"I can't love Chu Xi. I know I'm a scoundrel, but I've tried my best. I've tried countless times over many years. Besides responsibility, I just can't love her."
"One day, I'll make things clear with her. Please don't leave me. I can't bear it. If you leave again, I'll go mad."
After saying that, he didn't bother with He Yao's wound.
He cupped her chin and lowered his head, suddenly sealing her lips.
Then, everything unfolded naturally.
Perhaps He Yao was infected by his emotions, or perhaps she was releasing feelings she had suppressed for years.
Like wildfire, they were consumed, unable to stop.
Yet, even with his mind in a whirl, Zhan Jingrui was mindful of her wound, choosing positions that wouldn't touch it.
They skipped dinner and indulged in their passion until late into the night. Zhan Jingrui wrapped his arms around He Yao from behind, burying his head in her neck, and pleaded softly.
"Don't take medicine. Don't take it behind my back. I'm begging you."
"If you're pregnant, keep the baby. We'll get married, and we'll never be apart again. Just consider it my plea, okay?"
In the past, He Yao believed she had principles.
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 was willing to 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 could she go? Everywhere she went, she was a rootless cloud.
But if Zhan Jingrui loved her and could give her a child, she would have a home.
He Yao was deeply moved by his words.
At the same time, she knew about the complex web of interests between the Zhan and Chu families, and she also knew that there was another lovesick Chu Xi who couldn't do without Zhan Jingrui.
So, she came up with a better idea.
"I won't take 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 might tear them apart at any moment.
Hearing He Yao's words, Zhan Jingrui was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
"Good, you've worked hard, Yao Yao. I will never let you down. I will love you well, and I will love our child. We will surely be happy."
He Yao's eyes also welled up with tears. She cupped his chin and met his gaze.
"I promise to have your child, and I promise to never leave you. But you have to 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 and live as before. Just visit me occasionally."
"This place will always be our home. I don't care 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 as if it were breaking. "Nonsense, how can you think like that?"
"No, no, no. Listen to me. I know your current relationship with Chu Xi is more than just love; it involves the interests of both families. I don't want us to go back to seven years ago and have me appear before your family in a position that hinders your future prospects, only to be looked down upon by them."
"This is good. Although we won't get married, we won't be separated. Your family won't look down on me, and I won't have to deal with relationships I can't handle."
"I don't need a piece of paper to prove my identity. Don't you think this is the best of both worlds?"
It sounded good, but how could Zhan Jingrui bear to let her suffer such a grievance?
"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 are not wronging me, and no one else can wrong me."
"This is the best solution. Please, just agree to it."
Zhan Jingrui kissed her again, deeply moved.
He didn't refuse He Yao, but a true man would never allow his beloved to be wronged like this.
He just wouldn't let He Yao know. He would make things clear with Chu Xi in his own way.
While they were embracing tenderly, Chu Xi was not 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 their old high school classmate group. Through various classmate connections and roundabout inquiries, she found Xu Zheng's contact information.
Xu Zheng was Zhan Jingrui's only deskmate in high school, so no one should know Zhan Jingrui better than him.
Seeing that the verification message was from Chu Xi, Xu Zheng almost jumped out of his chair.
Why would this woman think of adding him?
He quickly accepted.
Chu Xi chatted with him casually and then asked about Zhan Jingrui's high school days.
Xu Zheng then realized that she was after Zhan Jingrui.
But they had been together for so many years; why would she suddenly want to ask him about the past?
Chu Xi lied, saying that 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, they met late in high school, and she didn't understand many things, so she wanted to inquire if there were any unexpected delights.
Xu Zheng, on one hand, marveled at their strong relationship, and on the other hand, marveled at Zhan Jingrui's good fortune. He told her everything he knew in detail.
Chu Xi indirectly asked him, "Are there no female classmates? Your old deskmate is so honest; he didn't interact with any female classmates for three years?"
Xu Zheng said, "There really aren't any. Don't you know what kind of person he is? He was always so arrogant, like a peacock, and we barely spoke a few words even though we were deskmates for so many years."
"That's unlikely. He must have interacted with some female classmates."
"Well, there was you."
"I mean, besides me."
Xu Zheng understood. Chu Xi was subtly trying to inquire if Zhan Jingrui had any other relationships.
He thought carefully and said, "There really was one, but the interaction was minimal, far less than with you. It can't even be considered anything."
Chu Xi's eyelids twitched, 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 ball. To avoid falling behind in my studies, I asked the top student to tutor her for a few days."
"But that was just tutoring. They had nothing else. They haven't been in touch for a long time. If you meet now, your Mr. Zhan wouldn't even recognize her."
Without anyone else needing to say anything, and without needing to find evidence, Chu Xi suddenly understood everything.
Zhan Jingrui tutored He Yao in the past? And she was the only female classmate he interacted with for three years?
From her understanding of Zhan Jingrui, if he had no feelings for her, he wouldn't have offered tutoring.
Xu Zheng didn't have that much charm, and those figurines weren't that captivating.
But if he liked He Yao, why didn't he get together with her, and why did he pretend not to recognize her when they met?