Chu Xia changed her tone into a more relaxed tone. "Zhiyin, we have not met for a long time. I did not say these to hit you on purpose. I only wanted you to know that a man like Ji Liunian would never love you. Even I feel I'm not good enough for him, much less you. If I were you, I'd find a man to marry. You're a good girl. As long as you do not have high expectations, finding a hardworking and motivated man shouldn't be a problem."
"Enough!" Xu Zhiyin clenched her teeth and interrupted Chu Xia.
Although Chu Xia said it was for her sake, these words were humiliation for Xu Zhiyin.
Did it mean only Chu Xia was worth Ji Liunian's love? She, on the other hand, could only find an ordinary man?
Did it mean she had no right to like Ji Liunian?
Even if this was the case, she still liked Ji Liunian!
She didn't like him for his family background, and didn't only like him because he was outstanding but she just liked him…
She had put in lots of effort for him. Wasn't this enough?
Reality really mocked her sometimes.
No matter what Chu Xia did, Ji Liunian still liked her but she…
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't have a place in Ji Liunian's heart.
Chu Xia loosened her grip and said helplessly, "Alright, I'll stop here. You are always like this, you always refuse to listen to the truth."
Xu Zhiyin's last bit of rationality was gone.
She retorted unwillingly, "Chu Xia, it has been three years and you still look down upon me like last time."
Chu Xia raised her brows disapprovingly, "Really? I've not seen how different you are now than three years ago too."
"I'm not as useless as you think." At least, she had a stable job. At least, her reputation was not bad like Chu Xia.
Chu Xia laughed. "Whether you are useful or not is not for you to say. If you think what I said just now wasn't true, go get yourself a man as good as Ji Liunian and see which man would like you."
"You…" This was constraining her to do something beyond her ability.
Any ordinary man would not marry a divorcee, what more an outstanding man like Ji Liunian?
Chu Xia saw Xu Zhiyin's hesitance and provoked, "Weren't you very confident just now? Why? Can't take this?"
Chu Xia knew it was impossible for Xu Zhiyin to find a man as outstanding as Ji Liunian. That was why she had irritated her on purpose.
Xu Zhiyin didn't want to be looked down upon by her and said in a rash, "On account of what you said, I will find a man as good as Ji Liunian to shut you up!"
Xu Zhiyin was very furious. She didn't know why but every time she was with Chu Xia, she couldn't help but act rashly.
In this world, she could not find a second person like Chu Xia who could make her this angry.
Chu Xia was like a wall in her life, overbearing and strong, which blocked her sunlight.
Since young, her existence served as a foil to Chu Xia and brought out her perfection.
Was it true that as long as the woman was pretty, she could be self-willed and waste the doting of a man? Was it true that a woman who wasn't that pretty, no matter how hard she tried, would have futile efforts?
Chu Xia heard what Xu Zhiyin said and smirked, "Are you serious?"
Xu Zhiyin knew she wouldn't be able to find someone but when she saw Chu Xia looking at her in disbelief, she clenched her fists. "Yes! One day, I'll make you eat your words."
"Huh, I'll wait."
Chu Xia found a couch and sat down leisurely without the intention to leave. Xu Zhiyin wished to chase her away but after some thought, realized she had no more right to do so.
She took a few sets of clothes and left the bedroom. The minute she walked out, she saw Ji Liunian.
Ji Liunian looked at her and his eyes were filled with guilt, "You saw Chu Xia?"
Xu Zhiyin stood in front of Ji Liunian. Facing the man she secretly loved for so long, she felt too insignificant. She lowered her head and murmured, "I didn't expect to see Chu Xia here."
"She came over last night. It was too late, so I asked her to stay here for a night. Your mother is here, so I didn't allow her to go down." If Madam Xu were to see Chu Xia, she definitely wouldn't let Chu Xia off easily.
Although Chu Xia was a treasure to Ji Liunian, she was someone everyone detested in the Xu family. Even Chu Xia's parents had disowned her as their daughter.
It was because she had eloped with a man three years ago.
Xu Zhiyin nodded. "I know. I won't tell my mother. However, I never thought you would let her stay in so quickly."
She was initially angry but when she was in front of Ji Liunian, she had no courage to blame him.
Ji Liunian looked at Xu Zhiyin and a sense of guilt gushed up as he explained, "She is only temporarily staying here. I'm sorry if you're not happy."
"You don't have to apologize. It's all my fault. I shouldn't come back here." Xu Zhiyin lowered her head and took her luggage downstairs. If she did not see her mother in time, her tears would have dropped.
It was too painful!
The deepest wound was never given by one's enemy but by the person one trusted the most.
Madam Xu saw Xu Zhiyin come down with her luggage. She snapped, "Are you planning to leave with your things packed?"
"Yes, we have divorced. I should leave this place." Xu Zhiyin never wanted to complicate things. She was afraid to add more to Ji Liunian's plate or put him in a difficult position.
This was how loving a person would be, to think for his sake. However, he would never understand how much she loved him…
Madam Xu looked at her daughter who had submitted to defeat without putting up a fight. "If someone must leave, it should be Liunian. Both of you had been married for three years. This house should belong to you!"
Xu Zhiyin raised her head to look at her mother, "It's only a house. Do you think this is more important than your daughter's pride?"
"You have divorced. Do you still need your pride? You're a divorced woman. Who do you think would still want you?"
"..."
Xu Zhiyin carried her things and walked forward, terribly upset. She didn't wish to argue with her mother.
Although she had divorced, she didn't request for anything from Ji Liunian. No matter how much he gave her, they were all not what she wanted. What she really wanted was something he could never give her.
Coming out of the Ji family, Xu Zhiyin accompanied her mother for a meal. Throughout the meal, Madam Xu kept reasoning with her, trying to tell her not to divorce Ji Liunian.
The sun shining in through the window was warm and the moment was quiet and peaceful.
Xu Zhiyin looked at her mother sitting in front of her but did not utter a single word.
At the peak of her sadness, her mother did not help her forget the past but kept tearing her wound.
Although she understood that her mother did not want her to become a divorcee from now on, no matter the reason, divorce was something that would cause her loss of value.