Previously, she would compromise herself out of sheer will, convincing herself to ignore potential problems until today, when they erupted, leaving her utterly drained. Now, she just wanted to let go of all suppression and truly be herself. Lin Ge slowly let go, his heart clear yet in pain. Xu Ke was someone who, once decided, would not change her mind, and he knew this well. The actions of his sister and mother had pushed him to a desperate place, where he couldn’t even salvage their relationship, knowing full well the fault lay with his family, yet unable to leave or betray them. Life often forces you to give up things you must abandon.
The streetlights in the alley cast a dim yellow light, elongating the shadows of the two lonely figures. They walked without speaking until they reached the end of the alley where the last bus of the night approached. The bus was almost empty, and they sat quietly in the middle. The journey seemed long, yet in memory, it would only be a fleeting moment.
At the hospital entrance, Xu Ke paused, looking at Lin Ge, her vision slightly blurred. “You should go back. Later, I’ll find another place to live.” Lin Ge hugged her tightly again, slipping his hand into her coat pocket. “Xiao Ke, this is my last dignity. I will never forget you; you are the third person I owe in this world.” Xu Ke hugged him back, tears streaming down, “No, you owe me nothing; I will always be grateful to you. When I was so withdrawn, you gave me courage and confidence.” She let him go, turned around, and quickly walked into the hospital without looking back, afraid of longing, afraid of dependence. After two years of companionship, she was used to his warmth, and the sudden release was both liberating and empty. Letting go of him felt like a new kind of desolation.
By the wall at the hospital entrance, someone stood. Xu Ke was startled and stopped. She thought Yin Wancheng had gone home to rest after she left, but here he was, just leaving. He seemed to have seen everything, his gaze deep and thoughtful, unlike usual. Xu Ke felt a bit awkward and asked softly, “Didn’t you go back to rest?”
