“Tch, you can’t tell just by looking, but this guy’s really tough!”
After a while, Su Ling finally kicked the unconscious Gu Tian again.
Her sharp high heel struck the man’s not-so-strong body, splattering a burst of blood.
Trembling.
She hadn’t expected Gu Tian to be such a person behind the scenes, his willpower so stubborn. No wonder Zhixian chose to be betrothed to him…….
The shadow in the black-haired girl’s eyes deepened, her hands clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms, unwillingness and possessiveness causing her body to tremble slightly.
“Miss, I think what Gu Tian just said is actually very likely all true.”
At this moment, Secretary Wang, who had been quietly observing in the corner, noticed the situation had settled and stepped forward proactively, speaking to Su Ling, who was teetering on the edge of a bad state.
“What did you say?”
Su Ling whipped her head around sharply, her long black hair carving a clear line through the air. “I’m saying that what Gu Tian just said is very likely all true.”
The secretary pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, her tone calm and steady, as calm as a deep well.
“First, based on the investigation into the Ruan family over this period, we discovered that the Ruans and the Gus still have many private conflicts; far from the peaceful surface, it’s nothing like two families about to be joined in marriage.”
“Second, if there really was a betrothal between the Ruans and the Gus, why would Madam Ruan come to help us overthrow the Gu family? If the two families were truly allied, it would benefit Madam Ruan the most to drive us out of C City alongside the Gus.”
“Furthermore, Gu Tian’s admission of having imprisoned Madam Ruan and her daughter was very suspicious at the time. Now, in hindsight, it’s likely that Miss Tang and I misunderstood.”
“What Gu Tian actually admitted to was probably that one of his underlings spread rumors about the betrothal with the Ruan family.”
“And finally, the most important point……”
The secretary adjusted her glasses again, her expression serious as she looked at Su Ling, her narrow willow-shaped eyes filled with sincerity.
“Miss, think carefully. During this time, has Miss Ruan ever truly cared about Gu Tian?
After all, our kidnapping of Miss Ruan was baseless; we only heard that she was about to marry someone and immediately took action.
“Regardless of whether the betrothal between the Ruans and Gus is true or not, Miss, please ask yourself—who is the person Miss Ruan genuinely cares about?”
Secretary Wang’s words hit hard, like a bucket of cold water extinguishing the madness and obsession clouding Su Ling’s mind; like a mighty hammer smashing through her filtered perception, forcing her to see the many small details she had always consciously or unconsciously ignored.
Yes, so many problems—how could she not have noticed……
Su Ling bitterly grabbed at her hair.
In fact, ever since that video from Madam Ruan, she had vaguely sensed that the truth wasn’t what she had imagined……
No, no, maybe even earlier……
The black-haired girl’s steps faltered, becoming unsteady.
Exactly from which day, from which moment, had she begun to doubt the authenticity of the betrothal? She could barely remember……
Perhaps, it was the very first day when Zhixian said she was looking forward to living together……
Perhaps, it was that one time when Zhixian smiled while accepting her gift……
Perhaps, it was every time Zhixian patiently waited for her to come home……
Perhaps……
Yes, all this time, Zhixian never doubted the so-called “protection,” never mentioned the so-called “betrothal.”
She always smiled while accepting her, smiled while welcoming her, smiled while…… smiled while being pushed away by her……
Could it be that she never once doubted the “betrothal” was fake? No, I did suspect it long ago, but all those details, those strange things, I deliberately ignored them!
Only by doing so could I shamelessly use the “betrothal” as an excuse, giving myself even a flimsy reason to keep her by my side…… to keep her here with me…….
The black-haired girl covered her face with both hands, trembling as she slowly sank to her knees.
I was just……
I was just unwilling to face my mistakes, so I kept deceiving myself:
Look, Su Ling, you’re not wrong! The one at fault is her, Ruan Zhixian! Who told her to break the promise and get engaged to someone else? She brought this on herself!
I was just……
I was just too scared—I was afraid of exposing my dirty, obsessive heart, afraid she’d discover that my so-called “protection” was a shameful lie from the very start……
I was just……
I was just unwilling to let her be disappointed in me……
The black-haired girl sobbed uncontrollably.
“Miss! Pull yourself together!”
Secretary Wang’s sharp voice cut through the fog like a sword.
“The matter is not over! It’s not too late to fix things! You still have a chance to make amends!”
“A chance to…… make amends……?”
Su Ling dazedly lifted her head, her disheveled black hair falling across her face.
“Yes! There is still one last chance!”
“Right now, before you cause Miss Ruan any more harm, quickly go apologize to her—there’s still room for recovery!”
“Apologize…… apologize……”
(“So, if you truly love someone, it’s best not to do anything that would hurt her. Even if something’s already happened, you must apologize properly before she’s completely disappointed, seeking her forgiveness.”)
The image of Ruan Zhixian in her memories, paired with Secretary Wang’s words, was undoubtedly like the last lifeline before drowning—snapping Su Ling out of her muttering daze.
“That’s right! Yes! I have to apologize to Zhixian! I must—I have to go!”
The black-haired young lady trembled, her lips quivering as she shakily rose from the ground.
“I want Zhixian to forgive me…… I have to make her forgive me……”
“Secretary Wang, prepare the car immediately! We’re going back now!”
“Yes, Miss!”
Beneath the gold-rimmed transparent lenses, the secretary’s eyes shone with relief.
***
After some time, in front of the apartment door, Su Ling hesitated. The heart that had just been full of determination now faltered.
Do I really want to apologize to Zhixian? What if she refuses to forgive me no matter what……
Maybe hiding everything, keeping Zhixian locked here forever, is the better choice……
The ugly possessiveness began to grow in the girl’s eyes.
If I lock Zhixian up completely, no matter how much she protests or resents it, she’ll have to live with me!
Even if she’s sad! Even if she’s hurt! Even if she’s disappointed!
“Slap!”
The black-haired girl suddenly slapped herself hard.
No! I absolutely won’t let Zhixian be sad or hurt!
The moments they shared over these days flashed through Su Ling’s mind—many different scenes, different times, but always with the same element: Ruan Zhixian’s warm, cheerful, unshadowed smile.
Zhixian—she’s my light…… the light of my life……
How can a rat from a dark gutter possibly imprison a beam of light falling from the sky……
Secretary Wang was right! I absolutely cannot cause Zhixian any more pain!
The black-haired girl pushed open the door.