“I seriously considered it. I can’t be this selfish. I can’t just leave everything behind and run away with you.”


  “Selfish?”


  “Yes. Lin Zhan, I love you, but I’m different from you. I have parents and a younger sister. I’m not willing to marry Lu Beichuan. Because I love you, I was willing to leave with you and suffer hardship with you, but I don’t want my younger sister to take my place in staying in that living hell.”


  Ye Qing looked at the young man before her. Many years later, they would constantly quarrel. They had to be so cautious around each other. It had been exhausting.

  As soon as she saw Lin Zhan, she was reminded of that arduous and mediocre life. In a flash, tears streamed down her face, and she almost couldn’t get the words out because she was crying so much. “Did you know that after I left with you, my parents forced my younger sister to take my place in marrying Lu Beichuan in order to save their company? Lu Beichuan is a comatose person. No one knows if he’ll ever wake up. I really can’t bear to do nothing as my younger sister’s happiness is forfeited. I’m sorry. I can’t be that selfish!”


  Lin Zhan looked at Ye Qing, who was choked up with tears. He pulled her into his arms and tightly hugged her. “Don’t say sorry. I’m the one that should apologize. It’s my fault for being useless. If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have to face this dilemma. It’s because of me that you suffered.”


  The sound of Ye Qing’s crying was muffled. She shook her head. Her voice was choked with emotion as she said, “I’m sorry. I have to go back. I’m the older sister. I can’t sacrifice Ye Zhen’s happiness for my own. Lin Zhan, forget about me. You’ll definitely find someone even better than me in the future.”


  Lin Zhan wiped the tears on her face. “Calm down. We can think of another solution together. There’s definitely another way!”


  “Solution? What solution? The Lu Family is a powerful, rich family. Do you think my younger sister will have a way to escape after marrying a comatose person? She’s my sister, and she’s in a horrible place right now. How can you ask me to enjoy my own happiness with a clear conscience?” Ye Qing shook her head and laughed. “We were too impulsive back then. Lin Zhan, we were too young.”


  “Qingqing, there has to be another way. Actually, the Lu Family and I ……” Lin Zhan trailed off.

  “Lin Zhan, you don’t understand the Lu Family at all. There’s no other possible solution. I have to go back.” Ye Qing sighed. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Acting as if she had made up her mind, she firmly pushed him away and walked to the doorway. Holding onto the handle of the suitcase, she turned to face Lin Zhan, who was motionless on the sofa, and said to him, “I’m leaving. In the future…… Don’t come looking for me.”


  The door slammed shut. The sound resonated throughout the apartment.

  In the living room, a small dim lamp was left on all night. The piercing cold wind blew inside and lifted up the living room’s curtains. In this historical neighborhood that was far from the city, the sound of traffic couldn’t be heard at all. It was so quiet that it felt as if he was the only person left in the world.

  The clock on the wall showed time slowly moving. The ticking from the clock was very audible.

  Lin Zhan took out a ring from his pocket. Under the dim lighting, the shine of the ring was dazzlingly radiant.