Zhong Hua opened his mouth, and after a long pause, he replied, "Hmm, what a coincidence. How have you been lately?"
"I'm fine, how about you?" Ah Yu replied, while shifting her gaze elsewhere, pretending to look at the goods on the shelf.
"I'm alright, I guess." Zhong Hua felt the air had become incredibly stiff. He couldn't find anything else to say, so he hurriedly said, "Then I'll go first," and quickly pushed the shopping cart away.
Ah Yu watched Zhong Hua's departing figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions. That once familiar and reliable figure had now become so unfamiliar. She tried her best to hold back her tears and continued to select items, but her hands kept trembling slightly.
When Su Yao learned that they were now like strangers, she became even more anxious. She thought she had to find another opportunity to let them have a good talk and express their thoughts. She couldn't let this relationship completely cool down.
Chapter Five: Undercurrents of Longing
In the days after their separation, Ah Yu found that she could never truly let go of Zhong Hua. Whenever she saw movies they had watched together or streets they had walked together, her longing would surge like a tide.
She couldn't help but ask mutual friends about Zhong Hua's recent situation. When she learned that he had encountered some minor setbacks at work, she would secretly worry. When she learned that he was feeling unwell, she would wish she could rush to take care of him immediately.
And Zhong Hua was no different. He would often stare blankly at Ah Yu's photo at night, reminiscing about the time they spent together. Once, while tidying up his things, he found a small pendant that Ah Yu had given him, a souvenir they had bought on a trip. He stroked the pendant, his eyes welling up with tears.
Zhong Hua began to reflect on whether he had acted too impulsively back then. Just because of family pressure and those rumors, he easily chose to separate. Was there really no other way to face it?
Ah Yu also asked herself the same question on countless sleepless nights. She felt as if she had lost the most important part of her life, and that feeling of heartache just wouldn't go away.
Chapter Six: An Unexpected Reunion
At a friend's birthday party, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua unexpectedly bumped into each other again. The moment they entered and saw each other, they both froze. The lively party seemed to fall silent instantly, and everything around them seemed to blur. They only had eyes for each other.
Seeing this, Su Yao quickly came over, took their hands and said, "On such a happy day, you two can't keep your long faces. Let's have a good time together."
Ah Yu and Zhong Hua were pulled to sit together by Su Yao. At first, they were a little awkward and didn't know what to say. But after a few drinks, their long-suppressed emotions seemed to slowly begin to be released.
Ah Yu looked at Zhong Hua with red eyes and said, "You know, during these days apart, I've thought about you every day. I feel like I can't live without you at all."
Zhong Hua held Ah Yu's hand, his voice trembling slightly: "Me too, I regret it. I shouldn't have said we should break up back then. We could have faced those difficulties together."
Seeing this, their friends all cheered them on, urging them to reconcile. Ah Yu and Zhong Hua looked at each other, their eyes filled with deep affection, as if they had rediscovered the pure love they once had, and the barrier between them seemed to slowly dissipate at this moment.
Chapter Seven: Firm Resolve
After that gathering, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua decided to stop being swayed by family pressure and outside gossip. They held hands and went to meet each other's parents.
Faced with Ah Yu's parents' concerns, Zhong Hua sincerely said, "Uncle and Aunt, I know you are worried that Ah Yu will suffer if she stays with me. I promise you, I will work hard to give her a happy and stable life. Please believe me."
Ah Yu chimed in, "Mom and Dad, I love Zhong Hua, and he loves me too. We're confident we can face the future together, so please stop objecting, okay?"
Seeing the determination in their eyes, Ah Yu's parents were gradually moved and finally nodded, indicating that they were willing to give them a chance.
Seeing their determination, Zhong Hua's family didn't say anything more and instead chose to wish them well.
As for the rumors and gossip from the outside world, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua no longer paid attention to them. They knew that as long as their hearts were closely connected, what did those insignificant voices matter?
Chapter 8: Reconciliation
After resolving their family and external issues, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua's relationship deepened even further. They would plan their future together and do things they had always wanted to do but hadn't yet.
After getting off work, Zhong Hua, as before, went to pick up Ah Yu with flowers in hand. This time, however, their smiles were even brighter, and they held hands even tighter.
Seeing how happy and sweet they were now, Su Yao felt particularly gratified. She teased, "Oh my, you two have finally gotten over your hardships! You must treat each other well from now on and not quarrel anymore!"
Ah Yu nestled in Zhong Hua's arms and said with a smile, "No, after this experience, we both know we should cherish each other more."
Zhong Hua nodded and said, "Yes, those ups and downs will only make our relationship stronger. We will continue to be happy in the future."
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, illuminating their happy figures, as if telling a beautiful love story that had weathered storms. The doubts, helplessness, and pain they had experienced had all become valuable assets on their emotional journey, making them cherish the person in front of them even more.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
