Chapter 12

When snow fell in B City, I saw Gu Ze, whom I hadn’t seen for a long time, downstairs in the neighborhood.

After half a year, Gu Ze had long lost his former vigor. He had become much thinner, his once upright back now hunched as if weighed down by life, and his eyes were like a stagnant pool, showing exhaustion.

“Shu Jia, can we talk?”

I held a warm bag of candied chestnuts in my hands, their sweet aroma urging me to go upstairs and enjoy them.

I glanced at my watch.

“Three minutes.”

My cold attitude stung Gu Ze. He straightened his posture and hurriedly took a few steps toward me.

“I’ve already broken up with Su Qing. Can we start over?”

I frowned and stepped back two paces.

“If that’s what you want to talk about, then even three minutes is too much.”

Gu Ze’s hand froze in mid-air.

“Do you hate me that much? I did make a mistake, but after all these years, can’t you give me another chance?”

Seeing my silence, Gu Ze anxiously stepped forward and grabbed my hand.

“The things I said on the day of the divorce were all in anger. I’ve always loved you. I was wrong, I really was. Can we start over?”

I disdainfully shook off Gu Ze’s hand, my tone icy.

“Enough, Gu Ze. Stop pretending. A change of heart is a change of heart; any reason is just an excuse. The hurt you caused me can’t be erased with a simple ‘I was wrong.’ How dare you ask me for another chance?”

Gu Ze was rendered speechless by my retort.

“Shu Jia, I-”

My patience was exhausted: “Please don’t disturb my life anymore.”