Translator: Lynn
“What I’m trying to convey, Mr. Li, is that one day you’ll have to learn to ‘analyze,’ ‘deal with,’ and ‘resolve’ issues like an adult.”
Deception through one’s eyes, compromising excessively at the cost of emotions, is a path towards self-destruction for both oneself and others.
“You no longer love him, yet you torment yourself, refusing to let go. Isn’t it intriguing?”
As expected, Mr. Li was angered. He nearly yanked out the IV tube: “What nonsense are you spouting? Why would you say that I—”
“You stopped loving Ye Yin a long time ago. I should’ve brought this up last time during our Sukiyaki dinner.”
“I, I…you!”
“Or was it something else you said? ‘I love him.’ Don’t pretend.” Ji Kai wanted to laugh and looked at Li Weidu with a tinge of sympathy.
“In the end, you can’t deceive yourself. Similarly, your eyes, every subtle movement and expression, can’t deceive others.”
“…”
“Mr. Li, I’m not afraid of your jokes. In fact, until yesterday, every time I thought of Zhu Ling, I found myself involuntarily smiling. Even though he can be foolish and do things that provoke laughter or tears, even though he may carry sad memories, when you truly love someone, you can’t mask that soft feeling.”
“I’m afraid what remains for you towards Ye Yin is reluctance, some obsession, or suppressed resentment.”
“But you’re hesitant to hurt him. Eventually, you end up hurting yourself repeatedly. This kind of relationship is truly detrimental. If it persists, one day you might genuinely harm someone.”
Li Weidu went berserk upon hearing this: “Who do you think will harm someone? Ji Kai, are you… Is something wrong with you? Get out! Leave right now!”
“The look in your eyes that day, Mr. Li, I’m not telling you that a murderer would cry upon seeing you. Have you ever thought about it? It’s true that you’ve been compromising with Ye Yin without any boundaries, but all the world’s tolerance and forgiveness come at the cost of torturing and consuming oneself. If you keep enduring, someday things will reach an extreme.”
“Even if you sink deeper into this abyss, the pain will be a thousand times worse than now. Ten thousand times worse. Moreover, the cells in your body will etch this feeling into your very being.”
“You’ll never trust in love or anyone else, and you’ll never find happiness in your life, ultimately ending up alone. ‘Eternal solitude.'”
“…”
“I’m not cursing you as I say this. What I’m trying to express is quite simple – break up with him properly. If you cling to the past, the new won’t come. There are good men like me in this world. There are many still. All you need now is to broaden your horizons and explore the vast possibilities.”
Li Weidu fell silent, his gaze fixed.
He stared at Ji Kai until his hair stood on end, then sneered abruptly with a cold countenance: “A ‘good man’ in attire like yours? Then I might as well remain single for life.”
Ji Kai was momentarily bewildered and then dismissed Mr. Li’s words. Logic: “Oh! Of course, I didn’t mean for you to choose me!”
“Oh, Mr. Li, what are you thinking? Even if I get divorced, it’s not your turn, is it? I mean, ‘other’ good men are abundant. And my clothes offend you? I’m quite handsome, you know! Just a while ago, a lovely nurse asked for my number! I’m much more popular than you!”
“You’re teasing me today, aren’t you? Is it because I criticized your outfit?”
“Mr. Li, you’re jesting. Among all the fine garments in my wardrobe, which one isn’t superior to this one I’m wearing?”
…
Ji Kai engaged in a lengthy argument with Li Weidu in the ward, with mixed outcomes.
When Ji Kai emerged, the drip bag was empty, and his steps were unsteady. At the door, he was caught by the aunt again, and they engaged in a heart-to-heart conversation for most of the night.
Simply fatigued and drained.
The weather cleared up the following morning. Before heading home, Ji Kai visited the hospital to check on Mr. Li.
“Actually, I genuinely do not recommend that you visit Ye Yin again. It’s entirely unnecessary and superfluous. But… I can somewhat understand you.”
Last night, his aunt held him and shared many details about Li Weidu.
“Did you know? Weidu is actually quite traditional at heart, paying close attention to what he calls the ‘sense of ritual’… making rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival, preparing glutinous rice balls on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and crafting dumplings during the Winter Solstice. Even if he’s alone, he still insists on doing these things.”
“He always insists that life needs to be ‘lived.’ So even for a breakup, it must be handled like a ‘ceremony’ and done in person, there’s no other way.”
“Mr. Li.”
But I’m genuinely concerned that this guy might kneel again when he sees the little goblin! I’m so afraid that all my stern words last night were in vain! Just now at the door, Aunt was pleading with him: “Ji Kai, you must, must persuade Weidu!”
How?
Ji Kai thought for a moment, took out the folded piece of paper from his front pocket, tore it in half, and handed it to Li Weidu.
“Even though these are Zhu Ling’s curse words, you should keep this for now and read it when you’re feeling uncertain.”
“…”
“I know you’ve liked the little goblin for many years. When we first broke up, you must have felt that you would never be able to do it again.
“I’ll never love anyone again.”
“Perhaps after a while, you’ll still feel uncomfortable. Your whole body might ache, you’ll wake up from nightmares, and you’ll question your whole life.”
“But trust me, it won’t always be like this.
“Time is the best remedy, and you have to think this way—it’s not your fault. Loving someone usually results in two outcomes: either they’re the person in your life, or they’re a lesson in your life.”
“Although my class is a bit expensive and the content is a bit complex. But at least you’ve gained some experience. When you meet someone better than him in the future, you’ll know how to be cautious and seize opportunities.”
“Then, one day, there will surely be a wonderful person by your side.”
“The relationship between you will be sweet and warm, with no more pain or deceit. He’ll know that he cares about you and will love you deeply. Absolutely. He’ll make you believe in life again and in all the potential good things in this world.”
“…” Ji Kai paused.
My participation in the debate club during college wasn’t in vain. A few words actually made Mr. Li cry.
He’s a grown man, yet he still acts like a child, feeling wronged at every turn. It’s as if he’s a doormat, always stepped on, ugh…
Alright, just cry for a while.
…
“That being said, this is your reward. If you haven’t divided it yet, Mr. Li, you’d better pray that you never bump into me on the streets of City S again in your life. Otherwise, I’ll scold you every time I see you. I won’t go easy on you.”
Li Weidu always had a clear mind. Hearing this, he looked up with reddened eyes and asked Ji Kai: “But what if I break up, and you don’t break up with Zhu Ling?”
Ji Kai was simply exasperated: “This isn’t a competition between us! It’s not like whoever can hold on longer wins. You can do it! It’s not like middle school girls conspiring to complain about the teacher together, is it?”
Mr. Li: “…You always seem to have sound arguments.”
“I always have sound arguments!” Ji Kai was too tired to continue the argument: “Okay, I need to catch my bus. Rest well and try to get out of bed early!”
“Ji Kai!”
“Hmm?”
“After you break up with Zhu Ling, find a job quickly.”
“I’m going! ” Now in your eyes, I’m no longer a ‘stay-at-home mom’ or a humanoid teddy bear, but I’m still an unemployed wanderer? ! Ji Kai turned around silently and saw Mr. Li’s sincerely concerned expression: “If you really can’t, you can come to my company. I’ll treat you well.”
“It’s alright, Mr. Li. Summer will be over soon, and the brick-laying sites should start. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely have work and won’t starve.”
“…”
He took two steps and turned back.
Picking up the new mobile phone lying next to Mr. Li’s hospital bed, he entered his number and dialed it on his phone.
“Of course, if the north wind does blow, I’ll have to rely on Mr. Li to look after me.”
…
Zhu Ling always seemed to have this shiny gold powder on him from nowhere. When he grabbed his wrist like this, all the powder rubbed off on him, and the newly bought clothes had to be washed! Annoying!
“What right do you have to ask me to let him go?”
“Zhu Ling, can you commit to divorcing him, or can you assure that you’ll take responsibility for him?”
Li Weidu slowly raised his eyes, dark and filled with mockery and provocation.
“See, you can’t even commit to a promise.”
“Isn’t that too hypocritical? Just trying to deceive people and let it slide?”
“Quit talking nonsense!” Zhu Ling was so agitated that his temper flared. He blurted out, “I will take responsibility for Xiao Yin, just let me go!”
Li Weidu raised an eyebrow. He seemed so eager, almost waiting for him to say more.
Zhu Ling simply gave up and said, “If you can, hit me! Come on? I’m not afraid of you, Li. I’m warning you. If I catch you near Xiao Yin again, watch out, I’ll get you hospitalized!”
In Zhu Ling’s memory, Li Weidu was extremely fragile. Hearing these words usually made him break down immediately, and a fierce physical brawl would follow.
But why?
The man in front of him smiled instead, a smile tinged with a hint of cunning and almost triumphant pleasure.
“Since you insist so much, I understand. I agree to break up and promise not to get involved in the future, so I’ll ask you to take care of Ye Yin.”
Zhu Ling was puzzled, still trying to figure out the meaning behind that odd smile, when he saw Li Weidu slowly and leisurely take out a mobile phone from his pocket.
A phone call was made.
“Ji Kai, did you hear all of that?”
“Yes, I got it all.”
A brilliant autumn light was streaming through the window. Li Weidu hadn’t felt so mentally and physically at ease for years. Zhu Ling’s thunderstruck expression in front of him was truly…haha, haha.
As the president of a game company, he’d never had the opportunity to act in his life. He hadn’t expected that in his first challenge with the Best Actor awardee, he’d be able to conceal the truth so successfully.
On the other end of the phone, Ji Kai’s voice was calm.
“Zhu Ling, since you’ve made your decision, come back soon to complete the formalities. I’ll make it happen for you.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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