USWHC -Chapter 425 Rushing to the Capital for the Exam (Part 5)

The door creaked open softly, and Huaihua half-pushed, half-led him inside. Ji Yi, however, remained seated at the head of the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling like a soul-less piece of wood.

He hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for two days. The whole of him looked haggard; his once-bright eyes had dimmed, his once-upturned lips were tightly pressed together, hiding both the cheerful smile and the pout of indignation. His heart seemed to have wandered away, leaving behind only an empty shell.

Huaihua’s chest ached at the sight. She took a few gentle steps toward him and choked out, “She won’t come back. Why are you torturing yourself like this?”

Ji Yi seemed not to hear her at all. His head remained lifted, never glancing her way.

Huaihua felt as if her heart were being pierced by needles. Frustrated and angry, she spat out, “I thought she was a good woman, but she just left like that. If she had known she was going to leave, why bother teasing you in the first place?”

“You’re such a fool. A woman as irresponsible as her is not worth your worry. There are so many women in this world; losing one doesn’t matter! Consider her a swindler: you lost some money, felt heartache for a couple of days, and that’s it—you should forget her!” Huaihua spoke gently, trying to console him, while quietly inching closer.

He truly looked pitiful, so pitiful that she wanted to hold him tightly and give him warmth.

But just as she sat at the head of the bed, he suddenly lowered his head. His eyes, previously empty and ethereal, fixed on her face, filled with sorrow.

Huaihua’s heart trembled, yet she remained rooted in place, unsure of what to do. What was he going to do? If he wanted to cry, she would gladly offer him a shoulder.

Ji Yi only whispered softly, “She didn’t steal my body, she stole my heart. My heart is empty now. It’s not pain… it’s emptiness, it’s cold.”

“She didn’t steal your heart. It’s still here. Don’t believe me? Listen—it still beats!” Huaihua’s hand gently rested on his chest. It was still beating, wasn’t it?

But in the next moment, Ji Yi quietly moved her hand away, avoiding her burning gaze, and sighed softly, “It won’t beat anymore.”

The warmth in her hand vanished suddenly, leaving Huaihua’s heart hollow. She looked up at the towering man, his face full of grief, and felt an impulse to throw herself at him, recklessly. After all, hadn’t he almost become her husband?

But in the next moment, Ji Yi abruptly stood up. His cold voice cut through the air: “You wouldn’t understand what it means to love someone. You should leave for now. I want to be alone.”

Watching his resolute back, Huaihua felt a sharp sting in her chest. Love? She wanted to tell him she understood!

“I made some porridge. Drink a little, at least—if you don’t eat, how will you survive? In a few days, you’ll be too weak even to go look for her,” Huaihua said, trying to change the subject. Yet her hands trembled as she held the bowl.

Was that all she intended? Just to give him porridge?

“I don’t want it,” Ji Yi simply sighed, refusing so easily.

Huaihua’s heart sank. That empty, cold feeling was actually worse than pain.

“If she never comes back, are you going to wait foolishly for her your whole life?” Huaihua finally mustered the courage to ask loudly.

Ji Yi’s body stiffened, perhaps struck at a sore spot. Huaihua’s heart shivered, yet she raised her voice even more: “She said she wouldn’t come back and told you to take care of yourself, right? Why wait for her? She abandoned you; she wronged you. She isn’t worth loving so much!”

“No, she didn’t want to leave… she must have had her reasons!” Ji Yi shook his head painfully, whispering, “It’s my fault… I was too careless… I didn’t notice anything. If I had noticed sooner, I would have found a way to keep her here!”

“That’s not true! She left without saying anything because she didn’t want you to stop her. Maybe she’ll have a better life back there. Didn’t you notice? Those people are rich, maybe her family is rich too. Why should she live a hard life with us? Maybe she left because she was tired of hardship, maybe she called those people back herself—wasn’t it her choice to go?” Huaihua yelled hysterically.

Ji Yi glared at her with annoyance, his eyes full of disgust. Huaihua didn’t dare meet his gaze. She stubbornly held the bowl of porridge, inching closer, and said softly, “Drink this, start over, and forget the woman who abandoned you.”