Shen Zhihe's perspective
My name is Shen Zhihe.
On the day my mother died, I knelt before the mourning hall, clutching her portrait in my hands until my fingertips turned white. But before her body was cold, my father brought home a woman in a red dress—Xu Huanxi—and a little girl with pigtails.
When the girl smiled, her eyes curved, just like my mother when she was young. I looked at my mother's gentle smile in the portrait, but I sneered in my heart - mother, your place has been taken by someone else.
In my first year of junior high, I rode my bicycle to school. The normally broad avenue was blocked by fallen trees, forcing me to take a narrow path. Sunlight streamed through the leaves, and I was absent-mindedly pedaling when I suddenly smelled a sweet fragrance.
I stopped and saw a girl in a white shirt bending down to select sweet-scented osmanthus cakes at a stall ahead. Her hair fell gently over her shoulders, and the sunlight reflected on her profile, making her look like a fairy from a painting. At that moment, I almost forgot to breathe—who was she? Why had I never seen her before?
Later I found out that her name was Gu Hanzhi - the Gu Hanzhi who had always been the top student in the grade.
I began to look for her around school, intentionally or unintentionally. During breaks, I would pretend to pass by her class. She seemed not to notice me, or perhaps she simply didn't care to pay attention.
One day during my third year of middle school, I saw her trapped in an alley by a few thugs. I rushed over and chased them away. She lowered her head and continued to keep her distance from me, even deliberately avoiding me when we met.
Am I unattractive? Or is it that...she doesn't like men?
I pondered this over and over in my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more anxious I became. Why couldn't she look at me? Why couldn't she smile at me?
In my freshman year of high school, I finally found a way to be assigned to the same class as her. I sat slightly behind her, staring at her back every day in class, watching her handwriting and the curve of her neck when she lowered her head.
At first, she ignored me. But I didn't give up. I took her home, bought her her favorite milk and soda, took her to the hospital when she fell, and stayed with her the entire time.
Slowly, she began to talk to me, and even smiled at me occasionally. That smile, like poison, made me even more unable to extricate myself.
Finally, one night in Paris, she kissed me.
She kissed me...
She actually kissed me!
The moment her lips touched mine, I felt the whole world go silent. I even thought - if only time could stop at this moment.
Back at the hotel, I touched the corner of my mouth and it seemed that her warmth still remained.
I looked at the brightly lit night scene outside the window, and a smile appeared on the corner of my mouth - Gu Hanzhi, you are mine, forever.
The good times didn't last long. The ring I carefully selected still carried her body temperature in my palm, and I could even imagine how it would gleam on her ring finger. But she simply raised her eyes and said, "Shen Zhihe, let's break up."
I lowered my head, my fingers tightly gripping the ring box until the sharp metal edges pierced my flesh, and then I barely realized this wasn't a dream. Her voice was soft, but it felt like a gash in my ear, sending a cold wind rushing into my chest. I wanted to ask why, but my throat felt blocked, and even my breath tasted bloody sweet.
The moment she turned and left, I remained standing, like a broken puppet. Only when her figure completely disappeared into the crowd did I slowly squat down, tears pouring out like a flood. I wiped them away with handfuls, but they wouldn't go away.
Does she not like me anymore? Has she found someone new? The answer may be obvious, but I still refuse to give up and repeat this question over and over again.
That night, I booked a room at a karaoke bar and called two friends over. They were quite cooperative and immediately started chatting and making love, oblivious to the surroundings. The sounds of laughter and kissing filled the dim light.
I sat in the corner, ordering one song after another that she once loved, but I would choke up halfway through the song. Tears would flow down my cheeks into the wine glass, mixing with the alcohol, and it was so bitter that it made me want to go crazy.
I stared at the lyrics scrolling across the screen, my vision blurring. At that moment, I suddenly felt like all the beauty in the world was laughing at me—especially her.
But I won't let go just like that.
She can leave me, but she can't forget me. One day, she'll understand that I'm the only one who can bring her happiness. Then, even if she flees to the ends of the earth, I'll find her and hold her in my arms—forever.
After I brought down my stepmother, I thought my father would become more restrained. But he still looked at me with that gentle mask and said calmly, "I've already arranged a marriage for you."
The target is Lin Yue, the leader of the group that bullies Han Zhi.
How could I possibly agree? The woman was cold and distant, even her eyes held a sharp edge. But I quickly realized I had no right to refuse.
Six months later, I learned from Jiang Wanning the real reason Hanzhi broke up with me: she had advanced stomach cancer. She wanted to endure it alone and didn't want me to see her in such a state of distress.
She is so stupid.
On the day of the funeral, I stood in front of the mourning hall, my fingertips gently caressing her cold face. Others saw a body, but what I saw was my only treasure. I would guard her carefully, not letting anyone touch her, not even for a moment.
For four years, I was by her side every day. Her face remained the same, only with a hint of the paleness of death.
Finally, on that rainy night, I couldn't bear it anymore - I was alive, but I couldn't touch her soul.
I picked up the knife, the sharp blade reflecting my face. A smile slowly spread across my face, and I whispered softly, "Hanzhi... We can meet again."
Blood bloomed beside her body like a belated red flower.
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