novelraw Chapter 531 - 510: Friends?_1
Chapter 531 - 510: Friends?_1
Regarding Xia Jing’s proposition to stay friends, Zhang Zhentian simply couldn’t accept it.
She couldn’t bear to see the woman she once loved the most become a stranger after they had been lovers, married, and shared a bed for more than a decade, only to settle for being friends in the end.
Such a result was undoubtedly the greatest blow to Zhang Zheng; it only made him feel as if, being a man, he couldn’t even have the very basics, nor could he obtain the love of the woman he desired most. He felt that living in this world with such conditions was utterly meaningless and only brought unbearable pain.
In his heart, he had made a firm decision: if he had to choose one way, he would rather be strangers than friends. Being friends would just prove that there was no deep love between them. How could they possibly choose to be just ordinary friends after experiencing such profound love and braving the great storms of emotions? That would only mean there was never true love in their hearts.
"I think if you really insist on being friends with me, then perhaps it’s best we don’t be friends at all," he said. "Isn’t it better to be strangers? You don’t meddle in my affairs, I don’t meddle in yours; marriages and funerals will have nothing to do with each other. Isn’t that the outcome you wanted?
"I’ve hurt you so deeply in the past, and I’ve accepted all the punishment for it. But is all this still not enough in your eyes? Do you just want to see me continue living in agony because the pain I caused you is something I can never repay? You think I should experience that pain, so you’re finding ways to make me endure it, right?
"If that’s really what you think, then congratulations, you’ve done it. You’ve made me feel that agony, a pain so intense that even breathing becomes difficult. Maybe what I did to you indeed caused immense hurt, but when you think about it, haven’t your actions tortured me as well? And I’ve had no choice but to keep swallowing my bitterness in silence, time and time again. I can’t speak out because I am a man; I should at least maintain my dignity. I should be responsible and capable of facing big challenges. I can’t just cry over every little upset like you girls do—tears don’t solve problems, nor are they a weapon; they only release my inner fury, but they can’t cut through difficulties. Whatever decisions you make, I will support you. After all, we once loved each other deeply, and that love will always reside in my heart. I will never forget what that love felt like in this lifetime. You know? That love in my heart has never changed, no matter when or where. How I wish you could forever stay by my side and never leave me."
Xia Jing’s heart was still touched, despite facing the man she once loved most, her husband, the man she had devoted all her energy to pursuing. But why had everything ended up this way? What caused all of this to happen? Unable to allow such things to happen to her any longer, she had to cut ties decisively, or else she would only suffer chaos. She couldn’t handle taking that risk again. For each of them, the paths they chose were different, and so the outcomes they faced were different. They had chosen to fall in love, to marry, to have children, and to stay by each other’s side for life. But in the end, they could not withstand the test of time and had to choose their own lives, because their goals were not the same, and their expectations for each other were not met. And that was one of the reasons they could never continue as life-long partners.
"The pain you once caused me no longer hurts. Sometimes, when I think about it, I still feel a pang in my heart, but that too has gradually faded away. When you left me, my heart was in pieces, but now I don’t hate you anymore. As my love for you has slowly vanished, so has my hate. Now, I neither love nor hate you; to me, you’re just a friend. You’re right, it’s good to be strangers. No one interferes with anyone else, and everyone can live the life they want openly and honorably without the fear of being judged by their ex-partner!
From my perspective now, I know I have no right to interfere in your domestic affairs, but I hope you can still understand one thing: Dad has sacrificed a lot for us, and for our son, he’s gone through hardships and painstakingly raised him to achieve what he has today. If you have even a shred of conscience and know what gratitude means, please return to Dad’s side and take good care of him, and let him enjoy the happiness of family. Don’t let him suffer like before. Your rejection caused him to fall ill and be hospitalized, which was a bolt from the blue for everyone. I know you were frantic when you heard Dad was in the hospital; I can empathize with that father-son connection. But please, don’t hurt him anymore. Your rejections only bring him more pain. Why can’t you just drop your so-called pride and return to your father’s side to spend some time with him, to let him have the life he desires?
You can act as if you never heard what I’ve said, or treat my words as noise or wind past your ear. I won’t say anything because the final decision is still in your hands. I just hope that if you have a conscience, please don’t do anything more to harm your father. He owes you nothing; on the contrary, he has given you so much!
As his children, we can only choose to honor and support our parents, to let them live carefree lives, to not make them worry over our matters anymore, rather than continually cause them heartache. I’ve said what I needed to say, and what you do next is ultimately up to you. If you can really understand what I mean, that’s great. If not, there’s nothing I can do about it. From today on, we will become strangers. I did want to remain friends with you, but you’ve chosen to never contact me again. If that’s how your heart is truly set free, then it’s the greatest comfort for me, too. At least I don’t have to be bothered by your entanglement anymore..."