Chapter 367 - Return
“When you drew blood when you were younger, I had to accompany you and have my blood drawn, too. When you had to take medicine, I had to take them with you, too—when I wasn’t even sick. You shaved your head, and I had to, too. You liked music so I had to give up my love for painting and go learn music with you. You got into D University so I had to go D University with you. Whatever you did, I did it with you.
“Mother said you were my younger sister so I had to give in to you, but you’re saying I haven’t given in enough?”
She took a deep breath in. Her voice was hoarse. She didn’t cry… because her tears were all flowing in her heart, bitter and painful.
“You died, but I still had to be the scapegoat for you. Everyone vented their hatred on me—my mom, Chu Lui, and everyone from the Xia household. Xia Yixuan, you say I owe you, but what exactly do I owe you?”
Her voice became lighter and lighter, and Xia Yixuan was speechless. “I… I…” She kept repeating the same word, but she couldn’t complete her sentence.
Indeed, she had nothing to say… everything she said was undeniable. Xia Ruoxin owed the Xia household nothing. Even if she did, she had already paid everything off.
“Sister, I still have things to do so I’ll go off first.” Xia Yixuan grabbed her designer bag and turned to leave unnaturally. If things continued like this, she would be shamed further. She wasn’t stupid enough to stay and have her faults slapped to her face like this.
“Hold on.” Xia Ruoxin didn’t let go of her hand and stopped Xia Yixuan who was in a hurry. Her voice was bland and indifferent, and only the hoarseness of her voice could be detected. She was barely choked with emotion, but it was barely noticeable.
“Anything else, Sister?” Xia Yixuan turned around, addressing her perfunctorily. She found that she couldn’t face Xia Ruoxin. No, the whole Xia household would not be able to face her. They owed her an innocence they could not repay.
“You don’t have to call me ‘sister’ anymore. Didn’t your parents tell you? Xia Ruoxin has nothing to do with the Xia family anymore. You’re too high and mighty for me.” Xia Ruoxin said, her eyes downcast. Her damp eyelashes still held the pain from the past.
They had already cut ties four years ago. Shen Yijun was not her mother anymore, but Xia Yixuan’s, just like the Xia household. It was never her home to begin with. Now that Xia Yixuan was alive, they should all be rejoicing. Still, it was none of her business anymore.
“You reap what you sow. You had Brother Lui, but you still went and seduced other men.” Xia Yixuan was stunned for a moment, and then she scoffed loudly. She wasn’t about to let herself be intimidated by that woman. She wasn’t wrong. She gave her a chance, but she made a mistake and made Brother Lui angry.
“If not for your frivolity and promiscuity, Brother Lui wouldn’t have divorced you and married that Li Manni. Daddy and Mummy would not reject you, their daughter. It’s your own fault. Stop blaming others.
“Hmph! You’re not that much better than me.” Xia Yixuan harrumphed and stormed away in her heels. Even if she was selfish and wasn’t a good person, Xia Ruoxin was the same as her, too. They were both equally bad.
Xia Ruoxin’s eyes were fixed onto Xia Yixuan’s figure as she strutted away arrogantly. She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes hanging like tassels. “You’re wrong. We’re different, but who would believe it?”
She turned around, but she was blocked by a huge shadow in front of her, making the dark weather even more oppressive. She lifted her head slowly, her eyes landing on the man in front of her. His eyes were dark and conflicted. They were usually icy cold, but now, they held so many emotions—sadness, apologies, and regret.
Xia Ruoxin pursed her lips and walked past him. She didn’t know how long he had been standing there and how much he heard, but it didn’t matter anymore. Whether Xia Yixuan was alive or dead, it had nothing to do with her.
Chu Lui grabbed her slender wrist suddenly as she walked past him.
“What else do you want? Mr. Chu.” Xia Ruoxin looked at him indifferently, and then shifted her eyes from his face to his hand around her left wrist. “Do you regret not breaking this arm completely last time? Are you trying to test its strength now and give it another beating?”
Chu Lui retracted his hands as if he was electrocuted. His eyes landed on her left arm, and they darkened.
“Is your arm alright?” His voice was hoarse, and it felt as if his throat was stuffed with cotton.
Xia Ruoxin rubbed her left arm gently.
“It didn’t break, but it’s as good as being crippled.” She would never forget how he had wanted to break her arm so cruelly just so he could avenge his current wife, and she would never forget who caused everything in those four years.
“Mr. Chu, your Yixuan is not dead. I don’t owe you anything, and you have no reason to hate me anymore. Could you please stop appearing in front of me?” Xia Ruoxin turned around. She didn’t want to see him anymore. Every time he appeared, it brought her endless pain and torment.
If staying away could bring her peace, then why would they approach again? Now, no one wanted to go back to the past again. He couldn’t turn back time; neither could she… and she was most unwilling to do so.
“I’m very sorry.” He apologized again. He could say it a thousand times and more, but could it reverse all the pain she had suffered, restore her reputation, or heal her arm back to normal?
No, it couldn’t.
“I accept your apology.” She shut her eyes. The heavy pain was still clear within her heart. Perhaps it would never disappear her whole life, for those wounds were too deep.
“There’s something I want to return you.” Chu Lui took out a box from his pocket. Drops of water fell on his back. Xia Ruoxin raised her head. It had started to rain, and it got heavier and heavier. The rain fell on the two of them, drenching their clothes… as well as their hearts, which had started to grow moldy because the sun couldn’t reach them.
Chu Lui walked closer to Xia Ruoxin and looked down at her, holding the box towards her. “This is yours. I just wanted to return it to you.” His black eyes stared at her, and his hand remained in the air. If she didn’t accept it, he would hold this position forever until she did.
He was as famous for his stubbornness as his ruthlessness.