Heart-wrenching

"I also have many things to say to Dabao."

Seeing that Luo Shuning was unwilling to go to the doctor, Gu Luo didn’t press further. Instead, he handed her a thick envelope with both hands, a faint smile on his lips:

"I’ve written everything I want to say inside."

Witnessing this scene, Luo Shuning felt as if her heart had been struck by a heavy blow. A sour, aching pain surged through her like a tide, and the words she had intended to say now lodged in her throat, unable to escape.

Instinctively, she reached out to take it, but her hand paused mid-air before withdrawing.

Gu Luo took a slight breath, his gaze burning with intensity as he asked:

"Dabao, would you be willing..."

Yet before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"No."

Gu Luo froze as if struck by lightning, his expression instantly stiffening with shock.

No?

Did Shuning just say no?

What did she mean by no?

Why no?

After two months of deepening affection between them, how could the answer be no?

He had imagined this confession countless times in his heart—picturing Shuning either shyly lowering her head, jumping with excitement, or even crying tears of joy. But never had he imagined she would utter the word "no."

"Dabao..."

Gu Luo, filled with confusion, tried to ask again, but was once more cut off.

Luo Shuning had already turned her face away, her voice calm but trembling faintly:

"Brother, please just call me Shuning from now on."

The moment these words left her lips, Gu Luo’s mind went blank. He stood there dumbfounded, staring at the girl before him.

It took him a long moment to realize that, from the very beginning, she had been addressing him as "brother."

And she was only wearing the simplest, most ordinary dress she owned.

But... why?

The two of them had practically fallen in love at first sight. Over the past two months, their bond had only grown stronger. They had done everything short of taking the final step between a man and a woman—everything permissible, everything forbidden.

They had even gained the approval of their families.

He had even steeled himself to be labeled a scoundrel if necessary.

Yet now, things had come to this.

Gu Luo’s thoughts were in complete disarray. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t believe Luo Shuning would reject him. Desperately, he asked:

"Dabao, is there something you’re not telling me?"

"You can say it. We’ll face it together."

"Really..."

"There’s nothing I’m hiding." Luo Shuning lowered her eyes, her right hand gripping her left arm so tightly her nails nearly pierced the skin. Her voice was rushed and shaky:

"And again, please call me Shuning."

"Dabao... Xiaobao... just forget those names."

As Gu Luo stood there at a loss, still wanting to say more, Luo Shuning took a deep breath and continued:

"Earlier, I said I had many things to tell you, brother."

She lifted her head, her eyes already red-rimmed, her gaze fixed firmly on Gu Luo:

"You don’t actually know me at all."

"I’m not as good as you think I am."

"The truth is... I’ve been lying to you all along."

"We both know how much Shu He likes you—how deeply she adores you. And me? I’ve always loved snatching things from Shu He since we were kids. Every time I came in first, every time I got to go with Dad to see Mom, I’d flaunt it in front of her."

"So, of course, I thought it only natural to take you too."

"Now you know why I never talked about my childhood, don’t you?"

"Hah, I really am as amazing as ever. I always win against Shu He—so much so that I even drove her out of Caizhou."

"That’s right. I’m the one who forced Shu He to leave. I went to her in private and told her to get out, to disappear as far as she could. Because you, brother, were my prey."

"Did you think I was gentle? It was all an act. How hard is it for a girl to pretend?"

Scalding tears had long since begun streaming down Luo Shuning’s cheeks, but she made no move to wipe them away. Instead, she steeled herself, her tone still eerily calm:

"Now I’ve won, but I find it all so meaningless."

"Here, I want to apologize. I’m truly sorry for deceiving your feelings."

"But to be honest, I do feel a little reluctant. Of course, anyone would—even if a pet dies, I’d cry. So don’t misunderstand."

"Dabao, what on earth happened..."

Gu Luo’s heart felt as if it were being carved apart by knives, yet he still couldn’t believe what was unfolding before him.

After two months of being inseparable, he knew Shuning’s character better than anyone.

"Are you still dreaming?!" Luo Shuning bit her lip hard, her voice suddenly rising sharply. "Or do you just want to sleep with me that badly? Was letting you do whatever you wanted to me in the shower not enough?"

"Fine. Then go ahead—rip my clothes off right now. Take me right here in these woods. Isn’t that what they call 'outdoor fun'?"

"I’ll let you do whatever you want today. Right now. Come on!"

"Come on!"

She screamed hysterically, her tears gushing like a breached dam.

Hearing these words—so unlike anything his little angel would ever say—Gu Luo felt a turmoil of emotions, his heart heavy as if blocked by a stone.

Yet he still refused to believe it, insisting stubbornly:

"Dabao... let’s just calm down first, okay..."

"Are you insane?! Why can’t you wake up?!"

Luo Shuning clawed at her arm so fiercely that faint streaks of blood appeared.

Breathing heavily, she strode forward and snatched the envelope from Gu Luo’s hands.

Then she turned and hurled it with all her might.

The envelope traced a high arc through the air before landing in a patch of distant grass.

"Now do you believe me?!"

"Do you believe I’ve been lying to you all along?!"

"Do you believe I only saw you as a tool to beat Shu He?!"

"Do you believe I never loved you from the start?!"

Her voice was hoarse, her face streaked with tears.

After shouting these words, she turned and walked away without looking back, her steps unsteady as if she might collapse at any moment.

‘Xiaobao, I’m sorry...’

‘I’m sorry...’

‘I’m so sorry......’

‘My love is just too selfish......’

‘Xiaobao, I love you... It was never about winning against Shu He. My love was pure, but also selfish......’

‘...I don’t deserve to be with you......’

‘Shu He is the one who loves you most. She’s your true destiny.’

‘I wish you both happiness......’

‘Just being able to watch over you from afar is enough......’

Luo Shuning had deliberately avoided mentioning Shu He’s feelings for Gu Luo or confessing the truth about the photos.

Because she knew how soft-hearted Gu Luo was. Even if he learned everything, he would still choose her without hesitation.

The only way to end this was through cruelty.

Gu Luo was too tender-hearted.

Too foolish.

Too naive.

Everything had changed too quickly. Gu Luo’s mind couldn’t keep up.

He instinctively wanted to pick up the envelope, but seeing Luo Shuning walk away, he chose to follow her instead.

Staying close behind her.

If he couldn’t think clearly, then he wouldn’t think at all.

He would act on instinct.

As they walked, Luo Shuning suddenly stumbled, her body swaying uncontrollably as she nearly fell forward.

But then a pair of trembling hands caught her shoulders, steadying her.

Feeling the warmth from behind, Luo Shuning felt her emotions teetering on the edge of collapse, her heart aching so fiercely she could barely breathe.

Why was Gu Luo still so gentle after all the hurtful things she had said?

At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to turn around and throw herself into his embrace, to sob until there were no tears left.

But.

She couldn’t.

She couldn’t hurt Shu He any more.

This was how it had to be.

Shu He was Gu Luo’s rightful place.

With that thought, Luo Shuning bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and violently shook off his grip. "Don’t touch me!"

"Either take me right here, or let me leave!"

"Choose!"

Gu Luo took a step back, silent.

"Don’t say I never gave you the chance," Luo Shuning said, still refusing to turn around as she continued walking forward.

She didn’t dare look back.

One glance at Gu Luo, and she knew she’d lose all resolve.

She just knew it.

And so, Luo Shuning walked ahead, with Gu Luo silently trailing behind.

Every time she faltered, his hand would steady her—only to withdraw just as quickly.

Since it was Sunday, East Lake Park was crowded, and many passersby couldn’t help but cast curious glances at the quarreling couple.

Especially the beautiful girl walking ahead, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly heartbroken.

Everyone quietly assumed the boyfriend trailing behind must have done something wrong.

Soon, they left the park and reached the intersection.

Luo Shuning kept wiping her tears with the back of her hand. After being steadied by Gu Luo so many times along the way, she could no longer bring herself to say another harsh word.

All she felt was a sharp, suffocating pain in her chest.

They stood silently by the roadside, one behind the other, for what felt like an eternity.

"I’m leaving now. You should go home too, brother," Luo Shuning said, pulling out her phone to hail a ride.

Just then, the roar of a sports car engine cut through the air.

They turned to see a fiery red supercar slowing to a stop.

Behind the wheel sat a lean, handsome young man in sunglasses. He removed them, rolling down the window with a mix of concern and urgency in his gaze.

"Shuning? What’s wrong?"

His eyes then flicked to Gu Luo beside her, glaring with unmistakable hostility.

Luo Shuning wiped her tears and shook her head weakly. "I’m fine... Can you give me a ride?"

"Get in. I just got back to Caizhou—lucky I decided to drive around."

The young man shot Gu Luo another venomous look. "I don’t care who you are, what your relationship with Shuning is, or who your father thinks he is. But you’d better stay the hell away from her."

Luo Shuning had already slid into the passenger seat. His words only made her heart ache more, and she urged, "Just go. Please."

"Fine."

With a stomp on the accelerator, the supercar shot forward like an arrow, vanishing down the street in moments.

............

............