Chapter 53: Choosing [Abuse of Cheng] So you like being a masochist. ...
Ke Yanchen stared intently into the mist with his dark eyes, and slowly spoke.
"Yu Wu, I like you."
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
The stagnant air seemed to have been torn open with a crack.
The crowd stirred again, shouting excitedly in unison, "Say yes! Say yes!"
The shouts were deafening, each one louder than the last, like waves crashing in one after another.
Yu Wu was overwhelmed by the joy on their faces, unable to think straight. A heavy weight weighed on her shoulders, and her heart was filled with bewilderment.
...
Her mind went blank, her ears were ringing, and the whole world seemed to have left her. Without a trace of surprise, Yu Wu stood frozen in place, her arm gripped tightly and pulled so hard that she frowned slightly. She turned her head numbly, only to be met with Cheng Yi's dark, cold, and emotionless eyes.
His face remained expressionless, but his dark pupils were fixed on her, and in front of everyone, he defiantly intertwined his fingers with hers.
The incident happened so suddenly that onlookers were stunned, and a hidden undercurrent was violently brought to the surface.
The excited shouts gradually subsided, and the crowd began to push and shove, whispering amongst themselves, their faces showing smug satisfaction at having stumbled upon some juicy gossip. Occasionally, a few jarring chuckles and whispers could be heard. Their eyes darted around excitedly, their faces filled with a menacing, voyeuristic desire, hoping the drama would become even more explosive and shocking.
Three different life trajectories collide at this moment, resulting in a delicate standoff.
Ke Yanchen reached out to grab Yu Wu's hand, but Cheng Yi sternly interrupted him, creating a tense atmosphere.
Ke Yanchen slightly raised his chin, his voice carrying a hint of ruthlessness: "Yu Zi has the right to choose freely."
He dared to touch her.
He actually tried to touch her.
Beneath Cheng Yi's indifferent expression lay a surging ruthlessness. He looked down at the masses and sneered at Ke Yanchen, "Come and try."
They were locked in a fierce confrontation, their auras clashing, and a sudden outburst was imminent.
The crowd formed an "O" shape with their mouths, and a chorus of "Holy crap!" erupted as they whispered amongst themselves once more.
".....Holy crap."
"What's going on?"
"Are we going to fight?"
"A love triangle?"
"That's awesome?"
Who is the official wife?
"Big news! Huge news!"
The somber atmosphere robbed the fog of all its oxygen, and my heart clenched, filled with unfamiliar emotions.
Ke Yanchen didn't back down, his deep eyes fixed intently on Cheng Yi. "Yu Zi, I've said it before, you have the right to choose freely. I'll bear any consequences."
Cheng Yi exuded an overly resolute and cold aura. Yu Wu breathed heavily, glancing up beside him, only to see his taut jaw.
He seemed to sense something, looked down, and met her eyes.
They looked at each other.
She couldn't decipher the darkness and obscurity in his eyes.
Two lines of clear tears slowly slid down her cheeks; it was the first time Yu Wu had ever shed wet, cold tears.
She turned to look at Ke Yanchen. His face was sincere and firm, his dark pupils shimmering with light, just like when he confessed his love in his youth.
Tears streamed down her face silently again, and she could no longer suppress the surging emotions within her.
......
It was Ke Yanchen, the tenderness that Yu Wu had tried her best to pursue in the first half of her life but could never achieve. It was the heartless man who occupied her entire girlhood, Ke Yanchen who was like the wind that could never be grasped, and the hatred and sorrow that she had harbored for ten years.
Those past events came rushing in like a torrent bursting its banks.
In the prime of youth, when love first blossoms.
In my memory, there was that arrogant boy with thick, cold eyes, his gaze fixed only on her slightly upturned lips. He covered the bloodstains on her school uniform when she was utterly embarrassed; he resolutely returned to take responsibility when her prank led to her being caught; he went to the administration office to take the blame for her and retrieve her phone; he restrained himself and reached out his arm to help her after evening self-study; he rushed downstairs late at night to comfort her with a single question, hugging her until it hurt; he felt sorry for her not being able to eat home-cooked meals and took her out to eat something nutritious; he made a handwritten promise of a lifetime of passionate love; and finally, in the gymnasium, coldly denying their relationship in front of hundreds of eyes; in front of a group of gossipy people at school calling her a slut, causing a school uproar, making her heart bleed, her self-esteem crumble inch by inch, utterly defeated…
It was a youth filled with thorns and bloodshed.
Why were you so cruel and indifferent when you clearly liked me?
It's all her fault.
It's her fault for loving too much, for loving too passionately, for loving without reservation, which emboldened him to hurt her time and time again.
People often say that time heals all wounds. With time, you'll forget. But time doesn't grant anyone the ability to forget. Those memories that pierce your self-esteem, leaving scars, are like sharp thorns deep in your bones, impossible to pull out or melt away, causing you to tremble with pain with every breath.
She can't forget it.
Before her was Ke Yanchen's affection, the affection she had longed for since her youth, and Ke Yanchen's public recognition.
Countless times she woke up crying in the middle of the night, all because of him.
Now, he stood before her, no longer finding her unpresentable or unlucky, and publicly confessed his love and chose her.
But why, at this moment, did she feel no joy? Her eyes stung, her heart ached as if it were shattered into pieces.
They can't even tell whether they're too numb to love or too painful to hate.
......
And Cheng Yi.
Chengyi seems to have developed feelings for Chengyi.
Images flashed through my mind like frames from a movie: the desperate struggle beneath him, her body trembling and contorting, her voice trembling as she uttered whatever came to mind; the tender, lingering words he whispered to her; the countless mornings and nights spent embracing, naked, necks intertwined, breathless; the supermarket walks hand in hand; her stubbornness and his helpless tolerance in indulging her; the fierce punches he delivered to Zhou Jin, abandoning a potentially historic international collaboration for her; the passionate kisses in the bar; and the graceful dance in the cold, rainy night yesterday...
She cherished his scent, loved his warm embrace, and couldn't bear to part with the sense of security he brought her.
They were about to be together, receiving everyone's blessings and heading towards happiness.
They were about to be happy.
But how long can feelings that arise from [unclear] last? Once the novelty wears off, can they still hold on?
She also wanted to choose him.
But.
—Giving your heart sincerely will bring retribution.
Giving your heart away will surely bring retribution.
The little courage I had finally mustered slipped away as the stalemate dragged on.
I no longer have the courage to risk betting on ever-changing true feelings.
There is no one in the world as devoted and foolish as her.
Why does happiness always struggle amidst bloodshed and carnage?
At this moment, Cheng Yi's eyes were cold and seemingly devoid of any emotion, carrying a chilling, impending storm that pressed down on every pore and every breath she took. It pierced through all her bravado, leaving only a choked sob and heartache.
......
Unfamiliar emotions completely overwhelmed her. Feelings of bewilderment, helplessness, hatred, and grief surged within her.
She felt a chill run down her spine, seeping into every pore of her body. Her whole body trembled slightly, her scalp tingled, and the sensation spread throughout her body.
The deafening murmurs gradually subsided, and all eyes, eager for gossip, were fixed on her, awaiting her answer.
Sincerity is ever-changing; sincerity can be acted out.
Giving your heart sincerely will bring retribution.
Giving your heart away will surely bring retribution.
Tears brimming with bitterness do not lie.
She also wanted to be brave and gamble her true feelings on Chengyi again.
For Chengyi, be brave once, even if you fall, it won't be in vain that you loved.
But in that instant, she seemed to see her younger self, her face streaked with tears, her eyes filled with despair, softly asking, "Are you going to abandon me too?"
Only tears don't lie.
Dear Yuko, don't betray your own tears.
If she missed this opportunity, she would regret it for the rest of her life, for the tears she shed at night.
In that instant, everything became clear.
I hate him.
I hate him to the core.
Her blood was boiling and surging, and hatred and pain overwhelmed her in that instant. She wanted nothing more than to plunge a knife into his chest and twist it to shred his internal organs, to question whether he had any sincerity at all, and to question why he had toyed with sincerity.
Why play with genuine feelings?
But she forced herself to suppress it, clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and let the cold, wet tears fall uncontrollably.
......
The wait was too long, and a crack finally appeared in Cheng Yi's indifferent expression. For the first time in his life, he vaguely felt a sense of fear and unease.
A sense of unease at impending loss. No one else could ever make him feel this way.
He could no longer remain calm and maintain his indifference and domineering attitude.
Yu Wu remained silent.
She actually dared to remain silent and hesitate.
Cheng Yi's chest was filled with anger. He gripped Yu Wu's neck tightly, intending to take her away directly.
Ke Yanchen grabbed Yu Wu's wrist and once again provoked Cheng Yi by meeting his eyes, the tension palpable.
The anger churning in my chest was about to explode at any moment.
He actually dared to touch Yuwu.
This scumbag actually dared to—
Just as the tension was about to escalate, Cheng Yi heard the soft thud of a sharp knife piercing his heart—
She spoke softly:
"I have no relation to Chengyi."
"I'm willing to be Ke Yanchen's girlfriend."
The crowd erupted in a burst of excited shouts and screams.
"Holy crap, Cheng Yi is the other woman?"
"Ke Zi said that he and Yu Wu met through a blind date..."
"Those with power and influence will resort to robbery. Do they really think they're so great just because they have money?"
"Aren't all the people in the north of the city like this? Their methods are despicable..."
This was the first time in Cheng Yi's life that he had experienced such humiliation.
Is it painful or exhilarating to be stabbed in the back by your closest relationship?
His self-esteem was trampled underfoot.
His sincerity was ridiculed and slandered.
The anger that had been suppressed for so long exploded silently in an instant, leaving a profound and tragic silence.
His lips twitched slightly, and he opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. His heart ached so much that he couldn't even speak, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of glass, which was grinding and gritting, rolling down his throat and into his internal organs. With each violent beat of his heart, which he thought was invulnerable, it was hitting a sharp corner, and blood dripped out.
The pain made him feel as if he were no longer alive.
His eyes drooped, gazing into the misty distance; his eyelashes trembled slightly; the corners of his eyes were red; and his dark pupils were moist and dull.
The sound he made was like a mournful whimper.
"So you like to act like a jerk."
*
A chill seeped into her bones, and Yu Wu suppressed her trembling breath. Waves of hatred and tears pounded against her heart, forcing her to make a decision. She let out a painful whimper, closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face.
She spoke softly:
"I have no relation to Chengyi."
"I'm willing to be Ke Yanchen's girlfriend."
The onlookers erupted in cheers once again, and the surging, restless discussions wove a large net, trapping them all.
Yu Wu lowered her eyelashes and slowly pried open Cheng Yi's tightly clasped fingers.
Cheng Yi's face was fierce and ferocious, with veins bulging on his forehead and arms, yet he refused to let go of her hand. His fingertips turned white from the force, and the power traveled from his fingertips, gripping her heart from within.
I almost suffocated.
A collective gasp and a chorus of "Holy crap!" erupted from the crowd once again.
Yu Wu finally slowly raised her eyes and met his gaze.
He slowly, very slowly, let go of her hand.
His eyes were drooping and misty, his eyelashes trembled slightly, the corners of his eyes were red, and his dark pupils were moist and dull.
The sound he made was like a mournful whimper.
"So you like to act like a jerk."
Cheng Yi's destructive pressure carried a hint of dejection, and they remained locked in a stalemate at opposite ends of a straight line. The pain and joy before leaving home, the hugs and kisses, the sticky, close embrace—all had become a scarred memory of the past.
Ke Yanchen finally got some tissues from the onlookers. He wiped away Yu Wu's tears and pulled her to his side. He was full of victor's pride, his eyebrows slightly raised, and he smiled lazily at Cheng Yi: "Chengzi, this is my girlfriend."
Yu Wu deliberately avoided looking at Cheng Yi.
Cheng Yi let out a silent, contemptuous sneer, feeling he had utterly lost all self-respect. His throat bobbed slightly, and he turned away resolutely, leaving only a slender, upright figure behind.
Despite his still formidable and powerful aura, Yuwu could still see the hidden vulnerability within him.
His back was straight, his fingers were clenched tightly, and the veins on the back of his hands and arms were bulging, like the powerful claws of a dragon.
The deafening cheers and applause nearly lifted the roof off, escalating into a boiling frenzy of celebration. Amidst all the merriment, he was the only one to leave, becoming a casualty of the power struggle between Yu Wu and Ke Yanchen.
It's like an empty shell that has had its core removed.
The crowd was in an uproar, and all the undercurrents were swallowed up by the noise.
......
One of the main characters in the love triangle has finally left, and onlookers are now offering insincere congratulations to the "perfectly matched" couple.
The mist was filled with confusion and coldness. Holding Ke Yanchen's arm, I put on a mask and was pulled into this desolate revelry. I faked a smile all night before finally having some time to be alone.
The two stood quietly by the window, overlooking the most bustling neon-lit nightscape of Nanhai City. A gentle night breeze blew, ruffling the stray hairs by their ears.
Ke Yanchen tucked Yu Wu's stray hairs behind his ear before finally speaking his first words to Yu Wu, who had become his girlfriend, his tone cold.
Why were you crying just now?
Yu Wu stared into his dark pupils, opened her mouth, but her heart clenched and she couldn't utter a word.
Ke Yanchen waited for her answer, and after a long while, Yu Wu lowered her eyelashes.
"Tears of happiness," she said.
Are tears of happiness cold?
The moment Yu Wu suddenly looked up, she was pulled into Ke Yanchen's arms. A hard, burning embrace.
His hair was gently ruffled, and his deep voice slowly came from above his head.
"Yuko, it didn't matter before. I just want to be with you, really."
"Mmm." Yu Wu made a soft sound, paused for a moment, and then said softly, "Ke Ke, I also want to be good to you."
-----------------------
Author's Note: This torture has left me completely disoriented.
Ke Yanchen had a profound influence on Yu Wu, and unknowingly, Yu Wu also learned his cold-heartedness and selfishness.
But she was still kind, so she felt guilty towards Cheng Yi.
This chapter came to me automatically. After writing it down, I realized that everything Yu Wu did to Cheng Yi today was exactly what Ke Yanchen had done to Yu Wu in the past. (Denial of relationship, abrupt breakup, seamless transition, betrayal of true feelings)
Personally, I think it's quite wonderful; it gives the feeling that fate is being replicated through countless twists and turns, and that all the careful planning in life is no match for the arrangements of destiny.
In the next chapter, the two exchange harsh words, using the sharpest language to stab each other.
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