Chapter 170 You Must Come Back
Watching Lin Shuo suffer, she was by no means feeling any better. Ever since discovering the relationship between Cai Yirou and Lin Shuo, she had constantly tried to persuade herself, repeatedly emphasizing that she and Lin Shuo were a match made in heaven—a love so profound that no hardships or distant mountains could ever keep them apart. She wanted to be a thief just this once, unafraid of any pangs of conscience, and pretend that nothing had happened over the past four years.
Yet the moment Cai Yirou actually linked her arm through Lin Shuo's, it was as if everything suddenly became clear. According to Cai Yirou, they were a first-class man and woman, matched so perfectly in appearance, education, and family background that it would make anyone green with envy.
"Give me some time, please?" she pleaded with him. There were too many relationships and events to sort through, and at this moment, she lacked confidence; she desperately needed to forge an invulnerable heart for herself.
"Alright." Lin Shuo forced a tense smile, his breathing turning exceptionally rapid. "I'll wait for you at home. You must come back!"
She gave no answer, simply lifting the hem of her gown and disappearing down the long street. All the bustling neon lights had nothing to do with her; no force was needed to fill her heart, for it was already full.
When in love, one could go through fire and water for someone; when love fades, the tiniest spark can reduce years of painstaking effort to ashes. She had spent a thousand times the effort rebuilding trust with Lin Shuo upon the ruins. Yet many things in life are just like this: when they could have loved freely, both held back, each believing it was for the other's own good. Back then, unwilling to let him be implicated, she had pushed him away harshly, never expecting to lose four years because of it. Now, having finally found themselves on the same longitude and latitude once again, she turned around only to realize it was already far, far too late.
A single second is enough to fall in love at first sight; four years—over fourteen hundred nights and days—are enough to love anyone one wishes to love, yet they happened to be the most stubborn pair of all.
If anyone were to accuse Lin Shuo of treating her with indifference, she would be the first to loudly object. The same held true for her feelings toward Lin Shuo. That was why, even when she knew he was keeping secrets from her, she never dug too deeply. She did not want to know what had transpired between them; should it have been even more tempestuous and passionate than her own romance, she would completely lose the courage to carry on. Perhaps every woman goes through such a phase, believing herself to be the lifelong love of her partner, while anyone else—no matter how wonderful—is merely a passing shadow.
And indeed, that was the truth. Lin Shuo had truly shaken off Cai Yirou's hand, showing not an ounce of lingering affection. That alone was proof enough of who truly mattered most in his heart.
Having figured all this out, Xiaoxiao raised her hand to wipe away her tears. A dull ache throbbed in the soles of her feet, and looking around, she had no idea where she was. Unawares, she had already walked a very long distance.
With her heart racing back toward Jasmine Dynasty, she pushed open the door, and a gentle, cool breeze rushed inside. Lin Shuo was sitting on the steps of the entryway, her slender silhouette outlined by the moonlight. With one hand she held the hem of her dress, and with the other, she steadied the doorknob, her face etched with unwavering resolve.