Chapter 412 - Being A Villain in One's Love

"!!!!"

"!!!!"

Both Tang sisters had widened eyes, though for different reasons. 

Tang Xinyang knew that her friend Zhi'er was a reasonable and intelligent person. No matter how much she was muddled by love with Linfeng, her friend would not be so reckless to suddenly announce her relationship with Linfeng out in the public without even letting the news of the Zhou family and Xiong family's separation get buried first in the passage of time.

Thus, she could not believe that Xiong Zhi was really so madly muddled in love that she did it outright!

Then, she suddenly whipped her head to her sister with an anxious and worried heart.

'Oh, right! My little sister!'

Boyfriend...

Boyfriend...

Boyfriend...

Tang Yin blanked out. Her brain could not process what the woman in front of her had just said.

Seeing her, Tang Xinyang felt heartache for her sister. Her sister was obviously so shocked that she could not respond for a moment. However, she was afraid that hell would break loose once her sister recovered.

'Ugh, what to do?'

Silence befell the table.

Tang Yin slowly turned her head to look at the man she had loved for a very long time and opened her mouth. 

Tang Xinyang took a deep breath in apprehension. If her sister lost her cool, she would instantly carry her out and let her calm down in a private room. It was better to let people think there was some sort of emergency than to let Tang Yin destroy her own image in front of everyone.

"Boyfriend… Is...that t-true, Linfeng?" A voice filled with confusion and disbelief came out of Tang Yin's mouth. She feared his answer, but at the same time hopeful that it was not true. However, the man whom she loved secretly for a long time was not even looking at her at this time.

Linfeng only looked at Xiong Zhi. 

His eyes were doting and soft. The corner of his lips was trying to keep down a smile, but they still curled up, showing his good mood. He covered Xiong Zhi's hand on his arm with his large, warm palm and lightly gripped it. 

His action was filled with gentleness and warmth of love. It stung Tang Yin's heart.

Finally, he looked at Tang Yin with bright eyes emanating happiness. "Yes, it's true."

Crack!

A clap of thunder seemed to break Tang Yin's world and her ears rang. All noises seemed to fade. 

All of Linfeng's actions had fallen into her eyes. She never once saw him act so sincerely gentle like that, nor had she seen his eyes so full of life and happiness.

The Linfeng she knew always either had a polite or helpless smile, and distant yet steady eyes. It turned out, the Linfeng she loved had that side as well in him.

Like a sun warmly shining in spring.

But those sides were not shown for her.

Tang Yin felt an incredible pressure wrap around and squeeze her heart, making it difficult to breathe. For a moment, she did not know what to think or what to do. Right in front of her, a couple in mutual love gazed at each other with affection, as if they were in an entirely different world from hers.

Her unrequited love suddenly disappeared into smoke on her very birthday. Linfeng... already had someone else he loved.

The numbing pain spread from her chest to her limbs. 

Tang Xinyang worriedly looked at the pale-faced girl who began trembling.

Xiong Zhi felt happy with Linfeng's display. There was a sense of satisfaction and pride, and she glanced at the childhood sweetheart to show off. 

However, the satisfaction and pride strangely faded after seeing the pale face of the girl. All the words of flaunting she intended to say got stuck in her throat. 

She herself knew that she was not the kind and compassionate type.

But... how could she keep on flaunting in front of a girl who had an expression like her world was destroyed in front of her? This girl was also her friend's little sister. Although she only declared their relationship, she still felt a slight guilt.

She fell silent, but her hold on Linfeng's arm tightened even more.

...Xiong Zhi knew that the world had never been fair, whether in love, war, or in status. There would always be losers, and there would be winners. 

In love, she was the winner, and she was bound to hurt the loser. But it was something she fought hard to gain. Even if she trampled on other's feelings, she would never let go of Linfeng's hand. She would not soften and give another person a chance to take him away, even if it was a very low possibility.

She knew that the guilt she was feeling was only because she was the winner who had inevitably destroyed an innocent girl's pure, one-sided love. Not to mention, the girl was a close friend's sister.

She gripped Linfeng's arm tightly. However, even if she became a terrible woman in the eyes of a certain sweet girl, she would still make everything clear.

Sometimes it was best to have one's hopes completely dashed and not string herself along with false hope. The latter would be crueler.

Tang Yin suddenly stood up. Her body swayed.

Tang Xinyang also stood up edgily, supporting the girl's body.

Tang Yin looked at her elder sister's concerned face with a smile that did not reach her eyes. "Sister... I am just going to the restroom. Don't follow me, okay?" 

She then looked at the couple in front of her with a smile. This time, although her hands trembled hard, her voice was more composed.

"I need to go to the restroom. Please excuse me." Her tone was light, seemingly lively. 

Xiong Zhi almost doubted if what she saw earlier was just an illusion.

Tang Yin excused herself and walked away from the table with a smile plastered on her face. However, after a couple of steps, her smile broke and a choked sob escaped from her lips.

She instantly covered her mouth. She could not see what was in front of her anymore due to her blurry eyes.

She could faintly feel some people about to come to her. She discreetly wiped her tears, waved at them, and walked faster. Her direction was to a dim place with no people.