Chapter 123: Wasn’t I the One Who Held Her Back, Too?

"Her family thinks I did something to her and are clamoring to call the police." Bai Yunchuan clawed at his hair, his frustration bordering on desperation.

"Then let them call the police! Let the authorities prove your innocence. Don't they realize that with the feelings you have for Yu Xin, you would never do anything to harm her?" Xiao Xiao was furious. This was the tragedy of a Chinese-style marriage: two people coming together was never just a personal matter, but a collision of two families and two complex social webs. Abroad, even if the whole world stood against them, if they were steadfast in their resolve, they could pledge their troth under the grace of God. But not in China; even if just one person refuses to give their blessing, the road ahead becomes fraught with obstacles.

In a sense, the situation Bai Yunchuan and Yu Xin found themselves in was the result of everyone’s collective interference. Yet, at the critical moment, everyone would shift the blame onto the couple to keep their own shoulders free of any responsibility.

"Actually, I just don't want to escalate the conflict." Bai Yunchuan looked utterly exhausted, his eyes squeezed shut as if he no longer wished to look upon this world. "Yu's family blames me, and my family blames Yu Xin. If the police get involved, I fear things will reach a point of no return. Besides, my mother is in poor health and on long-term medication; she wouldn't be able to handle the shock."

Even Xiao Xiao felt a sense of despair for him. When the other side came at him with fire, he had to endure it; when his family applied pressure, he dared not defy them. One only had to look at the man before them to understand the sheer exhaustion of living in the narrow gap between familial duty and true love.

"After I went back last time, my mother was angry for a long time. Ever since I refused to go on those blind dates, she has been sighing day and night. Back when Yu Xin was still living at home, my mother would often pick on her. Now, she’s even more furious that Yu Xin is still with me even after her divorce, convinced that Yu Xin is holding me back." Bai Yunchuan set down the photograph of Yu Xin, his voice heavy with emotion. "But if we’re really going to talk about that, isn't it more likely that I’m the one holding her back?"

Marriage is a besieged fortress; those on the outside yearn for the warmth within, while those inside envy the freedom of the outside. Countless people drift in and out of these walls. Some cannot enter, some cannot leave; some are physically absent but mentally trapped, while others are confined within but their hearts wander aimlessly. There are many who go in with joy, and many who slink out in defeat, but all are inevitably laden with melancholy.

"Whether that’s the case is something only Yu Xin can know," Lin Shuo, who had been observing quietly, suddenly spoke up. "You cannot substitute your feelings for hers."

Bai Yunchuan seemed moved, blinking rapidly as he fought to keep his emotions from spilling over.

"You love her very much, don't you?" Lin Shuo had looked through every photograph, and they all bore witness to that fact.

Bai Yunchuan nodded weakly. "But she is hiding from me..."

"Then go find her. Even if she wants to give up, you have the right to hear her say it to your face." Lin Shuo was resolute. A man should have the courage to face everything and the backbone to show a woman just how much he loves her.

"That's right! Sister Xin couldn't possibly want to leave you, nor could she bear to. She only made that choice for you because she understands your predicament too well. But ask yourself: is this what you want? Will it truly make her happy? No. It’s just a facade of generosity, a misguided sense of righteousness. Loving someone doesn't mean shielding them from difficulty; it means facing the difficulty together. If Sister Xin doesn't understand that, surely you do?" Xiao Xiao, watching with growing urgency, grabbed the car keys and thrust them into Bai Yunchuan's hand. "Go! Go find her!"