In economics, there is a term called "sunk cost".
This refers to the costs incurred in the past, such as time, money, and effort, but which are unrelated to current or future decisions.
Clearly, the sunk cost of this decision is too high.
Liang Shi made that decision with a do-or-die determination.
The sadness is real, the grief is real, and even the separation is real.
He forced himself not to contact Xu Qingzhu, not to know anything about her, and not to see her even once.
They just need to get through this period.
All you need to do is sign the divorce agreement.
That way, you can exploit the bugs in the laws governing this world.
It doesn't matter how Xu Qingzhu punishes her then.
As long as Xu Qingzhu stops having those nightmares and doesn't become unlike herself.
But after only one meeting, Liang Shi broke down.
Since both of them are causing Xu Qingzhu pain and distress, why not try to face it together?
If what Xu Qingzhu said is true, they might need to treat every day as if it were their last to love each other.
That way, you won't feel regret.
If there is any regret, it should be that we didn't meet in a better place.
Instead of regretting not being able to love each other like this.
It's a pity that we loved each other but still had to separate.
But embracing Xu Qingzhu and making promises at this moment means that all the steps Liang Shi had taken before would be wasted.
They were suffering for no reason.
However, there is a saying in economics: "sunk costs are not costs."
When Liang Shi hugged Xu Qingzhu, Xu Qingzhu's whole body was trembling, to the point that she was still trembling even as he hugged her.
Xu Qingzhu buried her face in her shoulder and cried uncontrollably, her tears soaking her clothes.
Liang Shi's tears also fell.
In the end, both of them cried until they lost their voices.
When their eyes met again, Liang Shi reached out and gently wiped away Xu Qingzhu's tears, saying with heartache, "Your eyes are so red, don't cry."
Xu Qingzhu choked up: "I didn't want to either, but I couldn't control myself."
It wasn't like this before; it started happening in the last few days.
Once she starts crying, it's hard for her to stop.
Unless you cry yourself to sleep.
There were even several times when she cried so hard that she needed to punch someone with her fist. Crying until she couldn't speak was a minor matter; once she cried so hard that she almost couldn't catch her breath, and she even went to see a doctor.
The doctor's response was that her pregnancy symptoms were quite obvious, her hormone secretion was too high, and coupled with emotional distress, it led to low mood and sensitivity, causing her to cry more often and not be able to stop.
Things will get a little better later, but the first three or four months will probably be tough.
The doctor repeatedly advised her to avoid extreme emotional fluctuations, to do some yoga that is suitable for pregnant women, and to listen to light music to regulate her mood.
As a result, she couldn't hold back today and couldn't stop crying.
Liang Shi could only rub her back to comfort her, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault."
Xu Qingzhu sniffed, feeling a little better.
“I shouldn’t have taken it upon myself to be so kind to you,” Liang Shi said. “I’ve always been timid, I…”
She paused, but didn't say the rest of her sentence.
She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't met Xu Qingzhu today.
Liang Shi knew that Xu Qingzhu liked her, or even loved her.
But Liang Shi didn't think there would be anyone who loved her so much that they would be willing to die with her tomorrow.
Liang Shi didn't think of himself as a particularly good person.
It's just a similar face. Xu Qingzhu has seen so many good-looking people, her face is nothing special.
As for personality, someone in Xu Qingzhu's position doesn't need any particular personality type.
Liang Shi didn't think she was special or unique. She even thought about what she would do if Xu Qingzhu fell in love with someone else.
In some ways, she was even more rational than Xu Qingzhu.
In this relationship, she was not as steadfast as Xu Qingzhu.
Even after leaving Xu Qingzhu, she can still have friendships, a career, do what she loves, and see the scenery she enjoys.
It's probably because from the very beginning, she never considered Xu Qingzhu as her own.
In her subconscious, Xu Qingzhu will meet someone who shares her ideals.
She was merely a passerby in Xu Qingzhu's life.
Xu Qingzhu's long life was only a part of her journey.
This journey was enough for her to reminisce about for half her life.
Perhaps if we're lucky enough, we can find someone who loves us back.
This unforgettable first love remains only in my memory.
It's also possible that, like her previous life, she has never had lasting good fortune.
He lived the rest of his life relying on his memories.
In conclusion, Xu Qingzhu is not the first choice.
Rather than saying that, it would be more accurate to say that love was never her first choice.
Liang Shi paused for a long time before continuing, "I never thought anyone would do this to me..."
He got stuck halfway through his sentence.
I can't continue.
Compared to Xu Qingzhu's pure and passionate love, her inferiority complex could only be stuck in her throat.
It's like a thorn.
Liang Shi was neither pure nor passionate.
It's like a glass of lukewarm tap water; it always has impurities.
She couldn't say a word when facing Xu Qingzhu.
To defend, to explain, to agree.
Everything is gone.
What more can be said in the face of such love?
Anything said seems insignificant.
"Do you feel that there is no one in this world who loves you like this?" Xu Qingzhu asked.
Liang Shi closed his eyes, a tear fell, and he slowly nodded.
Yes.
Who could love her like that?
The person who loved her has already passed away.
The reason everyone treats her well is simply because she still has some slight value to them, or because they only need to give her a little something in return for her past kindness.
However, Liang Shih felt he was not competent in this relationship.
This was Liang Shi's first love.
Unromantic, unattended, and unable to understand their lover's heart.
Sometimes it's a bit too straightforward.
Xu Qingzhu was probably so angry with her that she vomited blood at certain times.
He simply dissolved it all with love on his own.
She was clearly older than Xu Qingzhu, yet Xu Qingzhu always had to take care of her feelings.
"Why not?" Xu Qingzhu continued, "Aren't you worth it?"
Liang Shi was taken aback.
After a long silence, Liang Shi closed his eyes and said, "Because... I love myself too much."
//
Liang Shi was able to detach himself from this relationship at any time because he loved himself too much.
She remained on the defensive throughout.
Because she was worried that Xu Qingzhu might meet her destined person and leave at any time, she had to prepare in advance for the possibility of leaving at any moment.
Liang Shi's reason told her that she had to do this.
Because almost no one has ever made decisions for her since she was a child, she has to make all the decisions herself.
And take responsibility for your decisions.
Grandparents are so old, they can barely read, so how can we take responsibility for their lives?
It's good enough if you can give her love that's within her comprehension.
So her life, though seemingly stable, has always been categorized into A, B, C, and D.
There will always be a Plan B.
The only time I never considered the consequences and acted recklessly was when I was determined to come back here.