Chapter 42: The Old Days Weren't So Beautiful Either

"I don't remember," Li Mingye replied without hesitation.

Zhang Xiluo's eyes were filled with disappointment, but she nodded in agreement. "You're right. The past is best forgotten."

Upon hearing her words, Li Mingye felt a surge of frustration, his brows furrowing as he fell silent. The car was enveloped in an unusual quietness; neither spoke again until they reached the villa.

The snow was falling heavier, a thin layer already settling on the treetops.

Once back in her room, Zhang Xiluo took a hot bath. When she emerged, Li Mingye was nowhere to be seen, so she locked her door behind her.

She no longer wished to be entangled with him, nor to waste her energy and thoughts.

Li Mingye did not come looking for her, and she slept peacefully through the night. At dawn, she drew back the curtains to a world washed in white.

Delighted, Zhang Xiluo hurried downstairs.

She walked to the hanging chair, picked up stones from the flower bed, and arranged them on the ground in the shape of a heart.

Standing in the center, she used her foot to trace her own name, and in a hidden corner, she stamped out Li Mingye's initials.

Back in their third year of university, Zhang Xiluo had written their names in the snow, hoping to send a photo to him, but someone had stepped over it.

She had argued fiercely about it.

She had never hesitated to express her love for him, while he only scoffed, thinking she was making trouble out of nothing.

Every year, at the first snowfall, she wanted to write their names in the snow, but something always got in the way.

Now, finally, she had the chance, and it felt like a small regret had been soothed.

She shaped a few snowballs in her hands and hurled them at Li Mingye's name, wanting to blur it out, to erase it entirely.

With this childish, silly gesture, she declared her feelings.

"If you're done, go change your clothes. Your mother is awake," Li Mingye's voice suddenly came from behind her, colder than the snow itself.

Startled, Zhang Xiluo dropped the snowball. "You scared me! I'll go right now."

She hurried back, but her foot slipped on the snow. Instinctively, she grabbed Li Mingye's shirt, pulling hard enough to pop the buttons.

He caught her, steadying her, and she awkwardly raised a hand to straighten his clothes.

"Thank you."

Without looking back, Zhang Xiluo left Li Mingye standing alone in the yard.

He gazed at the heart on the ground, and at his own initials, now blurred by her snowballs, his expression complex.

Zhang Xiluo went downstairs just as Li Mingye, now changed, appeared as well. Without a word, they tacitly maintained their silence, riding together to the hospital.

After they left, Aunt Li stepped into the yard, snapped a photo of the snow with her phone, and sent it to Li's mother.

In the picture, Zhang Xiluo and Li Mingye's names were perfectly clear, nestled closely together.

Inside the hospital, Zhang's mother had awakened; her test results were stable as she awaited a heart transplant.

"Mom, I'm sorry," Zhang Xiluo approached her mother, her gaze tender and pained.

"Mingye, it was my mistake," Zhang's mother, now aware of the truth, apologized to him.

"We're family. It's all right," Li Mingye replied calmly. He walked over to Zhang's father, who was busy at work. "Dad, the company's project can be delayed by a month. The new supplier will arrive this afternoon."

The previous partner was no longer trustworthy, so he decided to switch vendors.

"Fine," Zhang's father replied, his attitude unchanged. "Thank you for handling the company matters. As for your personal affairs with Luoluo, I hope you'll find an appropriate way to resolve them."

He could see the rift between Zhang Xiluo and Li Mingye, and hoped the crisis wouldn't force them together against their will.

The crisis had struck so suddenly, with no time to prepare, allowing others to exploit the opportunity.

"I will," Li Mingye nodded. "I have something to attend to. I'll be leaving now."

Zhang Xiluo ignored him, her attention wholly on her mother. After Li Mingye left, Zhang's mother asked what she intended to do.

Again, Zhang Xiluo chose to conceal the truth; her mother could not handle any more shock.

"I just want a simple life. I have no great ambitions—peace and stability are enough."

"I'm asking about you and Li Mingye."

"It's just as it is. But you don't need to worry; I won't be as devoted as before. I'll learn to love myself. Trust me, you don't have to worry about me."

"Your father supports you," Zhang's father said seriously. "That man doesn't appreciate you and isn't worth your devotion."

Zhang's mother was well enough to leave the hospital at any time. Zhang Xiluo wanted to care for her at home, but her mother refused.

She hoped the two of them could get along well.

Zhang Xiluo, uneasy about leaving her mother alone during the day, had Xu Xinyi recommend a reliable caretaker to visit daily.

Her mother didn't know the real situation; she had no desire to live under the same roof as Li Mingye.

Zhang Xiluo received a message from Jiang Xueting, who shared a sensational post.

The post revealed Zhou Yao's secret affair with a man; before dating Lin Yiming, she had been kept by a nouveau riche's son.

Zhou Yao, the music department's beauty, attracted enormous attention. Many hidden secrets were exposed in the post.

Zhang Xiluo was stunned, speechless.

"Enjoy it quickly. That dog of a man is already taking action," Jiang Xueting messaged—Li Mingye was intervening to clear things up.

"Is it all true?"

"Of course. Zhou the homewrecker is filthy and disgusting. I can't imagine how that dog can stomach her!"

Li Mingye was resourceful; he must have known all this!

Even though Zhou Yao was so dirty, he still loved and protected her, without hesitation.

How noble.

Zhang Xiluo sighed inwardly—clearly, she was unworthy.

Before she could finish reading, the post was taken down. Li Mingye's response was indeed swift.

"Xueting, that's enough. If you keep pushing, it'll cause trouble," Zhang Xiluo messaged, worried about Jiang Xueting.

"I'm not afraid of trouble—just my dad beating me. Luoluo, get away from that dog as soon as you can," Jiang Xueting couldn't help but share what she'd discovered. "Your post—he saw it."

"I know," Zhang Xiluo was not surprised. "That's that. Thanks. Let's have dinner together another day."

"OK."

Zhang Xiluo stopped replying, then drove to find Lin Yiming. After all this, he must be deeply hurt; she worried he might do something rash.

It was just after one o'clock. The café was quiet, Lin Yiming sat at the bar, lost in thought, his phone vibrating incessantly beside him.

Hearing the door, he looked up quickly. "Welcome."

"Sis." Seeing Zhang Xiluo, he stood at once. "What brings you here? Business has been good lately. I'll settle the accounts for you at the end of the month."

"I came to check on you," Zhang Xiluo got straight to the point. "About Zhou Yao—I was worried you couldn't handle it."

"It's hard to accept," Lin Yiming's eyes were dark. "Thinking back on her odd behavior, I realize I was the world's biggest fool."

"Luckily, she let me go," Lin Yiming forced a smile, his gaze tinged with doubt. "Sis, your husband doesn't mind her?"

"You should ask him yourself," Zhang Xiluo smiled, turning to walk further in. The floor had just been mopped, still wet, and she slipped, Lin Yiming catching her swiftly.

"What are you two doing!"