Shen Heyu lowered her head to glance at the hand holding her shoulder, let out a slow sigh, and then looked up to see Pei Yansi’s concerned expression. She felt as if her heart was being shredded by knives.
Thinking of Yuexue’s safety, Shen Heyu could not help but raise her hand to remove his from her shoulder, and she took a step back to maintain a distance from Pei Yansi.
"He didn’t tell me anything, it’s just that I suddenly regretted it."
"I’ve changed my mind again, I don’t want to separate from Lu Yi. I want to make it clear to you, please don’t bother me anymore, can you marry Chen Lingmeng soon? Only then can you completely give up on me."
Shen Heyu looked at Pei Yansi calmly. She couldn’t let her true emotions show, so she kept biting her teeth, struggling to suppress the turbulence in her heart.
Pei Yansi, hearing Shen Heyu’s ruthlessly indifferent words, gave an incredulous, bitter laugh.
"I’m going to find Lu Yi right now; he must have manipulated you into saying this. I refuse to believe these are your true feelings."
Pei Yansi turned around to leave, but Shen Heyu, in panic, grabbed his wrist. His grip was so firm, as if he genuinely feared she would disappear from his sight.
"Don’t bother him. I’ve already explained everything to you clearly; I have truly let you go. The person I can’t let go of now is just Lu Yi. It’s because of your presence, because you exist, that Lu Yi has become , become someone I dislike."
"But only if you disappear from our lives will Lu Yi return to his original self, the one I am most familiar with. Even for your daughter to have a peaceful life, please don’t disturb us anymore, okay?"
With his back to Shen Heyu, Pei Yansi’s heart was instantly chilled when he heard these words, his heart seemingly froze in a moment.
"I don’t believe these are your real thoughts. This morning when you left the house, you were alright; how come you’ve changed so drastically upon return? Tell me what exactly happened in between? If you’ve really encountered some problem, I’ll face it and resolve it with you."
Pei Yansi turned his head back to look at Shen Heyu, still unwilling to let go. For her, he had already made changes, so why wouldn’t Shen Heyu afford him a little more time?
Shen Heyu softly released her grip on Pei Yansi’s hand. She repeated the same words like a robot programmed to do so.
"How should I tell you for you to understand? What’s done is done and can never go back. Moreover, I have a new life now. Can’t you let me lead a peaceful and simple life?"
Shen Heyu’s tone was almost one of despair. She truly felt helpless—if she held on to Pei Yansi, she would lose her daughter, and she did not want to see that happen, so she had to endure the pain of letting go.
Pei Yansi, seeing the desolate expression on Shen Heyu’s face, continuously confirmed her feelings. But in the end, he only received a cold sentence.
"We have truly ended everything; please don’t disturb me anymore."
Pei Yansi wasn’t hallucinating; he heard clearly, those words that definitely came from Shen Heyu’s mouth, every word piercing his heart like a needle, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Is this really what you want? Look into my eyes and answer."
Shen Heyu gathered her courage and slowly lifted her head to meet Pei Yansi’s gaze. His eyes, too, were filled with intense love. For a moment, Shen Heyu nearly faltered under his gaze.
But this was not the time to back down, she had to make Pei Yansi believe her words were true, or he would not let go easily.
"I’m telling the truth; I’ve moved on from the past three years. The person who’s unable to move on is you, Pei Yansi. It’s been so long, how much longer do you plan to dwell in your fantasies?"
"Stop bothering those who are already gone. Let me have a peaceful life, okay? I’m even begging you."
Pei Yansi forced a smile, wanting to laugh but unable to. When she had left Pei Yansi, relying on the power of the Chen Family, Pei Yansi had not agreed to their separation, and at that time, Shen Heyu hadn’t even mentioned the word "beg."
But now, Shen Heyu was begging Pei Yansi to let go, to let her leave.
"If this is what you want, then I shall set you free." Pei Yansi didn’t know with what feelings he spoke those words. He only knew that after saying them, his heart had gone numb, as if insensitive to any pain or suffering.
Finally, Shen Heyu had heard these words from Pei Yansi.
Her words of freedom felt like a sword thrust into Pei Yansi’s heart, hurting them both deeply.
Shen Heyu had finally heard what she needed to, but she felt as though she was stepping into an abyss; ahead of her lay a disaster from which there was no recovery.
Yet, she still managed a smile for Pei Yansi, thanking him as she smiled, "Thank you for letting go. I wish you and Miss Chen happiness."
Then, Shen Heyu turned and left. Watching her retreating figure, Pei Yansi reflexively reached out to hold her back, but his hand merely brushed against Shen Heyu’s wrist.
He ultimately couldn’t hold onto her hand, couldn’t keep her.
Shen Heyu soon disappeared from his sight, and Pei Yansi felt as if his world were collapsing, utterly destroyed.
After leaving Pei’s Villa, Shen Heyu returned to Lu Yi’s house.
Lu Yi had been anxiously waiting at home for her and made another call to confirm.
"You said Shen Heyu would definitely return today? But the day is almost over, it’s getting dark, and she’s still not back. You didn’t get it wrong, did you? I’m worried she’s still entangled with Pei Yansi."
Chen Wenzhou heard Lu Yi’s anxious voice, merely chuckled softly twice, not taking it too seriously.
"Since I said she would return today, can’t you wait patiently? Haste makes waste."
"She’s back!" Just as Lu Yi was getting restless, he heard the familiar sound of a car parking at the front of the house. He looked up from the window and saw the well-known license plate.
Shen Heyu had returned.
Lu Yi’s eyes brightened. He quickly said something into the phone before hanging up and walking toward the door.
Shen Heyu unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out of the car, her feet barely touching the ground when she saw Lu Yi standing at the doorway.
Lu Yi watched her with immense joy, "Heyu, you’re back."