novelden Chapter 444 - 442: Those Who Betray a Sincere Heart Will Face Retribution
Chapter 444 - 442: Those Who Betray a Sincere Heart Will Face Retribution
"I can’t stand to see you treated unfairly..."
The hand Xu Su was about to use to push him away froze in mid-air.
This boy’s sincere words had always moved her, from the very beginning until this very day.
After everything that had happened, he had changed so much, but the one thing that remained constant was his unwavering sincerity.
He always knew exactly what to say to make her heart soften, what to say to move her...
A lump formed in Xu Su’s throat. She blinked hard, fighting back tears.
’How could I not feel wronged? So, so much has happened to me recently, and so many people have bullied me.’
’Zhou Mochen bullied me in that private room. He pointed a gun at my head. Even though he later said it wasn’t loaded, my fear at that moment was real. I was trembling, scared to death.’
’Shen Chen tied me up and bullied me, too. Crying did no good. Cursing did no good.’
’I was nearly dragged off and assaulted by a few construction workers...’
’I hadn’t even been in Beijing for a month, and I’d despaired and broken down countless times. How could I not feel wronged?’
The feelings of injustice she thought she had nearly forgotten suddenly came rushing back after hearing Xi Zirong’s words, and the dam finally broke.
Xu Su clutched the corner of his shirt, her silent tears turning into loud wails. Like a child who had found a safe harbor, she could finally let out all her pent-up pain.
She was in so much pain. She had been pushed too far.
’Zhou Mochen really loves me, but he so often puts pressure on me without realizing it. He’s bullied me when he’s angry, too, humiliating me with whatever thoughtless words came to mind.’
’Shen Chen also claims to love me, but look at what he’s done! He’s like a madman, knowing only how to possess and take. It didn’t matter if I broke down, cursed him, or begged for mercy.’
’Only Xi Zirong... only Xi Zirong. No matter how bad my temper was, no matter how horribly I treated him, Xi Zirong never once said a harsh word to me or did a single thing wrong.’
’But what did I do to him?’
’What did I do!’
’The person I’ve wronged the most is Xi Zirong. So everything that’s happened to me, I deserve it. It’s my karma.’
Xu Su was crying so loudly that Sika, who was outside the tent, thought something was wrong and rushed straight in without a second thought.
Inside the tent, Xi Zirong had already sat down and was holding Xu Su. When Sika burst in, she saw his eyes were bloodshot as he gently patted the back of the girl in his arms.
Xu Su, meanwhile, was crying so hard she could barely breathe, sniffling and sobbing in Xi Zirong’s embrace.
The girl who had been so bright and lovely just moments ago now had red-rimmed eyes and a red nose, looking utterly pitiful.
The scene stunned not only Sika, but also Jiang Chusheng, who was standing behind her.
Sika stared blankly for two seconds before waving her hands awkwardly. "You two... you two take your time. Just keep talking."
Xu Su quickly choked back her sobs and was about to call out to her when, in the next second, Xi Zirong took her chin in his hand and covered her mouth with his.
It was over as quickly as it began...
Before Xu Su could even react, he had already pulled away. Looking at her swollen eyelids, Xi Zirong’s heart twisted with an empathetic ache.
’This was the girl he had loved since his heart first stirred. She was the first one he’d ever held, the first one he’d ever kissed. It was only her. It had always been only her.’
’She was so difficult, so spoiled, yet even when she made him grit his teeth in frustration, he could never bring himself to say a single harsh word to her.’
’But now, she was with another man, crying as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice in the world, and there was nothing he could do but feel his heart ache for her.’
’Xi Zirong had never seen her cry like this. When they were together, how could he ever have borne to make her cry...’
He was so pained he was speechless. His lips parted and closed several times before he finally asked softly, "Susu, after being treated so unfairly, you still can’t bear to break up with him?"
"It’s not what you think," Xu Su said in a muffled voice, hastily wiping away her tears. "I’m crying because there have just been too many troubles lately. It doesn’t have much to do with Zhou Mochen."
After her brief explanation, Xu Su sniffled and added, "Don’t get the wrong idea. He’s actually really good to me. If anyone’s doing the upsetting, it’s me."
Xi Zirong didn’t believe a word of it. He watched her quietly, then took a deep breath. "You like him that much?"
’So much that even when you’re this miserable, you’re still defending him.’
"Yes," Xu Su nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "I do. I like him a lot."
’I really do like him a lot. That’s why I put up with the mistreatment. It’s why I forgave Zhou Mochen for getting handsy with me in that private room in front of everyone.’
’Even when he pointed a gun at me, I still tried to see things from his perspective and took the initiative to comfort him.’
’When he was furious, he’d say all sorts of humiliating things, and I forced myself not to hold it against him. He was just angry, I told myself.’
She sounded like a complete love-struck fool. Xu Su smiled bitterly.
She hadn’t even realized it until she thought about it, but she had unconsciously started tolerating so much for Zhou Mochen’s sake.
She had become someone she no longer recognized.
Xu Su turned her head to look at the young man beside her. He really was wonderful—handsome, gentle, and utterly devoted to her. ’Perhaps no one will ever be better to me than him.’
’After all the things I’ve done to him... if it were Zhou Mochen, he would never listen to me and let go so easily. Shen Chen would be even worse. Only Xi Zirong always put my feelings first.’
’Only Xi Zirong!’
’Maybe in a parallel universe, we really did end up together. A world with no Zhou Mochen, no Shen Chen, none of this trivial, messy drama. Just the two of us, from our school days to our wedding day.’
Just the thought of it sent a bittersweet ache through Xu Su’s heart.
’If only, if only...’
Xu Su released her grip on his shirt. "I should go back."
Xi Zirong didn’t move. He lowered his gaze to the girl beside him as a wave of powerlessness washed over him.
’I can’t bear to part with her. I can’t let her go. I want to hold her and never let go.’
’Why am I letting her go? Why am I letting her go back to be hurt by someone else? Why, when she chose me first, did she have to leave me...’
After a long silence, he finally let out a soft sound of assent. "Are you planning to travel to LS?"
Xu Su nodded. "Yes, our destination is Lhasa."
"We are too," Xi Zirong said with a smile, loosening his hold on her. "In that case, I’ll set off with your convoy tomorrow."
Xu Su froze, then asked, "Xi Zirong, you came on this trip to get over me, didn’t you?"
Before Xi Zirong could speak, Xu Su continued, "You should live your own life. Stay away from me. You shouldn’t get tangled up with me anymore, understand?"
"Why do you make yourself sound like some kind of plague?"
Xi Zirong gave a helpless smile. "Xu Su, you need to understand one thing. If I could stop liking you, I would have done it a long time ago. I wouldn’t need you to remind me every single time we meet."
"..." Xu Su’s expression was complicated. Guilt was a small part of it; mostly, her heart just ached for him.
The thought of this boy before her, stuck in a dead-end street because of her and unable to find his way out, made her heart ache with panic.
It was just as she’d always believed: a young man’s sincere heart was too precious a thing, and she had never wanted to be the one to betray it.
’Those who betray a sincere heart will face retribution!’
She remained silent for a long time. Xi Zirong saw her resolve softening and coaxed, "So what am I to do, Susu? If you really feel so bad for me, why not come back and save me?"