To Forgive or Not to Forgive - Chapter 17

As the New Year approached, festive red lanterns were hung along the streets.

The day we went shopping for the new home’s New Year goods, I saw a shadowy figure sneaking around the neighborhood.

I carefully walked away, heading toward the security office.

But then I realized the person was wearing a security guard’s uniform.

My face turned pale, my throat tightened.

It was Zhou Sining’s father.

He rushed at me, wrapped his arm around my neck, and I couldn’t make a sound to call for help.

A tall figure suddenly loomed over us.

I could finally breathe again.

The next second, the two of them were entangled in a struggle.

At the same moment, Chen Jianjin and the man both crashed to the ground.

The man clutched his chest, scrambled up in a panic, and fled.

On Chen Jianjin’s arm was a glaring wound, blood gushing out.

I stared in horror at the spreading bloodstain and immediately called the police.

Chen Jianjin’s lips turned pale from blood loss, and he collapsed.

He was taken into the ICU, and Father Chen and Mother Chen were notified.

Mother Chen’s hands were trembling.

After hearing what had happened, she wept and cursed:

“She’s a jinx, she killed my older son, and now she wants to harm my younger son too.

“When she was little, we were neighbors. Her father was a gambler.

“When her father got out of prison, Jianjin’s older brother was killed in an accident while trying to protect her.

“Jianjin and his older brother were always being played around by her. Jianjin liked her, too, because when he was young, his father and I were busy with our careers and couldn’t take care of the two brothers.

“Whenever she had something good to eat, she’d give it to Jianjin, making his feelings for her all muddled and unclear.

“It wasn’t until this year that we found out-the person who hit Jianjin’s older brother and ran was Zhou Sining’s father.”

Chen Jianjin came out of surgery and remained unconscious for three days and nights.

When he woke, his voice was weak as he called my name. At Mother Chen’s pleading, I entered the hospital room.

He said:

“Will you marry me?”

Seeing the tears welling up in his eyes, I found it especially ironic.

I remembered that night, when his eyes were red as he confessed to Zhou Sining, and the corners of my mouth curled into a mocking smile:

“Chen Jianjin, you like her.

“That night, I heard everything.

“You told her that if she didn’t come back, you’d marry me instead.

“That was the first time I saw you cry.”

His face froze, his throat tightened, and his voice trembled slightly:

“I did like her.

“But I don’t anymore.

“Shuyi… I’m sorry.”