bid farewell
Time flies, this is Shen Yu's last year in college.
He had long since shed the immaturity of his youth, his former fragility gradually tempered by an inherent scholarly air, transforming into a more composed and reserved demeanor. Walking around campus, he was still the one who easily attracted everyone's attention, but now those glances were filled with more appreciation and recognition.
Professors took note of his insights in class, and he became a favorite partner during group assignments. He was even invited by junior students to give a small presentation on his approach to financial modeling in a specialized course he excelled in. Standing at the podium, he spoke with clear logic and a calm tone, but only the subtle tremor of his fingertips betrayed his inner nervousness. Only he knew that this composure was the product of countless late-night practice sessions in front of the mirror. He longed to become worthy of her, even if only to appear more "presentable" in the eyes of others.
His senior year schedule wasn't as tight as before, so he moved back into the apartment permanently. Besides his studies, he continued to meticulously care for Lin Qingyue's life, even more attentively than before. They maintained that close yet strange relationship. He was her "canary," her secret lover. He immersed himself in this relationship and began to weave beautiful dreams about their future.
He followed the financial news daily about the Lin Group, trying to understand the complexities she dealt with. He secretly looked up real estate listings, fantasizing that one day they could move to a home that felt more inviting and less like a model apartment, perhaps even get a cat or a dog.
He was humble, eager to learn, and excelled in his studies. On the eve of graduation, while many of his classmates were still struggling for their futures, he had already received an offer from a top domestic investment bank. He held the acceptance email, his heart beating with excitement in his chest. He naively and devoutly thought that if he worked tirelessly at his new company and achieved rapid success, perhaps he would be able to quickly build up enough confidence and capital. Perhaps... he would truly be qualified to stand by her side, giving this relationship, which had been buried deep in the underworld, a chance to see the light of day.
On a certain night after a passionate love affair, the air still lingered with the warm and moist scent of lust. Shen Yu curled up in Lin Qingyue's arms, like a cat absorbing warmth, his fingers unconsciously entwined with a strand of her slightly cool long hair. In the darkness, he mustered up his courage, his voice lazily afterward and a hint of almost imperceptible temptation: "Sister, when I get a job and make money...I'll support you, okay?"
Lin Qingyue closed her eyes and just smiled lightly when she heard the words. There was no emotion in her laughter, but there was a subtle hint of mockery, perhaps because of what he said, or perhaps because she suddenly felt a sudden affection for herself.
"Silly." She only replied with two words and patted his back, as if to send away a whimsical child.
However, Shen Yu seemed to have received some kind of tacit consent, and the little flame of fantasy in his heart burned brighter and stronger with a "puff". He buried his cheek in the crook of her neck, sniffing the cold fragrance that made him feel at ease, and devoted himself more diligently to the various preparations before graduation, looking forward to opening the new chapter of the future that he had described as extremely beautiful, with her participation.
He was completely immersed in his own expectations and didn't notice at all that the woman around him seemed a little different recently.
She remained busy and powerful, but subtle changes were quietly taking place. Occasionally, she'd frown at the food she'd always loved, revealing a barely concealed distaste. Once, she'd even taken a sip of soup before suddenly standing up and rushing to the bathroom, though she'd explained it as a stomach upset. Her signature, cold perfume, which had always been there, seemed to have faded. The look in her eyes when she looked at him grew more complex. Beyond the usual control and admiration, there seemed to be a hint of depth and struggle that he couldn't quite fathom.
…
When Lin Qingyue discovered that there was something wrong with her body, her first reaction was absurdity.
Two weeks after her period was delayed, a sense of foreboding washed over her. She went to a private hospital for a checkup alone, but when she saw the clear conclusion on the test sheet, even she, a calm woman, went blank for a moment.
Pregnant.
The role of "mother" had never been included in her life plan, at least not at this moment, in this way. It goes without saying who the child belongs to: Shen Yu.
After the shock, there were days of silence and deep thought.
She watched Shen Yu busy beside her as always, his eyes clear and full of longing for the future. He excitedly shared the details of the induction training with her, actively tried to make more delicious and nutritious meals for her, and even secretly measured the size of her finger - he thought she didn't notice.
This child was beautiful, intelligent, and obedient, practically a perfect creation of hers. After all these years together, it would be a lie to say there wasn't a shred of genuine affection. She had grown accustomed to his presence, to his complete dependence and admiration, and even developed a strange, almost "keeper"-like sense of responsibility and... a tiny tinge of affection for him.
She was eight years his senior and the head of the Lin Group. Even though he was about to join a top investment bank, he was still just a fledgling in the face of her vast business empire. Their relationship began as an unequal transaction. She had bought him, thinking only of buying a beautiful toy.
Now, this toy seems to want more, a status and a future.
And what about her? Could she give him that? Would she let him be tied down to a child at such a young age, giving up a life that could have endless possibilities? Worse still, with his abilities, it was foreseeable that he would have a bright future. If by then he met someone he truly loved, someone who was right for him, and he regretted it, what would happen to her and the child?
Shen Yu is comfortable and desirable to her, but can she really spend her life with him?
More importantly, does Lin Qingyue’s life need to be bound like this?
Pregnancy... Should I tell him? This thought was rejected in a flash. Based on her understanding of Shen Yu, that person who was obsessed with her and had a strong sense of responsibility, would definitely give up the offer and his future without hesitation, clinging to her and the child, and take responsibility to the end.
That wasn't what she wanted. Not for her, not for him.
A feeling of almost cold kindness formed in her heart. He was still so young, with a bright future ahead of him. He shouldn't be held back by her, by this unexpected child. He deserved a more normal, happier life, to be with a girl who was truly suitable for him and his age, rather than living forever under her shadow and control.
And she could not accept that her life rhythm was completely disrupted and she had to play the role of a wife that she was not familiar with.
But……
When she saw his beautiful eyes glistening with tears as he held the offer email, and saw the gentle smile on the corner of his mouth as he secretly browsed the real estate website, an unfamiliar emotion would suddenly surge up in her, sour and bitter.
That's his child.
Their children.
This realization brought about an almost terrifying softness, making her feel unprecedented panic and...hesitation.
For the first time, she discovered that her impenetrable sanity had actually cracked. And all of this stemmed from the beautiful and fragile boy she had picked up on a whim, and who was now full of longing to plan a future with her.
It was time to end it. Before he got any deeper into it, before she herself might soften her heart and change her mind.
With terrifying calmness, she began to plan. She arranged an overseas inspection trip through the overseas branch and made an appointment with a private hospital abroad. She quietly transferred the apartment to Shen Yu's name and wrote a check for a huge amount, enough to ensure that he could live comfortably even without a job.
Finally, she left a letter. It was sobering, even cruel. She told him the game was over, she was tired of playing, and that paying for his college education was all she could do. The money was compensation for his years of service. Don't look for her, don't try to contact her, and start your own lives.
She chose to leave on the day Shen Yu went to attend the graduation ceremony. Everything in the apartment seemed unchanged, except that her traces were completely erased, as if she had never existed.
The property certificate, the check and the cold letter lay quietly on the coffee table in the living room, like a final judgment.
Shen Yu returned to the apartment with joy, holding his diploma and the trophy for outstanding graduates, and saw this scene. The smile on his face froze instantly, and his heart seemed to be grasped by an icy hand and almost stopped beating.
Trembling, he picked up the letter and read it word for word. Every word was like an icicle, piercing his heart and piercing through all his fantasies and warmth. He frantically called her number, but only received a cold busy tone. All his contact options had been completely blocked.
He seemed to have been drained of all his strength and collapsed on the cold floor, still holding the old rabbit doll tightly in his arms. The world collapsed before his eyes, leaving only endless darkness and bone-chilling cold.
When he collapsed, Lin Qingyue was sitting in the first-class cabin on a flight to New York, looking at the sea of clouds outside the window, stroking her still flat belly expressionlessly, saying a lonely farewell that she thought was the "best" for both of them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
