He leaned close, his breath warm against my ear. “Even if I carve out someone’s heart, it’s to win a smile from my beauty.”
I laughed. “Go on, I’m not a seductress.”
“Thankfully you’re not.”
I thought I wasn’t Su Daji, and Ye Zhengchen wouldn’t be a cruel King Zhou. I underestimated him. For me, he would “carve out” someone’s heart – Yin Zhongtian’s.
Near dusk, I received a call from Yin Zhongtian. He wanted to meet under the old elm tree, his tone unusually calm. I was somewhat excited and arrived breathless.
The old elm tree’s leaves were mostly fallen. The withered vine and tree created a melancholic autumn atmosphere.
Yin Zhongtian stood under the tree, impeccably dressed, but his expression showed the pain in his eyes. As I got out of the car, he walked towards me, studying my face. I had let my hair down to cover the wound on my forehead. The swelling had subsided, leaving only faint purple marks I covered with powder.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked.
I touched my forehead and forced a smile. “No, it doesn’t. I know you didn’t really hit me…”
He clenched and then released his hands. “Do you really love him?”
I lowered my head, recalling how Yin Zhongtian loved to sit here, sharing his life plans and ideals. I once thought he was the most remarkable man, but now I saw the distance between ideals and reality.
“Let’s break up!” He said urgently, as if afraid he couldn’t say it again.
I nodded, unable to respond, and nodded again heavily. “Xiao Bing, I know being with him is what will make you happy.”
Yin Zhongtian’s last sentence left me stunned. He walked away before I could react. I had betrayed him, and his anger was reasonable, as was his decision to end things. Yet, why did his last sentence feel like a sacrifice or blessing? His calm reaction was bewildering; he seemed to have let go of all resentment and anger overnight. This didn’t make sense unless Ye Zhengchen had said something to him.
I called Ye Zhengchen to ask if he had met with Yin Zhongtian. A friend answered, saying Ye Zhengchen was busy in Beijing but would come to Nanzhou to see me later.
