A question that struck right at Gan Yuan’s vulnerability.
He’d actually discovered it?
"I..." Caught off-guard by Huangfu Jue’s sudden attack, Gan Yuan was, in that moment, at a loss for a good reason, "I just..."
"Silly woman!" The man chided in a low voice, already pulling her into his embrace, "Ayuan, I’m sorry."
Those five words, though coming from a domineering man, were spoken with unmatched gentleness, containing more apologies and tenderness than anyone but Huangfu Jue himself could know.
With her face against his chest, listening to the steady and powerful beating of his heart, Gan Yuan felt a lump in her throat and was left speechless. After all she had done against him, he was still apologizing to her.
She should have pushed him away, but the hands pressed against his chest were so weak...
"You’re right, if I hadn’t brought you back, you could still be living happily with Xiaotang. It’s all my fault, I was too selfish..." Burying his face in her hair, Huangfu Jue’s voice was full of remorse, "I know I don’t deserve you, but I can’t do it... I can’t bear to let go..."
Raising his face, Huangfu Jue’s blue eyes deeply scrutinized hers.
"Ayuan, tell me, what should I do?"
It was as if her throat was stuffed with cotton, unable to speak or breathe... Gan Yuan stood there, completely voiceless.
She had thought that over the years without him, she had grown accustomed to his absence, but it was only after truly leaving him that she realized.
Day and night, something tugged at her heart, making her joyless and her nights restless.
After waiting for a while without hearing her response.
Huangfu Jue took a deep breath.
"Alright!" he gradually moved his hands away from her shoulders, "If... if that’s really what you wish, then... I... I..."
His fingers clenched tightly as he struggled to control his desire to take her away.
On his way here, he had thought that this time, even if by force, he would bring her back.
But upon truly seeing her, his heart couldn’t help but soften uncontrollably.
All these days, he had firmly believed that she still loved him, that there must be some compelling reason for her evading him .
Could it be that all this was just his own wishful thinking?
What if she truly wished to leave him?!
Despite his reluctance to believe this possibility, what if...?
From her perspective, if she continued down this path with him, she would face an exceedingly difficult journey ahead. Maybe she was truly tired?
Thinking back, she had once been so joyful, but since she came back with him, what had she faced?
Other people’s difficulties, dangerous situations... That shouldn’t be her life.
"I..." The man’s fingers made a sound as he gripped them, each word he uttered was incredibly difficult, "I... will leave!"
He had never let go of something he wanted since he was young.
This was the first time, his fingers were willing to uncurl, even though he longed to grasp on.
Only because, he was worried she wouldn’t be happy.
In the dimly lit room, Gan Yuan’s eyes were already brimming with tears.
She understood him and knew that this strong and proud man never tolerated betrayal. He never let go of things he liked, so this decision must have been unbearably hard for him.
But he was truly letting her go, not because he didn’t love her, but because he loved her far more than he loved himself. He preferred to hurt himself to fulfill her wishes.
"I will arrange for someone... to bring Xiaotang back."