The Day She Never Asked Me to Get Back Together - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The standoff in the lounge was temporarily defused by Ding Qichen’s remark: “The police are already downstairs.”

Qi Tingshan left with a livid expression.

At some point, Tang Shuyi had also reached the doorway. She leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, watching the drama unfold with keen interest.

“I told you so,” she said. “You wouldn’t be the first one to go crazy.”

I wasn’t in the mood to banter with her.

Qi Zhaoyuan took me to the rooftop terrace.

The night wind was strong, blowing with a chill that bit into the skin.

My mind was a chaotic mess.

My father, the car accident, Qi Tingshan, my mother, that card from three years ago, and today’s engagement setup.

Every single thing was like a heavy stone, crushing the breath out of me.

Qi Zhaoyuan draped his coat over my shoulders, but his hand remained on my shoulder as if he were afraid I would collapse the next second.

“Did you know all along?” I asked.

He fell silent for a few seconds.

“I only knew there was something wrong with the case back then. I didn’t know who held the specific evidence.”

“Then why didn’t you ask me?”

“I did.”

He looked down at me, his voice low and raspy with emotion.

“Three years ago, I asked you why we were breaking up. You said it was because I had no money.”

A lump formed in my throat.

“I also asked you if you ever loved me.”

“You told me I could interpret it however I wanted.”

“Peng Qingchuan, I’m not a god.”

“I’m capable of believing what I’m told.”

Those words pinned me to the spot.

It was true.

I always felt like I was protecting him.

But I had forgotten that the person left behind also hurts.

My eyes grew hot instantly.

“I’m sorry.”

He looked at me as if he had been waiting for those three words for many years.

But when I actually said them, his expression turned even more grim.

“I don’t want that.”

“Then what do you want?” My voice trembled in the wind.

He suddenly raised his hand, his thumb brushing against the corner of my eye.

His movement was incredibly gentle, as if he were afraid that if he used any more force, I would shatter.

“I want you to tell me if a single word of what you said back then was true.”

I looked at him, my nose stinging.

“Yes.”

His eyes darkened instantly. “Which part?”

“That you’re good-looking.”

Qi Zhaoyuan was stunned for a moment, and then he actually let out a frustrated, mocking laugh.

Even with tears nearly falling, I couldn’t help one last bit of banter.

“The part about your temper being absolute crap was true, too.”

He stared at me, then suddenly yanked me into his arms.

He held me with such force, as if he were terrified I would run away.

My forehead hit his shoulder, and my nose was filled with his scent.

It had been three years.

I actually still went weak all over just because of this embrace.

“Peng Qingchuan.”

“Mm.”

“You’re driving me insane.”

“Then stay away from me.”

“In your dreams.”

He lowered his head, pressing his forehead against mine. His breathing was heavy.

“Do you know why I insisted on calling you here tonight?”

My heart skipped a beat. “Wasn’t it for the contract?”

“To hell with the contract.”

It was rare for him to use such language, but his voice was incredibly hoarse.

“I originally thought I’d wait until I had completely crushed Qi Tingshan before coming to find you.”

“But the thought of standing on that stage today and acting out an engagement with someone else… knowing you’d be here, that you’d be watching… I couldn’t take it.”

“I even thought about just dropping the investigation entirely and just snatching you back.”

My tears fell instantly. “You’re sick.”

“Yes,” he said, wiping the tears from my face with his thumb. “I’ve been sick for three years.”

The atmosphere was so intimate-so close that if I moved just a fraction forward, I could touch his lips.

But at that moment, my phone rang.

It was a call from the nursing home.

My hand shook, and I almost dropped the phone.

On the line, the nurse said my mother had been startled and her blood pressure had suddenly spiked.

I snapped back to reality instantly.

Before I could even speak, Qi Zhaoyuan had already taken the car keys from my hand.

“I’ll take you.”

“But the engagement party…”

“Let it go to hell,” he said, pulling me along as he walked.

In that moment, I realized something.

When some people love you, it’s not about how sweet their words are.

It’s that the moment your world starts to crumble even a little, they are willing to let their own world fall apart first.