Chapter 13 — When the Ex Returns

A faint smile touched the lips of Shen Yanshu. His gaze drifted to the dark circles beneath Lin Shixia’s eyes, and his brows furrowed in an instant of concern.

"You haven't been sleeping well lately. Is it because of the person who came looking for you? If you need anything, I can—"

"There is no need, Senior Shen. I suspect he will not come again. The translation book you lent me previously is still at my apartment. I have to head back this afternoon; why don't you join me for a meal? It is the least I can do to thank you for all the support you have shown me lately."

Lin Shixia’s words were sincere, causing a ripple of warmth in Shen Yanshu’s heart. He nodded slowly. After class, Lin Shixia gathered her belongings and led Shen Yanshu to her apartment. By pure chance, she missed Fu Tushen, who, having recovered from his illness, had arrived looking for her. After much difficulty and persistent inquiry, Fu Tushen finally obtained her address. By the time he reached the apartment complex, two hours had passed. In the distance, he saw the shadows of two figures. Even without hearing their conversation, the genuine smile on Lin Shixia’s face convinced him that their relationship was far from simple.

"Shixia, thank you for the meal. There is an exhibition on ancient Greek architecture next Wednesday. If you have the time, would you like to attend it with me?"

As he spoke, Shen Yanshu handed her a ticket, his expression betraying a subtle, nervous tension. Lin Shixia noticed this small detail, and a gentle smile curved her lips.

"I would love to."

Fu Tushen could not help but move closer, feeling as though his heart had plummeted into an icy abyss. In his memory, it had been a long time since he had seen such a heartfelt smile from her. When she looked at him, she wore only an mask of icy indifference. Unconsciously, Fu Tushen clenched his fists, his pupils reflecting the two figures growing ever closer. From a distance, they looked like lovers about to share a tender kiss. In that moment, Fu Tushen’s mind went completely blank. The rage that had been festering in his chest exploded. Only one thought remained: Lin Shixia belonged to him. He lunged forward, tore Shen Yanshu away, and, without a word, struck him hard.

"You bastard! Who gave you the right to touch her!"

Shen Yanshu, initially caught off guard, soon regained his composure and began to defend himself. The two men collided in the snow, trading blows. Lin Shixia shouted for them to stop twice before finally calling for help. Ten minutes later, Xu Nanshan arrived to put an end to the farce. His gaze fell upon Fu Tushen, heavy with profound disappointment.

"You scoundrel, how dare you show your face here? Get out! You are not welcome in this place!"

Fu Tushen spoke with frantic desperation: "Uncle Xu, please, let me explain. I have done many things wrong in the past, but I truly know my faults now. I specifically requested this assignment in Moscow to beg for Shixia’s forgiveness. I have even—"

But Xu Nanshan refused to listen, cutting him off with cold, sharp words. "I remember the kindness you showed when you first brought Shixia home, but that is no excuse for the misery you caused her. When we were at the station in the capital, every wound on her body was a gift from you. You even laid your hands on the heirlooms my sister left behind for her!"

"Fu Tushen, you have forfeited any right to stand by her side. From now on, it does not matter who she chooses to be with; it will have nothing to do with you!"

The deluge of reproaches from Xu Nanshan left Fu Tushen unable to hold his head high. He stared at the three of them with a darkened expression before dropping to his knees.

"Shixia, I was wrong. I was blind and deaf to the truth. Please, give me one chance to atone, just one..."

Lin Shixia watched Fu Tushen in total silence. It was only when she finally spoke that she noticed Xu Nanshan and Shen Yanshu had retreated, leaving space for the two of them. Lin Shixia took a deep breath and calmly uttered the words she had harbored in her heart for so long.

"Fu Tushen, this is the last time I will make this clear. In my past life, I loved you, but I also hated you. Reborn in this life, I am weary, and I have learned to let go. Yet you and Gu Xiao insisted on twisting the knife in my heart time and time again."

"If I were to forgive you, what would become of the suffering I endured when I was dragged into the street and forced to kneel? What of the slander, the ruined reputation, and the imprisonment where I was bullied and discarded? How can those be dismissed?"

As if recalling a painful memory, Lin Shixia offered a bitter smile. "Those pains and those scars have haunted me, preventing me from forgetting. And so, Fu Tushen, let go. This is the best outcome for us in this life."

Lin Shixia stared directly into Fu Tushen’s eyes, as if trying to pierce through the darkness hidden in their depths. The ache in his knees was nothing compared to the agony gnawing at his heart. The blizzard intensified. Fu Tushen had never felt such despair. He finally understood that she would never forgive him.

After that day, Fu Tushen vanished from Lin Shixia’s world. In truth, however, he continued to watch over her life from the shadows, forever out of reach.