"Alas..."
Chen Jinzhao sighed and looked at Xu Yaoyao. "Actually, you might not truly like me. You might just feel a good impression because you're familiar with me. At your age, perhaps you don't yet understand what liking someone or what love is."
Xu Yaoyao, however, shook her head with utmost seriousness. "No, I know. I do like you."
Chen Jinzhao was speechless.
"I'm only telling this to you," Xu Yaoyao said.
"But this afternoon, Sister Yu talked to me a lot, and I realized that I don't like you nearly as much as Sister Yu does. You and Sister Yu are the perfect match."
"What did she say?" Chen Jinzhao asked curiously.
Xu Yaoyao smiled. "You don't need to know that. It's a secret between her and me."
"Alright."
"I'll see Brother off here. Sister Yu will walk with you for the rest of the journey. You will always, always be my most beloved Brother Jinzhao."
With those words,
Xu Yaoyao turned and left. It seemed she had resolved her inner conflict.
Chen Jinzhao hoped she had truly found peace and wasn't just pretending to be strong.
After walking a few steps,
He suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His memory was getting worse. How could he have forgotten her?
After a moment of hesitation,
Chen Jinzhao dialed a number.
The other party didn't answer but hung up directly. Chen Jinzhao, unwilling to give up, called again.
It wasn't until the fifth call that the other party finally answered.
"Hello?"
"I'm sorry for not contacting you for so long," Chen Jinzhao said.
Tao Qiyue replied, "You shouldn't have called me, and I don't want to disturb you anymore. Let's just consider that period an accident."
Chen Jinzhao fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry."
"That's a sentence I should be saying," Tao Qiyue replied, having finally come to her senses.
Chen Jinzhao took a deep breath and shook his head repeatedly. "My actions hurt you. If possible, I'd like to talk in person."
Tao Qiyue felt a stirring within her, but she suppressed it.
She said calmly, "Let's just forget it. It's better for both of us this way. I probably won't be able to attend your wedding. But I still have to thank you. Those times were my happiest moments. It's just a pity that we met the right person at the wrong time."
"If there is a next life, I hope we meet earlier."
Tao Qiyue had finally spoken her heart.
Chen Jinzhao felt a myriad of emotions. "Where are you? I'll come find you."
"Heh heh, after I left Fengtian, I had Director Wang transfer me to the South. It's unlikely we'll have a chance to meet again." The "South" Tao Qiyue mentioned wasn't the Jiangnan region, but the Lingnan region, further south than Jiangnan.
Chen Jinzhao distinctly heard Tao Qiyue crying softly.
For Chen Jinzhao, committing such a serious mistake was unforgivable. He had betrayed Yu Mengzhi and hurt Tao Qiyue.
When it came to matters of the heart, it was too difficult for him to handle.
Much more difficult than fighting enemies on the battlefield.
Ultimately,
It was because Chen Jinzhao was indecisive in handling emotional matters, unlike his decisive actions on the battlefield, that this tragedy had occurred.
"Chen Jinzhao, let the past be the past. It's better to have had it than to have it forever. Besides, Yu Mengzhi is a wonderful woman, suitable to be your wife. I hope you won't let her love for you go unappreciated." Tao Qiyue said.
"If we ever meet again, I hope we'll just be strangers."
"This is goodbye."
Just as Tao Qiyue was about to hang up, Chen Jinzhao said, "Wait a moment. There are a few more things I want to say to you."
"Yes, go ahead."
Chen Jinzhao said, "I will always remember your white dress, your canvas shoes, and that sun-drenched afternoon. If we can't meet again in the future, I hope you will always have that sweet smile on your face, just like that afternoon."
"I understand," Tao Qiyue replied coldly.
Beep—
She hung up the phone.
Logically, Chen Jinzhao should feel relieved now, but why did his heart feel even heavier?
Four thousand miles away, Tao Qiyue sat at her post, lost in thought.
As a newcomer, Tao Qiyue was taken care of by her colleagues, who had specifically given her a window seat.
After the phone call, Tao Qiyue had been secretly wiping away tears.
Her subtle actions were noticed by her colleagues, who came forward to ask why she was crying. Tao Qiyue had managed to bear it alone initially, but upon hearing their kind inquiries, she cried even harder. With their comfort, she finally said, "I just miss home. Although the winter in Lingnan is warmer than back there, it feels like something is missing without snow."
A married female colleague comforting Tao Qiyue chimed in, "Yes, the snow from the north will never reach Lingnan."
Tao Qiyue was silent.
With the comfort of her colleagues, Tao Qiyue finally felt a little better.
She silently vowed in her heart, "From today on, I must learn to live alone, face difficulties alone, and adapt to this Lingnan without heavy snow."
More importantly—
Adapt to a future without Chen Jinzhao.
Days passed, and the Lunar New Year drew closer.
On the streets of the capital, the festive atmosphere of the approaching year gradually intensified.
Chen Jinzhao had brought his mother, Li Qiurong, to the capital. He also frequently visited his uncle Li Qiutao's home. With no official duties to attend to, he found himself quite idle.
Just when Chen Jinzhao thought he would have a peaceful Spring Festival, a young man came to his home to pay his respects. Chen Jinzhao found the young man vaguely familiar. The young man smiled faintly and said, "My elder brother asked me to invite you for a chat. I heard a while back that you were busy, so I didn't disturb you."
"Your elder brother?" Chen Jinzhao frowned.
Before the young man could speak, Chen Jinzhao finally realized why he looked familiar. "Is your elder brother Qin Fengwu?"
The young man smiled warmly. "Indeed, Qin Fengwu is my elder brother. My name is Qin Haoyu."
As Qin Haoyu spoke with Chen Jinzhao, there was a clear arrogance about him, suggesting he didn't hold Chen Jinzhao in high regard.
In fact,
Qin Haoyu didn't understand why his elder brother held Chen Jinzhao in such high esteem. As far as he knew, Chen Jinzhao had been stripped of his military position, was now just a commoner, and would soon be Li Tiancce's brother-in-law.
"My elder brother has invited you, why aren't you hurrying?" Qin Haoyu said haughtily.
Chen Jinzhao smiled faintly. "Is that how you invite someone?"
Qin Haoyu frowned, clearly growing impatient. "Chen Jinzhao, don't forget that you are no longer the 'Candle Dragon' of the military. You are now just an ordinary citizen. As for me, I hold an important position in some key departments in the capital. Watch your tone!"
Chen Jinzhao's face instantly turned cold.
"Is that so?"
"Please leave my home. I won't see you out."