Hua sat nervously at the café, her fingers tapping the edge of her coffee cup as she waited. Zihan had arranged the meeting, assuring her that it was time to face Ming and hear what he had to say. Hua's heart was heavy with mixed emotions—part of her wanted to see him, to understand what had happened, while another part still feared being hurt again.
The door of the café swung open, and there he was—Ming. He stepped inside, looking around until his eyes locked on hers. His expression softened as he saw Hua sitting by the window, the sunlight casting a gentle glow on her face. He walked over slowly, almost hesitant, as if he was afraid to break the fragile moment.
"Hua…" Ming's voice was soft, filled with both relief and guilt. He sat down across from her, his eyes never leaving hers.
Hua swallowed hard, her heart racing as she finally faced the man who had been both her greatest joy and deepest heartbreak. "Ming."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy, loaded with everything unsaid, with the pain they had both endured. Finally, Ming broke the silence.
"I've been looking for you," he admitted, his voice filled with sincerity. "For months. I've made so many mistakes, Hua. I hurt you, and I don't know if you can ever forgive me, but I need you to know... I never stopped caring about you."
Hua's eyes softened, though the hurt was still there. "You disappeared, Ming. You left me, and then I saw you with Xueyao. I felt like you had forgotten everything we had."
Ming looked down, ashamed. "Xueyao... she manipulated me, Hua. She made me forget everything about you. I don't know how to explain it, but after she left, my memories of us started coming back. Every day I've been remembering more, and every day I realized how much I messed up. I'm sorry. I never should have let her come between us."
Hua's throat tightened, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. She had waited so long to hear him say this, but now that the moment had arrived, she wasn't sure how to feel.
"Ming, I tried to move on. I went to Japan, I focused on my work, but I couldn't forget you. You were always there, in the back of my mind."
"I don't want you to forget me," Ming said softly, his gaze intense. "I want to make things right, Hua. I know I don't deserve it, but... I want to stay by your side. I want to fight for us, for you. Please, give me one more chance."
Hua's heart pounded in her chest. She had imagined this moment so many times, but now that it was real, she didn't know what to say. She wanted to forgive him, but the hurt was still fresh. Could she trust him again?
"Ming, I don't know if things can go back to the way they were," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But... I can't deny that I still care about you."
Ming reached across the table and took her hand in his. His touch was warm, familiar, and for the first time in months, Hua felt the walls around her heart begin to crumble.
"I'm not asking for things to be like before," Ming said gently. "I just want to start again, with you. I'll earn your trust back, Hua. I won't let you down this time."
Hua looked into his eyes, searching for the truth in his words. She saw the sincerity there, the regret, and something deeper—something that had never faded, despite everything that had happened between them. Love.
Slowly, she nodded, her heart pounding with hope and fear in equal measure. "Okay, Ming. Let's start over."
Ming's face lit up with relief, a smile spreading across his lips. He squeezed her hand gently, and for the first time in a long time, Hua felt a sense of peace wash over her. Maybe this was the beginning of something new, something better. Maybe this time, they could finally get it right.
"I won't let you down," Ming promised, his voice filled with determination. "This time, I'm staying by your side. Always."
Hua smiled softly, her heart warming at his words. For the first time in months, she allowed herself to believe in a future with Ming. A future where they could heal, grow, and love each other without the shadows of the past hanging over them.
As they sat there, hands intertwined, Hua realized that this was more than just a new beginning—it was a chance for both of them to finally find the happiness they had been searching for.
And this time, she knew that Ming wasn't going anywhere.