Unable to bear it any longer, I suddenly looked up at him.
He greeted me with a calm and indifferent gaze, his expression not one of complacency, but rather of nonchalance and disdain.
—I disdain explaining, I disdain begging, I disdain forgiveness.
Why did he do this? How could he do this?
Now that things have come to this, is he not even willing to say a word of comfort to me?
Now that things have come to this, is he really going to be so stingy with even a white lie for me?
How could a man's heart, once hardened, reach such a terrifying state!
His expression was like a needle piercing my heart.
The stinging pain started from a small spot and spread rapidly throughout the entire body, limbs, and bones...
I tried my best to straighten my spine, not wanting him to see me looking pathetic and defeated. Unable to bear the pain in my heart, I suddenly chuckled softly.
How could I not laugh?
If he had actually offered me an explanation or begged me at that moment, I probably wouldn't have been interested in listening at all. But instead, he chose to act all aloof and unapproachable...
Ah, Feng Qiansu is absolutely right—he, Xiao Zuo, truly knows better than anyone how to attract me and how to make me unable to part with him!
Gong Feicui, Gong Feicui, you've lost! This man is your nemesis, a nightmare you'll never forget! You've lost, utterly and completely!
I raised my hands, covered my face with my fingers, and my whole body trembled as I laughed even harder.
Perhaps because laughter is sometimes more unbearable than crying, I heard Xiao Zuo suddenly let out a soft sigh.
That sigh, with its unique gentleness, was like a spring breeze that suddenly warmed my cold heart.
Having witnessed his coldness earlier, I was completely overwhelmed when I saw him finally show his true colors. I immediately took my hands off my eyes and looked at him with a mixture of surprise and delight... Although he didn't say anything, it was as if I could see the turning point and the light at the end of the tunnel.
Xiao Zuo, do you know that you have completely controlled my joys and sorrows?
Xiao Zuo, do you know that you have already captured my heart?
If you have truly deceived me, even if I am not heartbroken and devastated, I fear I will never be able to smile again in this life.
If you truly betray me, even if I don't sever all ties, I fear I'll never be able to trust anyone again in this lifetime.
Xiao Zuo, things have come to this, and our feelings are like this. Even if you truly harbor ulterior motives, please give me a final act of mercy and give me that final blow!
Speak! Xiao Zuo! Say something!
I stared at him with a burning, urgent, and anxious gaze, hoping that he would say something to ease the gloom in my heart, since I had never been so out of control before.
After a long pause, he suddenly smiled at me, finally opened his mouth, and said a sentence.
"I'm leaving, goodbye."
I felt as if I had been suddenly pulled from the warmth of spring into the harshness of winter, or as if I had been thrown into a bottomless river. My hopeful heart was still hanging there, but I was already sinking into the water... I watched helplessly as Xiao Zuo smiled, spoke, turned around, and opened the door, but I couldn't utter a single word. I only felt myself sinking deeper and deeper into the river... until the door slammed shut, and the river finally completely submerged me.
I slowly closed my eyes, and in that instant, all the memories I had shared with him since we met flashed through my mind.
—The tender gazes exchanged when they first rode together amidst the green hills and clear waters, the unspoken understanding as they leaped into the midst of an explosion, the relieved smile on the Yellow River oasis, the heartbreaking misunderstandings in the bustling city streets, and the whispered words of love in the desolate woods...
All of this, all of this, vanished with a "bang" as he closed the door, never to be seen again, never to be found again.
My eyes were slightly hot, but no tears fell... Have I grown up, or have I simply run out of tears to shed?
I don't know, but I'd rather it be the former.
Because that at least proves that I haven't been destroyed by him yet!
I still bear the weight of the Gong family's century-old reputation, and I still carry the promise I made to my father. I cannot, I cannot let a man ruin it like this!
cannot!
I took a deep breath, pinched my cheeks to make them look as rosy as possible, and quickly walked out of the room.
Standing on the second-floor staircase, I looked down at the hall—just as I expected, Feng Qiansu did not let Xiao Zuo leave easily.
The iron cavalry surrounded them, trapping Xiao Zuo in the center.
Although Feng Qiansu stood to one side, the sense of threat she exuded was stronger than that of the thirty-five iron cavalrymen.
I was slightly surprised. Although I had long heard of the renowned name "Ziyu Xiangman" in the martial arts world, this was the first time I had seen her so shrewd and assertive in front of me.
“Young Miss!” She saw me too, looked up at me and said, “This man’s identity is unknown. If we let him leave now, it will be disadvantageous for us. Therefore, I took the liberty of ordering the cavalry to stop him. I hope you will not be offended, Young Miss.”
As I slowly walked downstairs, I smiled at her and said, "Sister Qiansu handled this matter very well. How could I blame you?"
Upon hearing this, the first person to react was not Feng Qiansu, but... the person who had been standing calmly inside the encirclement.
I saw Xiao Zuo turn around quickly, and I immediately felt his sharp, knife-like gaze slowly, slowly tracing up and down my face, almost cutting it open.
I met his gaze, expressionless, yet unwavering.
After a while, he suddenly burst into laughter.
Fortunately, I had already experienced this once before and knew that laughter sometimes wasn't because I was happy, nor necessarily because I had seen something funny. So I was able to maintain my indifferent attitude and coldly ask, "Young Master Xiao, what makes you so cheerful? Why don't you tell us so we can all enjoy it?"
Although my tone was cold, I still felt a pang of sadness in my heart. After knowing him for so long, this was the first time I had ever called him "Young Master Xiao".
Xiao Zuo suddenly stopped laughing, and his gaze, which had been fixed on me, became more intense. He said, word by word, "Does Miss Gong really want to force me to take action?"