219: Heartbreak

Chen Mengyao took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently, as if trying to suck all the suppressed emotions deep into her body, struggling to suppress her body's uncontrollable trembling.

Her hand slowly rose, her fingertips trembling slightly, like a withered leaf shivering in the cold wind, as she slowly pushed open the office door.

The door hinge creaked faintly, a 'zhi ya' sound that, in the near-death silence of the space, felt like a heavy hammer striking her heart, making her chest ache, every wisp of air seemingly pricking her nerves.

Lu Chen was sitting at his desk and looked up at the sound.

The office light poured down from above, outlining his stern features, his high nose bridge rising like a mountain, his deep eyes seemingly hiding endless secrets.

But the look he directed at Chen Mengyao was bone-chchillingly cold; the tenderness that once filled his gaze when he looked at her seemed to have never existed, as if their past together was merely an illusory dream, easily shattered by this cold reality.

Chen Mengyao's eyes instantly welled up with tears, which spun in her eyes like a flood about to burst its banks.

She blinked hard, trying to hold back the tears, but the hot liquid still rolled down uncontrollably, sliding along her cheeks and dripping onto the floor, splashing into tiny tear blossoms.

Her lips trembled slightly, like a withered leaf in the wind, and after a long moment, a choked voice emerged: "Lu Chen, please, don't treat me like this. What did I do wrong..."

Her voice spiraled in the silent office, filled with endless grievance and panic, the helplessness of being abandoned by a loved one, every note tugging at her broken heart.

Lu Chen stood up, hands in his pockets, his movements seemingly casual but imbued with a certain coldness.

He walked to the window, his back to Chen Mengyao, as if unwilling to face her utterly heartbroken appearance.

The sunlight outside the window fell on him but failed to add a touch of warmth to his figure.

"I've made it very clear. I only took pity on you back then. Now that your mother is well, there's no need for us to stay in touch."

His tone was icy, every word wrapped in frost, each phrase like an ice blade cutting into Chen Mengyao's heart, severing her emotions.

Chen Mengyao stumbled a step forward, her body unsteady, her legs giving way, almost causing her to fall. She frantically grabbed a nearby chair to steady herself, her voice full of pleading: "Took pity on me? But all those times we spent together, your kindness to me, was it all fake? We walked together under the moonlight, you said you'd always be with me..."

Her voice grew more and more choked, her words interrupted by sobs. Memories flooded back like a tide, the sweet past contrasting sharply with the present coldness, yet the Lu Chen before her was so unfamiliar, as if he had become a different person.

Lu Chen's body stiffened slightly, as if a chord deep within him had been touched, but he didn't turn around, his tone remaining unyielding: "That's all in the past. Don't cling to it anymore; it's better for both of us."

His voice came from the window, as if separated by a thick layer of ice, keeping her at arm's length, as if there had never been deep affection between them.

Chen Mengyao felt a sudden dizzying sensation, her legs weak, unable to support her body's weight, and she slowly squatted down, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, her knuckles white from the effort, as if trying to wring out all this painful emotion.

"I won't cling, I just don't want to leave you. I truly love you, Lu Chen, please don't send me away..."

Her shoulders shook violently, tears streaming down like a burst dam, soaking the ground, her entire being submerged in despair, the world seemingly losing all its color.

Just then, the office door suddenly opened, and a colleague, Xiao Wang, walked in with a stack of documents. Seeing Chen Mengyao slumped on the floor crying and Lu Chen standing indifferently by the window, he froze instantly, his face filled with surprise and embarrassment.

His gaze flickered between the two, the documents in his hands almost falling. After a moment of hesitation, he quietly said, "I... I'll come back later."

He carefully backed out, not forgetting to cast a sympathetic glance as he closed the door.

Chen Mengyao looked at Lu Chen in despair, tears blurring her vision, his figure becoming indistinct.

Her lips trembled incessantly, but she could no longer speak.

The office was eerily quiet, save for her suppressed sobs, a heart-wrenching sound that broke one's heart to hear.

At this moment, faint murmurs of discussion came from the next office; it seemed someone had noticed the anomaly and began to whisper, their voices low, yet like needles piercing Chen Mengyao's heart.

After a long while, Chen Mengyao slowly stood up, her steps unsteady, as if walking on clouds, each step incredibly difficult.

"Lu Chen, I truly love you. Even if you treat me like this, I still don't want to leave..."

Her voice was weak, carrying a final trace of lingering affection, but only Lu Chen's cold back responded, a back like an unbridgeable chasm.

Lu Chen, however, turned his head away, not looking at her, and merely said coldly: "Go. Don't come looking for me again."

Chen Mengyao's body swayed, as if all her strength had been drained by those words.

Step by step, she mechanically walked towards the door, each step as if dragging a thousand pounds.

Reaching the door, she paused, looked back at Lu Chen, her eyes full of reluctance and pain, but Lu Chen remained with his back to her, without any response, as if she had never existed in his world.

She slowly pulled open the door and walked out. The door slowly closed behind her, that soft click like a cruel period marking the end of their relationship.

Chen Mengyao leaned against the door, tears again gushing out. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her hands covered her face, and her entire being plunged into endless pain. Her heart, at this moment, was utterly shattered into countless pieces.

Chen Mengyao returned to the apartment she shared with her roommates, utterly distraught.

Her hair was disheveled, a few strands clinging to her tear-stained cheeks, her eyes vacant like a stagnant pool, her clothes wrinkled, as if life had roughly crumpled her, her whole being seemingly soulless.

Her roommate, Li Yue, was the first to notice something was wrong. She had been sitting on the sofa playing on her phone, but the moment she saw Chen Mengyao, her eyes widened, the smile on her face instantly vanished, replaced by utter surprise, and she quickly got up to meet her: "Mengyao, what's wrong? What happened?"

Her voice was full of concern, her eyes fixed on Chen Mengyao, trying to find answers in her expression.

Another roommate, Lin Xiao, also came out of her room, a book still in her hand. Seeing Chen Mengyao's appearance, her brows furrowed, her face filled with worry: "Oh my goodness, you're..."

Her eyes were full of heartache, and her steps unconsciously quickened as she walked over to Chen Mengyao.

Chen Mengyao's lips moved, but she couldn't say anything, and tears once again streamed from her eyes.

Li Yue hugged her tenderly, gently patting her back: "It's okay, it's okay. Sit down first, and tell us slowly."

Her movements were gentle, as if comforting a wounded small animal.

Lin Xiao casually put her book aside, walked quickly to the water dispenser, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it to Chen Mengyao: "Drink some water, don't rush."

Her eyes were full of concern, and she bent slightly, offering the cup to Chen Mengyao's hand.

Under her roommates' comfort, Chen Mengyao finally recounted the events in broken sentences.

After listening, Li Yue's face turned crimson with anger, her hands clenched into fists, knuckles white from the effort: "How could this Lu Chen be like this! It's too much! He only got together with Mengyao because he pitied her? And now he heartlessly abandons you? Is he even human?"

As she spoke, her eyes also reddened slightly, feeling indignant at Chen Mengyao's plight, sparks of anger flashing in her eyes.

Lin Xiao was also indignant, her brows tightly furrowed, her eyes blazing with fury: "Exactly! All those times they spent together, he just forgets them? He has no conscience!"

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, waving her hands in the air as if to vent all the anger in her heart.

Chen Mengyao just wept silently, tears soaking her clothes, her shoulders trembling slightly, like a wounded fawn, helpless and pitiful.

"I really didn't expect him to change so quickly. What should I do..."

Her voice was choked with sobs, full of confusion, her eyes revealing deep helplessness as she looked at her roommates, as if seeking a glimmer of hope.

Li Yue gritted her teeth and suddenly stood up: "No, I can't let this go. I'm going to confront him!"

With that, she started to walk towards the door, her steps hurried and determined.

Lin Xiao quickly pulled her back: "What's the use of going now? It'll only make Mengyao more upset. Calm down first."

She firmly held Li Yue's arms, her brows furrowed, her eyes filled with anxiety.

Li Yue struggled for a moment but was pulled back by Lin Xiao. She sat down huffily, still muttering: "It's so infuriating, that Lu Chen..."

Her chest heaved violently, her face still showing an angry expression.

Chen Mengyao looked at her two roommates who were standing up for her, a warm current flowing through her heart, yet sadness still lingered: "Thank you, but I still can't let him go. I truly love him so much..."

Her eyes showed deep pain and lingering affection. Despite how much Lu Chen had hurt her, she still found it difficult to let go of this relationship, and tears once again blurred her vision.

With her roommates' company and comfort, Chen Mengyao's emotions calmed down a bit.

But Lu Chen's cold gaze and heartless words kept replaying in her mind, leaving her feeling empty, as if a part of her had been dug out.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Mengyao thought of her mother still in the hospital. She couldn't let her mother see anything amiss, so she forced herself to cheer up, said goodbye to her roommates, and dragged her heavy steps towards the hospital.

Along the way, the streets were bustling with crowds and endless traffic, but her steps were slow and heavy, the hustle and bustle of the street seemingly irrelevant to her. Her eyes were vacant, immersed in her own world of sorrow.

Pedestrians hurried past, occasionally casting curious glances, but they were soon swallowed by the crowd.

When Chen Mengyao arrived at the hospital in a daze and entered her mother's ward, her mother was leaning against the bed, a loving smile appearing on her face when she saw her daughter.

Her mother's complexion was still a bit pale, her hair somewhat disheveled, but the moment she saw her daughter, her eyes were full of concern: "Mengyao, why are you alone today? Didn't CEO Lu come?"

Her mother's voice was weak but full of care, her gaze scanning Chen Mengyao, trying to find an answer.

Chen Mengyao's heart ached fiercely at her mother's words, but she forced a smile onto her face. She walked to her mother's bedside, sat down, and held her mother's hand, which was somewhat cold: "Mom, he... he's been busy with work lately, so he didn't come."

Her voice trembled slightly, afraid her mother would detect something amiss, and her eyes darted away, not daring to meet her mother's gaze.

Her mother gently patted her hand, her eyes showing confusion: "Is that so? I thought he was very good to you before. Why is he so busy lately..."

Her mother's tone carried a hint of worry; she sensed her daughter's distress, her brows furrowed slightly, her eyes full of concern.

Chen Mengyao's eyes reddened again. She lowered her head, not wanting her mother to see her tears: "Mom, it's nothing, please don't overthink it."

Her shoulders trembled slightly as she struggled to suppress her emotions, tightly gripping her mother's hand, as if holding onto the last shred of warmth.

Her mother looked at her daughter, understanding a few things. She sighed and pulled her daughter into her embrace: "Mengyao, are you and CEO Lu having problems? Tell Mom the truth, don't hide it from me."

Her mother's voice was gentle and concerned, gently stroking Chen Mengyao's hair, her movements soft, trying to soothe her daughter's wounded heart.

Chen Mengyao could no longer hold back, tears gushing out. She leaned against her mother's embrace, her shoulders shaking violently: "Mom, he doesn't want me anymore... He said he only took pity on me back then, and now that I'm no longer useful, he's abandoned me..."

She poured out all her grievances and pain, crying uncontrollably, her tears soaking her mother's hospital gown.

Listening, her mother's eyes also reddened. She hugged her daughter tightly, gently patting her back: "Silly child, it's his loss that he doesn't know how to cherish you. You're so good, you'll always find someone who truly loves you."

Her mother's voice was choked with emotion, both heartbroken for her daughter and angry at Lu Chen's actions, her eyes full of heartache and helplessness.

Just then, the nurse walked into the ward to change the dressing. Seeing Chen Mengyao crying, she paused slightly, a concerned expression on her face: "What's wrong here?"

The nurse's voice was gentle, her eyes full of concern. She stopped, looking at the mother and daughter.

Her mother wiped away her tears and said to the nurse: "It's nothing, the child just suffered a little."

The nurse sighed softly and comforted her: "Girl, don't be too sad. There's no hurdle you can't overcome."

With that, she skillfully changed her mother's dressing, then glanced at Chen Mengyao again, her eyes full of sympathy, and gently patted Chen Mengyao's shoulder, as if conveying strength.

Chen Mengyao looked up and forced a smile at the nurse: "Thank you, I'm fine."

She tried to compose herself, not wanting her mother and the nurse to worry too much, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, yet unable to hide the sadness in her eyes.

An elderly lady in the same ward also spoke: "Girl, don't be so sad over a man. You're still young, and you have a long life ahead of you."

The old lady's voice was hoarse but warm. She sat on her bed, looking at Chen Mengyao with concern.

The accompanying family members also cast sympathetic glances, some quietly offering comfort, and the ward was filled with an atmosphere of sympathy and warmth.

Her mother held Chen Mengyao's hand, her gaze firm: "Mengyao, you must be strong, for yourself and for Mom. Life is still long, and we will definitely get through this."

Chen Mengyao looked at her mother and nodded heavily, tears still on her face, but a hint of determination in her eyes.