Chapter 131: She Simply Left

"Perhaps you cannot provide her with the future she wants, so letting go becomes the natural choice."

"She was right about one thing: if two people are together only to drag each other down, it will only end in tragedy."

"You shouldn't have let her see the shadow of that tragedy. You clearly had the ability to prevent it."

After hearing this, Xia Yu froze, lost in thought, and downed two more drinks.

Xiao Jun continued, "Of course, you shouldn't take all the blame. Miss Zhao certainly has her own issues."

"At the very least, it proves one thing: she isn't the girl you imagined her to be. Or at the very least, she is still susceptible to worldly desires, looking for an easier shortcut for a better life."

"So, there is no need for you to feel regret."

Xia Yu frowned and looked at him with a strange expression. "You make it sound so convincing."

"Of course, Zero. I'm not just bragging," Xiao Jun said smugly. "I may be inferior to you in other areas, but when it comes to relationships, you are a complete idiot."

"Get lost, you're the idiot," Xia Yu retorted, feeling embarrassed and angry.

Yet, he knew what Xiao Jun said was the truth. He seemed to be a failure in love. He had been thrust into the Lin family by the old man and inexplicably became Lin Yuxin's husband.

Later, he grew fond of Lin Yuqing, but that also ended in failure.

Then came Zhao Sijie. Their relationship began in a drunken haze, and just when he truly fell for her and wanted to give her happiness, it resulted in this.

It really was a failure.

Undeniably, his emotional intelligence in this area was flawed. He had been thrown onto the battlefield at fifteen, surrounded by killers who only knew how to take lives; love was never part of his consideration.

Perhaps he did have a significant problem that led to today's situation.

He couldn't refute Xiao Jun's words.

But a man has his pride, especially when being lectured by his own subordinate. He retorted irritably, "You've said so much, you really think you're some kind of master? I remember you're just like me, you bastard. Did you study this in secret?"

"I... I haven't been in a relationship either," Xiao Jun said, turning uncharacteristically red. "But I've seen too much of it. Anyway, in this regard, I'm definitely better than you."

"Get lost."

Xia Yu kicked him and picked up his drink.

Still, talking to him made him feel much better.

"Alright, Zero, stop moping," Xiao Jun said, draping an arm over his shoulder. "If you want a woman, I'll introduce you to one, won't I?"

"Pure young girls, urban professionals, models, big celebrities—take your pick."

"Get lost. Do I need you to introduce me to a woman?" Xia Yu pushed him away and said, "Let's talk about something else."

"Lin Yuxin had a miscarriage. Although I didn't do it on purpose, I am responsible. I suspect neither the Liang family nor the Lin family will let me off."

Xiao Jun paused, took a sip of his drink, and said, "It's nothing. I thought it was something serious. If they are truly courting death, we can just wipe them out."

"What about the old man in your family? What does he say?"

Xia Yu shook his head. "I haven't spoken to him yet."

"You're remarkably calm," Xiao Jun paused, then added, "Ye Longting contacted me again the day before yesterday. The brothers miss you; they want us to return to the team."

Xia Yu was slightly stunned. He said calmly, "Return to the team? Can you even go back? The weight of the Xiao family is on your shoulders now."

"Regardless, I won't be going back. Don't you find the life of killing and fighting particularly meaningless?"

"Even fighting feels dull to me now. I prefer to reason with people. You want me to pick up a gun again? Forget it."

Xiao Jun couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was hard to imagine the War King of the Northern Border reasoning with people; it must be quite amusing.

"I know what you're thinking, so I refused."

After the two finished drinking at the bar, Xia Yu felt he had vented much of his frustration.

But when he returned to the villa and lay in bed, he felt no sleepiness.

Thinking of every moment he spent with Zhao Sijie, he still felt a lingering sense of regret and pity.

"She didn't seem to be faking it; we truly loved each other."

"But Sijie, you will definitely regret this decision!"

***

In the hospital.

At this moment, key members of the Liang and Lin families were standing in Lin Yuxin's ward.

Lin Yuxin lay on the hospital bed, just out of surgery, her face pale and weak.

With tears in her eyes, she sobbed to Liang Zichao, Old Master Liang, and her parents, "I'm sorry, husband, Grandfather, Mom, and Dad."

"It's my fault for not protecting the baby, wuwu..."

"I told you to take good care of your pregnancy. Why did you still go to the company? Did you treat my words as wind?!" Old Master Liang said with a dark, angry face.

In his eyes, Lin Yuxin's only value was the Liang family heir in her womb. After the scandal at the wedding, she was already unworthy of being a Liang daughter-in-law.

"Grandfather, I..."

Lin Yuxin was choked by tears and couldn't speak.

Liang Zichao, feeling heartbroken, couldn't help but speak up for her: "Grandfather, you can't blame Yuxin. It's all that bastard Xia Yu's fault."

"He thinks that because he became a president, he has power. He's seeking revenge on purpose!"

"That's right, in-laws. Although Yuxin went to the company, she only did light work. It was all that Xia Yu; he harmed Yuxin on purpose," Lin Yuxin's father, Lin Zhen, added.

"Xia Yu, I want him dead!" Liang Zichao said, his eyes bloodshot. "Grandfather, we can't wait any longer. My child is gone; this debt must be settled!"

Old Master Liang was also deeply pained. At his age, he naturally wanted to hold his great-grandson as soon as possible.

Now that the child was gone, no matter how much he disliked Lin Yuxin, the child in her womb was indeed his great-grandson. This debt had to be paid.

"He will pay a painful price. The Xiao family won't be able to protect him!"

Hearing this, Lin Yuqing, who was standing at the back, couldn't help but step forward. "Brother Yu didn't do it on purpose."

"He didn't intentionally harm Sister Yuxin's child. Brother Yu isn't that kind of person."

"Shut up!"

Li Guihua shouted, walking over to her in a rage and slapping her across the face.

"Lin Yuqing, you still dare to speak for Xia Yu at a time like this? I suspect this was all planned by you."

"Don't think that just because you have some capability at the company now, we are afraid of you."

"If you care so much about Xia Yu, then go tell him to prepare for his burial!"

Lin Yuqing clutched her burning cheek, too aggrieved to speak.

"Yuqing, you should leave first," Old Master Lin said with a heavy face.

"Grandfather, I..."

"I said leave!" Old Master Lin shouted in anger.

Lin Yuqing opened her mouth, realizing she couldn't save Xia Yu, and had no choice but to walk out.

As soon as she left the hospital, she immediately called Xia Yu.

"Brother Yu, where are you?"

"Yuqing? What's the matter, calling me so late? I just fell asleep," Xia Yu said helplessly.

Lin Yuqing was so angry she cursed, "Good for you, Xia Yu. I was worried sick trying to find a way, and I even took a slap from my uncle."

"Something this big happened, and you're still able to sleep? Are you heartless or what?!"

"I..."

"Don't say anything. Where are you? I'm coming to find you."

"Fine, where are you? I'll come to you instead," Xia Yu said helplessly. "Don't be out running around so late, you're a girl."

Half an hour later.

Xia Yu arrived at People's Square. It was already early morning, and the square was nearly empty.

Lin Yuqing was sitting on the center steps, with two cans of beer on the ground.

Xia Yu walked over and said, "Is it really that serious? You're already hitting the booze?"

He sat down and took a sip of beer.

Lin Yuqing turned her head and glared at him, her eyes red with frustration. "Brother Yu, I'm not joking with you. The situation is truly serious."

"Can you stop with that smirk? Do you think I'm playing games with you? Someone could really die this time!"

As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Xia Yu felt a warmth in his heart. This girl still cared about him so much; this was a genuine display of emotion.

"Is that so? Then what did they say?"

Lin Yuqing wiped her tears and said, "Old Master Liang personally ordered your death. Brother Yu, I really can't protect you this time. With my limited ability, I can't help you at all."

"Go beg President Xiao for help; he's the only one who can save you."

"Alright, I'm not worried because I have a way. Why are you getting so worked up for me?" Xia Yu put his arm around her shoulder and said, "My silly sister, do you really not trust me?"

"If I were truly afraid of them, wouldn't I have died at their hands long ago? Which of our confrontations have you seen me lose?"

Lin Yuqing paused. Seeing his earnest expression, she thought about it—and he was right.

They had hated Xia Yu for a long time, but so much time had passed, and wasn't Xia Yu still doing fine? And in their past confrontations, she really hadn't seen Xia Yu suffer any losses.

"Brother Yu, are you really confident?"

"Otherwise?" Xia Yu laughed. "Don't worry, your brother is very capable."

Lin Yuqing gradually calmed down, only then realizing that Xia Yu had his arm around her shoulder—a very ambiguous gesture.

She felt an inexplicable surge of joy, but looking at his expression and recalling his words, she realized that to him, this gesture was apparently just an expression of brotherly affection.

She suddenly pushed him away and said indignantly, "Who is your sister? I don't have a brother like you."

Xia Yu teased, "If not a brother, what about a brother-in-law? You said it yourself, a former brother-in-law is still a brother-in-law."

"You... I can't be bothered with you."

Lin Yuqing angrily picked up her beer and took a sip, her angry expression looking quite cute.

"By the way, have you been in contact with Sijie? Did she tell you where she was going?"

Xia Yu suddenly changed the subject.

She was slightly stunned, then replied with a touch of jealousy, "What's this? Your girlfriend leaves and you ask me where she went?"

"I'm serious. Did she really not tell you anything?"

Seeing he was completely serious, Lin Yuqing sensed something was wrong and shook her head. "No... nothing. We rarely talk anymore."

"Brother Yu, what do you mean she left?"

"It's... it's nothing."

Xia Yu's eyes still held a hint of disappointment; he took another sip of his drink.

"Brother Yu, what's going on? What happened?" Lin Yuqing asked anxiously.

"She... she just left."

"Left? Where did she go?"

Xia Yu didn't know how to explain it, so he simply handed her his phone.

Lin Yuqing took it and began to read, her mouth dropping open in utter disbelief.