65: Chapter 66 The Despair of the Aftermath and Shen Nian's Memories

Yu Bo did not know how he had left the Yin Family garden. The night wind was biting, yet he felt nothing as it scraped against his face. He walked aimlessly, like a shell drained of its soul. In his ears, Yin Tianxue's cold words, "I need time," echoed repeatedly. Before his eyes, her tear-streaked gaze, filled with despair and questioning, kept flashing, along with that ten-second video on the phone screen, enough to destroy everything.

A sea of bitterness, stirred by love and hate. In this world, it is hard to escape fate... Somehow, a desolate yet familiar melody surfaced automatically in his chaotic mind; it was that old song, "A Lifetime of Love." Before, he had only thought the melody moving and the lyrics poignant, but now, every word seemed to mock his situation. "Perhaps I should believe it is fate..." Was his fate with Tianxue to be severed by this damn ten-second video? Severed by his momentary confusion and negligence?

He recalled the heart-fluttering sensation when he first met Yin Tianxue, the little details of their time together, her smiling eyes, her slightly furrowed brows when she feigned anger, and the way she looked so at ease when resting in his arms... Those once incredibly warm memories had now turned into sharp icicles, repeatedly piercing him. He had clearly possessed the most precious "Lifetime of Love," yet because of his own mistake, he had personally pushed her into a "sea of bitterness."

No, he could not just give up like this. Tianxue said she needed time, so he would give her time. But during the time she spent thinking, he had to do something!

Inside the villa, Yin Tianxue threw herself into the arms of her mother, Lin Wanru, finally dropping all pretenses and weeping bitterly. Lin Wanru did not speak, only gently patting her back, letting her vent all her grievances, pain, and anger.

She did not know how long she had cried before Yin Tianxue's wails gradually turned into sobs. Lin Wanru handed her a warm towel, and after waiting for her to wipe away her tears, she pulled her to sit on the sofa and handed her a cup of warm water.

"Crying it out will make you feel a bit better." Lin Wanru's voice was gentle and steady. "Now, tell Mom, what are you thinking?"

Yin Tianxue held the water cup, her fingertips icy cold. She kept her head lowered, her voice muffled: "I don't know... Mom, my mind is in such a mess. Every time I close my eyes, that scene appears... I feel disgusted, and I also feel... scared."

"Scared of what?" Lin Wanru asked.

"Scared that he lied to me, scared that he actually developed feelings for Shen Nian." Yin Tianxue's voice trembled with helplessness. "And scared... scared that even if he was truly just momentarily confused, I wouldn't be able to trust him like before. Once trust has cracks, can it ever be repaired?"

Lin Wanru was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Tianxue, trust is like a mirror; once it shatters, even if you glue it back together, the cracks remain. However, no one is perfect; who hasn't made a mistake? The key is to see whether the error is major or minor, whether it is a matter of principle, or a forgivable oversight? Even more importantly, one must see if the person who made the mistake has truly repented."

She looked at her daughter's red, swollen eyes and spoke earnestly, "That child, Xiao Yu, I can tell that he is sincere towards you. His panic and pain tonight were not feigned. Regarding the video, it is true that he was at fault for giving others an opportunity, and he has broken your heart. But Mom asks you: setting aside this ten-second video, how has he treated you on a daily basis? Has he been attentive to your needs? Has he been respectful to your family? Has he been diligent in his career, working to shelter you from the storms?"

Yin Tianxue bit her lip, unable to deny it. Yu Bo's kindness toward her was real. Apart from this incident with Shen Nian, he was almost flawless.

"Furthermore," Lin Wanru continued, "this matter may not be entirely Xiao Yu's fault. That Shen Nian has impure motives and clever methods. It is not impossible that Xiao Yu, as a man dealing with business social obligations, was drugged or tricked by someone with malicious intent while intoxicated. More importantly, this video arrived suspiciously; the person who sent it has malicious intentions. What the other party wants is for you to become estranged and even turn against each other. If you reject Xiao Yu entirely because of this, wouldn't you be falling right into their trap?"

Her mother's analysis was like a clear spring, pouring over the burning anger in Yin Tianxue's heart, allowing her to calm down slightly. Yes, she had been too busy being angry and heartbroken to think about who sent the video and what their purpose was.

"Mom, are you saying... someone is intentionally trying to harm us?" Yin Tianxue looked up.

"Whether they are trying to harm us, I cannot say for sure. But they are definitely sowing discord." Lin Wanru's gaze was deep. "Tianxue, the more critical the situation, the less you can afford to lose your composure. You must stay calm and clearly see who truly loves and protects you, and who is hiding in the shadows, waiting to watch you make a fool of yourselves, or even trying to profit from the situation."

She held her daughter's hand: "Give him some time, and give yourself some time. Calm down, observe carefully, and think it through. Do not rush into making a decision. If he truly repents and has the ability to handle this messy situation, proving it was indeed an accident designed by someone else, then perhaps... there is still room for reconciliation. If he is not someone you can rely on, or if there is a more unbearable truth behind this, then Mom will support any decision you make. Remember, whatever choice you make, Mom and Dad will always be your strongest support."

Yin Tianxue leaned on her mother's shoulder, the heavy pressure in her heart seeming to lighten a little. Her mother's words gave her a new perspective and a moment to breathe. Perhaps she really shouldn't have sentenced Yu Bo to "death" so quickly? She needed time, and she needed the truth.

On the other side of the city, in Shen Nian's apartment, the lights were dim. She was wearing a silk bathrobe, holding a glass of red wine, standing barefoot in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the brilliant yet cold city nightscape below.

In her mind, however, the scene at the entrance of the Jiangcheng Hotel played back repeatedly, at the most inappropriate time. Yu Bo's look of astonishment, the instant stiffening of his body, and then... the involuntary tightening of his arms, the hot and brief touch when he lowered his head.

Although she was later pushed away ruthlessly by him, and although the disgust and determination in his eyes broke her heart, that momentary "response"—even if it was just an instinct under the influence of alcohol, even if it was just a brief loss of self due to shock—was enough to make her chew on it repeatedly during countless sleepless nights, savoring a hint of false sweetness.

At this moment, a dazed and sweet smile appeared on her face unconsciously. Her fingertips lightly brushed her lips, as if she could still feel the sensation and temperature of that moment. That kiss, though brief and filled with resistance, was, for her, the happiest moment she had experienced in so many years.

She did not care how cold he was afterward, or how eager he was to distance himself. She only remembered that for those few seconds, he had held her; he had not pushed her away immediately. That was enough. It was enough to support her in continuing forward, to continue her plan.

"Yu Bo..." She whispered his name, her gaze gradually becoming deep and paranoid. "You push me away once, twice... it doesn't matter. One day, you will realize who is the most suitable person for you, and who can give you what you need most. Yin Tianxue? She is just a hothouse flower protected too well; how could she be worthy of you?"