Ten years ago,
"If you're so stubborn, how about you listen to Wu Zhaoyi himself?"
Tang Jinjing's teasing voice heard with her sardonic smile as if her patience had run out trying to advise Shanshan.
"What do you mean?" Shanshan asked to make sure what plan was really in the girl's head.
"The plane carrying Wu Zhaoyi and his mother will arrive tonight," Tang Jinjing began to give Shanshan hints. "Why don't you ask him yourself, who does he choose?"
Shanshan frowned, did Tang Jinjing mean for her to ask Wu Zhaoyi, who does he choose between her and his mother?
Tang Jinjing shook her head, as if she could read Shanshan's mind. "Ask him, who does he choose between him or you?" she said finally, "Luo Xieshan, run while you still can."
And so the plan was finally carried out, where Shanshan stood in front of Wu Zhaoyi's apartment when the taxi carrying the man and his mother stopped in the lobby. Although the sky was already dark and the surroundings were quiet, the garden lights installed around the area were enough to illuminate anyone who was there. Including Wu Zhaoyi who was carrying his mother and was about to go inside, but it turned out that the corner of his eye managed to catch a familiar figure standing not far away, wearing a black jacket.
"Shanshan?" Wu Zhaoyi muttered when their gazes met.
As if curious about who her son was looking at, Wu Zhaoyi's mother who was beside him interrupted. "Do you know her, Ayi?"
Then as if realizing the unexpected situation that was happening there, Wu Zhaoyi faced his mother and said. "Mom, go upstairs first. I have something to take care of."
As if understanding the meaning of her son's words, the mother nodded once then glanced at the girl for a moment before entering the lobby. When his mother's shadow was no longer visible there, Wu Zhaoyi immediately walked towards Shanshan and held one of the girl's hands, pulling her to another quieter area.
"What happened?" Wu Zhaoyi asked when they were in the middle of the park, with no one there.
Shanshan heard Wu Zhaoyi's worried and anxious voice, at that time she couldn't help but wonder, did all that happen because Wu Zhaoyi was worried about her or because the man's mother had seen Shanshan? Now after hearing Tang Jinjing's explanation, all doubts arose in Shanshan about Wu Zhaoyi's actions, no matter how small. Especially when she saw for herself a ring circling the ring finger on the man's left hand, which was now holding Shanshan's hand.
It seemed that this time what Tang Jinjing said was right, even her advice seemed very relevant and reasonable according to the current situation, run away while you still can. But unfortunately, rather than running away, Shanshan chose to face it first before finally deciding to go. It all started from the bitter reality that would come out of Wu Zhaoyi's mouth that night, whether he was the man Shanshan had known all this time or he was Wu Zhaoxing's older brother.
"I met Tang Jinjing at your apartment." Shanshan said directly without any preamble, "Maybe your mother is meeting her upstairs now."
Shanshan's distant voice made Wu Zhaoyi know right away something was wrong. "What did she say?"
The girl raised her head and their eyes met. Compared to Wu Zhaoyi who looked a little scared, Shanshan looked much calmer and more relaxed. It was as if she had already guessed what kind of response Wu Zhaoyi would give.
"Which one do you want to hear first?" Shanshan asked in a slightly challenging tone, "About your engagement with Tang Jinjing, after the competition in Japan is over?"
Wu Zhaoyi's eyes widened, not expecting the news to reach Shanshan's so quickly. "Or about you being Wu Zhaoxing's older brother?" This time her voice sounded a little cold, "Or about you lying to me all this time?"
Wu Zhaoyi sighed in his heart, not expecting Tang Jinjing to reveal everything to Shanshan in just one meeting. When the cards were already exposed, what could he do but confess? Because he felt that he could not lie to the girl anymore, for some reason his heart also felt very painful when he did that.
"I don't think I need to repeat what Tang Jinjing told you. Because, I'm sure she has told you everything honestly and according to the facts." Wu Zhaoyi slowly let go of his hand that was holding Shanshan.
"There is no defense for what you have done to me?"
Shanshan tried to control her emotions, she had never felt so disappointed with someone like this, especially herself. Wu Zhaoyi had ruined her life, as well as her feelings until they were destroyed. This was the side of Wu Zhaoyi that she had never seen and known, which she would never forgive.
"I won't apologize to you either." The eyes that stared intently at Shanshan, previously always looked at her with care and love.
The girl sighed softly, "Then, you don't feel guilty towards me at all, Wu Zhaoyi?"
The man just looked at Shanshan with a blank expression as usual. "I've achieved my goal, so shouldn't I be happy now?"
That was what Wu Zhaoyi always said over and over again in his heart. When he managed to break Shanshan's heart, shouldn't he be happier. Wasn't that his main goal? However, why was it that when it was all over, he became even sadder and emptier than before?
"Your goal is to ruin Luo Xieshan's life?"
Shanshan's eyebrows raised, not expecting their conversation to be this intense. It should be like usual when she handled a problem, then Shanshan would only ask the person she was talking to at most three questions. Then she would withdraw and never appear in front of that person again, no matter what happened.
However, this time it felt different when she was facing Wu Zhaoyi. Why did she seem to be giving him a chance to defend himself? When Shanshan seemed to still hope that what Tang Jinjing said would be different from what Wu Zhaoyi said.
"When you can still breathe like this and achieve your dreams, my sister is already out of breath and alone in that cold ocean."
Wu Zhaoyi's words unconsciously made a smirk appear on Shanshan's lips, "Achieving my dream?"
That's right, Wu Zhaoyi still doesn't know because Shanshan hasn't told him about the wound on her back that has taken away her dream of becoming a professional swimmer. In fact, compared to Wu Zhaoxing's current condition, she is no different. Besides, Shanshan can still breathe now, because her dream that she has been desperately pursuing has just disappeared.
However, even so, seeing their situation like this, there is no point in Shanshan telling Wu Zhaoyi. Because, it only adds to the man's happiness, while for her, it will only deepen her grudge against him. Plus, Shanshan is hesitant to tell Wu Zhaoyi about the news of her pregnancy, because she doesn't know what the man might do to this child and herself.
"If I beg you, will you stay?"
Shanshan's desperate voice was heard. Which made Wu Zhaoyi's gaze melt. As if only those words could make Wu Zhaoyi change into the figure that Shanshan always saw.
Without them realizing, the rain slowly fell, wetting the ground, including the two people who were also there. However, in the midst of the increasingly heavy rain, the two people did not move from their places at all and instead they continued to stare at each other like that. At that moment, Shanshan knew what answer Wu Zhaoyi would give even though she knelt at his feet.
"I'm sorry Wu Zhaoyi, for what I've done to you, Xingxing, and your family." Shanshan finally said, "Thank you also for everything you've done to me."
Shanshan took a deep breath before saying her last words, "I will never appear in front of you again."
That's the least Shanshan can do for herself and the child, a new life that will accompany her into the next phase of her life. No matter what happens in the future, Wu Zhaoyi will never be in that part of Shanshan's life anymore. However, even though Shanshan was disappointed with the man, another thing she was grateful for was the child he left behind with her.
When all you want to do is reminisce about old wounds, distract yourself by imagining a beautiful and limitless future. Do this until the pain subsides and your heart calms down a little. One day, you'll be at the place you always wanted to be.
Because Xiu Xingxing will bring another light into her life and Shanshan will do anything to make the girl's future as bright as the stars in the night sky. However, the thing that Shanshan always forgets is, because life itself is full of mysteries, no one knows what will happen in the future. Which maybe when the time comes, the star will also help reveal another truth in the past once again, then makes Shanshan and Wu Zhaoyi realize everything that has happened is finally worth it.
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