Pei Yansi got out of the car and walked away. As he did, Grandpa Chen came down from the car with a slight smile and approached him.
Grandpa Chen patted his shoulder, as if with admiration, and said with a smile, "I’ve always said that President Pei is a smart man, who knows how to handle these matters."
Pei Yansi looked at him coldly, without saying much. His final gaze swept through Shen Heyu still inside the car, signaling Zhao Jin at the driver’s seat with his eyes. He started the car and took Shen Heyu away.
In Shen Heyu’s line of sight, Pei Yansi’s figure grew distant and entered the hospital, to be by another woman’s side.
That sensation from six years ago of having her chest blocked by a door returned.
She found it difficult to breathe, her thoughts were never-ending. She didn’t know what path she and Pei Yansi would take in the future, but she knew up to this moment, he was still unable to make it so that only she existed in his heart and by his side.
Zhao Jin watched her expression in the rearview mirror, as if he knew what she was sighing about, and took the initiative to say, "Miss Shen, actually, President Pei still cares for you in his heart. When he was young, he grew up with Miss Chen, and many adults would joke about them."
"They said they would marry when they grew up. At that time, President Pei was still young, but he almost accepted it by default. Now that you’ve appeared, President Pei is willing to use other things to make up for the life owed to the Chen Family, rather than compromising to marry Miss Chen."
Shen Heyu also looked at him through the mirror, their gazes clashing in the reflection.
Zhao Jin quickly lowered his head, daring not to look any longer.
Shen Heyu asked, "Was he injured today?"
If he had been with Chen Wenzhou, and Chen Wenzhou got hurt, how could he possibly be unscathed? But seeing his appearance, he indeed seemed no different than usual.
Zhao Jin thought for a moment, then still spoke up, saying, "President Pei injured his lumbar spine, glass shards had pierced it. Miss Chen was inside the car, he sustained it while trying to save her."
He paused, then added, "But President Pei saved Miss Chen because he didn’t want the Pei Family to owe anything to the Chen Family anymore."
Shen Heyu gave him a look, clearly understanding what his last comment implied – it was meant to prevent any misunderstanding about Pei Yansi.
But in reality, what was there for her to misunderstand?
No matter what, he still couldn’t commit himself fully to her until now.
By the time Shen Heyu got home, it was already past one in the morning. With the events that had transpired, time had passed, but the empty bridal room seemed unchanged.
She felt an inexplicable irritation in her heart and went to her daughter’s room to check on Yuexue.
Yuexue was sleeping soundly.
Shen Heyu lay down beside her daughter, feeling that only by being with this little creature did her heart grow much calmer.
Shen Heyu was about to drift off to sleep when she heard a knock outside, followed by the old lady’s voice coming through the door, "Heyu, are you asleep?"
Shen Heyu frowned, not knowing why the old lady was looking for her at this time, but she quickly got up from bed to open the door.
She looked at the old lady standing outside in her winter pajamas and said, "Grandma? Why aren’t you resting at this late hour?"
The elderly lady sighed and said, "I know what happened tonight, and there are some things I want to talk to you about."
Shen Heyu didn’t need to say anything to know what she was about to be told. She glanced at her daughter, still sound asleep, and followed the elderly lady out of the room.
Upon entering the elderly lady’s room, the heat was sufficient, and it wasn’t cold at all.
The elderly lady sat back on the sofa and personally poured a cup of hot tea for Shen Heyu before she began, "I just received a call from Mr. Chen, who said that Ling Meng’s legs are completely useless now."
Shen Heyu felt a tremor in her heart upon hearing this. She had seen Chen Lingmeng, and even though she had issues with her or wasn’t familiar with her, the thought of such a young and beautiful girl having to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair inevitably stirred something inside her.
Especially what the elderly lady said next was even more chilling.
"I watched the surveillance footage of that stretch of road. It was a truck that had lost control, charging toward them recklessly."
The elderly lady said, "It was Ling Meng who drove her car in front of theirs without hesitation. So all the damage from the accident fell upon her alone. If it weren’t for her, Yansi might already have..."
Although she didn’t finish, Shen Heyu already knew what the unsaid words were.
Shen Heyu sighed deeply, vaguely understanding what she was being told, "Grandma, it’s been many years, just tell me directly what you want to say."
The elderly lady said, "There’s no point in you and Yansi continuing . Now that Ling Meng is in this condition, she has also been like a granddaughter to me since she was little. My heart can’t bear it—she just wanted to marry Yansi. Since you both have been dragging this out, it’s not making you happy either. Perhaps, it’s time for you both to end things here."
She looked at Shen Heyu with equal affection and continued, "I’m not heartless towards you. It’s precisely because I care for you that I’ve made this decision. You don’t want to stay with Yansi, and the relationship and wedding plans have been dragging on for so long, while Ling Meng just wants to be by his side. Only this way, will all of you be better off."
Shen Heyu took a deep breath.
It felt as if something shattered in her chest, yet she couldn’t grasp it, much less mend it. She knew the elderly lady was right; leaving would be best for everyone.
Chen Lingmeng would be happy, the entire Chen Family would be happy, she herself would gain her freedom, and the elderly lady wouldn’t have to feel guilty about her nearly-granddaughter, Chen Lingmeng.
However, leaving was not so easy; Pei Yansi never gave her that chance.
The elderly lady seemed to know what she was thinking and took the initiative, "Don’t worry, as long as you’re willing, I will handle everything thoroughly, and I will tell him as well."
Shen Heyu forced a smile and said, "Then, thank you, Grandma."
The elderly lady could see Shen Heyu’s helplessness and continued with a sigh, "Ah, don’t blame me for making this decision. I really don’t want to see Yansi’s marriage continue to be drained ."
Shen Heyu shook her head, "Grandma, you’re right, I won’t blame you."
"Rest assured, even if you leave, I won’t let you down. I won’t keep from you any of the wealth that belongs to you."
Who would disdain wealth? Shen Heyu didn’t refuse and left her room.
But when she returned to the marital room she shared with Pei Yansi, seeing the empty room and their wedding photo on the wall, she still felt a hollow ache in her heart.
The two of them had been through so many separations and reunions, but in the end, they were left with nothing.
She thought of Chen Lingmeng and couldn’t help feeling pity.