Chapter 3 Goodbye
The air still seemed to hold the echoes of childhood chasing and playing.
She spent countless summer and winter vacations here with Zhou Zhengping, Zhou Anping, Gu Yan, and many other children in the compound.
"Anping, don't let your mother know I'm here. I'll be waiting for you in... the little garden."
She pointed to the flowerbed outside the Zhou family's side courtyard.
Zhou Anping glanced at Nan Zhiyi's pale face and nodded: "Okay, you wait here, I'll go get my brother right now!"
Watching Zhou Anping slip into the house, Nan Zhiyi walked to the stone bench by the flower bed and sat down.
Her gaze swept around.
Across from her was Gu Yan's house, which she had visited many times.
A heavy gaze fell upon her.
Looking up, there was a figure standing behind the window on the second floor of Gu Yan's house. The expression was unclear from the distance, but the outline was clearly Gu Xiao.
Nan Zhiyi's heart tightened, and she subconsciously lowered her head.
Fifth Brother.
How did he notice this place?
A few minutes later, the gate to the Gu family's courtyard opened.
Gu Xiao walked straight toward the small garden.
He had striking features and an aggressive handsomeness, but he was always serious and rarely smiled, making him a "high-and-mighty flower" revered by the children of the high-ranking officials.
Nan Zhiyi has been afraid of him since she was little. He is too serious, has too strong an aura, and his eyes are so sharp that they seem to be able to see through people's hearts.
Nan Zhiyi stood up, her fingers trembling as if she didn't know where to put them.
When he got closer, she called out softly, "Fifth Brother."
Gu Xiao stopped in front of her, more than a head taller than her, and his shadow completely enveloped her.
He looked down at her and asked calmly, "You've come to see Zhou Zhengping?"
"Mm," Nan Zhiyi replied.
She turned her face slightly to the side, trying to hide the swelling on her left cheek.
Gu Xiao had already noticed the unusual red mark.
He frowned slightly, reached out, and brought his long, slender fingers close to her chin, as if he wanted to lift her chin to examine her.
Nan Zhiyi was startled and turned her head away.
Gu Xiao's hand froze in mid-air, his fingertips curling slightly.
He didn't ask why he dodged, but simply withdrew his hand, his voice deepening: "Who hit me?"
Perhaps it was his gaze that was too oppressive, or perhaps it was a strange trust she held in him deep down.
From childhood to adulthood, Nan Zhiyi has always been very honest with Gu Xiao.
"Wang Lili".
Gu Xiao didn't have much of an impression of this name, only vaguely remembering that it seemed to be around the same age as Nan Zhiyi and the others.
Seeing that Gu Xiao didn't speak, Nan Zhiyi secretly glanced at him, only able to see a taut chin with some bluish stubble...
Just then, the side door of the Zhou family's house was suddenly pushed open. Zhou Zhengping rushed out, looking anxious.
Gu Xiao glanced at Zhou Zhengping, nodded to Nan Zhiyi, and strode away.
Zhou Zhengping's gaze fell upon the clear handprint on her face, and his eyes reddened: "Zhiyi, I miss you so much. Anping said you..."
He hated his own powerlessness and desperately wanted to hold Nan Zhiyi's hand.
Nan Zhiyi put her hands behind her back before he could touch her.
"Your mother came to my house this morning to call off the engagement. Did you know that?"
Zhou Zhengping's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, his face drained of color, and his lips moved a few times before he finally said, "I...I didn't know she went today...Zhiyi, listen to me, I..."
Looking at Zhou Zhengping's ashen face, she felt no emotion, only deep weariness.
"No need to say anything more. I've already returned the marriage certificate to her. Ah Ping, that's enough."
"No!" Zhou Zhengping grabbed her arm urgently, his grip strong. "Zhiyi, wait for me! Even if..."
"Zhengping! What are you doing, pulling at her like that?!"
A sharp rebuke interrupted him.
Song Lanxin chased after her, and when she saw Nan Zhiyi, her eyes pierced her like knives. "Nan Zhiyi? How dare you come here? The engagement is off, and you still..."
"Mom!" Zhou Zhengping immediately turned around, stopping his mother from saying even more hurtful things.
Nan Zhiyi glanced at Song Lanxin, whose face was ashen, and Zhou Zhengping, who was struggling in pain, but said nothing.
She straightened her back and turned to walk towards the entrance of the compound.
"Zhiyi! Don't go!"
Zhou Zhengping couldn't help but rush forward again.
He took a few steps and blocked Nan Zhiyi's path.
"Zhiyi, don't listen to my mom. The engagement can't be called off. We had a promise, I promised you..."
"Zhengping!" Song Lanxin's expression changed drastically. She quickly stepped forward and tried to pull her son back.
Zhou Zhengping stubbornly stood in front of Nan Zhiyi: "Mom, that's not what you told me before! You said that once this storm passed and the pressure on Dad eased up, you would let me marry Zhiyi! You promised!"
He turned to Nan Zhiyi, pleading painfully, "Zhiyi, believe me! Wait a little longer, okay? Wait for my parents..."
"Ouch!" Song Lanxin suddenly clutched her chest, her body swaying precariously.
"Zhengping! You...you're trying to kill your mother with anger? My heart...ouch...it hurts so much...how could I have given birth to such an unfilial son...for someone...disregarding your parents' lives..."
Nan Zhiyi watched Song Lanxin's performance with cold eyes, and then looked at Zhou Zhengping's dilemma. The last spark of hope in her heart was completely extinguished.
She found it incredibly ironic.
Why bother?
"Zhou Zhengping," Nan Zhiyi called him by his full name.
"Take good care of your mother."
Zhou Zhengping grabbed Nan Zhiyi's arm.
"Zhiyi, don't go, I beg you. Even if... you really go to the countryside, I will wait for you. I will write to you, I will find a way to see you... Once things have calmed down and my parents agree, I will come to bring you back immediately! I will definitely marry you! I swear!"
Nan Zhiyi turned her head and looked at Zhou Zhengping's reddened eyes and the face that had once moved her heart.
At this moment, this face only shows the helplessness of being caught in the crossfire of reality and a pale promise.
"wait for me?...."
Nan Zhiyi's throat tightened, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Perhaps, for a moment, she felt that Zhou Zhengping would be her salvation.
But he couldn't do it...
Seeing his beloved girl cry in despair, Zhou Zhengping felt a pang of pain in his heart, but now, he... couldn't protect her.
Nan Zhiyi questioned, "Wait? Are you waiting for me to marry some random farmer in the countryside? Or are you waiting until I have a child? Zhou Zhengping, tell me, what will happen to me if I go to the countryside? Don't you really know?"
Zhou Zhengping's lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word.
He knew, of course he knew about those rumors.
He wanted to say no, he would definitely find someone to take good care of her...
But can he really guarantee that everything will go perfectly?
Zhou Zhengping's eyes reddened even more.
"Zhengping, you come back here right now!" Song Lanxin commanded sharply, "Are you going to watch your mother die here?!"
Zhou Zhengping dared not press the matter any further and had no choice but to give up.
"...I'm sorry, Zhiyi," he said dejectedly. "You must take care of yourself and wait for me..."
"I won't wait for you. It's over. Goodbye."
Nan Zhiyi forcefully wiped away her tears and quickly left.
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