He was in so much pain. Not only was his face flushed and throbbing, but also his heart. Besides the hard slap inflicting extreme pain on his face, it also caused pain in his heart and instantly brought him into a memory that had once faded away.
He felt his heart was like a glass that had just been wracked with a hammer, shattering and scattering on the ground. He couldn't even put all the pieces of his heart together anymore.
However, it made him realize that he still had the heart to feel pain and sympathy as well.
Ai Zhiyi had thought of himself as a heartless person for a long time. Since Chu Weixu and Ai Zhiyi considered their relationship to be true, he didn't care about the opinion of their family. Even when Chu Weixu's mother said that their relationship was bad luck, Ai Zhiyi didn't mind experiencing bad luck with Chu Weixu. When he was with him, he thought foolishly that everything would be all right.
At that period, he even felt pleased when he chose to leave with Chu Weixu. Even though he cried and felt sad as he had to leave his parents, it didn't last long, and gradually he came to terms with the agony.
Even though Ai Zhiyi was still seventeen at the time and Chu Weixu was eighteen, Ai Zhiyi innocently said that he didn't mind being with Chu Weixu, even if they had to sleep on the street.
However, he had no regrets, even up to this moment. The only thing he regretted was ignoring his parents.
When his parents wanted to bring Ai Zhiyi home, Ai Zhiyi yelled at them like a child who didn't know his place. He regretted his act, and now it was hard for him to have a good relationship with them.
Now, as soon as Ai Zhiyi heard Chu Xinian's words, which hit his heart even more, he realized that he had to start over again.
He loved Chu Weixu as much as he loved his family, so cutting ties with his family was like cutting ties with Chu Weixu whom he loved.
Ai Zhiyi smiled weakly. He felt sorry that he had to realize it now after all the years he had passed without any regrets.
If only Chu Xinian had smacked him on the face from the first time they met, he would possibly be able to persuade Chu Weixu to come back and makeup with their family.
Yet, Ai Zhiyi didn't want to say that it was too late to fix it. As long as he hadn't tried it, then he would never know the result.
In long silence, Chu Xinian finally removed her hand from Ai Zhiyi's face, and then asked impatiently, "So, what's your decision now? When are you going to see your family?"
Ai Zhiyi wiped his tears. He realized that this pain didn't come from the ache on his face but from his heartache. He smiled and answered in a hoarse voice, "Inevitably, I have to keep saying this to Weixu ...."
"Tch!" Chu Xinian was heard irritated. She looked disgusted on her face.
Ai Zhiyi didn't pay much attention to her and continued, "But, I've decided to go anyway even if Weixu didn't agree with me."
Hearing the words, Chu Xinian immediately felt satisfied. Her face looked more relaxed than before. Then, she patted Ai Zhiyi's shoulder as she spoke, "Good boy. This is exactly what you should be doing."
Chu Xinian was feeling guilty, only, she refused to apologize, so she tried to provide understanding by saying, "Zhiyi, look, Weixu truly loves you. Even though he said 'he hates you', he doesn't hate you. He will never leave you even if you make a mistake."
Chu Xinian let out a sigh of relief. She then started the car engine and immediately pressed the gas pedal with her foot.
When they had already exited the parking lot and headed for the Highway, Chu Xinian continued her words, "You think if he needs to choose, do you think that Weixu will choose his family? Do you think that he regrets it? Weixu has no heart for such a thing. And, do you know why?"
Ai Zhiyi turned his head to Chu Xinian with eyes expecting an answer.
Chu Xinian was silent for a few seconds, then smiled wryly. She answered seriously, "It's because he loves you so bad. He left us; his patent rights; everything that could guarantee his future life, and chose to be destitute with you. Also, don't forget that he has become a criminal just to not make you suffer materially while with him. Do you still doubt all that stuff? "
Ai Zhiyi was stunned for a moment. He never doubted any of these things. No — not even this second.
He knew that Chu Weixu loved him so badly, and it was something that had made him stand for many years even though he had to endure the burdens of their journey.
He replied, still with a weak smile on his face, "I never felt any doubts. I also always believe in him. Even with Xiao Chu's presence, I still believe him, and my feelings have never changed for him."
Hearing the words, Chu Xinian smiled faintly.
However, a few moments later, she spoke again with words that sounded more serious than before, and seemed cold and deep, pricking to the depth of Ai Zhiyi's heart.
"Zhiyi, don't ever leave Weixu. If you dare to leave him, I'll never forgive you. Even if he left our Family, Weixu is still my biological brother. I do love him, okay? That's why I don't mind your relationship because I don't want to get in the way of his happiness. He dared to go this far because of you. You're the only reason he wants to do something as stupid as that. So, I beg you, take care of him and make him happy."
Recalling the past, Chu Xinian felt her eyes start to sting and burn, and then a single tear rolled down her face slowly, past her cheek, and fell slowly right over her delicate pink lips. There was a salty taste that he tasted, then gradually turned bitter in his throat. She continued with a slightly trembling voice, "I know that his life is arduous. But, what should I do, when he didn't want to see me again?"
Ai Zhiyi smiled. "No. Sister Nian, you've even helped us all this time. You've already freed us from the Chu Family; you've already done your defense so Weixu doesn't have to stay in prison for five years; you also helped us enough by regularly administering medicine for him. If it weren't for you, I don't know if our fate would be as good as it is now or even worse."
Chu Xinian chuckled softly at Ai Zhiyi's words. "It wasn't a favor. I did all that because I felt like I had to. Weixu is my little brother, and you are weixu's lover. How could I possibly let all that happen to you?"