Su Qin drove straight to the Bund with Qin Sheng. Recalling the first day in Shanghai, she accompanied him to the Bund and they walked around hand in hand for two hours. Qin Sheng was so excited and even shouted at the Huangpu River, "Shanghai, I'm here!"
Su Qin did not find it tiring at all. Perhaps it was because she was with the man that she loved the most. Back then, they were filled with eagerness towards life. They thought about their future together and reminisced over an era together. It was a pity that they did not last long.
After the car was parked, the two strolled along the bank of Huangpu River in the Bund. It was a winter night. But no matter how extreme the cold wind was, the Bund was never short of tourists. No one knew how many men came here to chase after their dreams. And no one knew how many lives were changed at this moment.
"I heard Hao Lei say that you went back to Xi'an during New Year's?" The winter wind caused Su Qin's hair to fly, yet it was a pretty mess. She was only wearing a turtleneck sweater and a gray woolen coat. The weather was more or less cold.
Qin Sheng nodded silently. "Yes, Auntie Wang's birthday is on New Year's Day, so Xin Xin and I went back to accompany her."
"Is Auntie Wang's body still okay? How's Uncle Lin? I haven't visited them in a long while." Su Qin lowered her head slightly, tucked her hair and gave a small smile. She had two small charming dimples when she smiled. During high school, countless boys chased after this smile. But all of their efforts could not compare to a simple gaze from Qin Sheng.
Qin Sheng took a deep breath to act natural and casual. He replied, "They're doing well. Thanks for taking care of them when I wasn't there, especially Xin Xin. She told me that you went to visit her often."
"Why are you thanking me? I'm friends with them too; this is what I should do. I also treat Xin Xin as my sister," Su Qin said in a plain voice.
Qin Sheng smiled bitterly. "No matter what, I still want to thank you."
"If you really want to thank me, you can treat me to a meal next time," said Su Qin with a feminine smile. She still could not let go of Qin Sheng. If she did, not bothering him would be the best way for them to get along. But their relationship spanned across six years, the word 'let go' is made up of only 11 strokes. How easy could it be?
Qin Sheng promised right away. "No problem, you can choose anything you want to eat."
"I thought you would reject me," Su Qin said in surprise.
Qin Sheng found it funny. "Why would I reject you? There are countless men who want to take you to dinner. I am beyond honored."
"Don't say that, I don't like it," Su Qin said with a little anger in her tone. If other men said that, she would not have felt anything. But the man standing in front of her was Qin Sheng. She used to be his ultimate close lover, they did everything together. He said that on purpose to lengthen the distance between them.
Qin Sheng did not notice at all. He said it subconsciously. He quickly apologized. "Sorry."
"Qin Sheng, I feel that you're always avoiding me and you're not willing to face me. Or do you still feel hatred towards me, for breaking up with you back then?" Su Qin asked. Today, she went to find him because she wanted to clear many things up.
Qin Sheng shook his head and said, "No, why would I hate you? It's all in the past. I accept all the things that have happened wholeheartedly. You have your life and I don't want to disturb your peaceful life with my appearance."
"Haha, is that so?" Su Qin smiled bitterly, "But your appearance has already disrupted my life. Qin Sheng, I regret my rash decision back then. I regret that I wasn't by your side when you needed me the most. I always think about this and have always been blaming myself. For the past two years, I was always looking for you, but I hear nothing about you. Do you know how much I miss you, Qin Sheng?"
As she spoke to the end of the sentence, her eyes were already red. Yes, she could not forget Qin Sheng, she really couldn't. They were together for six years. If she could forget him, she would not have been single for the past two years. She would have been married and gave birth to children, since there were many people chasing after her.
"Su Qin, stop saying those things. You are a good girl, I thank God for letting me have you once," Qin Sheng said sincerely.
Su Qin was stubborn. "I want to ask you, have you thought of me in the past two years?"
"Yes I did. Initially, I could not stop thinking about you. But I tell myself that we've already broken up. You deserve to have your own happiness and my road ahead has just begun. I don't know what lies ahead. So I tell myself, let her go," Qin Sheng replied honestly. People are not God, who could forget a woman that he had loved for six years so easily?
But time is a medicine that can heal all things. No matter how unforgettable the relationship, it will all be erased by time eventually and fade away slowly.
"So you let go just like that?" Su Qin felt her heart ache as she asked.
Qin Sheng did not know what to say. He did not want to hurt her feelings. After all, he had loved her deeply before. Even seeing her shed a tear pained his heart.
"I got it," Su Qin gritted her teeth and said. Qin Sheng's silence was the answer. However, she was unwilling to give up just like that. She lay aside her pride and said, "But I can't, why can't I just let go? Qin Sheng, I still love you deeply. I want to go back to the past; I want to start over again."
After which, Su Qin hugged him directly. Qin Sheng's heart melted. It was such a familiar feeling, but it felt so foreign today.
This was the first time that Su Qin had expressed her feelings so directly. Qin Sheng was very surprised. Back then, he really thought that Su Qin did not love him anymore, which was why she initiated the breakup. He had so much hatred in his heart, but after releasing them eventually, he realized it was nothing. When anyone spoke of the past, he would always defend Su Qin. But until this moment right now, he finally understood her feelings. She really still loved him.
If he had not met Lin Su, perhaps there would be a chance that they would get back together. It was a pity that there was no 'if'. He had met Lin Su. And because he had decided to move on completely, Lin Su occupied a bigger part of his heart today.
He did not want to lay to Su Qin, so he told her ruthlessly, "Su Qin, thank you for loving me until now. But I already have someone that I like. I'm sorry."
Hearing this, Su Qin felt like she was struck by lightning. Her last glimpse of hope was completely shattered. She pushed him aside slowly and stared at him with a shocked expression. Her tears started falling. Ironically, her tears felt like two ice swords in such a cold temperature.
Su Qin just stared at him like that for an unknown period of time. She scoffed at herself and turned to leave slowly. After a few steps, she suddenly broke down and squatted on the floor with her head buried in her arms as she bawled. Her crying shattered others' hearts.
Seeing her like this, Qin Sheng felt like his heart was cut by a knife. He really wanted to give himself two tight slaps and scold himself, "You're a jerk! How could you bear to do this to the woman whom you've once loved so deeply and who still loves you deeply till today? You once said that you will accompany her until both of you become old, you once said that you will protect her forever. Are those all empty promises now?"
Qin Sheng could not hold it in anymore. He quickly ran towards her and hugged her, letting her cry in his arms. No matter what the future would lead them to, at least at this moment, he wanted to protect Su Qin.
After an unknown period of time, Su Qin finally stopped crying. Qin Sheng's embrace was still as warm as it used to be. She did not want to think about anything. She just wanted time to stop so that she could treasure these few seconds.
Eventually, the lights on both sides of the Huangpu River dimmed gradually. Qin Sheng spoke gently, "Let me send you back home."
"Okay," Su Qin nodded gently against his chest.
Qin Sheng carried her just like that and only let go after they got onto the car. Qin Sheng took the wheel while Su Qin sat in the passenger seat. Qin Sheng took the initiative to buckle her seatbelt. On the way back, she looked at him without saying a word. Her gaze could melt the pile of snow in winter.
Eventually, Qin Sheng sent her to her doorstep. Standing at the door, he said in a plain voice, "Sleep well. Everything will be okay. As long as you're willing, we can still be friends. As long as you need, I will appear at wherever you are whenever you need."
"Really?" Su Qin asked in a soft voice.
Qin Sheng nodded heavily. "Yes. Good night."
He then closed the door and left determinedly. Standing behind the door, a smile spread across Su Qin's face.
Like Wang Feng sang in his song, what the hell is a dream? What is love? Life goes on without these things anyway. Hence, Qin Sheng forgot about last night as he got busy at work again.
After finishing his work for the day, Qin Sheng asked Ms. An for the rest of the day off again. He said that he was going to another city. Although Ms. An did not feel very good about it, she could only agree to his request. However, she still complained about him a little. Afterward, she thought about how there were not many guests during that period of time, if he wants to get the day off, and then let him be.
Qin Sheng returned to Shilin Huayuan, packed his stuff, and headed straight to the airport. He did not notify anyone. He had already booked the ticket the day before.
He turned off his phone and disappeared completely. Others did not understand him. They thought that something had happened to him. This included Lin Su, who was going to celebrate her birthday very soon. She was a little anxious, as she could not contact him. However, she did not know where he lived or where he worked.
After the clock struck twelve, it was her birthday. Her phone started to be bombarded with messages. It was like this during this time every year. She was already used to it. In the past, she would always turn off her phone and reply to the messages on the next day. But she did not turn it off this year, because she was waiting for Qin Sheng to tell her 'Happy Birthday'.
It was a pity. Lin Su waited until the wee hours of the morning and still did not receive any news from him. Eventually, Lin Su tried to dial his number again and his phone was still turned off.
Lin Su did not sleep well that night and she was feeling a little down. On the next morning, she picked up her phone to check if he called or texted the minute she opened her eyes. There were none.
Although it was her birthday, she did not give herself the day off. She headed to the office early in the morning, expecting to see the white rose on her table. Unfortunately, she did not see it that day. She was very disappointed.
The day passed by while she was busy with her work. During lunch, her colleagues prepared a simple birthday party for her. They bought a cake, presents, and other things. Lin Su finally felt better.
When she knocked off work, Yan Chaozong came to pick up her right away. He was in charge of Lin Su's birthday party. He invited numerous close relatives and friends. Lin Su wanted to reject him at first but agreed to it eventually. This was because she had decided to announce something at the party. However, it was useless now.
At the same time, Qin Sheng's flight just landed at Pudong International Airport...