"I can't love Chu Xi. I know I'm a scumbag, but I've tried my best. I've tried countless times over many years. Besides responsibility, I just can't love her."
"I will explain everything to her clearly one day. Please don't leave me. I can't bear it. If you leave again, I'll go mad."
After speaking, he didn't tend to He Yao's wound.
He cupped her chin and, lowering his head, suddenly covered her lips.
Then, everything unfolded as naturally as it should.
Perhaps it was his emotions that infected He Yao, or perhaps she was releasing feelings she had suppressed for years.
Like wildfire, they became consumed, unable to stop.
Yet, even with his mind in a haze, Zhan Jingrui was mindful of her injury, choosing only positions that wouldn't aggravate it.
They skipped dinner and continued their unrestrained passion until past midnight. Zhan Jingrui wrapped his arms around He Yao from behind, burying his head in her neck, and softly pleaded.
"Don't take the medicine. Don't take it behind my back. I'm begging you."
"If you're pregnant, have the baby. We'll get married. We'll never separate again. Just consider it my plea, okay?"
In the past, He Yao believed she had a moral compass.
She detested those who destroyed other people's relationships and thought she would never do anything despicable.
But today, she wavered.
She loved Zhan Jingrui so much, so much that she could give up everything for him.
To be honest, she didn't want to be separated from him either.
With the world vast and her alone, without anyone to love, she was merely living mechanically.
Where else could she go? She was a rootless cloud wherever she went.
But if Zhan Jingrui loved her and could give her a child, then she would have a home.
He Yao was deeply moved by his words.
However, at the same time, she knew about the complex web of interests between the Zhan and Chu families. She also knew that there was another lovesick Chu Xi in the world who couldn't live without Zhan Jingrui.
So, she came up with a better idea.
"I won't take the medicine. I promise not to take it. I'm willing to have your child. I was willing seven years ago."
They held each other tightly, as if the claws of fate could snatch them apart at any moment.
Hearing He Yao's words, Zhan Jingrui was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
"Okay, thank you for your hardship, Yao Yao. I promise I won't fail you. I will love you and our child dearly. We will definitely be happy."
He Yao also had tears in her eyes. She cupped his chin and looked into his eyes.
"I promise to have your child. I promise to never leave you, but you must also promise me one condition, okay?"
"What condition?"
He Yao said emotionally, "Don't separate from Chu Xi. Let's maintain the status quo. You continue to be married to her, live as you did before, and just visit me occasionally."
"This place will always be our home. I don't mind what happens between you and Chu Xi, as long as you always have a place for me in your heart."
Zhan Jingrui's heart ached so much it felt like it would shatter. "Don't be silly. How can you think like that?"
"No, no, no, listen to me. I know your relationship with Chu Xi is more than just romance now; it involves the interests of both families. I don't want us to go back to seven years ago, to appear before your family in a way that hinders your future, and be looked down upon."
"This is good. Although we won't get married, we won't be apart. Your family won't look down on me, and I won't have to deal with relationships I can't manage."
"I don't need a piece of paper to prove my status. Don't you think this is the best of both worlds?"
It sounded good, but how could Zhan Jingrui bear to let her suffer like this?
"No! You..."
He Yao placed her finger on his lips.
"As long as you love me and always have a place for me in your heart, you aren't letting me suffer, and no one else can."
"This is the best solution, please, just agree to it."
Zhan Jingrui, deeply moved, kissed her again.
He didn't refuse He Yao's request, but a true man would never allow his beloved to endure such hardship.
He just wouldn't let He Yao know. He would clarify things with Chu Xi in his own way.
While they were being affectionate, Chu Xi wasn't idle at home.
After hanging up Zhan Jingrui's call, she contacted an old classmate she hadn't spoken to in a long time.
With a warm welcome, she joined the high school alumni group. Through a tangled web of connections and persistent inquiries, she found Xu Zheng's contact information.
Xu Zheng had been Zhan Jingrui's only deskmate in high school, so no one should have known Zhan Jingrui better than him.
Upon seeing that the verification message was from Chu Xi, Xu Zheng nearly jumped out of his chair.
Why would this woman think of adding him?
He quickly approved it.
Chu Xi casually chatted with him, then began asking about Zhan Jingrui's high school days.
Xu Zheng finally understood that she was here for Zhan Jingrui.
But they had been together for so many years; why would she suddenly want to inquire about his past?
Chu Xi spun a tale, saying they were getting married soon and she wanted to play a video at the wedding to reminisce about the past and surprise Zhan Jingrui.
However, since they had met late in high school, she didn't know many details and wanted to inquire, hoping for some unexpected finds.
Xu Zheng, while lamenting their strong relationship, also marveled at Zhan Jingrui's good fortune. He recounted everything he knew to her without reservation.
Chu Xi subtly probed, "Are there any female classmates? Your deskmate was so honest; he didn't interact with any female classmates for three years?"
Xu Zheng replied, "There really weren't. You know what kind of person he is. He was always so arrogant, like he was the king of the world, and we barely exchanged a few words in all those years as deskmates."
"That's impossible. He must have interacted with at least one female classmate."
"Well, you were there."
"I mean, besides me."
Xu Zheng understood. Chu Xi was subtly trying to inquire if Zhan Jingrui had any other romantic entanglements.
He thought for a moment and said, "There was indeed one, but it was just a brief interaction, far less significant than yours. It's not even worth mentioning."
Chu Xi's eyes flickered, and she quickly asked who it was.
"There was a transfer student in our class named He Yao. I accidentally broke her bone while playing basketball. To catch up on her studies, I asked the top student to tutor her for a few days."
"But that was just tutoring. They had nothing else. They stopped contacting each other long ago. If you met now, your Mr. Zhan wouldn't even recognize her."
Without anyone else saying anything, without needing to find evidence, Chu Xi suddenly understood everything.
Zhan Jingrui had tutored He Yao? And she was the only female classmate he had interacted with over three years?
From her understanding of Zhan Jingrui, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths as tutoring if he had no feelings for her.
Xu Zheng didn't have that much charm, and those figurines didn't possess that much appeal.
But if he liked He Yao, why wasn't he with her? And why did he pretend not to recognize her when they met?