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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 144: The Final Chapter 4
Jia Man glanced at Zhou Xuanyu with a hint of pride.
Zhou Xuanyu shot her a warning look, but Jia Man pretended not to see it and quickly walked alongside Junxi.
Though it was a cemetery, the greenery here was quite beautiful, and the lush life helped ease the heavy hearts of those who came.
"You didn't come to France just to see my sister, did you?"
After walking for a while, Jia Man finally spoke up.
Junxi nodded, not denying anything.
"Actually, I didn't know your sister had passed away."
Jia Man scoffed lightly. "Of course, Zhou Xuanyu wouldn't let you know."
Junxi looked at Jia Man, unable to understand the hint of sarcasm in her smile or what her words meant.
Jia Man avoided Junxi's gaze and pointed to a stone step. "Let's sit for a moment; I don't want to walk anymore."
Junxi had no objections and even sat down before Jia Man could.
The stone step was short, and they sat closely together, their hands touching. The sunlight was warm, making their hearts feel aflame.
After waiting for a while, Jia Man still did not speak, prompting Junxi to take the initiative.
"Why didn't Zhou Xuanyu let me know that your sister has passed away?"
"Because your sister's death is somewhat connected to you."
This answer left Junxi not only stunned but also somewhat frightened. How could Lin Jingming's death be related to her?
She dared not think further, but she also knew that if Jia Man did not have solid evidence, she would never place such a heavy accusation on her.
"What exactly happened five years ago?" Junxi asked softly, though even in a lowered voice, her trembling tone was unmistakable.
Although the events of five years ago should not be recounted to her by Jia Man, since Zhou Xuanyu was unwilling to speak, Junxi had no choice but to turn to her.
She understood that since Jia Man had brought her out alone, she would definitely share something. Some stories hidden in the heart would only fester into scars. Speaking them out could lead to quicker healing.
"Five years ago... five years ago..." Jia Man murmured with her head down, each word laced with bitterness. "Five years ago, my sister had a car accident outside Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, and at that time, Zhou Xuanyu was by your side."
Junxi's mind raced as she calculated the timeline.
"That day..."
"Yes, that day was when your parents were arrested."
That day was also when Zhou Xuanyu and Lin Jingming were returning to France after delivering wedding invitations in Qingcheng.
When Zhou Xuanyu and Lin Jingming saw the news of Junxi's parents' arrest, they were already waiting at the airport. Just two days later would be their wedding. If that news had come just fifteen minutes later, Zhou Xuanyu would never have seen it; if he hadn’t seen it, he could have gone on being a carefree groom.
However, fate had arranged for those fifteen minutes.
As soon as Zhou Xuanyu saw the news about Junxi's parents' misfortune, he immediately jumped up from his seat, insisting that he needed to go back.
Lin Jingming naturally tried to stop him, but Zhou Xuanyu wouldn't listen to her pleas. Lin Jingming asked him, "You really can't let go of Wen Junxi, can you?"
Zhou Xuanyu frowned. "No matter what, I have to go back and see her."
It was a conversation that ended without resolution. Even when Lin Jingming cried and begged with tears streaming down her face, Zhou Xuanyu remained determined to return.
However, he promised Lin Jingming that he would definitely come back and marry her.
Yet, Lin Jingming never got to see Zhou Xuanyu fulfill his promise before tragedy struck.
After Zhou Xuanyu left, Lin Jingming boarded a flight back to France alone. The moment she landed and exited the airport, she was hit by a car in a daze...
Junxi blinked in panic, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not let them fall, fearing that doing so would only make Jia Man think she was being overly dramatic.
"I really don't know..."
"I know you don't."
After Lin Jingming's accident, Zhou Xuanyu immediately flew back to France.
At that time, although Lin Jingming could no longer move, she was at least still conscious. She waited for Zhou Xuanyu and managed to say her last words to him before she began to faint and never woke up again.
For the past five years, Zhou Xuanyu had lived in deep guilt. After that, he never left France again; he stayed by the side of the sleeping Lin Jingming until her breath ceased.
When Jia Man spoke of this period, she tried hard to control her emotions, but tears still fell.
Junxi didn't know how to comfort her, as her own heart ached just as much.
Indeed, over these five years, none of them—she, Zhou Xuanyu, or Lin Jingming—had fared any better than the others.
Fate had separated them only to make each of them endure their own suffering.
"My sister could never let go until her death. The one Zhou Xuanyu truly loved was you, not her," Jia Man suddenly said.
Junxi fell silent.
She didn't know how Lin Jingming had come to that conclusion, but in her view, even if Zhou Xuanyu didn't love Lin Jingming enough, he had at least done all he could.
"But I had long suspected it. How many men would truly love a woman as ethereal as my sister? They all mistook possessiveness for love," Jia Man's eyes reflected a hint of pain.
Junxi recalled Lin Jingming's radiant smile; she had once told Junxi, "Those men who pursue me only see my exterior. If one day I lose this beauty, who would still chase after me?"
At that time, Junxi was too young to understand the meaning behind Lin Jingming's words. But now, reflecting on it brought a pang of sorrow.
"No matter how remarkable Zhou Xuanyu is, he's just an ordinary man. He has his own vanity. When all the men in Qingcheng were pursuing my sister, he must have felt proud to be able to chase such a beauty. But my sister was foolish; she truly fell in love with Zhou Xuanyu."
Because of that love, she began to disregard everything and resort to any means necessary.
"Perhaps it's true what you say; Zhou Xuanyu might pursue your sister out of vanity. However, I believe he wouldn't marry her for that reason. He must also..."
"Love? You don't need to speak for Zhou Xuanyu. He never loved my sister; the only reason he married her was because she was pregnant."
"Pregnant!" Junxi covered her lips in shock.
So, does this mean that in this car accident, Zhou Xuanyu not only lost Lin Jingming but also their child?
"There wasn't really a pregnancy; my sister lied to him. If she hadn't, she wouldn't have been sure that Zhou Xuanyu would marry her."
Jia Man knew that such a truth was painful.
She would never forget the gloomy expression on Zhou Xuanyu's face when he learned the truth.
He had rushed to the hospital, drenched in sweat. He looked at Lin Jingming on the bed, helpless like a child who had done something wrong.
Zhou Xuanyu didn't dare to ask about the child in front of Lin Jingming; instead, he quietly pulled the doctor aside to inquire if the child had been saved.
When the doctor told him that Lin Jingming was not pregnant, it felt like he had received a cold slap to the face.
Fortunately, he did not abandon Lin Jingming because of this lie.
This was also why Jia Man stood here today to tell everything to Wen Junxi. It was her way of repaying a past hatred.
Jia Man often heard her parents say that Zhou Xuanyu and Lin Jingming's meeting was a calamity; they were both unfortunate, which is why they had such a bond in this life. Zhou Xuanyu certainly made mistakes, but everything stemmed from Lin Jingming herself. Without twisted love, there would be no twisted life.
"After my sister passed away, I hated Zhou Xuanyu and I hated you too. But later, I realized I couldn't hate him, so I could only hate you." Jia Man's cold gaze swept over Junxi.
Junxi shivered.
The wind picked up, scattering the sunlight, and it felt very cold.
"Look, Zhou Xuanyu didn't even come for my sister's memorial to attend your graduation ceremony. No matter what I tried, he wasn't moved by me at all."
"So you lied about being in a car accident?" Junxi's tone was equally cold. "You know what lies can rub salt into his wounds, and you know how to hit his soft spot. So you used this trick to lure him to France. Do you really think that by coming here, your sister would be happy? Would your sister want him to live like those five years forever?"
"Wen Junxi, don't lecture me! Zhou Xuanyu hasn't lectured me, so why should you?" Jia Man interrupted Junxi, feeling guilty.
"I have no reason to lecture you, nor do I want to. It's just that we should all look forward. After all, everything that happened back then was not our intention."
"I know. I know..." Jia Man nodded and shook her head randomly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "But I can't do it. She was my sister; she was so young and beautiful. She deserved a better life..."
"I understand." Junxi pressed down on Jia Man's shoulders. "But everyone is born with their fate, yet how we manage our lives afterward is our own choice. Life doesn't have a 'should be.' Teacher Lin passing away so young is indeed regrettable, but regardless, the deceased are gone, and the living should look ahead."
Jia Man wiped her tears.
"I called you out here to say these things because I intend to move forward from now on."
"It's good that you can think this way."
Jia Man forced a bitter smile.
It was good for her to think this way, but it felt a bit late. For so many years, Zhou Xuanyu had treated her like a younger sister, caring for her deeply. Yet when she deceived him into coming to France with such a lie, she thought he would be angry with her; worse still, she thought he would simply walk away.
But Zhou Xuanyu did not.
When he saw her standing there in front of him, he merely furrowed his brow and pulled her into an embrace.
Zhou Xuanyu's embrace was so warm that Jia Man felt as if she could melt into his arms.
He said, "I'm just glad you're okay..."
The relief in Zhou Xuanyu's voice made Jia Man burst into tears. It was only at that moment that she realized the ties that had bound them for so many years should have been severed long ago.
She felt pain for her sister, but how could Zhou Xuanyu not be suffering as well?
Five years had been enough for him to atone for his sins.
She couldn't bear to see Zhou Xuanyu sad, and even more so, she couldn't stand the thought of him not finding happiness in the future.
So, she should help these two who loved each other to be together.
"I'm sorry..." Junxi said, though she didn't truly understand what she had done wrong. Yet, she knew this apology was owed to Lin Jingming.
"You don't need to apologize. My sister may not be able to let go of the fact that Zhou Xuanyu loves you, but she certainly won't blame you," Jia Man took a deep breath. "My sister actually knew long ago that you liked Zhou Xuanyu."
Junxi was taken aback.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
Lin Jingming was ten years older than her and had far more experience in life. Besides, as a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, how skilled could she be at hiding her feelings for someone?
Women are inherently sensitive to their rivals in love. Lin Jingming was exceptional among women; she saw through it but chose not to confront it, giving herself another chance instead.
"I do like him, but I never intended to ruin anyone's happiness," Junxi said sincerely to Jia Man.
Jia Man reined in her previously aggressive demeanor and nodded.
"I know, my sister will know too."
Jia Man believed that her sister would not hesitate to hurt these two people. After all, one was the man she had loved, and the other was her most accomplished student.
There was no way to have it both ways in this world; love was both beautiful and cruel.
"Let's go back," Jia Man glanced back. "If we don't leave soon, Zhou Xuanyu will think I've eaten you."
Junxi smiled lightly.
As they stood up, they saw Zhou Xuanyu approaching with two elderly people.
"He planned to return to Qingcheng immediately after he found out I wasn't in a car accident. But when he learned my parents were here too, he decided to stay," Jia Man explained.
Junxi nodded.
"He's a good person. A really good person." Jia Man's gaze flickered with emotions that were hard to decipher, but in the end, she simply furrowed her brow and smiled. "In the future, my parents and I will immigrate to France to stay here with my sister. Zhou Xuanyu gave us the house he bought back then; he has arranged everything..."
Jia Man's words echoed in Junxi's ears as he gazed distantly at that man.
She knew; she knew everything.
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