Zhan Jingrui cried, and she felt like crying too.
"Don't be like this, don't cry. Jingrui, don't cry."
Zhan Jingrui was overcome with emotion, tears streaming uncontrollably.
But hearing He Yao's voice crack with tears, he still tried to compose himself.
Not wanting He Yao to see his pathetic state, he slid off the chair, knelt by the hospital bed, grabbed her hand, and buried his face in her arm.
Then, with a trembling voice, after several attempts, he managed to ask.
"Does it hurt?"
He Yao thought he was referring to her head. Although the anesthetic had worn off, it did hurt a bit.
But she still said, "It doesn't hurt, I had anesthesia, it doesn't hurt."
Zhan Jingrui's nose stung, and he couldn't help but want to cry again.
"I mean that time. When you found out you were pregnant, when everyone made things difficult for you, and I wasn't by your side… did it hurt a lot?"
After saying this, he looked up, his eyes and nose red, his lips trembling, and looked at He Yao.
"Why were you so foolish? Why didn't you tell me?"
He Yao was pulled back to that moment by his words.
It was indeed quite embarrassing. Her mother, uncle, aunt, and even his uncle all treated her with disdain and discomfort...
But no matter what, she had gotten through it. What was the point of bringing it up again?
"It's okay, I'm thick-skinned..."
"You're not allowed to say that! I don't care what happened before, but you're not allowed to talk about yourself like that again!"
Zhan Jingrui disliked He Yao's self-deprecation. He abruptly shifted from guilt and sadness to an unquestionable seriousness.
"I didn't know the truth before, and I misunderstood you, which is why I got together with Chu Xi and lost contact with you for so many years. It was all my fault."
"I apologize to you, He Yao. Whether you forgive me or not, from now on, I won't allow you to leave me again."
"I'm sorry to you, sorry to our child, for letting you bear so much alone. From today onwards, I want to compensate you, to make up for everything I owe you over these years."
He Yao had also had such dreams before.
In her dreams, she and Zhan Jingrui resolved their misunderstandings, he held her hand and said affectionately that they would start over and be together forever.
He Yao thought this scenario was what she had longed for. If it ever happened in reality, she would be driven mad with joy.
But in reality, it was not the case.
The misunderstanding was cleared up. But they could never go back to the past.
"Get up. Wipe your face. Let's talk properly. Don't act like elementary school students."
He Yao didn't want both of them to be trapped in a childish, sad mood and make irresponsible decisions.
So, after letting Zhan Jingrui hold her hand and calm down for a while, she said calmly.
"No matter what, we've both cleared up the misunderstanding. Knowing that you no longer resent me, and are even willing to start over with me, makes me very happy."
"It means you really loved me. I, He Yao, wasn't blind. My love for you wasn't in vain. That's enough."
"I don't need your compensation. I'm alone now, and when one person is fed, the whole family isn't hungry. I don't need much materially."
"Having a stable job and a decent monthly income is enough for me."
"It's enough for me to be hurt alone. Chu Xi is innocent, and you cannot wrong her again."
"Let's be friends from now on. Truly friends who have let go of all reservations and can be open with each other."
"You go marry Chu Xi, and I'll live my life well. Our hearts are at peace now, isn't that the most perfect outcome?"