Chapter 042: Xiao Xuezheng, Let's Get a Divorce

He appeared suddenly, bringing with him the heat of early summer. His body was wrapped in a white shirt, and even his forehead was covered with a fine sheen of sweat. The lights in the corridor at night stretched his shadow long and thin. Yet, seen from the side, his handsome, travel-worn face was flushed with urgency and worry, breaths coming in deep, uneven gasps.

Qiao Yu stared at the man who had suddenly appeared at the door, momentarily stunned, then strode forward, fist clenched, ready to strike him right in the face.

Xiao Xuezheng, from the moment he heard the news to his arrival, hadn’t paused for a second. He shifted slightly, dodging Qiao Yu’s swinging fist, and looked at him coldly. “Mr. Qiao, you have no right to hit me.”

Qiao Yu eyed the man—older than himself, the one who had taken away the woman he loved—with scorn, his lips curling in a mocking sneer. “Since you married her, you should have made her happy! Not only now, after something happened to her, do you finally show up!”

Xiao Xuezheng’s brows furrowed at these words, his angular features tightening. He made to look into the hospital room, anxious to see her at once.

Qiao Yu tried again to land a heavy punch, but Cen Huan quickly stepped in to block him.

“Brother Qiao, that’s enough. Runrun needs to rest now. Fighting outside her hospital room isn’t appropriate. Let him go in—after all, he is her husband.”

Hearing this, Qiao Yu finally relaxed his clenched fist, letting out a cold snort and slamming his fist into the wall. Still, he stepped aside, making room for Xiao Xuezheng.

Xiao Xuezheng glanced back at Cen Huan, gratitude flickering in his eyes. Without another thought, he pushed open the door and entered the hospital room.

With him inside, only Cen Huan and Qiao Yu remained in the corridor.

Cen Huan looked at Qiao Yu’s hand, the skin broken and bleeding from his punch against the wall, and sighed. “Brother Qiao, that’s enough. Xiao Xuezheng is here now, and I’ll stay with her. Why don’t you go home? It’s late, you’ve had a busy day, you need to rest.”

Qiao Yu gazed through the glass window at the figure lying inside, his voice hoarse. “Cen Huan, I regret it so much…”

Cen Huan was silent.

“I regret not accepting her confession two years ago. I regret leaving her alone in the country and going abroad because my family opposed us. If only I’d been more resolute, accepted her confession, chosen to be with her—would everything have been different? Today wouldn’t have happened, and if she were with me, I’d never have let her be hurt, not even a little!”

His words were saturated with bitterness and deep remorse, moving Cen Huan’s heart.

She parted her lips, but didn’t know what to say. After a moment’s hesitation, she murmured, “Brother Qiao, there’s no ‘if’ now. Runrun is married to Xiao Xuezheng… you have to let go…”

At the same time, Cen Huan wondered inwardly: If there hadn’t been so many missed chances years ago, would Runrun be happier now?

But as she’d said, if only they’d spoken their hearts that day…

Qiao Yu gave a self-deprecating smile, slowly stepping back until his broad shoulders pressed against the wall. He tugged at his dry, pale lips. “The mistakes of the past can’t be undone. I can’t afford another. From now on, I’ll stay by her side… watching over her, making sure she’s safe, happy, and well.”

…

Inside the hospital room, even the air seemed to have frozen.

Shi Runrun lay on the bed, having cried for what felt like forever, until her eyes were swollen and dry, unable to shed another tear.

She lay there, quietly recalling everything that had happened today.

She’d been in an accident, then called Xiao Xuezheng for help—only to hear a clear, melodious woman’s voice on his end.

It must have been someone close to him, she thought. Otherwise, how could she have had his personal phone?

She’d known there was a woman named Zaozao in his heart, and now there was another whose name she didn’t even know. What was he thinking, living with one body and one heart, moving between so many women?

She had thought that since he married her, treated her so well, perhaps he liked her a little.

But she’d been too naive. That kindness was perhaps only for the baby.

Now, the baby was gone.

Shi Runrun suddenly felt the world before her turn pitch black, terrifying.

She didn’t know what wrong she had done—she’d only carried a man’s child, fallen for him through their days together. Why should she suffer such wrenching, bone-deep pain?

The happiness and joy she’d found over the past few days felt like a beautiful dream—lovely, but vanished too quickly.

A car appearing out of nowhere had knocked her down, and pushed her into hell.

Shi Runrun felt that she would never smile again, nor like anyone else. What was love, after all? It brought her nothing but pain… nothing but hurt…

As she thought quietly, the hospital room door creaked and slowly swung open.

Shi Runrun assumed it was Cen Huan or Qiao Yu entering and forced her dry, cracked lips to whisper, “I’m very tired… please, let me be alone for a while…”

But in the next moment, a deep, familiar male voice sounded from behind her, and she couldn’t help but shudder all over.

“Am I still too late?”

Shi Runrun…

Her heart felt as though someone had gripped it fiercely, a sharp pain radiating through her chest.

Her eyes grew wet again, tears falling once more.

He… he had come…

Shi Runrun struggled to turn, looking toward him at the doorway.

Though only a day had passed, he looked much more haggard. The man who once appeared so neat, dignified, and refined was now surrounded by an air of desolation.

His designer shirt was wrinkled and soaked with sweat, his expensive tailored jacket carelessly gripped in his hand, and his tie hung askew.

Shi Runrun’s gaze lingered on him, finally settling on his handsome face.

It was still the familiar face, but why, at her time of greatest need—when she needed him to save her—had he been with another woman?

Looking at him, Shi Runrun was reminded of the afternoon scene, and her heart felt stabbed, a sharp pain.

Disappointment and despair slowly welled up in her eyes.

He walked step by step toward her bed.

With each slap of his shoes against the floor, her pain seemed to deepen.

He finally reached her bedside and stood.

Shi Runrun looked at him, self-mockery flashing in her eyes. After a moment, she softly said, “Xiao Xuezheng, let’s divorce…”