Chapter 77: Heartless
"Hmm?" Yan Ruoxi tilted her head, confused.
"Can we walk around for a while before heading back?" Liang Xiaoluo asked softly. The suffocating atmosphere of the Ye household weighed on her, and the rare opportunity to escape made her reluctant to return too quickly.
Yan Ruoxi thought for a moment, then nodded cheerfully. "Sure, let's go for a stroll."
The two women wandered through a shopping mall, taking their time to browse. Yan Ruoxi, treating Liang Xiaoluo as her own sister, often stopped to buy her small gifts without a second thought.
After some time, worried that Liang Xiaoluo might be tired, Yan Ruoxi suggested they rest at a nearby café.
"You must be exhausted after all that walking," Yan Ruoxi said with concern.
Liang Xiaoluo offered a faint smile but remained quiet, her thoughts heavy with everything that weighed on her heart: her own situation, Ye Tianlin, and… Nan Shaojie.
She stared blankly at the glass of water in front of her, lost in her swirling thoughts, until Yan Ruoxi's surprised voice broke her reverie. "Nan Shaojie?"
The mention of his name startled Liang Xiaoluo. Her pulse quickened, and she looked up at Yan Ruoxi, her expression alarmed. Had her thoughts been so obvious? But she quickly realized that Yan Ruoxi's gaze was fixed on a nearby table.
"Why is Nan Shaojie here?" Yan Ruoxi muttered, puzzled. She had seen him a few times before at social events with Ye Tianqing and remembered him as a cold, detached man.
For the past half-hour, she had felt as though someone was following them. Could it have been him?
But why would a man like Nan Shaojie, so indifferent to the world, be trailing them?
"Sis, I'm not feeling well. Can we leave?" Liang Xiaoluo's voice trembled slightly. She didn't want to face Nan Shaojie. She didn't want to have anything more to do with him.
Yan Ruoxi, sensing her unease, nodded quickly. "Of course. I'll call your brother right now."
As they walked out, Yan Ruoxi dialed Ye Tianqing's number, her arm linked with Liang Xiaoluo's. But just as they passed Nan Shaojie's table, his hand shot out, grabbing Liang Xiaoluo's arm and halting them in their tracks.
Yan Ruoxi froze mid-sentence, her eyes darting between Nan Shaojie and Liang Xiaoluo in confusion.
"Let's talk," Nan Shaojie said, his voice low and hoarse.
Liang Xiaoluo turned slightly, catching a glimpse of his disheveled state. His usually pristine appearance was gone, replaced by a haggard and weary demeanor. The sight of him like this stirred something deep inside her, but she quickly quelled it.
"We don't know each other," she said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion.
Her heart wavered for only a moment before settling into an icy calm. Nan Shaojie was no longer someone she could—or should—care about.
They were strangers now. Strangers on entirely separate paths.
Her words stunned Nan Shaojie. His grip slackened, and his hand fell to his side as if all the strength had drained from his body. His hollow eyes dimmed further.
"Miss Liang, how can you pretend not to know the young master—" Bingya began to protest but was silenced by Nan Shaojie's sharp glare.
Liang Xiaoluo seized the moment to turn and leave. She had only taken a single step when Nan Shaojie's voice stopped her again.
"Do you think you'll be happy with him?"
His question hit her like a stone, forcing her to confront the truth she had been avoiding. Memories of Ye Tianlin's recent behavior—their constant misunderstandings, the pain he had inflicted—flooded her mind.
She already knew the answer.
"No," she wanted to say. But instead, she forced herself to lie. "We'll be very happy."
She refused to let him see her pain. They were from different worlds, and the only connection left between them was a bitter resentment.
Without another glance back, she walked away—firmly, resolutely, leaving no room for him to hope.
Nan Shaojie watched her retreating figure, his heart sinking deeper into despair.
Was this the end for them?
Yan Ruoxi followed Liang Xiaoluo in silence, her steps quickened by worry. After they had walked a considerable distance, Liang Xiaoluo finally slowed down, and Yan Ruoxi matched her pace.
"You don't want to know my history with Nan Shaojie?" Liang Xiaoluo asked abruptly, her voice tinged with bitterness.
Yan Ruoxi smiled gently. "Everyone has a past, Xiaoluo. If it's in the past, let it stay there. There's no need to dig it back up."
Liang Xiaoluo was struck by Yan Ruoxi's serene outlook. It felt detached but also deeply empathetic. Yet, beneath that calm facade, Liang Xiaoluo sensed a profound sadness in her.
She opened her mouth to ask, but the words died on her lips. Perhaps Yan Ruoxi was right. Everyone had their own burdens to carry, and it was better not to pry.
As the two women walked in contemplative silence, a familiar voice called out to them. "Ruoxi, Xiaoluo!"
They turned to see Ye Tianqing jogging toward them.
"Here you are," Yan Ruoxi greeted him with a warm smile.
But Ye Tianqing's gaze immediately sought Liang Xiaoluo. "Are you all right? On the phone, it sounded like something was wrong. What happened?"
Caught off guard, Liang Xiaoluo didn't know how to respond.
Yan Ruoxi stepped in smoothly, her voice light. "Nothing serious. A child nearly bumped into Xiaoluo earlier, and it startled me, that's all. I hung up in a bit of a panic."
Relieved, Ye Tianqing nodded. "I'm glad it wasn't anything major. Let me drive you home."
"Of course."
As they walked to the car, Ye Tianqing's attention remained on Liang Xiaoluo, his concern for her evident. Yan Ruoxi, as always, maintained her composure, though her heart ached silently.
She had long learned to bury her pain beneath a facade of understanding. After all, she was a woman who brought no trouble to her husband.
Once they reached the Ye family home, Yan Ruoxi stopped Ye Tianqing at the door. "Wait. I need to speak with you."
Turning to Liang Xiaoluo, she smiled apologetically. "Xiaoluo, go ahead. I'll join you in a moment."
Oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, Liang Xiaoluo nodded and entered the house.
Only when she was out of sight did Ye Tianqing realize how closely he had been watching her. He turned to Yan Ruoxi, ready to explain, but she interrupted him with a smile.
"Xiaoluo is a kind and beautiful person," she said softly. "It's no wonder anyone would be drawn to her. I like her too."
"Ruoxi…" His voice faltered, thick with guilt.
Her smile never wavered. "You love her."
Ye Tianqing froze, his breath caught in his throat.
Before he could deny it, she continued, "I do too. That's why we need to protect her and make sure she never gets hurt."
"Ruoxi…" He didn't know what to say.
"By the way," she said, changing the subject abruptly, "there's something I need to tell you. About Xiaoluo's checkup today."