
He lowered his head slightly and put the necklace on Xu Qinghu's clean neck. "You deserve the best."
"As my girlfriend, I naturally want to give you a gift that I think is beautiful. This is my intention, and you don't need to feel any burden."
"Besides this necklace, I will give you other gifts in the future. They represent my sincerity and have no other meaning."
Money is just a number to He Shengnian. It makes no difference whether it is 500 million or 5 billion. What he wants to see is to make Xu Qinghu feel valued.
"That's what I said, but I can't even wear this necklace outside," Xu Qinghu raised his hand and touched the pink diamond, "I'm afraid it will be robbed."
He Shengnian chuckled softly, "Then I'll find you some bodyguards."
"Let's talk about it later," Xu Qinghu said, "I'm still a newcomer in the entertainment industry, so I can't be too special."
She turned on the camera to see how she looked wearing the pink diamond, then asked He Shengnian to take off the necklace. "I'll leave it with you first. I'll ask you for it when I want to wear it later. Otherwise, I get uneasy looking at it."
He Shengnian disagreed, "It's no big deal if it's lost, I can just buy another one later."
Xu Qinghu said, "But I would be heartbroken and might even be devastated."
He Shengnian: “…”
"I'll put it with you first," she insisted. "The things you give me are mine. I'm just asking you to keep them, not giving them back to you."
Seeing her uneasiness, He Shengnian put the necklace back into the box and said, "Once you get used to it, you won't find it precious anymore."
Xu Qinghu smiled and said, "Maybe."
She had never seen so much money in her life. Maybe she would buy luxury goods when she had money in the future, but not now, not when she could not afford it at all.
Listening to beautiful music, the waiter brought a variety of food. He Shengnian cut the steak on the plate into pieces and gently pushed it in front of Xu Qinghu. "You are the birthday star today. I will arrange everything."
Looking at his caring appearance, Xu Qinghu found it hard to connect him with the way he had been when they first met. He couldn't help but say, "If netizens knew you were like this on a regular basis, they would definitely be shocked."
He Shengnian remained calm, "Let them think whatever they want. Treating you well is my business."
Xu Qinghu smiled with his eyebrows curved, "He Shengnian, are you always this nice to anyone you like?"
The man frowned, not understanding why she asked this question, "I only like you, not anyone else."
Xu Qinghu looked at the steak still steaming on the plate and said, "That's great. The person you like is me."
She picked up the knife and fork and stuffed the cut steak into her mouth one piece after another. The tip of her nose was filled with the endless fragrance of flowers. Even on a long winter night, she felt extremely romantic.
He Shengnian looked at her soft face and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Xu Qinghu raised his head, his cheeks puffed out slightly, "I was wondering, you've been so good to me, would you be sad if we didn't make it to the end?"
The smile in He Shengnian's eyes quickly disappeared, "What are you talking about?"
He stared at Xu Qinghu's face and asked, "Do you want to break up with me?"
"I'm just asking casually," Xu Qinghu glared at him, "Why are you taking it so seriously?"
"I don't like hearing these words," He Shengnian said with a surprisingly serious expression, "Since we've decided to be together, I won't let go of your hand easily. If you have any concerns, just tell me directly and we can solve them together. I believe nothing can stand between us."
Xu Qinghu lowered his eyelashes, hiding all the emotions in his eyes, "I'm just assuming."
"I've adapted well to the company," He Shengnian said. "Father has handed most things over to me. Once I make a few good decisions, Grandpa won't mind you being an actor anymore. I'll protect you. You just need to live your life according to your own wishes."
"I don't need you to change anything."
He looked deeply at Xu Qinghu. This almost joking assumption made him feel like he was facing a great enemy. Even if it was a joke, he didn't want it to come out of Xu Qinghu's mouth.
"Don't let your imagination run wild anymore. Now that I've held your hand, I won't give up halfway."
Xu Qinghu raised his head, met his focused gaze, and said helplessly: "If I accept your confession, doesn't that mean I'll be tied to you for life?"
"Didn't you already know this?" He Shengnian said, "Since I've made my choice, I won't let you regret it."
"You are so domineering," Xu Qinghu snorted softly, "You are worthy of being a domineering CEO."
He Shengnian: “…”
Seeing her like this, He Shengnian lost his temper. "You said I was overbearing, so stop plucking the hair from the tiger's head."
Xu Qinghu glared and said, "I haven't married you yet."
He Shengnian's lips curled slightly, "If you want to get married, I can arrange it tomorrow."
"No." Xu Qinghu finished a whole steak, touched his slightly bloated stomach, and put some salad on his plate. "My career hasn't taken off yet, let's talk about it later."
He Shengnian didn't urge marriage, "No rush."
After dinner, it was already dark outside. There was a lot of snow accumulated in the mountains. Looking around, it was a sea of white.
Xu Qinghu glanced at the time and it was almost dawn.
"Come on," she stood up, "take me back."
"There's a surprise," He Shengnian raised his hand to help her put on her coat, and asked the waiter to bring her a hat, scarf, and gloves. He smiled and said, "Follow me."
Although it was very late, Xu Qinghu did not spoil the fun, but followed him out.
There is a small path behind the holiday villa that leads to the top of the mountain. Vehicles cannot drive up, but you can walk up.
"Night climbing?" Xu Qinghu looked at the heavy snow falling. "That's too extreme."
"It won't be long," He Shengnian took her hand, "it's only about ten minutes away."
"What's up there?" Xu Qinghu asked curiously, "Are you planning to leave me on the mountain?"
"What nonsense," He Shengnian glanced at her, "Even if I have something to do, I won't let you get hurt."
"Really?" Xu Qinghu shook his clenched hands. "Then I feel so safe staying by your side."
Looking at her lively appearance, He Shengnian smiled and said, "Hold on to the railing. There is snow on the road. Be careful not to slip."
"I know."
Although the distance was not long, on a snowy day, the two of them took nearly half an hour to walk a distance of more than ten minutes.
After reaching the top of the mountain, the sky was dark and the surroundings were empty, but the lights of the city could be seen in the distance.
The sky and the earth were covered in white, as if only Xu Qinghu and He Shengnian were left.
Xu Qinghu raised his hands and shouted towards the bottom of the mountain: "Is there anyone——"
He Shengnian stood beside her, watching her happy and free look, and imitated her and shouted: "Happy birthday, Xu Qinghu! I wish you happiness and peace every year!"
Their voices echoed in the mountains. When they came to their senses, they looked at each other with smiles in their eyes.
"You actually said that," Xu Qinghu couldn't help but say, "You actually don't care about your image at all."
"I learned this from you," He Shengnian held her hand tightly, "As long as you're happy, I'm willing to do anything."
Xu Qinghu's eyes sparkled: "Then wish me a long life and lots of wealth!"
Seeing her expectant expression, He Shengnian didn't hesitate and shouted to the forest below: "I wish Xu Qinghu good health and a long life, and I wish her a successful career and abundant wealth!"
Hearing his extremely solemn voice, Xu Qinghu looked at his profile. He still looked as majestic as usual, but now he looked a little more down-to-earth and less unattainable.
He Shengnian called out several times, and after each call, he turned back to look at Xu Qinghu, "Is there anything else you would like me to bless you with?"
Xu Qinghu blinked and asked him, "Is this what you really want to say?"
He Shengnian frowned, "Do you think I'm lying to you?"
Xu Qinghu raised his eyes and smiled: "Then you should wish that all bad luck will stay away from me and that I will have a peaceful and smooth life."
He Shengnian did not hesitate and shouted several times towards the foot of the mountain.
Xu Qinghu looked up at the gray sky above her head, as if something was standing high up looking down at her, with a sharp gaze, as if to crush her unwilling soul, or to defeat her determination to break free from the bondage. The strong pressure made her almost breathless, but she stared straight into the void, without a trace of fear in her eyes.
It was the last moment, she thought, and her heart was filled not with fear but with a fighting spirit that would never give in.
The more the plot wanted her to die, the more she refused to admit defeat, and the more she wanted He Shengnian to say those words of blessing.
Doesn't that person "love" He Shengnian? Then let the protagonist she is proud of bow down to her and see if she can still "kill" herself.
See if she dares to completely destroy the world.
If she could really make He Shengnian change his mind, she should have revealed the contents of the novel to him long ago, but she didn't.
This means that she can no longer control the direction of the plot.
If He Shengnian knew he was living in a book, would he still be as calm as he is now? Maybe he would be even crazier than this vicious female supporting role.
Even though he is the protagonist.
People always weigh the pros and cons. The high and mighty "God" is just an ordinary person with seven emotions and six desires. As the plot develops to this point, she no longer has the opportunity to kill Xu Qinghu, nor can she let Xu Qinghu die alone in the cold winter with a few casual words.
In her previous life, Xu Qinghu could make Wu Xuan turn everything upside down. Now she has such ability. With the addition of He Shengnian, the other party should be more afraid than herself.
Xu Qinghu curled the corners of his mouth and smiled, feeling unprecedentedly relaxed in his heart.
It was as if the patient, wrapped in gauze, had finally reached the time to leave the hospital bed and regain his freedom.
Even in the cold winter, she doesn't feel cold.
Because of the endless stream of willpower emanating from He Shengnian, she was enveloped in warmth. The doomed fate of the vicious female supporting character was made less daunting by the protagonist's favoritism.
Is this the hero created by the author? The whole world revolves around him, and if you get his love, you get everything.
It’s really enviable.
She thought to herself, how much one must love a character to be able to put all her luck on him. Even Qiao Wanshu was just a tool created to highlight how powerful he was.
Others are even less worth mentioning in front of him.
Xu Qinghu looked at He Shengnian's angular profile, as if he could see the luck shared with him.
"What's wrong?" He Shengnian glanced sideways, "Don't you recognize me?"
Xu Qinghu shook his head. "I just think it's great to be in love with you."
"I feel luckier than you," He Shengnian said, looking at her deeply. "If it weren't for you, I would never have known that I had this side of myself."
Before he finished speaking, a strange yet familiar voice suddenly came from the foot of the mountain. Xu Qinghu looked up and saw a large field of brilliant fireworks blooming on the top of the mountain.
She suddenly opened her eyes wide and subconsciously looked at He Shengnian, who smiled. "How can your birthday be without fireworks? I didn't enjoy watching the fireworks with you back then, and I will make it up to you countless times in the future."
Xu Qinghu recalled the time when they had set off fireworks on the island and had to return home disappointed because he spoiled the fun. He couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you make it up to me later?"
"Not enough." He Shengnian said, "I will watch many fireworks with you in the future."
"Childish." Xu Qinghu said, "You're even bringing up something from the past."
"I didn't do well enough then," He Shengnian said, "I won't let you down again."
"It's beautiful," Xu Qinghu said, looking at the grand fireworks on the snowy night: "This is the most beautiful fireworks I have ever seen."
He Shengnian raised his lips and said, "I'll bring you here next year."
Xu Qinghu didn't respond and watched the fireworks with him quietly.
Amidst the heavy snow, time slowly slipped by. The pressure from above grew heavier. Xu Qinghu gritted her teeth, not betraying the slightest fear. She waited until the last wisp of fireworks faded and her phone chimed with a familiar alarm. Her body suddenly stiffened, realizing the winter solstice had passed and the deadlock that had entangled her was finally resolved. Then, something in her soul suddenly unravelled.
It is the golden wire wrapped around the limbs of the puppet, the cage that tightly traps cats and dogs, the iron locks, the shackles, the sharp thorns that pierce into the flesh and soul, the long nightmare that seems to have no shape but makes her feel anxious and worried all day long, and the sky that cuts off her wings but makes her dare not look up.
He is the "God" who controls her destiny and the existence that she can never disobey. Even if she wants freedom, she has to kneel in front of her beloved protagonist and wag her tail to beg for food.
He was the author who shaped her life and the existence she had desperately tried to escape from in both of her lifetimes.
It's her "mother".
At this moment, the marionette finally broke free from the golden strings on its body and should have sung for freedom, but when Xu Qinghu saw He Shengnian, what she thought was that fortunately He Shengnian loved her.
Fortunately, the person he chose in the end was her.
Otherwise, would she be killed by the plot again, countless times? The protagonist carefully created by God is her shortcut to a miserable life. How ironic, how tragic.
She dressed him in layers of gold, looking so glamorous, but she was reluctant to even mention a single word about her past.
Xu Qinghu laughed softly. She looked at the lights of thousands of houses at the foot of the mountain and wondered if there were also a group of tools living there. They were thousands of passers-by. No one would ask about the exit of their souls, but no one would let them die easily.
Only she is the biggest victim in this world.
The male and female protagonists, all the supporting characters, as long as they want, anyone can get a piece of the pie from her, and anyone can trample her into the mud.
Why? Is it because she is a vicious female supporting role?
Xu Qinghu curled the corners of his mouth. Qi Song's legs were disabled, Du Yanting and Gu Jingchen were disgraced, and the Qiao family and Qiao Wanshu, none of these people would have a good ending.
Of course, Xu Qinghu looked at He Shengnian beside him, with obscure emotions flowing in his eyes, and he also had to deal with God's most favored darling.
"What are you thinking about?" He Shengnian turned around when she suddenly fell silent. "Are you feeling cold? I'll take you back first."
The snow was falling heavily at this time, and the temperature on the mountain dropped sharply after midnight, so they had to go back.
Xu Qinghu nodded, "Let's go."
"Are you happy today?" He Shengnian held her hand and asked in a low voice.
"Of course," Xu Qinghu replied, "This is the happiest day of my life. I've never been happier. It's great to have you around."
He Shengnian raised the corner of his mouth, "That's good."
When they reached the path down the mountain, Xu Qinghu paused, looked at the snow covering the stairs, and complained to He Shengnian who was walking down: "I'm so tired now, can you carry me down?"
He Shengnian turned around and looked into her bright and lively eyes, only to find that she was now much more beautiful than before.
No, it should be said that it was clear. She suddenly changed from a slightly gloomy look to a radiant one, as if she had been given new life without him noticing.
Was Xu Qinghu like this before?
He Shengnian knew that she was beautiful and was very familiar with her, but Xu Qinghu now seemed to have broken free from all the shackles that bound her life, which made him feel even more amazed.
It must be that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
He Shengnian squatted down in front of her and said, "Come up."
Xu Qinghu raised his eyes and smiled, then leaned over and lay on his back.
He Shengnian held her legs, slowly stood up, and walked down the mountain with steady steps.
Xu Qinghu hugged his neck and was not worried that he would slip and fall. Even if the plot was over, He Shengnian's luck would not disappear. Even if everyone died, he would be fine.
"Are you cold?" He Shengnian talked to her as they walked. "If you feel uncomfortable, you can put your hand in the crook of my neck."
"Not bad," Xu Qinghu leaned his head on his shoulder and looked at his handsome profile. "Are you tired?"
"You are very light," He Shengnian said, "You are not a burden to me at all."
Xu Qinghu said, "Do you know why I asked you to carry me?"
He Shengnian glanced sideways with a puzzled look.
"Because I have something to tell you in private," Xu Qinghu shook his legs. "Remember the fairy tale I told you last time? Actually, there is another version of it."
He Shengnian frowned.
"What version?" Although he was not interested in the story, since Xu Qinghu brought it up, he had to give a response.
"A version from another angle," Xu Qinghu said with a smile, "I'll test you again later."
He Shengnian was somewhat helpless, but still said lovingly: "You tell me."
Xu Qinghu deliberately cleared his throat and spoke mysteriously, "A long time ago, there was a god who lived in the clouds. Every day, besides listening to the prayers of her believers, she looked down at the lives of humans through the clouds. Her life was boring and meaningless."
"Until one day, when God was inspecting the world, she saw a prince with a dashing figure. He was wearing a silver-white riding suit, hunting in the woods with a bow and arrow. His spirited appearance instantly caught God's attention, and she almost immediately fell in love with this mortal prince."
"After regaining consciousness, the Goddess thought nothing of her homeland, and spent her days dreaming only of meeting the prince. However, as a god, she could never descend to the mortal realm. So, she possessed a strand of her consciousness in the body of a young noblewoman from an impoverished family, guiding her to find the prince and marry him."
"To protect the prince's safety, God also specially endowed him with unparalleled charm and wealth, making everyone who saw him infatuated with him. Upon seeing the prince, the noble lady fell in love with him and kept looking for opportunities to approach him. However, the prince was so noble, how could he be moved by her? Seeing this, God was quite helpless, so he fabricated a commoner girl with a difficult life and used her as a stepping stone for the noble lady, helping her to approach the prince. The more vulgar and hypocritical the girl was, the more she would highlight the noble lady's noble elegance, which made the prince make a quick decision."
Hearing this, He Shengnian frowned, "How could there be such a version?"
Xu Qinghu smiled, "Why not? God loves the prince too much. Even if there is a divine intervention, he doesn't want to put himself and the prince on an equal footing. Instead, he puts his consciousness on the down-and-out nobleman. This way, he can naturally turn the prince into his savior. Isn't it interesting to reverse the identities?"
"As for the girl in the story, she is just a clown used to highlight their sweet life. Her life or death is of no consequence."
"If that's the case, then this story is too absurd," He Shengnian shook his head. "How could God fall in love with a human so easily?"
"It's just a story." Xu Qinghu said, "Don't you want to hear what happens next?"
He Shengnian asked: "Isn't the girl dead?"
"Who said she's dead?" Xu Qinghu said, "This story isn't over yet."
The night was thick, and her voice was like a branch growing from the darkness, spreading continuously along the mountain path. "One night, the girl woke from a nightmare and found herself back in time before she met the prince. She was still alive, and had not died because of her desire to climb up the social ladder. She cherished her hard-earned rebirth, but when she thought of the noble lady and the prince, she was filled with resentment."
"Reason told her that she must stay away from these two people, but an inexplicable force pushed her to do evil. In the end, she was killed by the noble lady, and her body was destroyed by the prince."
"But she still didn't die. She came back to life and finally realized that she couldn't change her fate no matter what. The only thing that could help her escape her fate was the prince who was loved by God. Only by getting close to the prince could she survive."
"So, with her previous two experiences, she finally learned how to disguise herself as a noble from a neighboring country, successfully deceiving the prince. And every time the noble lady tried to take advantage of her, she would make the noble lady look worthless."
"Gradually, the prince fell in love with the girl. He wanted to marry her regardless of all obstacles. The noble lady was demoted to a commoner by her and lived a life of poverty and hardship from then on."
"The girl won the prince's love, wealth and freedom. What do you think will be the ending of her and the prince?"
Xu Qinghu leaned close to He Shengnian's ear and said, "I asked you about the prince's stance before, but if you were a girl, would you forgive him? Would you put aside the past, forget that he was once the noble lady's accomplice, forget that he threw you into the swamp, and start a new life with him?"
He Shengnian paused.
At this time, they were almost reaching the holiday resort, but the wind and snow on the mountain were getting stronger and stronger, as if people could fall off the mountain road at any time.
The fluttering snowflakes fell between Xu Qinghu's brows, cold and bone-chilling.
She continued to ask He Shengnian: "Will you pretend that nothing happened, or will you break up with the prince?"
"She can't take revenge on the prince," He Shengnian's deep voice came after a moment, "Even if she hates him, she can't really hurt him."
"That makes sense," Xu Qinghu smiled, "but she won't die so easily again."
"What if it were you?" He Shengnian asked her, "What would you choose?"
"I'm asking you this question," Xu Qinghu didn't fall for it. "He Shengnian, would you forgive someone who hurt you?"
The man stopped and thought carefully before answering, "It's a good choice for her to live with the prince. He can protect her."
"Why does she need the prince's protection?" Xu Qinghu said, "She escaped her fate through her own efforts. It wasn't the prince's credit; she paid the price with her life."
"It will be very difficult to leave the prince," He Shengnian said, "but if she can't forget the past, leaving is indeed a good choice."
"Will you forget the hatred?" Xu Qinghu asked him: "Continue to pretend nothing happened."
"You know my answer very well," He Shengnian said helplessly, "Whether I bring in the girl's perspective or not, this isn't a choice."
"It's a war to the death."
How could a soul that crawled back from hell forget the pain it had suffered just because of a little honey? Otherwise, what she suffered could only be considered as her own fault.
Xu Qinghu smiled. She hugged He Shengnian's neck tightly and whispered, "Your answer is my answer."
As she spoke, her eyes were slightly red, but He Shengnian knew nothing about it.
"If I were a girl, I would definitely remember the pain of having my chest crushed, the cold of being thrown into the swamp, the mud that soaked my body, the insects and ants that burrowed into my flesh, all evidence of my death."
"It was not only the prince who killed me, but also God. To forget is to betray."
"If I betray myself, what is the point of my existence? My mouth can no longer defend me, my soul can no longer find the value of existence, I would rather die again."
"I can die, once, twice, countless times, but I cannot continue to be a puppet, a cat or dog in a cage, a bird with broken wings, a moth caught in a spider web. I cannot turn into a wild beast and live like a walking corpse just because I came across a candy house."
"That would no longer be me, and that would be true death."
"This time it's not God, nor the prince, nor the noble lady who kills me, it's my—"
"It's me."
"I can never betray myself."
When he said this, there was no trace of smile in Xu Qinghu's voice, as if he had completely immersed himself in the role of the girl.
He Shengnian was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It's just a story, don't take it too seriously."
"I'm not being serious," Xu Qinghu said, "This is my story."
He Shengnian's body stiffened, thinking he was hallucinating.
Xu Qinghu said, "Remember the play I finished filming today? I played a blind girl in it. Do you know what the first thing a blind girl does after she regains her sight?"
He Shengnian's mind was a little confused, and he subconsciously said: "What to do?"
Xu Qinghu: "Throw away the cane."
She looked at the resort villa in front of her and said in a clear and cold voice: "He Shengnian, let's break up."
After saying that, she struggled to jump off his back, stood on the steps and looked out at the snow-swept parking lot. As if waking from a dream, she said, "He Shengnian, this love game should end."
The man suddenly opened his eyes wide, unable to believe what he had heard. They were just celebrating his birthday and watching fireworks, so why did Xu Qinghu suddenly break up?
"Are you kidding me?" He turned around suddenly, his eyes fixed on Xu Qinghu. "I don't like this joke."
"Your answer is my answer," Xu Qinghu said, "That's not the story of a prince and a girl, that's the story of He Shengnian and Xu Qinghu."
"Now, this story ends." Xu Qinghu was not frightened by his eyes. Instead, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. "The girl will not stay with the prince, and Xu Qinghu will not stay with He Shengnian."
"The girl didn't forgive the prince, and Xu Qinghu won't forgive him either. The girl never loved the prince, and Xu Qinghu never loved He Shengnian..."
"That's enough," He Shengnian interrupted her after hearing her almost crazy words. He said patiently, "You can't put this story on us. I don't accept such a ridiculous reason for breaking up. I don't agree to break up!"
The sudden turn of events caught him off guard, leaving him unable to maintain even the most basic decency. "If you have any dissatisfaction, you can tell me directly. We can continue to work things out instead of breaking up on impulse."
"I'm not emotional," Xu Qinghu's eyes were calm. "I'm just informing you, He Shengnian, that we're over."
The man took a step back, almost tripping over the snow-covered steps, but he still looked at Xu Qinghu, "I don't believe this reason. If you want to break up, I want to hear the real reason, otherwise I will never agree."
After saying this, he looked at Xu Qinghu gently, as if he was looking at a child in a bad mood, and said helplessly: "Don't play pranks on me again. If you have anything to say, we can talk about it when we get back."
No matter how talented He Shengnian is, he doesn't think Xu Qinghu really wants to break up.
She's probably just in a bad mood, and she'll be fine once she calms down.
"Are my words so untrustworthy?" Xu Qinghu said, "I'm not being angry, nor am I threatening to break up with you. I just want to break up with you completely."
"Give me a reason," He Shengnian said, suppressing his displeasure. "If you can't convince me, I won't agree to a one-sided breakup. You know, I have many ways to get you back."
His eyes were deep and he was already angry.
"You still don't believe me," Xu Qinghu shook his head, looking at his broken expression with almost admiration, and sighed: "It seems I can only tell the truth."
She said calmly, "Because I died once."
He Shengnian frowned, "What did you say?"
Xu Qinghu slowly said, "You can think of it as me being reborn. In your previous life, you and Qiao Wanshu were together. In order to step on me to get to the top, the Qiao family spread a lot of slander against me, causing me to be ruined and die of depression."
At this point, she paused for a few seconds. "The day I died was today, my twenty-third birthday, and also the day you and Qiao Wanshu had your wedding. During this time, you've been helping the Qiao family cover up the truth about my frame-up. It was you and the people on the show who killed me. You incited public opinion, trampled on me, and exploited me to the extreme."
"Is this reason enough?" Xu Qinghu looked into his eyes. "If you still don't believe me, I can tell you more details about your relationship with Qiao Wanshu and your world-renowned wedding..."
He Shengnian's pupils contracted violently. He didn't expect to get such an answer. "That's impossible!"
Without hesitation, he said, "I won't do this to you! I have no reason to help them cover up the truth. There's no such thing as rebirth in this world!"
Xu Qinghu wasn't surprised by his reaction. "Have you forgotten who you liked when you first came to the cottage? Have you forgotten how much you resisted me at first? If I hadn't been pestering you, would you have seen me? I wasn't the person you were attracted to at first."
He Shengnian's face turned uglier as he thought of the past. "Even so, it doesn't prove that my previous life really existed."
He felt that Xu Qinghu was making excuses for breaking up. "You've already come home with me to meet my parents, and I'm also preparing for marriage. I won't break up with you. Stop messing around."
Seeing that he didn't believe it, Xu Qinghu could understand. After all, before this, he had always believed that they would get married, but now all of this was shattered.
It's normal that He Shengnian can't accept it.
But she would not continue to pester him.
It should have ended between them long ago.
"Actually, I didn't like your pretentious attitude on our first date. It was as if I was trying to get the better of you. Although I did have the idea of using you, it didn't stop me from hating you. Later, when you gave me the cold shoulder because of online public opinion, it pushed me back to my limits again because I found that you are even more cold-blooded than I thought. No matter who is with you, you only see profit. You're talking about love with me now? It's only because I haven't actually hurt your interests yet. If I do anything that affects the He family, I will be the first person you abandon."
"You said you cared about me, but don't get so caught up in the drama that you're deceiving yourself. You're in love with yourself." Xu Qinghu completely broke off relations with him, revealing his true colors. "You don't accept breaking up because I completely exceeded your expectations and didn't follow the steps you laid out. Your investment didn't yield the corresponding return, and you can't accept this outcome. But that doesn't mean you truly love me that much."
"If I don't love you, will I support you to stay in the entertainment industry?" He Shengnian's eyes were red and his voice was trembling. "If I don't love you, why do I often work overtime? Just to make Grandpa recognize you as soon as possible. If I don't love you, why do I take time out to attend an auction abroad, just to buy you a birthday present? Xu Qinghu, you can't be so cruel to me just because of a fabricated past life. Can't you feel whether I love you or not? Can't you feel whether I am good to you or not?"
"Does it matter?" Xu Qinghu looked at his face. "Whether you love me or not, it can't change the fact that we have to separate."
"Why isn't it important?" He Shengnian stepped forward, his eyes deep as he spoke, "I only know that I love you as you are now. I haven't experienced the rebirth you mentioned, and as for being an accomplice, it was an unprovoked disaster. You can't lump us together."
Listening to his self-deceiving words, Xu Qinghu's eyes curved slightly, "It's important to you, but not to me."
"He Shengnian, you're so smart. You know exactly whether what I said is true or not. You can also feel whether I loved you or not. No matter how much you deny it, it can't change the fact that we broke up."
After saying that, Xu Qinghu walked forward on the last few steps. He Shengnian grabbed her hand and said in a hoarse voice, "Do you really have to do this? We obviously get along very well, and I will treat you better in the future."
"Yes," Xu Qinghu said, facing him from behind. "You're very good. You treated me very well during our relationship. I can't think of anything about you that I'm dissatisfied with. If I weren't a supporting character in your story, if I didn't foresee my own death, or if we truly loved each other, I would have no reason to break up with you, just like a girl has no reason not to choose a handsome prince."
"But I have no choice. My love has no choice, nor does my hate. I can only move forward, otherwise the past will catch up with me, and I will be killed by you once again."
"I can't make the same mistake again."
"I can't forget the hatred."
"I've walked this road long enough. Every moment I spend with you makes me tired. Whether you're He Shengnian or the heir to the He family, I don't care. I just want to break up with you. Just like throwing away a blind girl's cane, I want to leave you behind too."
"If you love me, please respect my choice."
The moment he heard the disgust in her voice, He Shengnian's breathing stopped.
"If you hate me so much, why are you with me? Why did you accept my confession?"
He couldn't imagine how a person could be so disconnected. She was watching fireworks with him just a moment ago, but now she could say such heartless words.
He didn't believe that Xu Qinghu had never loved him, and he didn't believe that she could really be so cruel to him.
But the next moment he was disappointed.
"Of course I don't want you and Qiao Wanshu to be together," Xu Qinghu said calmly, "The Qiao family and I have a grudge. If you two collude with each other, how can I possibly defeat you? Now that the Qiao family is bankrupt and Qiao Wanshu has disappeared, isn't that what I want to see?"
She didn't mind talking about her own great achievements: "And Gu Jingchen and Du Yanting, I did it all. In my previous life, they were the culprits who harmed me, and I didn't let any of them go. I heard that Gu Jingchen is now facing setbacks and is having a miserable life, and Du Yanting was exiled by the family and has become a half-human, half-ghost. Every time I hear that they are not doing well, I feel happy."
He Shengnian clenched his fists, as if he had just seen through Xu Qinghu's true character. She was far more calculating than he had imagined. Even the breakup and reconciliation on the dating show was probably part of her calculations.
But even so, he didn't feel disgusted, but rather surprise as if he had discovered a treasure, and he was proud of her cleverness and wit.
"I can give you some time," he said calmly, suppressing his uneasiness. "When you calm down, we can talk about it. I won't bother you during this time until you have thought it through."
"No need," Xu Qinghu looked at the slender figure approaching with an umbrella and raised his eyes and said, "Someone is here to pick me up."
He Shengnian paused. Under the black umbrella, there was an extremely familiar face. His eyes changed drastically. As he looked at Wu Xuan who was getting closer and closer, his eyes were filled with anger. "You and him——"
"He's my ex-boyfriend," Xu Qinghu looked at his gloomy face and introduced him slowly, "and he will also be my future boyfriend."
He Shengnian stood there in a daze, his whole body cold.
When Wu Xuan came to his side, Xu Qinghu's eyes showed an obvious smile, "Why did you come here suddenly?"
"I'm here to pick you up," Wu Xuan glanced at He Shengnian, held the umbrella over her head, and whispered, "Can we go home now?"
"Yeah." Xu Qinghu walked under the umbrella, looked back at He Shengnian's purple face, and said helplessly: "I didn't want you to see it, but you were so persistent. I have a new boyfriend. Please don't bother me again in the future, otherwise my boyfriend will be jealous and I will have to coax him in the end."
After saying that, she took the initiative to hold Wu Xuan's hand, and regardless of He Shengnian's extremely ugly expression, she walked forward on the white snow.
He Shengnian took two steps forward, but was forced back by Xu Qinghu's eyes. He stood in the snow, finding it hard to accept that he and Xu Qinghu had broken up and fallen in love with someone else in just a short moment.
In other words, Xu Qinghu had always been in contact with Wu Xuan, but he trusted her too much and never doubted their relationship. What happened today was like a slap in the face, making him dizzy and as if he had lost his soul.
Xu Qinghu, actually treated him like this.
How dare she?!
However, as he watched the two of them walk away side by side, he felt only a chill in his heart.
Perhaps, he shouldn't have made an exception for Xu Qinghu, and he shouldn't have fallen in love with her despite his family's opposition. Is this his retribution?
Xu Qinghu.
He Shengnian gnashed his teeth in hatred, but what surged in his heart was an unprecedented sense of suffocation. He raised his hand and took out the diamond necklace from his suit jacket. No wonder she didn't attend the dinner at the old house, nor did she accept his expensive gift. It turned out that she had planned this day a long time ago.
How could she be so cruel?
As his fingertips slid across the wooden box, he touched something cold. He Shengnian took it out and saw that it was the emerald bracelet that her mother had given her when they were at the old house.
She returned it intact.
If He Shengnian thought she was angry with him before, when he saw this thing, he was truly sure that Xu Qinghu really wanted to break up.
She was with him not for money or fame, otherwise she could have just asked for it and gotten a lot of resources from him, but she didn't.
So what does she want? Is there really such a thing as rebirth?
And he is the accomplice who hurt her together with Qiao Wanshu?
"Your answer is my answer." He Shengnian recalled what Xu Qinghu had said, and felt a splitting headache. He fell into unprecedented confusion and bewilderment.
But his heart was out of control. He shouted to call Xu Qinghu back, but it was snowing heavily and he didn't know where to find Xu Qinghu.
Where can he find someone who has a charming smile and makes him happy wherever he goes?
Xu Qinghu.
Xu Qinghu left.
In just one hour, he lost her.
He Shengnian stood there, letting the heavy snow fall on the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, and he didn't come back to his senses for a long time.
How could Xu Qinghu leave? They hadn't received Grandpa's approval yet, and he hadn't proposed to her or married her yet.
But Xu Qinghu just left.
She said she had never loved him and that being with him was torture for her.
He Shengnian blinked. He was clearly willing to give her everything, so why didn't she want it? Why didn't she want it?
She would never want it.
She said he was her enemy and she would never forgive him.
"The prince and the girl are enemies. There is no love between them, only an endless war."
Xu Qinghu said that he was a prince and she was a girl. They put themselves into the roles and from then on the roles could never return to their original state.
Or maybe Xu Qinghu was right, they were the characters themselves.
But no matter what, He Shengnian loved Xu Qinghu. Even he couldn't lie to himself.
He loves Xu Qinghu and cares about her more than he imagines.
He Shengnian looked at the heavy snow, his eyes filled with bloodshot, and he seemed to become haggard in an instant, and he didn't even have the strength to walk.
Only then did I realize that it only takes a moment for a person to transition from happiness to pain.
Reincarnation is such an absurd thing, Xu Qinghu has no reason to lie to him, but he will still seek verification. If there really is a previous life, then Xu Qinghu should stay away from him, the murderer.
And he had no right to continue to entangle with her.
He Shengnian could only pray that Xu Qinghu had lied to him in his previous life, otherwise even if he spent his entire life, he would never be able to reach her again.
——
After taking Xu Qinghu out of He Shengnian's sight, Wu Xuan suddenly stuffed the umbrella into her hands, squatted down, and said in a muffled voice: "Come up, I'll carry you."
"What?" Xu Qinghu stood still. "It's snowing heavily. Is your head frozen?"
"I saw it all," Wu Xuan lowered his eyelashes, "He carried you down the mountain, and I want to carry you too."
Xu Qinghu glared at him. "I asked him to carry me because the road was slippery and I asked him to see me off for the last time, but now you are my boyfriend."
She bent down and held Wu Xuan's hand. "It's not like I can't walk. I don't want you to carry me."
She pulled Wu Xuan up from the ground and said, "Let's go home."
Wu Xuan was stunned for a moment, then stood up and walked forward with her side by side holding an umbrella.
As we walked, he said, "Although your birthday has passed, your family has prepared gifts and cakes. I'll give you another one when I get back."
A smile flashed across Xu Qinghu's eyes, and he took his hand and walked into the parking lot.
What happened to her birthday? What happened if I couldn’t carry her on my back? These are not the most important things.
The important thing is that her freedom finally came, and a new chapter in her life began.
This has surpassed everything.
Snowflakes are falling, the winter solstice has passed, and in the years that follow, the days will get longer until the midsummer of the following year, when all things grow and the cycle repeats itself.
The heavy snow covered the footsteps, and even the last trace of breath dissipated between heaven and earth.
Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. Birds that have grown wings can finally fly throughout the winter, for countless winters.
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The author has something to say: PS: I wish everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival. The main text ends here. I will start updating the extra chapters tomorrow.
I wanted this ending halfway through writing the book. To be honest, I wrote the book specifically for this ending. I always felt like I was stuck with this book, but I was able to adjust to it later.
That's all for now. Finally, thank you all for your favorites, subscriptions, comments, tips, and support. Thank you for your patience and companionship. I wish you many years of happiness and prosperity. We'll see you again someday.
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