novelraw Chapter 0144 The Umbrella of a Clean Break
Chapter 0144 The Umbrella of a Clean Break
It's still raining.
The drizzling rain seemed to wash away all the love, hate, and grudges of the past three years.
Wen Ning looked at the outstretched hand in front of her.
The hand that once commanded the world and signed multi-million dollar contracts was now trembling slightly in the rain, its palm lines filled with rainwater, and also with all his expectations.
"Want to pursue me again?"
Wen Ning repeated it softly.
Her gaze shifted from his palm to his pale, haggard, and even somewhat sickly face.
Where is there even a trace of the business tycoon Jiang Ci of today?
He was like a traveler who had been walking in the desert for a long time, finally seeing a source of water, but not daring to approach it, for fear that it was a mirage.
Wen Ning felt a mix of emotions.
If you don't agree.
He'll probably keep going crazy like this until he tortures himself to death.
If you agree...
But are they really ready now?
One is a frightened bird, traumatized by imprisonment.
One is a crazy person who is anxious and stressed.
In such a state, even if we start over, it would only be another form of mutual torment.
"Jiang Ci."
Wen Ning took a deep breath.
The cold wind blowing into her lungs cleared her mind, which had been clouded by fever.
She did not give him her hand.
Instead, he did something that surprised him.
She handed the long-handled black umbrella she was holding forward.
The umbrella handle is warm.
That was the warmth of her palm.
"Take it."
she says.
Jiang Ci was stunned.
His hand froze in mid-air, somewhat at a loss.
"Ningning...?"
"Take the umbrella."
Wen Ning stubbornly shoved the umbrella handle into his hand.
Then, she took a step back.
They moved out of the umbrella's protective range.
A light rain fell instantly onto her hair, wetting her bangs.
"What are you doing?"
Jiang Ci panicked and instinctively tried to hold the umbrella over her.
"You still have a fever, you can't get wet in the rain..."
"Jiang Ci!"
Wen Ning raised her voice and called out to him.
She stood in the drizzle, looking at him under the umbrella.
His eyes were calm, revealing an unprecedented sense of relief.
"This umbrella was a gift from you."
"Those paints, you bought them."
"And you also paid for the medical expenses earlier."
She paused, her tone becoming serious.
"And you saved the Zhou family and helped me pay off my debts."
"Even though you locked me up, even though you did many terrible things to me..."
Wen Ning looked into his eyes.
He spoke clearly, word by word:
"But I also lied to you for three years."
"I caused you three years of suffering."
"so."
"We're even."
"From this moment on, I owe you neither money nor my feelings."
You don't owe me anything.
"We're even..."
Both parties are cleared.
These two words echoed in the rainy night.
Jiang Ci's fingers tightened suddenly around the umbrella handle.
The knuckles are turning white.
He looked at Wen Ning.
A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper emotion.
He understood.
She is cutting ties with the past.
Cut ties with that past filled with lies, betrayal, revenge, and guilt.
She was wiping the slate clean of their mess.
"Even if we're even..."
Jiang Ci muttered to himself.
A bitter smile appeared on his lips, yet it also carried a sense of relief.
"it is good."
He nodded.
"Then we're even."
As long as it's not a complete break in relations.
As long as they don't become completely estranged.
Even becoming strangers is a blessing for him.
"As for pursuing me..."
Wen Ning looked at him, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
She reached out her hand.
She pointed to his soaked shirt and his grotesque, ghostly appearance.
"Jiang Ci, go look in the mirror."
"Look at yourself now!"
Jiang Ci lowered his head.
Look at yourself.
Disheveled, dejected, and full of hostility.
I don't like you as you are now.
Wen Ning said bluntly.
"I like Jiang Ci, who was full of vigor and spirit."
"That confident, composed Jiang Ci who would diligently read books in the library."
"Jiang Ci, who dared to say 'I can give you a future' even when he had nothing."
"Instead of this..."
She looked at him, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes, but hardened her heart and said:
"A pathetic creature who only knows how to use self-harm to gain sympathy and uses madness to cover up his unease."
Don't ruin yourself.
"If you don't even cherish yourself, how can you love me?"
This sentence.
A wake-up call.
Jiang Ci was startled.
It was like being doused with a bucket of cold water, yet it instantly rekindled the dying embers in my heart that were about to go out.
Yes.
For the past three years, he has lived like a ghost.
He thought this was true affection.
Actually, this is a pathological condition.
If he were Wen Ning, he wouldn't like himself as he is now either.
"I see."
Jiang Ci raised his head.
A small flame finally rekindled in those eyes that had been dim for so long.
He gripped the umbrella tightly in his hand.
That was given to him by her.
It is a token of "settling accounts".
It's also... a ticket to start over.
"I will change."
He looked at her, his voice no longer trembling, but becoming firm.
Give me some time.
"I will bring back the spirited Jiang Ci."
"it is good."
Wen Ning smiled.
That was the first genuine smile she had shown him in a month.
Even through the rain, it was still so bright it made one's heart flutter.
"I'm waiting for you."
"But now..."
She pointed to the taxis parked on the side of the road.
"I'm going home."
Mr. Jiang.
She took one last look at him.
"goodbye."
Done.
She turned around, opened the car door, and got into the taxi.
The car started and drove into the rainy night.
Jiang Ci stood still.
She held a black umbrella in her hand, which carried a faint scent of jasmine.
The raindrops pattered on the umbrella, making a pleasant sound.
He didn't chase after them.
It didn't get out of control like before.
He simply watched the taillights disappear around the street corner.
then.
On this cold winter night.
He was the only person on the street.
He lowered his head.
Looking at the umbrella handle in my hand.
Suddenly, he burst out laughing.
"hehe……"
The laughter was low and cheerful.
It's a resonance emanating from the chest cavity.
This is over the past three years.
Even for this lifetime.
This was the time he laughed most easily and with the most peace of mind.
The score is settled.
very nice.
This means...
All debts have been paid off.
All the hatred dissipated.
What they are like now.
We're all on the same starting line.
Start from scratch.
It started that afternoon at University A.
"Wen Ning".
He spoke softly to the void.
"This time."
"Let me pursue you."
"I'll win you back fair and square."