White Roses and Red Roses - Chapter 7

Later, Xu Aile specifically reached out to me, explaining that she was merely passing by the mall to buy a bag that day, urging me not to overthink it.

Her voice over the phone was filled with sincerity: “You’ve told me about your past with Qin Rui, a solid nine years of relationship that no one can shake. I wouldn’t interfere.”

Qin Rui and I had agreed that once his project reached a certain point, we’d go back to our hometown for a while.

But shortly after summer vacation began, my menstrual cycle started acting up.

After consulting online, the doctor suggested that I might need further examination, and since anesthesia was involved, someone would need to accompany me.

After much hesitation, I asked Qin Rui if he was free the next day.

“The studio has a crucial progress check,” he replied. “Maybe you could reschedule, and I’ll go with you another day.”

“…Alright.”

I was momentarily stunned before responding.

However, due to the difficulty of booking a special expert appointment at the hospital, I didn’t cancel and instead hired someone online to accompany me.

Upon meeting, I realized the girl I hired was actually a junior from my school.

She kindly held my bag and waited at the entrance, as there weren’t many people outside due to the special appointment.

“Senior, why don’t you sit down for a bit? I’ll get you some water.”

I nodded, about to reply, when my gaze inadvertently swept forward, and I suddenly froze in place.

Just a few steps away, the consultation room door opened, and a man and a woman walked out.

Behind them, the doctor pointed to a direction nearby: “The abortion surgery room is over there. Once you’ve paid, you can head straight over.”

“Alright, thank you, doctor.”

I opened my mouth, but the voice that emerged felt distant, as if coming from far away: “…Qin Rui.”

Qin Rui, supporting Xu Aile, abruptly lifted his head and looked at me, his face turning pale in an instant.

The hospital corridor was lit with cold white lights, the smell of disinfectant filling the air, and I felt a choking sensation, as if my throat was being constricted.

The junior sensed something was wrong and held onto my arm, calling out worriedly, “Senior.”

Qin Rui left Xu Aile behind and strode over to me, and I had never seen such a panicked expression on his face before.

Between us, it had always been me who was cautious, me who was accommodating, me who was compromising.

“Qin Rui.” I heard my own voice, wooden and detached, “What are you doing here? Why are you going for an abortion?”

“Wen Yu…”

He reached out, almost touching me, but I abruptly stepped back, avoiding his hand.

“What else could it be, of course, it’s to rectify a mistake.”

Xu Aile leisurely walked up to me, giving me a smile.

“Xiao Yu, I’m really sorry. The man you haven’t tried yet, I’ve already sampled for you, and he’s quite good.”

“Couldn’t resist the moment, forgot the precautions, so here we are.”

In that instant, countless fragmented images flashed through my mind.

The bouquet of white roses on May 20th, the flower shop closed in the rain, the dazzling diamond necklace around Xu Aile’s neck.

That evening, I opened the door with roses in hand, finding the room hot and humid, Xu Aile’s silk slip dress slightly wrinkled, Qin Rui’s hair disheveled, lips still bleeding during dinner.

I discovered nothing. Absolutely nothing.

A wave of nausea surged up my throat, and I bent over, unable to stop dry heaving. Qin Rui tried to steady me, but I forced out a hoarse, hate-filled voice from deep within, “Don’t touch me!”

Having not eaten anything that morning due to the check-up, there was nothing for me to actually throw up. My vision wavered, reminiscent of that night many years ago when Qin Rui sat at the entrance of the apartment building, his shadow cast by the moonlight.

My junior seemed to grasp the situation, holding me firmly and whispering, “Senior, let me take you home.”

I shook my head, slowly straightening up. Something churned within me, rising and then dissipating like foam on the sea’s surface, leaving no trace behind.

Tears streamed down my face, yet my voice remained calm as I spoke to Qin Rui, “We’ve known each other for nine years.”

“I always hoped I could make you a little happier, so you wouldn’t feel there’s nothing to look forward to in this world. Even if your parents don’t love you, I would. Afraid of upsetting you, I often dealt with my troubles silently, without burdening you. You didn’t buy me flowers, probably because you didn’t understand romance, but that was okay. I bought them for you instead.”

“But it turns out you understood everything.”

Qin Rui’s face turned ashen. He said nothing, just stood there silently watching me. It was as if the fragile yet alluring facade peeled away from him at that moment, revealing someone far more ordinary than the boy I once saw illuminated even in darkness.

After removing the filter of affection, he was just an average person.

“We’ve been through so much together, survived the darkest times of our lives. I thought we’d remain inseparable for decades to come. But now, I’m leaving you, Qin Rui. I don’t want you anymore.”

With those final words, I turned and slowly walked towards the elevator.

Qin Rui didn’t follow. Apart from that initial, defeated “Wen Yu,” he hadn’t uttered another word. Yet, as I was about to leave, he softly said from behind me, “You said you’d never leave me.”

I paused, turned back, and forced a smile, “What right do you have to say that? The one I’d never leave was the Qin Rui who held me under the streetlight, who changed his first-choice university for me, who sneaked out of high school to buy me medicine for my cramps. But who are you?”

“Oh, you’re the father of Xu Aile’s baby.”

I waved at him gently, “Let’s hope we never meet again.”