Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed-Chapter 360 - 159: Saving the Country through Indirect Means; Assistance from the Mother-in-Law_2

Chapter 360: Chapter 159: Saving the Country through Indirect Means; Assistance from the Mother-in-Law_2

As for her and Li Yuan, she didn’t even dare to post about them on her social media...

What right do I have to ask Li Yuan to choose, to make him give up Bai Weixi? That wouldn’t be fair to Bai Weixi either.

"Li Yuan," Zhong Tingyue murmured, her eyes lifeless, "it would have been so much better if I’d never met you on that first day of school."

"There would be no joy, no deep love, no heartbreak, no betrayal, no sorrow, and no despair..."

Seeing Zhong Tingyue so heartbroken and despondent, Li Yuan no longer cared that he was in her home. He steeled his heart and pulled her into his embrace.

Zhong Tingyue struggled for only a moment before letting him hold her. Her body curled up in his arms, trembling.

This is probably the last time in my life I’ll ever be held in Li Yuan’s arms.

「...」

In the bedroom, Gu Lanxin watched the silhouettes on the balcony with mixed feelings. The gift Li Yuan had given her lay open on the table before her. She could empathize with her daughter’s heartbreak. Years ago, after learning the truth, she herself had despaired for a time before finally compromising. She had returned to Zhong Tingyue’s father and had been with him ever since.

But my daughter is much prouder than I am. Will she compromise, or will she choose to give up completely?

She didn’t know, and she couldn’t make the decision for her daughter.

Gu Lanxin sighed internally. Ah, Little Moon, as someone who has been through it, I can only share my experiences with you. Whatever you choose, I will support you. Li Yuan is outstanding in every way, but the more outstanding a man is, the harder he is for a woman to hold onto. In this world, how many things can ever be perfect...?

「...」

Zhong Tingyue cried herself to sleep in Li Yuan’s arms. She was utterly exhausted, having gone more than twenty-four hours without a wink of sleep. Li Yuan gently stroked her head without saying a word, simply letting time slip by.

What am I supposed to say right now? Should I tell her I’m willing to give up Bai Weixi and choose to be with her? If I said that, Zhong Tingyue might choose to forgive me. But what about Xia Zhijin? She’s innocent in all of this. We’re both at the same university. All Zhong Tingyue would have to do is ask around the freshman computer science department, and she’d find out about my relationship with Xia Zhijin. At that point, another deception would be what pushes her into true despair. Any promises or guarantees I make now are meaningless, unless I cut off contact with every other girl and choose only Zhong Tingyue. But can I really do that? I can’t. So, saying anything more is pointless. Any lie I weave will be torn apart sooner or later. It all comes down to whether Zhong Tingyue can come to terms with this herself—either accept this reality or choose to leave. There’s nothing I can do. I’ve long foreseen this day, this outcome, yet I’m still powerless. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Li Yuan lamented internally, It would be so much easier if I were a true scumbag who only thinks with his lower body. Falling in love isn’t like ordering fast food, especially when it’s with perfect, unique girls like Zhong Tingyue and Xia Zhijin. The purer and more flawless a sheet of paper, the deeper the first brushstroke...

Zhong Tingyue awoke over an hour later. She broke free from Li Yuan’s embrace, her gaze cold as she looked at him. "Li Yuan, you should go," she said faintly.

Li Yuan asked, "What about you? Are you coming back to school with me?"

Zhong Tingyue shook her head. "I want to go back by myself."

"I’m worried," Li Yuan said earnestly. "Come back to Modu with me."

"Li Yuan, can you please just leave me alone for a while?" Zhong Tingyue looked at him and said calmly, "Give me some time to rethink our relationship."

This kind of rethinking always ends in a breakup, but I can’t make any promises right now, Li Yuan understood.

"Little Moon, I still owe you a song. I’ve written it. I’ll sing it for you when you get back to school."

Zhong Tingyue’s eyes suddenly lit up. She gave Li Yuan a surprised look, not expecting that he had actually remembered what she had said that day. A flicker of emotion sparked in her heart, but she ruthlessly extinguished it, afraid she would grow soft.

She just gave a soft "mhm" in reply.

That’s all I needed, Li Yuan thought. As long as she’s willing to stay in contact, anything is still possible. Given enough time, maybe she’ll come to accept this arrangement.

"Little Moon, it’s already noon. Let’s have lunch together."

Zhong Tingyue was about to refuse when Li Yuan spoke again.

"It’s my first time in Sucheng, my first time at your home. Let me treat you and your aunt to lunch before I leave."

"Mhm." Zhong Tingyue nodded again.

Li Yuan helped Zhong Tingyue to her feet, and they walked into the living room.

Gu Lanxin also came out of the bedroom. She looked at her daughter’s expression. Compared to before Li Yuan’s arrival, her heartbroken despair was now overlaid with a calm coldness.

Her heart sank. Did Li Yuan and my daughter have a complete falling out? Did the relationship not only fail to recover but actually get worse? That can’t be right. Li Yuan drove all the way from Modu and even brought gifts. Couldn’t he have said a few nice things to coax her? A few sweet words might have made Little Moon feel better, and with time, she might have softened.

However, having accepted Li Yuan’s very satisfactory gift, Gu Lanxin felt obligated to smooth things over. She smiled and said, "Little Moon, Li Yuan, it’s noon. Let’s have lunch first."