"He made a bet with his father." With the cigarette in his mouth, Gao Ran explained slowly.
"What bet?" Huo Mian could sense that the truth was about to surface.
After a moment of silence...
Gan Ran took out the cigarette from his mouth and flicked off the ash. "Seven years ago, Qin Chu was only a boy. He wasn’t strong enough to give you a certain and happy future, so he made a bet with his father. He would study abroad for seven years and then return to take over the family business. He wouldn’t return within seven years and was not allowed to contact anyone back home, including you."
"Why did he agree to his father so easily?" Huo Mian looked puzzled.
"Because his father stipulated a tempting condition."
"What condition?" Huo Mian had an inkling that it had something to do with her.
Sure enough, Gao Ran took in a deep breath and looked at her as he said, "Once he returned seven years later, his father would let him marry you. Qin Chu only asked for one thing, and that was to marry you, Huo Mian. So, he agreed to all the impossibly difficult conditions his father put forth. He didn’t even come back for his grandfather’s funeral. Do you know how he got through those seven years? He only had one thought in his head, and that was to marry you. I’m very sure that marrying you was his biggest dream in life."
Upon hearing what Gao Ran said, Huo Mian could only stand there, motionless...
She didn’t know if it was the stinging aroma of the cigarette or something else, but she began to cry...
Silent tears streamed down her face...
She had thought that he left for his own future and family business, and the reason had nothing to do with her.
After discovering that he had studied medicine, however, she knew that things weren’t as simple as she had originally thought.
Now that she heard about the true reason behind his seven-year disappearance and the bet that involved her, she couldn’t keep it in any longer.
Gao Ran was right. Even the coldest of hearts, at this moment, would melt...
"Although his father went back on his word, Qin Chu never wavered even a little bit. He even wanted to resign from his position as GK’s president to run away with you! But how did you repay him? As the love of his life, you talked about divorce and separation like it’s nothing. Don’t you know that his heart is bleeding? You cannot joke about marriage. Even if you were pressured into marrying him back then, weren’t you the one who made that decision? Why are you backing down now? As far as I’m concerned, you have two choices. Either leave him, go far away from him and cut him off completely, or stay with him for the rest of your life. Don’t torture him anymore. He’ll die."
Gao Ran’s eyes were bloodshot red...
He had witnessed first-hand Qin Chu’s disregard for his own life. After they finished drinking, Qin Chu went back home and drank even more.
If it hadn’t been for his relentless calls and alertness, he wouldn’t have gotten the police to locate Qin Chu, they wouldn’t have found him at Imperial Park, unconscious from the pain of gastric bleeding.
If they didn’t discover him, Gao Ran may never be able to see his good friend ever again.
"Huo Mian, I beg of you, don’t torture him anymore. Whatever your decision may be, let him know as soon as possible."
Huo Mian was crying her heart out by now...
"Thank you for telling me all of this."
"So? What’s your plan?" Gao Ran asked coldly.
Huo Mian didn’t reply and Gao Ran couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but from her reaction, he could tell that she cared about Qin Chu deeply. She wouldn’t have cried this much otherwise...
After their conversation, Gao Ran left the hospital, completely worn-out. Huo Mian went into Qin Chu’s room, wetted a towel, and began cleaning his face.
After she finished, she took the towel to wet it again.
Just as she was getting up, someone grabbed her hand...
"Mian..." Holding onto Huo Mian’s wrist, Qin Chu opened his eyes weakly and called out her name.