Chapter 114: And What If I Follow You?

"Ni Xiaoxiao!" He never imagined that the innocent woman he had cherished like a treasure would one day utter words as sharp as blades, slicing deep enough to make his very entrails ache.

She had no intention of stopping there. Calmly buttoning her blouse and ignoring his furrowed brow, she curled her lips into a light, mocking smile. "I had intended to play along with you for a few more days, but I didn't expect you to stumble upon the truth so soon. Since it’s come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore. Professor Pan has always treated me well. Most importantly, he has status, standing, and wealth, and he’s willing to help me. Think of all the benefits of cozying up to him. What about staying with you? What could you possibly give me? You’re hounded by debt collectors every day—I doubt you can even afford your next meal or a roof over your head!"

Shadows of trees swayed as the whistling wind filled his ears. Yet, he heard every one of her venomous words clearly—words so ruthless they left no room for retreat, forcing them both to the very edge of a precipice. How could she truly despise him? Since the moment she took his hand, she had never intended to let go. Whether he was a prince on high or a beggar held in contempt, he was the one she loved most. But they had reached the end nonetheless. If it had to be a breakup, she treated it like a contest, delivering a beautifully executed "Seven-Injuries Fist." Just like Xie Xun, the Golden-Haired Lion King, she knew that in hurting her supposed enemy, the one who suffered the most was herself.

Crack, crack. He clenched his fists tight. As the rain seeped into his nostrils with every breath, he felt a sudden urge to cough, only to find every muscle in his face frozen in a state of extreme tension. In the instant he threw a punch, droplets of rain were flung into the air, tracing an elegant arc. His fist, carrying a biting, icy wind, descended with the force of a thunderbolt toward her smiling face. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for his fury. She took a deep breath, but when she opened her eyes, she saw only his retreating back. In the end, he could not bring himself to strike.

With one turn, he vanished, never to see the tears streaming down her face. It was a performance, and she had pushed her acting to the absolute limit—to the point where even she believed that this woman named Ni Xiaoxiao was the culprit behind the death of their undying love. She wanted nothing more than to rush forward and slap that woman named Ni Xiaoxiao for him.

Relief, lightness. She covered her mouth and sobbed softly. It was better that he had left; at least he wouldn't have to face the trouble to come. Professor Pan would never let this go, and his life was already so arduous—how could she bear to add any more weight to his shoulders?

Heh.

In her subconscious, she mocked herself. She was too soft-hearted; she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Good intentions, yet no one to understand them.

The bitter rain poured down, mingled with a bleak wind, falling like a curtain that severed the two of them. His back faded into the misty rain, and a long while later, a heart-wrenching roar from the man echoed through the night sky. Xiaoxiao’s heart shattered at the sound; she choked on the rainwater between her sobs, quickly pressing her hands over her mouth, not daring to let out a single cry.

When the police arrived, she was still crouching in the torrential rain, soaked through. Her clothes clung to her like a second skin. As Professor Pan was carried onto an ambulance by medical staff, all she could see reflected in her eyes was his sinister, murderous grin.

The thin prison uniform she was later given served as a timely relief. She was grateful he would never have the chance to see her in such a pathetic state. She only hoped that in his memory, she would always remain clean, bright, and beautiful.

Then came Professor Pan’s accusations, twisting black into white. She was sent to the defendant’s dock. Her father did not appear; he had suffered a stroke the moment he was informed of the news. She never saw the collapse of her father, her mountain, but from that moment on, the weight of that mountain rested solely upon her own shoulders.

She would never forget that rainy night. Her life had veered into the mire in that downpour.