Tang Yan collapsed over the steering wheel, sobbing uncontrollably. People walking by glanced at her with confusion and concern—some even wondering if she’d lost her mind.
“I don’t accept this.”
“You’re lying. That’s not what you really want.”
“I don’t want to break up.”
“Please, say something. Don’t just ignore me.”
“…”
After receiving that breakup message, Tang Yan had sent Ji Yuqing countless texts and made dozens of calls—but none of it worked. She felt like she was losing her mind. No—she had already lost it.
She started the car again and drove down street after street, searching every place they’d ever been to. Her eyes were too dry to cry anymore, and the wind stung painfully, but even if there was just a sliver of hope, she had to try. She could feel it—Aunt Ji was still in this city. Huadu might be huge, but it also wasn’t that big. She refused to believe someone could just disappear.
Rain started to fall, thin and cold, scattering pedestrians as they ran for shelter. Tang Yan’s car was almost out of gas. As she pulled into a station, she nearly filled it with the wrong fuel type—thankfully a staff member double-checked and stopped her. She was so distracted, she barely noticed.
The attendant kindly warned, “Miss, it’s late. You should head home soon. The forecast says a storm’s coming.”
Tang Yan paid absentmindedly and nodded before pulling back onto the road.
The streets were dim under the yellow glow of streetlamps, nearly empty. Tang Yan stared ahead, dazed, unsure of where she was even going.
Then, she remembered—there might be one last thread of hope. She pulled out her phone and called her mother. After all, Ji Yuqing had left to meet her.
The call connected. Tang Yan held her breath, hands clenching the steering wheel, heart pounding in her throat.
“Yan Yan?” came her mother’s voice.
Tang Yan’s voice was frantic. “Mom, you saw Aunt Ji, right? Is she with you? Please let me see her, I’m begging you.”
Tang Huiyi’s voice was calm. No anger, no judgment. “I’m at a hotel. Come here.”
“Okay! I’ll be right there. Send me the address.” Tang Yan ended the call and immediately set the GPS to the location, speeding off.
She thought Ji Yuqing would be there. But when she arrived, it was just her mother.
Tang Huiyi opened the door gently. “It’s raining. You didn’t get too wet, did you?”
Tang Yan ignored the question, too focused on looking around the room. “Where is she? You said she was here. Where are you hiding her? Give her back to me.”
Seeing her daughter this distraught broke Tang Huiyi’s heart. “I never said she was here.”
Tang Yan blinked, stunned. “What…?”
“Yan Yan, you two shouldn’t be together. Don’t you understand?”
Tang Yan bit her lip, trying to hold back tears. “It’s because of you. She’s breaking up with me because of you. Why are you doing this to us?”
Tang Huiyi shook her head calmly. “She made that choice herself. It was her decision to leave you. Understand?”
“No! I don’t believe that. She wouldn’t—she wouldn’t!” Tang Yan turned and bolted toward the door.
“Yan Yan! It’s pouring outside, where are you going?” her mother called out, but Tang Yan was already gone.
The rain was heavier now. Ji Yuqing wandered the streets, drenched, hopeless. She thought maybe it would be better if she just disappeared. No matter what she chose, someone would be hurt. Maybe it was better if she took all the pain herself.
She didn’t even realize where she’d walked—until she looked up and saw the entrance to Zhang Miya’s building.
She was surprised. Of all the places in Huadu, this was where her feet had taken her?
“Babe,” Zhang Miya’s husband called from the window, “someone’s downstairs.”
Zhang Miya came to the window and gasped. “It’s Old Ji—it’s her!” She grabbed a dry towel, an umbrella, and rushed out to meet her.
“What the hell is wrong with you, standing out here in the rain like a lunatic?” she scolded.
Ji Yuqing was soaked to the bone, shivering, her skin cold and pale. She didn’t even have the strength to speak.
Zhang Miya covered her with the umbrella and draped the towel over her shoulders. “Come on. Get inside.”
“I don’t even know why I came here… sorry to trouble you,” Ji Yuqing mumbled.
“Oh, stop. Let’s get you dry first.”
Miya’s husband brought over some hot water. Miya took it and said, “You go sleep in the kid’s room tonight. I’m staying with Old Ji.”
She sat Ji Yuqing down and blow-dried her hair, nagging like a mom. After nearly an hour of fussing, Ji Yuqing finally took a hot shower and changed into one of Miya’s old pajamas—so big on her it was almost funny.
“This is the set I wore when I was pregnant with Dou Dou. Didn’t expect you to look so cute in it,” Miya teased.
Ji Yuqing forced a faint smile but didn’t say much. Miya’s expression softened. “You okay? Something happened?”
Ji Yuqing sat pale and silent, eyes on her cup of hot water. “Yan Yan’s mom… came to Huadu.”
“So what? Let her come—wait.” Miya froze, realization dawning. “Don’t tell me… she found out about you two?!”
Ji Yuqing didn’t answer. Her silence said it all.
Miya was stunned. “God, I told you this would happen. Of all people to fall for, it had to be Tang Huiyi’s daughter?”
Ji Yuqing gave a bitter smile. “Can you really choose who you fall in love with?”
Miya had no response. “I mean, fate’s just messing with you guys. So… what did she say?”
“I don’t want to think about it,” Ji Yuqing murmured. “In the end, I hurt Yan Yan.”
“You broke up with her?” Miya guessed.
No answer.
“I figured. Tang Huiyi definitely pressured you. Honestly, if I were her, I don’t think I could accept it either. You two being together—it’s like a thorn in her heart, always there, always hurting.”
“I know,” Ji Yuqing said quietly. “That’s why I walked away.”
Miya sighed. There was nothing left to say. No comfort would sound sincere right now. Ji Yuqing was an adult—she’d made her decision. All Miya could do was support her.
“So… what now?”
“I don’t know.” Ji Yuqing shook her head. “One step at a time, I guess.”
“Alright. Just get some rest tonight. Forget everything else.”
But Miya still didn’t know the real reason. Tang Huiyi had given Ji Yuqing an ultimatum—either break up, or she would take her own life.
How could Ji Yuqing live with that? How could she make Yan Yan carry that guilt forever?
If their love meant someone else had to suffer, then maybe it was better to let go.
That night, Ji Yuqing didn’t sleep. She stared out the window, listening to the rain, eyes open until morning.
Tang Yan spent the whole night driving. When dawn broke, she headed home, praying Aunt Ji had returned. But when she opened the door, the house was silent. Empty. Only the ticking of the clock kept her company.
Her chest tightened. Tears welled up again. Where did you go, Aunt Ji? Why won’t you see me?
She took out her phone and started calling everyone she could think of. No one knew anything. Peiwen said she’d come over soon and suggested trying Zhang Miya.
Tang Yan called Miya again. She hadn’t been able to get through the night before—hopefully this time.
Pacing anxiously, she waited.
Finally, the call connected.
Tang Yan’s voice was frantic. “Aunt Miya, have you seen Aunt Ji? She didn’t come home last night and I’m really worried. If she’s with you, please—please tell me.”
Miya hesitated. She looked at Ji Yuqing, hoping for a signal. Ji Yuqing stayed silent, cold, distant. That was answer enough.
Miya turned back to the phone. “Old Ji’s not here. Did something happen? You can tell me—I’ll help if I can.”
Tang Yan’s heart sank. Her voice dropped. “Oh… okay. Sorry to bother you.”
She hung up. Her mind was blank.
Miya looked at Ji Yuqing, unsure if she should say more. “That girl really cares about you… Are you sure you want to keep hiding from her like this?”
Ji Yuqing stared out the window, expression vacant. And said nothing at all.