125: It pierces the heart

This guy really says anything.

"Indeed!" Ye Qingyan, who was usually steady, nodded in a rare display of agreement.

"Si Yang, tell us, which of the three of us is a little prettier?" Ye Qingyan asked with great interest!

"Are you sure this is a multiple-choice question and not a suicide mission?" Si Yang blinked.

Could such a topic really be discussed openly?

"Go ahead, we promise no one will get angry," Liu Mingyi said with a laugh!

Seeing Si Yang's gaze, Ye Mengwan also nodded.

Clearly, all three women were extremely confident in their own looks.

"You really want me to say?" Si Yang asked!

"Of course!" The three women nodded simultaneously, looking at Si Yang with anticipation.

"Of course, my Mengwan is the prettiest," Si Yang said very sincerely!

"Tch, how boring," Ye Qingyan pouted.

Liu Mingyi also wore a look of disdain.

"You have to give a proper evaluation of who's good-looking or not!" Ye Qingyan insisted!

"An evaluation? What, am I picking a concubine here or something?" Si Yang said, torn between laughter and tears!

To be honest, the three women were like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with her own charm. It was hard to say who was prettier and who wasn't.

When women reach a certain level of beauty, there's no real difference. It's just a matter of personal preference.

"The mutton's here." Just then, a middle-aged woman called out, and a large steaming pot of mutton was placed on the table.

The three women, accustomed to delicate dishes, were somewhat surprised. It really was a whole pot.

The steaming mutton was very enticing.

Si Yang picked up a piece for Ye Mengwan. "Try it."

Then he gestured for Liu Mingyi and Ye Qingyan to start eating.

"This restaurant has been here for many years; it existed even when I was a child. Back then, my family was poor. The old man's meager income was barely enough to cover household expenses."

"So, getting a bite of meat back then was truly difficult."

"Si Yue and I would pass by this alley every day on our way home, and the aroma of meat wafting out was clear and distinct."

"I'd hold Si Yue's hand, stand outside the window, and watch the customers inside eating meat, just staring longingly."

"Back then, Si Yue would tell me, 'Brother, wait until I grow up and earn money. We'll eat meat to our heart's content, until we're sick of it.'"

"Now it's good; we can eat meat every meal, but the person is gone." Si Yang smiled bitterly.

Through the window, it seemed as if he could see that small, young figure from back then, standing there watching him.

For a moment, the three women couldn't help but feel their eyes grow slightly red. Born into wealth, they had never imagined such a life—that for some, even a single bite of meat was a luxury.

"Later, I grew up, but I only came back once." Si Yang smiled helplessly.

Battling through wind and rain, it seemed he had forgotten the original promise.

It wasn't until Si Yue graduated and got a job that the siblings had their first reunion.

In truth, the trajectory of Si Yang's life wasn't complicated.

It's just that most of his life has been filled with hardship.

Poverty in childhood, dropping out of school, joining the army, then entering a special forces unit, ending up covered in scars, and finally being discharged!

A few sparse sentences could summarize it, but they couldn't describe the suffering he had endured.

Hardship is the greatest setback in life, especially at an age when one is powerless.

"Quick, quick, eat the meat. It won't taste good once it's cold."

"This mutton must be eaten hot to have the best flavor." Si Yang looked at the three women with complex expressions and smiled.

He had no intention of boasting about his hardships; it was just a moment of inexplicable emotion.

The three women nodded, each picking up a piece of meat. Seemingly moved by the scene Si Yang had described, the meat seemed to carry a different flavor.

But their minds couldn't help but retain the image of two figures: two children in worn, patched clothes. The boy, slightly taller and somewhat grimy, holding the hand of a small, thin girl, standing outside the restaurant window, watching the customers inside eating steaming mutton.

Their eyes were full of longing and envy.

What was once easily attainable for them was someone else's heartfelt wish.

So, sometimes this world really isn't fair.

With wine and food satisfyingly consumed,

most of the mutton ended up in Si Yang's stomach alone.

"See, how well your brother is living now," Si Yang whispered to himself.

Outside the window, that small, young figure seemed to smile, then gradually faded away.

The four of them left Su City. After getting into the car, Liu Mingyi handed over the driving duties to Ye Qingyan.

The one with the most complex and painful emotions was undoubtedly her.

Whether it was Ye Qingyan or Ye Mengwan, at least they had never wronged this man. But what about her?

There was too much disgrace, too much that was hard to speak of.

Now, recalling every past scene felt like a dagger, piercing straight into her heart.

"I really didn't know he suffered so much. I didn't know!"

"If I had been better to him, just a little better, do you think he wouldn't have left me?" Liu Mingyi's face was covered in tears, her voice trembling.

"What were you thinking back then?" Ye Qingyan didn't hesitate to kick her while she was down.

"Liu Mingyi, do you know? You almost destroyed him. If it weren't for Ye Mengwan, if it weren't for that girl..."

"The moment the old man died would have been the moment heaven and earth perished together." Ye Qingyan gave a cold laugh.

Thankfully, he still had someone to care about.

"You know, the kind of person I hate the most is the one who doesn't cherish what they have until they lose it, then acts all regretful as if they were so deeply in love."

"No matter how many excuses you have, can you honestly say you never once thought about leaving him?" Ye Qingyan sneered!

It was fine if Liu Mingyi didn't bring it up, but once she did, Ye Qingyan felt her anger boiling over.

"When you were cold and distant toward him, I bet you were also comparing in your heart—whether Lu Zhou was better or he was. You just hadn't made a decision yet, but he was faster than you."

"Liu Mingyi, you still don't understand him. He may seem quiet and reserved, but his heart is more sensitive than anyone's."

"Growing up in such an environment, he's seen plenty of the warmth and coldness of human relationships."

"After that, he experienced life and death. Do you think there's anything he doesn't see through?"

"It's not that he doesn't forgive you; it's just that he can't find a reason to forgive you." Ye Qingyan said coldly!

Even if Liu Mingyi's body never betrayed him, what about her heart?

Forcing Si Yang to compromise was one thing, but could Liu Mingyi honestly say that back then she wasn't comparing who was the better choice?

"So, you only think from your own perspective. Ultimately, you're just a self-serving person." Ye Qingyan said indifferently!

These words were undoubtedly a direct stab into Liu Mingyi's heart.

If before, she had been allowed to retain some dignity and face, now Liu Mingyi couldn't even find a reason to refute.

"Actually, to put it another way, it's all just being unable to let go. You, Liu Mingyi, have money and looks. Why hang yourself on one tree? Right?" Ye Qingyan laughed!

Before, she hadn't said such things because she thought Liu Mingyi might still have a chance. After all, the two had lived together for over a year; that man might not have been without feelings.

But now, with Ye Mengwan here, Liu Mingyi seemed insignificant.