Chapter 50: Relationships are more enduring in hatred than in love, and hatred often stems from love. ...
When Shen Yu and Jiang Xiliu first quarreled, neither of them, being inherently proud, was willing to back down.
Rather than apologizing, both of them preferred to wait for the other to admit their mistakes.
In addition, Ye Qishan was by Shen Yu's side, constantly spouting nonsense and giving Shen Yu bad advice: "Shen Yu, you can't spoil her. With Jiang Xiliu's temper, if you give in now, she'll be able to ride roughshod over you in the future. If you spoil her any longer, she'll really think she's invincible!"
Shen Yu gritted his teeth and persevered for twenty-four hours.
Only after Ye Qishan's seemingly "condemning" but actually "resentful" gaze did she pick up her coat and drive alone to find Jiang Xiliu.
Jiang Xiliu had long since deleted all of Shen Yu's contact information.
Unable to contact her, Shen Yu simply parked his car in front of the Jiang family's house, got out of the car, and stood outside waiting.
Shen Yu could certainly have used a more respectable method, such as asking someone to pass on a message or seeking help from elders in the Jiang family.
But he also understood Jiang Xiliu: she responded better to gentleness than force, and harsh methods would only provoke the young lady's rebellious nature; only by showing appropriate weakness could he soften her heart.
Coincidentally, even the weather was on his side that day. He stood at the door for half an hour when a sudden downpour soaked him through.
The security guards at the gate were terrified. They were afraid that something might happen to Shen Yu at the Jiang family's gate, and they couldn't bear the responsibility. They also couldn't figure out what the young lady was thinking, so they dared not drive her away at will.
They hesitated for a moment, not daring to disturb the young lady, and instead reported the situation to Assistant Liao first.
Another hour passed.
Shen Yu's black shirt was already soaked with water, and the security captain came over with an umbrella, holding a cell phone in his hand that he was talking to Jiang Xiliu.
Shen Yu coughed twice on purpose before asking, "Are you calm now? Forgive me." Actually, he didn't even remember what they had argued about; it was something so trivial that it wasn't worth remembering.
Jiang Xiliu on the other end of the phone didn't care whether Shen Yu would get into trouble. As soon as she heard Assistant Liao say that Shen Yu was soaked, she immediately called the security guards to point the security cameras at the door at Shen Yu: "Shen Yu, you want me to forgive you? Sure, I'll let you go until the rain stops and I'm calm. You can only come in when I'm calm."
"Oh, right." Before hanging up, Jiang Xiliu emphasized, "I'll be watching the surveillance footage and keeping an eye on you. If you hide back in your car, then it's over for good. You're never allowed to come looking for me again."
...
Years later, when Shen Yu's car reappeared in front of the Jiang family's house, he noticed the security camera on the door was moving in his direction as the window slowly rolled down.
He remembered that rainy day, and he remembered that when he was finally allowed to go in, he received a hug from Jiang Xiliu, which was very warm.
Shen Yu's Adam's apple bobbed as he glanced at the security camera at the door.
He wasn't sure if Jiang Xiliu was watching him through surveillance at that moment, nor was he sure if she would judge his sincerity in wanting to see her based on his behavior while waiting.
But he dared not gamble, nor could he afford to.
He left so hastily and decisively back then, which has angered her to this day, making her now prefer to just find some random Tom, Dick, or Harry who resembles him and hastily get a marriage certificate.
The driver got out of the car and opened the door for him. After getting out, Shen Yu took the cane that his entourage had prepared in advance and slowly stood up straight by supporting himself on the ground.
He stood at the door for two hours, leaning on a cane.
It wasn't until the accompanying doctor and assistant Li couldn't bear to watch anymore that they took turns going up to him and urging him to rest.
"Mr. Shen, your leg has just undergone rehabilitation surgery and cannot bear weight for long periods of time. The weather is cold now, and the cold will irritate your knee joint, causing irreversible damage. Why don't we go back to the car and wait?"
Li Zhu, holding a coat, said, "Boss, the doctor is right. We can get out of the car after Miss Jiang comes out. If you stand here like this, you might catch a cold..."
Shen Yu waved his hand, his voice hoarse from being exposed to the cold wind for too long: "No need."
Shen Yu didn't agree to get in the car. Instead, he picked up his phone and sent a message to Jiang Xiliu, tentatively asking, "How long are you going to make me stand there before you're satisfied?"
She could stand there for as long as she wanted, because Jiang Xiliu was already quite satisfied. Without Chen Yu, she wouldn't have known that Jin Zhao was so adorable when he was jealous.
It's a bit like the chubby orange cat she had when she was little: before any other cats even came over, it would see her from afar and raise its tail, rubbing against her with dissatisfaction, begging for a hug.
Jiang Xiliu turned her head and slowly asked Jin Zhao, "Do you want him to come in?"
She said, "If we want to, we'll sit and wait for him; if we don't, we'll go see him together."
Jin Zhao glanced at her quickly, making sure she wasn't teasing him and was genuinely asking for his opinion, and immediately said, "I don't want him to come into your house."
That really resonated with Jiang Xiliu.
She didn't want Shen Yu to drink a drop of her water for nothing.
As for so-called dignity? Jiang Xiliu has never thought that compromising herself or pretending to be at peace is dignity. Otherwise, someone as concerned about her image as her would not have had such a strained breakup with Shen Yu.
Outside the door.
When Shen Yu noticed the security personnel at the door starting to move, he knew Jiang Xiliu was about to come out.
He took out a handkerchief from his pocket, tidied himself up briefly, and then adjusted the position of his cane, trying to stand more upright.
During his years of rehabilitation training in Berlin, he has been able to walk slowly and independently with the help of a cane. As long as Jiang Xiliu doesn't drag him along, he is confident that she won't notice anything unusual.
During that brief encounter in Berlin, Jiang Xiliu didn't get a clear look at Shen Yu's face.
Now that she's closer, she realizes that Shen Yu is much thinner than he was three years ago.
Jiang Xiliu burst out laughing at this discovery before she even got out of the car.
Anyone would be happy to see their ex-boyfriend not doing so well, right?
Jin Zhao pursed his lips, feeling a pang of bitterness in his heart: she really was his white moonlight. Before he met her, she seemed completely different; but after meeting her, he couldn't suppress his joy.
He suddenly regretted letting Jiang Xiliu meet this man.
The moment the black car stopped, Shen Yu slowly walked towards it. His posture was elegant, and his face was completely expressionless. No one could tell that there was something wrong with his leg. Only he knew that every step he took felt like a million roots were sticking out of it.
But this physical pain was completely overshadowed by the psychological anguish when he saw the two people sitting in the car.
Almost as soon as the driver opened the car door, Shen Yu's face immediately darkened.
The veins on the back of the hand gripping the cane were bulging from excessive force.
Aside from the first glance, Shen Yu never looked at Jin Zhao again, as if Jin Zhao was just a background figure not worth his attention. His calm gaze fell on Jiang Xiliu: "Xiliu, come here."
Just come to his side, and he will act as if nothing ever happened. He will erase all traces of her, including photos and marriage certificates.
He can walk normally now, and his face is fine. They will be fine as before.
Jiang Xiliu stood by the car door without moving, but instead slightly turned her head, tilting it further towards Jin Zhao.
She hated Shen Yu's attitude the most; no matter what happened, he always acted as if he was in complete control and at ease.
Her lips curved slightly upwards, her voice both mocking and clear: "No."
Shen Yu's breathing became rapid upon hearing her answer. He stubbornly continued walking towards where Jiang Xiliu was standing, trying to pull her back.
But he had only gone halfway when Jiang Xiliu spoke impatiently, "Shen Yu, what exactly did you come to see me for? Given our relationship, you shouldn't have sent those kinds of misleading messages, right?"
What is their relationship?
Shen Yu suddenly looked up at her, his eyes brightening as if he had grasped a lifeline: "I didn't agree to break up back then."
When the situation was urgent and he went abroad for treatment, Jiang Xiliu was still unconscious.
The two of them didn't even exchange a single word before he was unilaterally dumped.
He has indeed never publicly addressed the breakup.
Upon hearing this, Jin Zhao silently tightened his grip on Jiang Xiliu's hand.
He didn't know exactly what happened between Shen Yu and Jiang Xiliu back then, but he knew that he was now Jiang Xiliu's legally recognized partner.
Jin Zhao was not someone to be bullied. Even knowing that Shen Yu's background was not simple, and even knowing that his words might upset Jiang Xiliu, he still said, "You're just being presumptuous."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Zhao lifted Jiang Xiliu's hand, lowered his head and gently kissed the back of her hand: "I am her legal partner, what are you?"
Jiang Xiliu turned her head to look at Jin Zhao in surprise, her eyes full of astonishment.
This time, it wasn't her who instigated it; rather, it was Jin Zhao who actively provoked Shen Yu.
Even though most of Shen Yu's resources have been moved overseas, it doesn't mean he's powerless here. Jin Zhao has offended Shen Yu, and without Jiang Xiliu doing anything more, he'll have a hard time finding a decent job here.
"First come, first served." Shen Yu raised his hand, signaling the bodyguard who had just stepped forward to step back. His gaze swept over him indifferently, and his tone was contemptuous. "A mistress has no right to speak."
Jin Zhao was about to retort when the young lady scratched his palm.
He paused, then looked down at the person beside him.
Jiang Xiliu turned her head and met Shen Yu's gaze, then slowly said, "We haven't broken up."
A hint of hurt flashed across Jin Zhao's eyes, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand.
Then the young lady chuckled softly, "I don't even want to admit that we were ever together. How about we just wipe the slate clean and pretend nothing ever happened?"
Shen Yu tightened his grip on his cane: "Xi Liu, when I left, I didn't know you—"
"Shut up." The past that Shen Yu mentioned was the last thing Jiang Xiliu wanted to talk about. She stared at Shen Yu, her face expressionless, her tone calm but every word piercing, "The past is the past. If you really feel sorry, then you should die instead of bothering me."
After saying that, Jiang Xiliu suddenly felt utterly bored.
She released Jin Zhao's hand, turned and walked towards Shen Yu, her gaze lingering for a second on the cane he was holding: "Your harassment only disgusts me."
After Jiang Xiliu finished speaking, she didn't look at Shen Yu's reaction anymore, turned around and got into the car, slamming the door shut.
Jin Zhao was stunned for a moment, and was about to get into the car when the window suddenly rolled down. Jiang Xiliu looked at Jin Zhao and said, "I've already arranged for someone to take you back to school. I'll be going now."
The car sped away.
Jin Zhao didn't react much and showed no dissatisfaction: Jiang Xiliu's last words were spoken to him, and she didn't leave without saying goodbye; she even had someone take him back to school.
A cold, mocking laugh rang out behind him.
Jin Zhao turned around and looked at the man surrounded by a group of people.
Shen Yu gestured for everyone to step back. He walked slowly to Jin Zhao and suddenly raised his hand, lightly patting Jin Zhao's shoulder.
The two are about the same height and even have similar builds. Standing together, with their faces tense, they look even more alike.
“Hate lasts longer than love, and hate is born from love.” Shen Yu’s eyes were full of sarcasm. “The way she treats me now only shows that the person she cares about is me, and you are just a tool she uses to make me angry.”
Jin Zhao slapped away the weight that had fallen on his shoulder, said nothing, tensed his arm muscles, and punched Shen Yu hard in the face.
On the other side, the car suddenly stopped.
Jiang Xiliu lurched forward, nearly hitting the back of her seat. Before she could even get angry, she heard the driver say, "Miss, someone is blocking the car ahead."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
