Chapter 74

The cold, detached words echoed in the small bedroom. Though it was only a few simple words, they sounded utterly surreal to Lu Youqing.

“When we go back home, how about we keep some small plants or pets around the house?” Lu Youqing offered a gentle smile, completely ignoring Yan He’s statement and brushing past it seamlessly. “I remember you mentioned before that the house is so big with just the two of us, and that you get scared whenever I leave for work. If we raise a few small animals you like, maybe you won’t feel so afraid anymore.”

She spoke with a light, warm smile, acting as if she hadn’t heard a single word Yan He had just uttered—her soft, inquiring tone resembling the lingering affection after a deep embrace.

Yan He’s brow furrowed tightly as her eyes fixed onto Lu Youqing’s face. Realizing that Lu Youqing was dodging the issue yet again, she let out a long, heavy sigh, her heart suffocatingly heavy. She pressed her lips together and spoke once more, her voice entirely stripped of emotion this time.

“I said… let’s separate.”

It felt as though a sledgehammer had slammed into Lu Youqing’s chest, leaving her mind dazed. Taking several deep breaths behind Yan He’s back, she desperately suppressed the rising tide of paranoia within her. Her subconscious urged her to ignore Yan He’s words, yet Yan He’s clear, piercing gaze made that impossible. A searing, unbearable pain surged through her heart. She stared back at Yan He, searching her eyes for any trace of a joke meant to scare her, or any sign that she was lying.

Yet there was none. In the depths of Yan He’s eyes, there was no emotional fluctuation left—not even a sliver of the love she used to hold. Lu Youqing began to tremble violently, a deep, bone-chilling cold rising from the core of her soul.

“No…” She opened her mouth to say something—to explain, to refuse—but before she could utter more than a single word, Yan He cut her off.

“Do you really love me? Do you truly believe that this situation is good for either of us? You track me down time after time, trap me by your side time after time, and repeat apologies over and over… but do you actually understand what you’re apologizing for? Even now, you still want to use your selfish, paranoid love to cage me for the rest of my life! Am I your partner, or am I just your dog? I am begging you—let me go, and let yourself go too.” Yan He’s chest rose and fell heavily, her eyes bloodshot as overwhelming, turbulent emotions flooded her heart.

“Why can’t you ever understand?!” She knitted her brows tightly, tears spilling uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes. “I just want my freedom! I just want a healthy relationship! Why… why do you have to do this to me?!” Her voice broke into a desperate, agonizing cry, yet deep down, Yan He knew that all these words were merely a one-sided accusation—Lu Youqing simply couldn’t comprehend them.

“I don’t want to be your pet! I don’t want to be a [unauthorized copy]canary in your cage! I am a human being—a living, breathing person—not a toy for you to vent your obsessive emotions on! Will you please just let me go?”

Lu Youqing’s body stiffened instantly. Her fragile, threadbare sanity shattered completely under Yan He’s relentless questioning. Her legs turned to lead; she tried to step forward to hold Yan He—to feel her warmth and keep her from leaving—but she couldn’t even raise her foot before collapsing heavily onto the soft rug, as weak and defenseless as a withered leaf swaying in a violent storm.

Even so, she kept her eyes locked onto Yan He, her vision blurred with tears. Reaching out a trembling hand, she crawled closer bit by bit, desperate to touch her, only for Yan He to step back and avoid her touch. Yan He’s expression remained frozen like ice, tears still glistening on her pale cheeks.

“No… it’s not like that! A-He, I love you! I really, truly love you! Please don’t say those things, okay? I’ll listen to you—I’ll go see a doctor, I’ll take my medication properly, I’ll really get better! Don’t break up with me… please don’t break up with me!” Yan He’s agonizing accusations left Lu Youqing’s mind completely blank with suffocation. She didn’t know what words could possibly earn Yan He’s forgiveness, so she could only pour out her feelings of love in futile, frantic pleas.

“Enough!” Yan He stood up, looking down at her from above. The dim, warm light of the bedroom fell across her face, blurring her expression in the shadows.

“What even is your love? Is it disregarding my wishes and forcing all these things upon me? Is it locking me at home so I can’t take a single step away from you? Or is it taking away my job so I have no choice but to depend on you as your golden canary?” Yan He let out a faint, hollow laugh, her eyes completely desolate when she opened them again.

“Lu Youqing… do you even know how to love? Or is this sick obsession what you call love?”

Yan He squatted down to meet the tear-streaked gaze of Lu Youqing, who was weeping uncontrollably. She reached out and cupped Lu Youqing’s face, her fingers gently wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes, her gaze softening once more.

A spark of hope flared in Lu Youqing’s heart. Just that simple, tender touch was enough to draw her right back into Yan He’s gentle warmth. Her eyes turned hazy and delirious as she tilted her head to kiss Yan He’s hand with obsessive, intense devotion. She even began to deceive herself—convincing herself that Yan He’s harsh words earlier were merely a hallucination and that Yan He had never actually asked to break up. Encouraged by her own fantasy, her movements grew bolder, shifting from soft kisses to gentle nips against Yan He’s fingertips.

Yan He watched her blankly, watching her drown in her own obsession, watching her kiss her fingers like a confused, ignorant animal. Lu Youqing truly loved her so deeply—using every ounce of her strength to love her even through a simple touch. But… Yan He no longer dared to guess what was truly going on inside Lu Youqing’s mind.

Lu Youqing focused entirely on absorbing Yan He’s body heat, savoring every bit of warmth radiating onto her. But just as she reached out to wrap her arms around Yan He for a full embrace, Yan He abruptly yanked her hand away, uttering words that cut like sheer frost in the very next second.

“Best Actress Lu’s acting skills are truly exquisite,” Yan He praised with genuine, chilling sarcasms. “To put on such a dedicated performance even in real life… it seems the next award will undoubtedly be yours as well.”

Lu Youqing froze in place, feeling as though the freezing rain outside had smashed straight into her chest, slicing her heart open with sharp, icy blades.

“No… it’s not like that! How could you say that about me?! I wasn’t acting—I have never, ever acted in front of you! All these feelings are real! My love for you is real, I really do love you! I have never been acting!” Lu Youqing denied it frantically, terrified that Yan He would doubt her feelings. Her love was so intense it consumed her entire being; she couldn’t bear to let Yan He misunderstand it.

As she spoke, Yan He’s presence began to recede from her. The familiar fragrance on Yan He’s skin—the scent that intoxicated her—faded until it was completely out of reach. Lu Youqing looked up in panic, only to see that Yan He had already stood back up, looking down at her with a cool, distant gaze. Those hazel eyes were completely devoid of emotion, looking at her with a coldness far colder than that of a complete stranger.

“I just can’t bear this suffocating love of yours anymore. Let’s separate. We shouldn’t see each other again—it’s the best choice for both you and me.” Giving Lu Youqing one final, lingering look, Yan He turned to leave without a shred of hesitation.

“NO!” A sudden surge of strength burst from within Lu Youqing. She scrambled up and threw her arms tightly around Yan He’s waist from behind. A loud ringing noise echoed in her ears while a sharp, throbbing pain pierced deep into her brain, yet she held onto Yan He with a desperate grip—knowing that if she let go, she would fall straight into an endless abyss. That was the single most terrifying thought in her existence.

A life without Yan He was no different from death itself.

“You can’t! I don’t agree! We can’t break up! I beg you, A-He… I’ll do whatever you want! I only did those things because I was terrified you would leave me! I had no sense of security, I was so scared of losing you! I’ll go see a doctor, I’ll get better, I won’t ever do those things again! Anything but breaking up—just not this! I really can’t live without you, please don’t do this to me!”

Lu Youqing’s eyes were bloodshot. Yan He’s words about separating echoed endlessly in her mind, tearing through her nerves. A survival instinct made her cling to Yan He like a drowning person clutching the final rope on a cliff side.

Her tears streamed continuously, soaking a large patch of fabric over Yan He’s shoulder. Her hot, ragged breath brushed against Yan He’s neck, the burning warmth searing straight through her skin and into her heart.

Yan He stood motionless, allowing Lu Youqing to hold her tightly and listen to her choked, sobbing pleas. She merely let out a faint, sad smile, her own eyes rimmed red.

“I’ve told you before… separating is never just about both people agreeing.” She turned around to face read the original at bailiantales.com Lu Youqing, reaching out to wipe the tears from her eyes once more.

She had become gentle again, even using the softer word “separate” instead of “break up” to preserve a final thread of dignity between them. Yet her voice sounded like a fleeting wisps of smoke—offering a fleeting comfort before drifting away with the wind, leaving no trace behind in Lu Youqing’s life.

Lu Youqing stared deeply into her eyes, leaning her head against Yan He’s chest as she tightened her grip around her waist, desperately trying to hold onto the moon in her sky.

Yan He looked at her tenderly, her movements soft and careful out of fear of accidentally scraping Lu Youqing’s delicate skin. Yet the words that spilled from her lips were brutally sharp, driving like blades into Lu Youqing’s heart.

“What are you thinking right now? Are you planning how to trap me here? Just like last time? Firing me from my job, cancelling my lease, leaving me with nowhere to go so you can come to my rescue again?”

Yan He stroked the hair on top of Lu Youqing’s head with utmost gentleness. Looking at Lu Youqing’s dazed, trembling expression, she suddenly let out a soft laugh—a laugh that never reached her cold eyes.

“But I already have nothing left now. What else could you possibly do to me? Thanks to you, I truly have no one left by my side except you. But even if I am left with nothing, I will never step into your cage to become your plaything—turning into a pet without limbs, without freedom, and without a self, existing only to be controlled by you.”

She reached down and forcefully pried open Lu Youqing’s arms. Lu Youqing’s strength was already at its absolute limit, making it easy for Yan He to break free. Deprived of all support, Lu Youqing sank back onto the rug, staring blankly at Yan He like a fragile porcelain doll on the verge of shattering into pieces.

Yan He merely glanced at her briefly before indifferently turning her eyes away, taking a step toward the bedroom door.

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning. Until then, I hope you can stay quiet, get some proper rest, and avoid catching a cold.”

She still maintained that final layer of gentle courtesy, delivering even the words of farewell with soft, thoughtful care—like a lover issuing an affectionate warning after a small quarrel. Yet this gentle Yan He had just broken up with her, announcing that she was leaving her—leaving her forever.

No! Absolutely not! The blood in Lu Youqing’s body boiled with panic. She tried to force herself up to chase after her, but after struggling frantically, she collapsed back onto the cold floor, her body shivering violently.

Click. The heavy wooden door swung completely shut, sealing off all sound between the inside and the outside world. The warm, dim light in the bedroom spilled over the woman collapsed on the floor, wrapping around her like a gentle, pitying embrace—yet unable to penetrate the lifeless, desolate dark within her eyes.

Just like her sun, she had left her behind forever.