Cheng You was stunned for a moment before she reacted.
She suddenly burst into laughter, "Qi Chengan, you don't have to be like this."
She patiently said it again.
"I just need a nominal partner, you don't have to go through with it for real. It would be too difficult for you. Once I've dealt with my father's affairs, we can announce our breakup."
Qi Chengan's eyes darkened, and he seemed shrouded in gloom.
His oppressive aura was heavy, yet he still stared intently at Cheng You.
His voice was low as he said, "I have never been pretending."
This statement made Cheng You freeze.
"What do you mean by that?" Her voice was strained.
Qi Chengan looked down at her, sighing silently.
He feared that coaxing her this time would be harder than going to war.
"Cheng You, I apologize. I misunderstood you."
Cheng You was still unclear and murmured, "Misunderstood? What do you mean?"
Recalling his previous words to her, Cheng You suddenly smiled.
"No, you didn't misunderstand. Those things were indeed done by me, there's no misunderstanding. Besides liking you, my initial approach was to find someone to help me escape from Cheng Tianhua and the others."
She looked up at him, her eyes misting over, her voice hoarse, "So, we are indeed not suitable, and no one owes anyone anything."
It was she who hadn't thought clearly before. Now that she had, it wasn't that hard to accept.
What Qi Chengan had said to her was not out of disdain; it was simply that she did not fit his ideal partner.
If they weren't suitable, they would separate. It was as simple as that.
Qi Chengan suppressed the turmoil within him. Cheng You's attitude made him feel as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, weighing him down.
"No, it's not because of that."
The problem he had just realized was that whether Cheng You had schemed against him was unimportant to him.
As long as the person was Cheng You, certain principles ceased to matter.
From beginning to end, he only cared whether Cheng You's feelings for him were genuine or not.
Cheng You smiled, "Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter anymore."
"Doesn't matter?"
"Doesn't matter."
After a long silence, Qi Chengan's voice broke through the bitterness in his throat, "If I were to ask you to start over with me?"
His words, however, confused Cheng You.
But she didn't ask for his reasons; instead, she shook her head.
"I've thought about it carefully. We are indeed not suitable. Rather than resenting each other later, it's better to end it now."
He was the first man she had ever loved, and she loved him very, very much.
But she, Cheng You, was never a naive little white flower. She didn't want Qi Chengan to remember her in the future as someone unrecognizable.
Furthermore, she had given up.
She could be petty, but why should this relationship start and end at his whim, with him always being able to easily extricate himself?
If she fell in love again, she would go crazy.
"Suitable," he said in a low voice. "If we're not suitable, then it's only my problem."
Cheng You gave a bitter smile and didn't reply.
In the evening, she was supposed to have dinner at Old Zhou's place, so she informed Uncle Li in advance and left.
Qi Chengan stayed with Uncle Li for the day. He went out once or twice and returned in the evening.
It seemed as if he was waiting for this moment.
They walked one after the other, he always followed Cheng You, not too close, not too far.
Cheng You couldn't stand it anymore and turned to glare at him.
"Are you also going to eat at Zhou Wenxuan's house?"
"No."
"Then why are you following me?"
"I want to talk to you."
Cheng You froze and looked at him without speaking.
"Qi Chengan, you don't need to feel the slightest bit sorry or guilty towards me. You don't owe me."
Disliking someone was not a mistake.
Qi Chengan looked at her steadily, his dark eyes unreadable.
"I know."
Cheng You said helplessly, "Since you know, then why are you doing this?"
"Because I like you." Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Qi Chengan replied.
He had always been deep and reserved, in every aspect.
This was the first time he had expressed his feelings to Cheng You so directly.
In the past, Cheng You would probably have been ecstatic.
But now? Her heart was filled with bitterness, like a boat tossed by the waves, adrift and unstable.
She walked forward with her head down, not responding to his sudden confession.
Qi Chengan didn't follow; he needed to give Cheng You some space to breathe.
He turned and returned to the educated youth point.
At the educated youth point, it was likely only Duan Liping and Sun Xiaowan who paid attention to his and Cheng You's affairs.
They would try to decipher Qi Chengan's facial expressions countless times, guessing if he and Cheng You had made progress.
But Qi Chengan was expressionless nine out of ten times, and Sun Xiaowan's eyes ached from trying to figure out what he meant.
This time, she couldn't help but speak.
"Brother Chengan, how are you and Cheng You doing?"
Qi Chengan turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I mean, have you gotten back together?"
Duan Liping tugged at her arm, urging her to be more tactful.
Qi Chengan replied, "No."
Sun Xiaowan was somewhat exasperated, "Can you even do it? If you want to get back together, you need to show some sincerity! You made Cheng You cry so sadly, of course, she won't forgive you easily."
Such a blockhead, smart in everything else, but completely clueless when it came to coaxing girls.
Qi Chengan's focus was clearly elsewhere. "She cried."
Duan Liping nodded repeatedly, "She cried, and she cried very sadly."
And she felt that Cheng You had cried more than just this once.
Qi Chengan curled his lips, his heart aching.
Who was he showing his guilt to now?
...
Cheng You didn't know what Qi Chengan was feeling. At Old Zhou's house, she received unprecedented warmth.
Especially from Old Madam Zhou, who wished she could betroth Cheng You to her son right away.
Unfortunately, Cheng You had no such intentions.
After finally finishing the meal, Cheng You felt a sense of relief.
After bidding farewell to Old Zhou's family, she was about to head home.
Old Madam Zhou quickly asked Zhou Wenxuan to see her off, but Cheng You said, "No need, no need. It's cold, I can go back by myself."
Before the Old Zhou's family could react, she hurried away.
The cold wind outside was biting. Cheng You shivered as she stepped out of the house.
She wrapped her scarf tighter, put her hands in her pockets, and walked forward with her head down.
She suddenly remembered when her mother was still alive, how she would hug her and her brother, sitting by the fireplace, telling them fairy tales.
The firelight illuminated her face, making her radiant and beautiful.
In this cold winter, only her mother could give her warmth.
Cheng You hurried home. Before she reached the door, she saw a figure leaning outside.
She paused and walked over.
"Qi Chengan?"
"Mm."
He had originally intended to pick her up from Old Zhou's house, but there were several routes to Old Zhou's place, and he didn't know which way Cheng You had gone, fearing he would miss her, so he waited by her door.
"Let's go inside, it's too cold."
Cheng You frowned and said irritably, "If you know it's cold, why did you come?"
He didn't explain, only saying, "I'm leaving now. Get some good rest."