Chapter 35: A Fresh Start

"So, ever since then, we have been friends."

"I admire his ability to humble himself for the sake of his family."

"I also admire his feelings for you."

"Of course, what I admire most is his character and his competence."

"Ms. Liu, I suggest you take care of yourself."

With these parting words, Bai Beichuan turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Liu Zhuyin sat there, and the moment the door clicked shut, tears began to stream down her face. She hadn't known before, but now she understood everything. In her heart, she was certain that I was the one who had resolved the situation. Yet, I had no intention of telling her. For five years, I had done so much for her in silence, and even after our divorce, I continued to support her without asking for anything in return.

"Even if you don't love me, you still don't want me to be disappointed..."

She murmured these words to herself, her heart aching more with each syllable. She had never experienced the bitterness and helplessness of persisting for five years for someone who did not love you back, but she could taste it now.

She returned home, feeling utterly lost, when her phone rang again. It was Ning Yuanzhou.

"Ayin, has the matter been resolved?"

Liu Zhuyin responded instinctively, "It has."

"That’s good. I just made a few calls, and someone said it was as good as done. It’s a relief that it’s settled; you can stop worrying now."

Liu Zhuyin froze. Was it him? Though she didn't believe it, she couldn't help but ask.

"Is the person you contacted... President Bai?"

A laugh came from the other end of the line. "Bai Beichuan helped you handle it? He was just saying earlier that it would be difficult to deal with. I didn't expect him to turn around and solve it for you so quickly."

Liu Zhuyin was completely stunned. When she had just seen Bai Beichuan, the impression he gave her was that *I* was the one behind the resolution. But hearing Ning Yuanzhou's words, why did it sound like it was him instead?

"Is... is that true?" she asked, still uncertain.

"What? You don't believe me? I really did call Bai Beichuan."

Liu Zhuyin’s brows furrowed tightly, but she said nothing more. "Alright, I... I understand."

After hanging up, she felt even more confused. If Ning Yuanzhou had solved it, why did Bai Beichuan speak only of me? Why did he not mention Ning Yuanzhou even once? Eager for the truth, she called my number.

"The matter tonight—you were the one who helped me, weren't you?"

Of course, I wasn't going to admit it. "No."

But from her reaction, I could sense that Bai Beichuan hadn't spilled the secret. It was just her own suspicion.

"You are not allowed to lie to me!"

"You never used to lie to me before." Liu Zhuyin sounded anxious, as if desperate to confirm her own hypothesis.

"That was in the past. We are divorced. Besides, why would I help you?"

Our relationship had already ended, and I didn't want her to feel indebted and then try to compensate me. That would only make me feel more disappointed. Furthermore, I genuinely wanted to help the Liu family. After all, it was a business I had built up from nothing; I would help if I could.

Listening to my coldness, Liu Zhuyin felt an inexplicable, sharp pain in her heart. It hurt so much that she had to clutch her chest. It hurt enough to make her want to cry.

"Yichen, please, don't talk like that."

"I just want to know, was it you or not?"

I frowned, feeling a trace of irritation. Was there any point in her digging so deep? I wasn't asking for her gratitude! What would it change if she found out?

"Does it make any difference? Liu Zhuyin, we are divorced. Even if I did resolve this matter, I didn't do it to help you. The Liu Group... it belongs to your family, but it was also something I fostered. In terms of attachment, mine is deeper than yours!"

Liu Zhuyin shook her head incessantly. "No, I don't believe you. I don't believe you only did it for the sake of the company and that it has nothing to do with me. Yichen, please don't say things like that. Do you have any idea how much... how much you're hurting me?"

Her tone softened, laced with tears.

"I'm sorry, I really just did it for..." I tried to clarify, but she interrupted me, her voice filled with boundless tenderness.

"Yichen, do you know? I really didn't know you had done so much for me. I know I owe you, and I want to make it up to you. I also know you don't want me to. You think... that if I try to compensate you, it’s not out of love but merely out of character, and you don't like that. But I feel so terrible... just thinking about how you did all this for me while I remained indifferent makes me want to cry..."

"I don't know what's wrong with me... Yichen... what is happening to me? Can you tell me?"

She was truly crying now. The sound traveled through the receiver and into my ears. She had never been like this with me before. I didn't know what was wrong with her. Could it be... that she had fallen in love with me?

How was that possible! I would sooner believe in ghosts than believe she could fall in love with me!

It must still be guilt!

"Liu Zhuyin, you don't need to blame yourself. When we were married, that was what I was supposed to do. I was a man, and more importantly, I was your husband. I had the right and the duty to protect your happiness. Now that we're divorced, it's all over, so there's no need for you to make amends. So, let it go... I don't blame you."

I moved to hang up the phone.

"No! Yichen, that's not it! I want to make amends, but... I truly care about you. Lately, while you've been gone, my whole world has been in chaos. I feel like I can't do anything right. Whether you think I treated you like a nanny, a servant, or a subordinate... I never had those thoughts! I just want to say... I’ve realized I can't live without you. Yichen... can we start over?"

Her desperate sobbing tugged hard at my heart. Perhaps... she really did have feelings for me now. But it was happening just as I was leaving.

I didn't want to say it was too late, nor did I want to say I didn't care. The truth was, I couldn't turn back! Aside from my physical condition, this relationship was tainted with too much. Too much disappointment! Five years of disappointment could not be wiped away with a few words.

Whether her repentance was sincere, whether she was truly guilty, or even if she had fallen in love with me—to me, it was all useless now.

"You need to learn to stand on your own."

I silently hung up the phone. Hearing her sobs, my heart still ached. Hearing her heartfelt words, ripples still disturbed the surface of my soul. I sat on the sofa, waiting a long time to regain my composure.

Meanwhile, having hung up, Liu Zhuyin wept uncontrollably. She didn't understand why I was so resolute, or why I had to say such hurtful things. Had I grown to loathe her? Was there really no possibility for us anymore?

The thought that five years of marriage had ended in a simple divorce certificate caused her immense pain. Yet, she didn't know how to hold onto me. It was as if I were a cactus; the tighter she held on, the more it hurt, yet she could not let go.

After a long while, her crying subsided, but her gaze grew even more determined.

"I will not let you leave me!"