After exiting Gu Junling’s apartment, Wen Xinya took a look at her watch to see that it was already half-past eleven. She decided to drive straight to the Zhou Family home.
Since she could not afford any more delay, she could not leave them in the lurch. Although there had been a lack of progress in their relationship in the past, Wen Xinya had never thought of intervening with their affairs. However, she felt the need to do so now that things had already come to this.
It was already midnight and there were barely any cars on the roads. Hence, traffic was smooth and Wen Xinya soon arrived at the Zhou Family home.
However, Wen Xinya did not drive into the Zhou Family home. Instead, she parked her car by the roadside and gave Zhou Tianyu a call. “I’m at a junction near your home. Come out and chat with me!”
Wen Xinya ended the call without giving Zhou Tianyu the chance to reject at all.
About ten minutes later, Zhou Tianyu finally showed up. Wen Xinya got out of her car and walked towards Zhou Tianyu before giving her a tight slap.
The sound of her slap was loud and crisp, and it seemed to have been amplified in the dark.
Zhou Tianyu subconsciously cupped her hand over her face and stared at Wen Xinya solemnly. Wen Xinya was dressed in a thin jacket and appearing rather thin under the dim light.
Wintertime was exceptionally cold in the North, especially at night. Zhou Tianyu had seen the weather forecast and the lowest temperature of the night was -4 degrees celsius.
Wen Xinya stared at her quietly and said angrily, “I’m giving you this slap on behalf of Gu Junling. He’s been carrying a torch for you for more than a decade. How could you bear to treat him like this?”
At this moment, Wen Xinya was genuinely infuriated with Zhou Tianyu, even though she knew that Zhou Tianyu was actually feeling rather conflicted. However, she felt that she ought not to hurt Gu Junling regardless of what difficulties she may have.
Gu Junling was extremely innocent and he sunk deeper into the relationship after receiving Zhou Tianyu’s ambiguous attitude. He ended up getting hurt all alone.
The night was much colder than she had imagined and Zhou Tianyu soon began shivering uncontrollably. She asked in a hoarse voice, “Junling… did he tell you everything?”
Zhou Tianyu knew that it was only a matter of time before they found out. However, she had no idea how to face the stern and fierce Wen Xinya.
“If Gu Junling didn’t manage to discover this by chance, would you have just kept it from us and left without telling anyone? Are you just going to let Gu Junling down?” Wen Xinya asked shrewdly.
Zhou Tianyu lowered her head and chose to stay silent.
During different circumstances, silence would mean different things. Sometimes, it would mean refusal and sometimes, it would mean consent.
Wen Xinya smiled out of anger and screeched. “Zhou Tianyu, I’ve truly overestimated you. We’ve been friends for so many years and yet, I failed to realize that you’re just a timid and selfish person. Have you ever thought about how we and Gu Junling would feel?”
Wen Xinya did not expect Zhou Tianyu to have harbored the intentions to just leave and throw everything behind.
At this moment, she was really feeling indignant for Gu Junling, who said that he would only give up on Zhou Tianyu when he was dead.
“I’m sorry…” Zhou Tianyu murmured, knowing that she was wrong. However, she did not have the courage to face her friend, nor did she have the bravery to face the hurt Gu Junling. She was afraid that she would not be able to control herself and end up changing her mind.
However, there was no turning back for her now.
Wen Xinya immediately interrupted her angrily. “You shouldn’t be apologizing to me. You should be feeling sorry towards Gu Junling. He has been carrying a torch for you for more than a decade. That doesn’t give you a reason to hurt him and play him.”
Zhou Tianyu raised her head anxiously and tried to explain herself. “Xinya, I didn’t mean to toy with Junling’s feelings. He has fancied me for years and at first, I was indeed a little dumbfounded because I treated him like my best friend and brother. But later on… I…”
Zhou Tianyu felt a lump in her throat.
Wen Xinya probed. “Later on you what?”
That was probably what Gu Junling wanted to hear the most.
However, Zhou Tianyu’s face began to turn sullen. At last, she hung her head low slowly and said, “Xinya, no matter what, I’ve already made up my mind to go to England and I won’t change my decision. Please apologize to Gu Junling for me and get him to forget about me. Tell him to find a woman who really loves him and settle down with her.”
She then turned around and left.
She looked exceptionally thin under the dim street lamps and her shadow gave off a lonely vibe.
Wen Xinya flew into a rage and hollered. “Zhou Tianyu, why don’t you dare to tell him that in person? It’s because you’re well aware that Gu Junling loves you to the core and he won’t ever fall in love with another woman. You’re really selfish. Do you know what has happened to Gu Junling now?”
Indeed, Wen Xinya’s words made Zhou Tianyu stop in her tracks. She sprinted towards Wen Xinya and grabbed her hand before asking frantically, “What, what has happened to him?”
There was fear in her shaky voice.
“He drank a lot of alcohol and almost got alcohol poisoning. He would have been half dead by now if he didn’t throw up. He vomited so much bile and kicked up such a ruckus while murmuring everything incoherently. He’s going to collapse if you just leave without a word. He might just die one day. He’s going to end up in a living hell. That’s what you want to see.”
Wen Xinya felt extremely sad at the thought of Gu Junling’s plight.
Zhou Tianyu shivered and suddenly collapsed onto the ground. She wept and muttered, “I didn’t want this to happen. I really didn’t… I want to be with him and shower him with love so as to make up for everything that he did for me in the past ten-over years. I don’t want to hurt him, I really don’t…”
Gu Junling was teh last person she wanted to hurt in this world.
Wen Xinya burst into tears and squatted onto the ground to hug Zhou Tianyu. “Tianyu, did you know? Gu Junling has been working extremely hard lately because he wants to become stronger and conquer the world for you. I asked him if he would ever give up on you. Do you know what he said?”
Zhou Tianyu burst into tears.
“He said he would only do so if he was dead!” Her words sounded exceptionally stern in the cold and dark night.