Chapter Seven
I stumbled through the midnight streets, the cold wind slicing across my cheeks like a knife.
The biting chill seemed to penetrate my bones, making me shiver uncontrollably.
Xu Feng's words echoed in my ears like a spell, each syllable piercing my heart like a sharp needle.
He Yun, does she really not love me anymore?
This thought spiraled in my mind, refusing to fade away.
She has become Xu Feng's woman?
I couldn't accept this reality; it felt like a massive stone pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe, nearly suffocating me.
Everything I once had—my career, my wife, my future—had vanished in an instant, shattered like a fleeting dream.
I felt like an abandoned orphan, lost in the darkness, unable to find even a glimmer of light.
I wandered aimlessly, unsure of where I was going or what I should do.
My legs felt heavy as if filled with lead, each step an immense struggle.
My mind was blank, consumed by endless despair and pain that surged over me like relentless waves, threatening to drown me.
Reaching the riverbank, I gazed at the tumultuous waters, a strange impulse rising within me.
The river churned and roared, as if it sought to swallow everything whole.
If I jump down like this, all the pain will come to an end.
I closed my eyes, feeling the river breeze blowing through my hair; the cold wind brought a hint of clarity.
It was as if I were in another world.
In this world, there was no pain, no betrayal, no despair.
Only endless tranquility and peace.
I took a deep breath, ready to leap into the void.
Just then, a warm voice sounded in my ear, laced with urgency and concern.
"Lu Chen, what are you doing?"
I opened my eyes wide and saw Chen Jie standing behind me, her face filled with worry and anxiety.
In the dim yellow light of the streetlamp, her figure appeared particularly fragile, yet like a beacon, she illuminated the darkness around me.
I was stunned, staring at her, momentarily at a loss for words.
My lips trembled, but no sound came out.
"Lu Chen, what's wrong?" Chen Jie stepped closer to me, asking with genuine concern. "What happened?"
Her voice was gentle yet firm, like a warm current flowing into my heart.
I looked at her, wanting to speak, but found myself unable to say anything.
My throat tightened, and tears blurred my vision.
"Lu Chen," Chen Jie gently embraced me, "I know you're hurting, but you can't give up on yourself like this."
Her embrace brought me a flicker of warmth and comfort, like grasping a piece of driftwood in a vast ocean.
I held her tightly and cried out loud.
I poured out all my grievances, all my pain, like a flood breaking through a dam.
I told her about Xu Feng's provocations, He Yun's betrayal, my failures in my career, and my confusion about the future.
Chen Jie listened quietly, not interrupting or trying to comfort me.
She simply held me in silence, allowing me to feel her warmth and support, like a sturdy harbor shielding me from the storm.
I cried for a long time until I was utterly exhausted and gradually calmed down.
"Chen Jie," I lifted my head to look at her, my voice hoarse, "what should I do?"
Chen Jie gently wiped away my tears and said softly, "Lu Chen, you still have me, your friends, and your family."
Her gaze was firm and warm, giving me a glimmer of hope, like seeing a ray of light in the darkness.
"They all need you. You can't just fall down like this."
"Chen Jie," I held her hand, "thank you."
Her hand was soft and warm, giving me strength.
"Lu Chen," Chen Jie looked at me, "you don't need to thank me; we are friends."
Her words brought me a sense of comfort.
"Let's go have a drink," Chen Jie suggested.
Her eyes were filled with concern; I knew she wanted me to relax, to temporarily forget the pain.
I nodded, not refusing.
Perhaps alcohol could numb my senses, allowing me to forget this heart-wrenching agony for a while.
Letting me escape this cruel reality, even if just for a moment.
We arrived at a bar.
The dim lights and loud music only heightened my agitation.
The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and smoke, making it hard to breathe.
I felt like a trapped beast, confined in this cacophonous cage, unable to escape.
Chen Jie ordered two glasses of whiskey.
A cup was handed to me.
I took the glass and downed it in one gulp.
The spicy liquid flowed down my throat into my stomach, igniting a fire within.
I felt a surge of heat in my stomach, but this sensation brought me a strange sense of pleasure.
"Lu Chen," Chen Jie looked at me, "I know you're struggling, but you can't keep going on like this."
Her tone was gentle yet firm, as if she were encouraging me to pull myself together.
"What should I do?" I asked in anguish, feeling like a trapped beast struggling in a cage of despair.
My voice was filled with hopelessness and helplessness; I didn't know where to turn.
"You need to pick yourself up," Chen Jie said resolutely, "for yourself and for those who care about you."
Her gaze was full of encouragement, like a light igniting in the darkness for me.
Her words struck like lightning, piercing through the darkness in my heart and revealing a glimmer of hope.
I looked at her, warmth flooding my heart.
Her eyes were so clear and so steadfast that I found a measure of comfort in them.
"Thank you, Chen Jie," I said sincerely.
My voice was filled with gratitude, and I knew she genuinely wanted to help me.
"We're friends," Chen Jie smiled, "we should help each other."
Her smile was so warm and sincere that it gave me a glimmer of hope.
We drank a few more glasses.
The alcohol began to take effect, and my mind gradually became hazy.
Everything around me started to blur, and I felt as if I were dreaming.
"Chen Jie," I looked at her with dazed eyes, "do you believe in love?"
My voice was somewhat slurred, but I still made an effort to ask the question.
"I do," Chen Jie replied firmly, "I believe there is true love in this world."
Her tone was resolute, instilling a sense of hope within me.
In that moment, it felt as if I could see the dawn of love, a glimpse of hope for the future.
"But my love is already dead," I said painfully, feeling as if my heart were being torn apart.
My voice was filled with sadness and despair; I knew my love was beyond saving.
"No, Lu Chen," Chen Jie grasped my hand, "your love is not dead; it has simply lost its way."
Her hand was warm and strong, giving me a glimmer of strength.
Her words were like a shot of adrenaline, reigniting my hope.
"You should reclaim it," Chen Jie continued, "instead of dwelling on the past."
Her gaze was firm and filled with hope, making me feel as if I could see the dawn breaking.
"You're right," I nodded, "I should start anew."
I took a deep breath, feeling hope rekindle within me.
I finally understood that I couldn't remain trapped in the past; I needed to begin again and seek out my own happiness.
"Thank you, Chen Jie," I said, looking at her with gratitude. "You've shown me hope."
My voice was filled with appreciation; I knew she was a benefactor in my life.
"No need to thank me," Chen Jie smiled. "I believe you can do it."
I looked at her, my heart brimming with gratitude.
Chen Jie, you are like a beacon of light in the darkness before dawn, guiding me forward.
I will rise again, for myself and for you.
I picked up my glass and drank deeply once more.
This cup of wine is a toast to my past and to my future.
"Chen Jie," I said, looking at her with determination in my eyes. "Let's start over."
My voice was filled with hope and resolve; I knew I would begin anew and create a future that belonged to me.
Chen Jie paused for a moment, then broke into a warm smile.
"Alright," she replied.
Just then, the door of the bar swung open, and a familiar figure walked in.
It was He Yun.
She spotted me, and a complex emotion flickered in her eyes.
She walked straight up to me and stopped.
"Lu Chen," she said, "we need to talk."
My heart sank suddenly, an ominous feeling washing over me.
Was this truly a new beginning, or merely the entrance to another abyss?
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