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墨書 Inktalez
He walked quickly and urgently, his feet swollen and painful, each step feeling like he was stepping on needles. After returning, he sat dazed on the edge of the bed until evening, his gaze vacant and his mind a chaotic mess. The words of Madam Jiang echoed repeatedly in his head as he cradled his head in his hands, frowning deeply.
After a while, the door creaked open, and he knew it was her. His body trembled slightly, but he remained seated, motionless, staring blankly ahead as if he hadn’t heard anything.
It wasn’t until she gently lifted his foot that he turned to look at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. She removed his shoes and socks with delicate movements, submerging his feet in warm water and gently washing them with a damp cloth, her expression focused as if she were performing an extremely important task.
He lowered his head. “What are you doing this for?” His voice was low and tinged with helplessness, his gaze towards her filled with complex emotions.
“This foot is limping for me…” She didn’t respond to him but murmured softly to herself, as if confiding in him while keeping her eyes fixed on his feet.
Unexpectedly, her words provoked him. He abruptly pulled his foot out of the basin with a sudden motion, causing the water to spill over and drench the hem of her skirt. She gasped in surprise.
He slipped on his shoes and stood up coldly. “I have never blamed you; you need not feel guilty, nor should you…” He paused suddenly, turning to look deeply into her eyes, which revealed struggle and pain. He continued, “Nor should you repay me.”
The phrase “repay me” was emphasized heavily by him, suddenly reminding him of the time when he had broken his foot saving her at thirteen. A flicker of nostalgia crossed his gaze.
That year, she was eight years old and had fallen halfway down the mountain while trying to pick wildflowers from between the rocks. Terrified, she cried out loudly; fortunately, she was caught by some stones and didn’t lose her life. Shiyu was only ten then and panicked, rushing back to get help. He couldn’t bear to see her cry; gritting his teeth, he cautiously went down to rescue her, using both hands and feet to carefully make his way toward her.
However, after she was saved, a loose rock fell on him and broke his foot bone. The pain had drained the color from his face as cold sweat poured down.
“I am neither guilty nor seeking repayment; I am…” His thoughts were pulled back by her soft murmurs. Looking at her flushed and delicate face, much of his anger dissipated. His gaze softened slightly as he parted his lips slightly, seemingly waiting for her to continue.
Not guilt nor repayment—was it affection? No, that couldn’t be true; the person he liked was Shiyu—he had since childhood.
She had always been afraid of him, always hiding away. He let out a self-deprecating laugh, his smile filled with bitterness, and the flicker of hope that had just ignited in his heart was extinguished once more.
The words she had left unspoken weighed heavily on Zhou Tangyan's heart, leaving his glimmer of hope shattered. He couldn't help but mock himself for being so sentimental, letting out a helpless sigh as his gaze dimmed.
That night, he spent it in the study, tossing and turning at his desk, unable to sleep. He sat up and lay down repeatedly, her image haunting his mind, refusing to fade away.
He thought that when Shiyu returned, perhaps he could let go, to spare her further sadness and to free himself from pain. His hands gripped the blanket tightly as he furrowed his brow.
A month later, Zhou Shiyu finally reappeared after running away from home. The Zhou family no longer mentioned his elopement; Madam Zhou had strictly forbidden it. Having given birth late in life, she naturally did not want to drive her son away again. The servants in the household tacitly kept silent about the matter.
Zhou Tangyan watched Wan Xia's reactions towards Zhou Shiyu closely, yet she seemed unaffected by anything that had happened. She laughed and chatted with him as if nothing were wrong, a gentle smile gracing her face as she softly called him, "Second Cousin." There was no trace of hatred or resentment in her tone.
This only solidified Zhou Tangyan's suspicions; she liked Shiyu so much that she could forgive him for abandoning her. Or perhaps, driven by love turned to hate, she feigned generosity and kindness now to take revenge and humiliate him under the guise of a sister-in-law.
With this thought, Zhou Tangyan's expression darkened further, jealousy and pain swirling in his eyes as he unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fists.
These various thoughts constantly plagued his mind, driving him mad and pushing him to numb himself. He often found himself staring blankly in a corner or drowning his sorrows in alcohol, downing drink after drink.
However, when he saw her and Shiyu sharing tender moments under the moonlight in the courtyard, rage ignited within him. His eyes widened in fury as his face flushed red. He heard her say, "There are barriers between us; I can't reach his heart. Perhaps my decision back then was too impulsive."
Impulsive? She called it impulsive? So that was how it was—did she regret it now?
Regret marrying him? Regret not waiting for Shiyu to return? A sharp pain pierced through his heart as his hands trembled uncontrollably.
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