Chapter 42 - Different paths.

Jihai was behind the door, looking for a chance to see Chunlan. He had come multiple times, but had been rejected ruthlessly by Chunlan.

Does she blame me for the accident?

He bit his lips harshly, until he felt his blood trickle down his chin. It was his fault, for not protecting her.

His girlfriend was blind.

If it was up to him, he would take her place in a heartbeat, in a second.

Jihai, you are so useless.

All his efforts was still not enough.

His ċhėst felt constricted and his head was racked with pain. He coughed twice, covering his mouth with a handkerchief. As he tried to put it back in his pocket, he spotted blood on it.

He still had not recovered, the doctors said so. But even though, the mere thought of seeing Chunlan in agony and confusion in the state she was in made it unbearable for him to sit still.

He unconsciously straightened his body frame when he saw the door open. Huizhong stared at the visitor then his face darkened as he gave the intruder a vicious kick.

Jihai's strong figure was sent flying to the air, landing loudly on the ground. He ġrȯȧnėd painfully, his shirt stained with blood.

Huizhong stared at the figure who struggling to stand up. "I thought I had given you a warning."

Jihai felt dizzy, feeling a little faint as he stood up. It was difficult to breath. "I want to see Chunlan."

"Get lost!" Anger consumed Huizhong at the thought of his blind daughter. Since yesterday, she hadn't stopped crying refusing to eat.

"I just want to see her." Jihai repeated.

"This is all your fault! I left my daughter in the hands of an irresponsible, uncouth pauper like you! This is all a scheme devised by you, decapitating my daughter to steal her wealth!"

Jihai narrowed his eyes. "I have never had that kind of intention towards your daughter."

"How do you intend to prove yourself?" A weak feeble voice said.

Jihai turned to the source of the voice, his eyes widening. "Chunlan."

"I find it too strange that I was the only one who ended as blind with sever injuries while you came with minor ones." Chunlan accused.

"That was because you pushed-"

"-yes, that was my fault. Now, my future is gone." Chunlan whispered.

Jihai's heart clenched in pain.

Chunlan said. "Dad, please leave us alone. I will like to speak to Jihai alone."

Huizhong wanted to protest but seeing the blank expression on his daughter's face he sighed going back into the room.

Chunlan didn't dare take another step so she leaned on the wall, not seeing Jihai who was struggling to stand.

She inhaled. "Jihai, I don't like to beat around the bush. The Wen family has offered to help my father look for a cure on the condition of marriage alliance. I intend to agree."

He froze. "What?"

"What I am trying to say is let's break up."

"You are lying. Chunlan tell me you are lying to me." He shook his head on denial.

"You are weak!" She shouted. "You couldn't protect your own mother and now you couldn't protect me! Look at me Jihai, I am blind!"

Pain and anguish tore through his ċhėst, hearing her words. He stayed quiet in disbelief. Was this what she thought of him all along? She never....believed in him in the first place.

He collapsed on the floor, feeling empty.

She continued. "Maybe this world was not just for you. There is a reason fate put us in different social castes. You will never belong in my world and I in yours. I don't want to ever experience this feeling of helplessness again, I want to be strong. You will only become a burden in time."

She waited for him to say something but he remained quiet looking at her in shock. Unaware, she delivered the final blow. "So let's depart and never see each other again. Goodbye, Jihai."

Hearing that snapped him out of his dazed state. He ran and hugged her tightly. "Chunlan, its my fault. I am weak, I should have protected you." His voice cracked. "Forgive me. Don't leave me. I will help you. I can fix this."

Believe in me. Just this once.

He brought out a piece of hair tied into a shape of a ribbon and placed in into her palm. "Look! This is our promise. We promised to be together forever. Don't you remember?"

Her heart pounded loudly as tears rolled down her cheeks. She struggled, loosing his hold and enabling her to throw the piece of hair away. "Get lost! We are done! Jihai from now, I Chunlan, don't love you anymore. Our paths are no longer intertwined."

She finally said.. "Don't ever come near me again."