A rare, complicated expression appeared on Lu Zihao's face.
"Jinjing, I—"
Long Jinjing forced herself to smile before shaking her head. "No need to explain yourself. I already know that you don't…l-love me. It's okay, Nikolai. Really."
His expression became even more complicated. He opened his mouth but no words came out so he just shut it again.
She looked away and avoided his gaze while doing her best to blink away her unshed tears before they fell without her control.
"If you're uncomfortable with me saying that I love you, I'll stop." Her whisper blended with the cold wind but she knew that he could hear her. "I won't say it out loud anymore. It's just that…I can't…I c-can't help it. I really do love you, Nikolai."
He sighed. A heavy feeling was pressing within his chest. It was so damn uncomfortable, but he had no idea how to deal with it, or how to deal with her, and this entire situation between the two of them.