Yun Lei looked down at their hands, feeling a mix of gratitude and despair. “Sometimes, I wonder if it’s worth it to try again. What if I fail once more?”
“You’ll never know unless you try,” Chu Yue encouraged softly. “You deserve happiness, and so does your family. Fighting for them is worth it.”
Yun Lei nodded slowly, taking in her friend’s words. “You’re right. I just need to find the strength to confront my past and seek forgiveness.”
Chu Yue smiled gently, “And I’ll be right here, supporting you every step of the way.”
You said life is long, we can’t always live in memories! These were your words to me, so why are you now the one who can’t move on…”
Yun Lei took a deep breath, “No, I want to speak, I want to say everything in my heart!” Her face was calm, so calm that Chu Yue felt like she was telling someone else’s story. “After being abandoned by love, I reflected, but I didn’t realize my true mistakes. So, I continued a crazy, decadent life – bars, casual encounters, one-night stands, and finally conceived a child who shouldn’t have come into this world! I was so selfish, thinking life was too lonely and a child would be good company, but I never considered how this child would face his incomplete life. How much ridicule would he endure? How much courage would he need to accept being a bastard? I never thought about these things. I’m not a qualified mother and have no right to be one! Because I can’t give my child a beautiful, complete future, heaven took him away! These days, I’ve been summarizing my path, my mistakes, my actions. I finally realized I’m such an irresponsible person! Irresponsible to love, to parents, to children, to life! I’m so selfish, always wanting what I want, never considering how my actions would affect and hurt others! My life has been such a failure, such a failure…”
This long speech and deep self-analysis profoundly shocked Chu Yue. She stared blankly, unable to speak.
Her heart was like a super typhoon had just passed, stirring up towering waves that couldn’t calm down.
After finishing, Yun Lei seemed to have shed a thousand-pound burden, taking a long, deep breath. She turned to look seriously at Chu Yue, “The only comfort is having you as a friend who has accompanied me, and my parents who ultimately forgave me, and cousin Yunzhi, who never gave up on me! Thank you. Heaven is fair – taking some things from me, but also giving me some…” She sighed softly, looking somewhat tired.
“Okay, Lei Lei,” Chu Yue couldn’t bear to hear more, “You should rest. You haven’t properly rested for so many days…” These days, she had been like a puppet, not speaking, only occasionally softly sobbing in the middle of the night. Yunzhi and Chu Yue had been heartbroken. Now, she finally spoke! Chu Yue could finally relax.
It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken so much, Yun Lei closed her tired eyes and murmured, “Yes, it’s time to rest. I’m so tired, so tired…”
Chu Yue carefully helped her lie down, gently saying, “Get a good night’s sleep. Everything will be better tomorrow!”
A faint smile blossomed at the corner of Yun Lei’s mouth, and then she slowly fell asleep.
Chu Yue looked at her peaceful sleeping expression, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. It seemed she had truly let go. Only those who had resolved their inner conflicts could have such a serene and tranquil sleep.
Lei Lei had let go, but what about herself? She stared blankly, lost in thought.
Heaven Without Sorrow (1)
She lay down beside Yun Lei, eyes fixed on the ceiling, not feeling sleepy at all, her mind in complete disarray. Finally, she got out of bed, put on her coat, grabbed a scarf, and quietly opened the door to leave.
Walking in the small garden of the residential complex, the cold wind cleared her mind. It was late at night, and everyone was asleep. The complex was quiet, with occasional dog barks. She walked slowly on the path with her hands in her pockets, leaves rustling, tree shadows swaying, casting fragmented shadows on her face, her thoughts somewhat dazed.
The temperature in Zhuhai in October wasn’t very low. Wearing a coat, she didn’t feel cold. Unknowingly, she walked out of the complex. The security guard was dozing and didn’t see her.
The road was desolate, with occasional cars passing by. Chu Yue walked slowly, like a ghost. The streetlights stretched her shadow long. Fortunately, Zhuhai’s security was still good. Late at night, a lone woman walking on the main road, nothing happened.
When she realized how far she had walked and stopped, she found herself standing in front of the hotel where Gu Yan Zhi was staying. How did she end up here? She stood there in a daze, motionless, staring at the brightly lit hotel lobby.
On the same night, Chu Yue wasn’t the only one unable to sleep. Gu Yan Zhi was the same.
The TV was playing an engaging plot, but his gaze wasn’t on the screen. He sat askew on the sofa, supporting his chin with one hand, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
An hour ago, he was on a call with Chu Yue when the line suddenly cut off. He vaguely heard Lei Lei’s voice, guessing Chu Yue had been discovered while secretly calling him. After hanging up, he didn’t dare to call back rashly but kept wondering about the situation there. He thought about going over but was afraid of disturbing them.
A “knock knock” at the door pulled him out of his thoughts.
The moment he opened the door, he was stunned. Standing at the door was Chu Yue! “How did you get here?” he was somewhat surprised.
Chu Yue gave him a faint smile, “What, you’re not going to let me in?”
Yan Zhi involuntarily stepped aside.
Yan Zhi’s heart suddenly felt like something had shattered. He painfully closed his eyes, his face turning pale. He knew that Chu Yue would not have said such words without careful consideration, which also meant she was truly willing to let go! At that moment, a complex emotion welled up in his heart – neither purely sour nor bitter, yet seemingly containing all flavors.
He gave a bitter smile, his gaze dimming, “Xiao Yue, I’m sorry…”
Initial Yue raised her face, her eyes glistening with tears, “Yan Zhi, Lei Lei lost her child, I lost you. Why do we keep repeating this tragedy of ‘loss’?”
Yan Zhi was stunned speechless. He stared at her fixedly. She was pale, curled up on the sofa with a dejected look, her thin body trembling uncontrollably. Her expression was full of pain, yet she bit her bloodless lips, controlling her inner anguish.
He looked at her in pain, softly calling, “Xiao Yue, what can I do to reduce the hurt I’ve caused you?”
Her body trembled, slowly lifting her head, then looking at him with a grievous gaze, “Can I have one last embrace?”
His heart broke, and he involuntarily pulled her into his arms.
She clung to him tightly, tears falling continuously. These past days, seeing Lei Lei’s condition, she dared not show any vulnerability in front of her, afraid of adding to her psychological burden. She had been suppressing her emotions, desperately pretending in front of Yun Lei. Now, she could finally release her feelings without restraint, crying uncontrollably.
Yes, truly giving up a deeply passionate love was no easy task! Yan Zhi closed his eyes, his heart in turmoil. He held her tightly, letting her tears soak his chest.
Worried her crying might disturb the neighbors, he discreetly turned up the television volume.
With great difficulty, she finally stopped crying, but her eyes were now swollen and red. He wiped the tear tracks from her eyes, his gaze seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words.
They embraced, feeling each other’s warmth, holding each other tightly, savoring this final moment.
“Lelie!” Chu E let out a sharp scream, her vision went black, and she fainted. The crowd stirred again…
