His voice was faint, but with an undeniable loneliness.
He knew she was bound to say something like, "After all, we're going to get divorced anyway."
The man silently picked up the fruit plate, stood up again, and pulled his hand away from hers. He was about to leave, but paused as if thinking of something, then turned back on his own.
Their eyes met.
Chang Xuyu's breath caught. Suddenly feeling a pang of guilt, she couldn't help but lower her eyes and purse her lips.
Yi Zhuo sighed softly, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"Xuyu, I have never treated you as anyone's substitute."
His expression was as still as dead water, hiding a trace of gloom, yet also a hint of urgency.
He knew she had no feelings for him, but before they parted, at least he couldn't let her continue to misunderstand.
As for the rest, he could no longer control it.
"From beginning to end, there's only you."
I have only ever loved you.
The man's brows furrowed slightly, as if containing countless unresolved emotions. His voice was heavy, deep and mellow, as if weathered by hardships, yet still able to set everything aside to embrace her fragility.
"I'm almost thirty. I haven't handled some emotional matters very well, and my temper isn't good enough. I can only do my best to give you the most genuine things."
He had been very busy lately. A new stubble of blue-black beard appeared on his chin, and faint dark circles showed under his eyes. His healthy wheat-colored skin wasn't delicate, but rather rough.
Occasionally, Chang Xuyu would apply some skincare products on him at night, but he wasn't used to them. Every time, he would catch her fair hands and frown.
But he knew she liked these things. He would silently commission people to buy them, often bringing back skincare or cosmetics that cost tens of thousands per small jar.
When Chang Xuyu asked about it, he would only reply lightly.
She knew he was never a romantic man. He chose to remain silent about many things, or else coaxed her like a child not to worry.
More often, he chose to bear it alone.
She often forgot many things, but memories of him she could recall every single day without fail.
Perhaps it was also a kind of fate.
He would give her a separate card, not interfere with the job she liked, transfer a large sum of money to her every month, and buy her diamond jewelry, even though she never wore it.
He didn't know what she liked; he just gave her what most people would demand.
That was why Chang Xuyu thought he was seeing someone else through her eyes.
If not for that, she couldn't think of a better reason.
"Yes, you buy me a lot of things, but you never care about what I really want... No, you don't need to know. Anyway, there's no feelings between us. You say you love me, but I don't even know who it is you love."
He definitely couldn't love her.
In just a few short months, he unconditionally treated her well. A man like him—how could he fall for love at first sight?
Her tears couldn't stop flowing, her heart aching with throbbing pain. Yet she didn't understand why she was crying.
Author's note:
No note.