"Who is the person I truly love? What is it that I truly want?" Wen Xueshan clutched her head, repeating the question to herself.
In her mind, two distinct paths seemed to lie before her, and choosing the wrong one meant there would be no turning back.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhan Mohan took in Wen Xueshan's living space, a place brimming with memories of her and Qiu Zhun.
There were photographs of the two of them, their personal belongings, and items that showcased their differing tastes.
Although their habits and preferences often clashed, here they complemented each other, creating a harmonious scene.
"Wen Xueshan, your feelings for me are not love; they are merely an obsession born from habit. You truly love Qiu Zhun. He has become an integral part of your life, an indispensable element."
"No! I was just using him." Yet, as she spoke these words, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
Zhan Mohan furrowed his brow. Emotions were inherently complex, and Wen Xueshan's heart was so entangled in this complexity that she couldn't discern the truth beneath.
He sensed that something was amiss with Wen Xueshan. This situation seemed to be affecting her profoundly. Coupled with her existing depression, Zhan Mohan decided not to push her too hard.
"Think it over carefully. I'll give you time to find your answer."
With that, Zhan Mohan rose to leave.
But Wen Xueshan cried out, "Mr. Zhan, you can't go! You still owe me an answer. Please, give me a chance!"
Zhan Mohan halted, turning back to face Wen Xueshan.
Her expression was contorted, tears streaming down her face, yet she stubbornly insisted he stay.
The tears were for Qiu Zhun, not for Zhan Mohan. Why couldn't Wen Xueshan understand?
Zhan Mohan had a chilling premonition that if this continued, Wen Xueshan might truly descend into madness.
"I will not be with you."
This time, Zhan Mohan stated his intentions unequivocally.
However, Wen Xueshan shook her head. "No, you won't. I love you so much, I've done so much for you. How can you refuse me?"
Zhan Mohan merely frowned, offering no further reply, and then strode away.
Watching Zhan Mohan's retreating back, Wen Xueshan felt a void in her heart, a space that had always been occupied by Zhan Mohan.
But the moment she thought of this, Qiu Zhun would invariably intrude upon her mind.
Go away! I was only using you!
She struggled, unwilling to confront the truth hidden deep within her heart.
"Mr. Zhan, if you leave here today, you will regret it!"
Zhan Mohan heard her words but showed no reaction. He didn't believe Wen Xueshan was capable of doing anything that would make him regret his decision.
Wen Xueshan collapsed onto the sofa, utterly drained. Everything was over for her.
Zhan Mohan would no longer give her another chance. As for Qiu Zhun, she herself didn't know what her feelings for him were.
Her mind was in such a turmoil that she couldn't distinguish right from wrong.
Even at this critical juncture, she still couldn't make a choice: Zhan Mohan or Qiu Zhun?
A heavy, suffocating feeling settled upon Wen Xueshan, compelling her to open the window and gaze outside.
A few birds occasionally flitted across the sky, and Wen Xueshan felt a pang of envy.
How long had she been bound by this thing called love? She longed to break free from it all, to soar as freely as those birds.
And so, she did.
It was only as she was freely soaring through the air that she saw the person who truly held her heart.
It was Qiu Zhun. She had indeed been mistaken all along.
I'm sorry...
As Zhan Mohan reached the ground floor, he heard screams erupt.
"Someone fell!"
Zhan Mohan started, turning to see Wen Xueshan lying on the ground, blood slowly spreading from beneath her, staining the earth red.
Yet, Wen Xueshan's expression was one of peace, even tinged with a faint smile.
The police cordoned off the scene, and Zhan Mohan found himself thrust into the spotlight.
As the last person Wen Xueshan had seen before her death, he became a prime suspect.
"What did you do to her? Why did she suddenly jump?" Qiu Zhun struggled to accept the reality.
They had only been apart for a single day, and now all he saw was a cold corpse.
Zhan Mohan frowned. "I didn't do anything to her."
He could have revealed the truth to Qiu Zhun, but he chose not to.
Now that Wen Xueshan was dead, the sincerity of her feelings for Qiu Zhun no longer mattered.
"I know Xue Shan did things that made things difficult for you, even almost harming Miss Wei. But she didn't deserve this. Besides, she had changed so much. Why did you do this? Why?"
Qiu Zhun, unable to control his emotions any longer, landed a punch on Zhan Mohan's face. Zhan Mohan made no move to retaliate.
"Stop!"
Just as Qiu Zhun was about to throw another punch, Wei Yumeng quickly intervened.
"Mr. Qiu, please calm down. We don't know the full story. There might be some misunderstanding."
Despite their past issues, Wei Yumeng had always believed in Zhan Mohan's character.
Taking Wei Yumeng's plea into consideration, Qiu Zhun finally ceased his assault.
However, he wasn't ready to let it go. "Regardless of the truth behind this incident, I will uncover it. If Xue Shan's death was indeed caused by you, I will not be lenient."
With those words, Qiu Zhun turned and left.
Wei Yumeng watched his slender retreating figure, a sense of worry gnawing at her. But she was also deeply concerned about Zhan Mohan's state.
"Mohan, can you tell me what exactly happened?"
Zhan Mohan looked at Wei Yumeng and recounted everything that had transpired.
Wei Yumeng finally understood. All the previous events had been orchestrated by Wen Xueshan; she had been manipulated by Wen Xueshan all along.
However, she also believed that Wen Xueshan's suicide was not solely due to Zhan Mohan's rejection, but more so a result of her illness.
Even if Wen Xueshan had meticulously planned everything from the start, her depression was a genuine affliction.
Her obsession with Zhan Mohan had persisted for so long, and Qiu Zhun's appearance had thrown her into confusion.
Wei Yumeng could see that Wen Xueshan had indeed fallen in love with Qiu Zhun. Her past actions were not a facade.
But Wen Xueshan herself was trapped by her obsession, overlooking the true love in her heart.
And with her pre-existing depression, upon confronting her inner turmoil, she experienced the greatest confusion of her life.
The more she struggled, the more lost she became, unable to bear the weight of this love any longer.
Perhaps this was why she chose to end her life.
But all of this was merely her own analysis. Wen Xueshan was no longer alive, making it impossible to prove any of it.