Chapter Thirty-six: Inner Turmoil

  Love starts with hope and ends in despair.

  Even if it's the reality that doesn't want to face again, it will eventually have to be faced. From the moment Jiang Lüche decided to break up with Xia Xian, he was prepared to bear any consequences.

  But the result is often unexpected, "family broken and people scattered" he did not bear, but let his beloved Xia Xian bear it, he still can't figure out what Xia Ge's sentence "family broken and people scattered" means.

  No one gave him an explanation, because the Xia family had already disappeared that summer year.

  Xuan Xuan, I can feel your despair, but I am unable to feel your pain.

  "Azhe! What's wrong with you since you came back? Jiajia arrived yesterday, but you've been avoiding her. Have the two of you had a falling out?" Jiang Mama finally saw her son come downstairs, and her tightly furrowed brow showed some signs of relaxation, but her heart was still hanging in suspense.

  "It's okay, I'll just ask her out for a walk later and everything will be fine. Don't worry about it, mom." Jiang Ze said with a faint smile, his tone calm and unruffled.

  "It's nothing, a little quarrel between husband and wife is nothing. Just don't give each other the cold shoulder, it hurts feelings. Whatever you want to say, just say it. You haven't eaten much either, I'll go cook some porridge." Jiang's mother let out a sigh of relief, lectured them for a bit, then went into the kitchen.

  Jiang Jie sat on the sofa in a daze, how did he and Xia Xian resolve their conflicts before?

  "Jiang, I'm telling you! If we have a fight and walk 100 steps back-to-back, when we turn around, if we can still see each other, then we can't break up!" Xia Xian pulled Jiang Ti's hand as they strolled through the Maple Leaf Valley, smiling.

  "Don't worry, by the 99th step, I'll hold you tightly in my arms because I don't want to let you go alone!" Jiang Tiande wrapped his arms around her from behind and buried his head in Xia Xian's neck, speaking with deep emotion.

  What was the result? The only quarrel between the two, they broke up, Xia Xian cried and ran away. He didn't know how many hundred steps Xia Xian had run, but every time at the 99th step, he would stop and turn back to look at that deep affectionate hug, but it was never there.

  Jiang, Xia Xian's despair, you can't feel it.

  Xuan Xuan, I couldn't bear to let you leave alone, but I've let you go for so many years. I lost you and can never find you back again.

  "Jiang Jie, we've been together for four years! You'd rather believe her than me! There's no trust left! What's the point of even talking about love!" Xia Xuan shouted with red-rimmed eyes.

  It was raining that day, Xia Xian was suffering from stomach pain that day, he saw Jiajia being slapped in the face that day, and they broke up that day...

  "Xia Xian, I thought our love would make you less selfish and narrow-minded, but I didn't expect that you're still the same! I was wrong about you! You're just a cheat! I'm such an idiot for being with you all these years!" Jiang Liche hugged Wu Jiajia, covering her with his clothes, while speaking harshly to Xia Xian.

  "I'm selfish! I'm narrow-minded! I'm a cheat! Jiang Tiexiong, for four years now, in your heart, I've become this kind of person! I must have been blind to fall in love with you!" The rain was pouring down so heavily that it was hard to tell whether the wetness on Xia Xian's cheeks was tears or rain.

  "You keep saying you love me, but in your heart, I'm just an accessory to you. You've never cared about my feelings or emotions. I never thought we'd end up like this, but now it's really happened. Goodbye, Xia Xian. Farewell!" Jiang Jieze escorted Wu Jiajia away, leaving Xia Xian alone in the rain for a long time, he didn't remember how long. The next time they met was at the hospital.

  "Don't be dazed, go eat quickly." Jiang's mother patted Jiang Tuoze's shoulder, her son's eyes were already red and about to cry like a rabbit, one more minute and tears would fall.

  Jiang Jie hastily wiped his face and nodded randomly before entering the dining hall to eat a tasteless breakfast.

  "Li dàjiě, you're making me accompany you shopping today, no need to dress up so meticulously!" Xia Xian's "The Red and the Black" had already been read for nearly a hundred pages, but Jin Ai still hadn't finished putting on her makeup.

  "Xuanxuan, you don't understand, we're not putting on makeup now, and we're not dressing ourselves up to look beautiful. When we get old, we'll regret it!" Li Jina said while drawing her eyeliner.

  Xia Xian nodded, she usually works part-time when not attending classes, where does she have time to learn makeup? So she has always been bare-faced, although not very beautiful, but absolutely not ugly.

  "How's your makeup skills coming along?" Xia Xuan asked, gazing at the mountain of cosmetics in front of her and fiddling with a mascara.

  "It's just a little makeup, I'll learn it slowly and then surprise you!" Li Jina applied eye stickers and mascara, her meticulousness was astonishing.

  "I'll just wait for you to finish your studies and come back!" Xia Xuan smiled indifferently.

  She doesn't attend any dance parties or cocktail parties, so makeup is of no use, and also because she's not suitable.

  After finishing the next hundred pages, Li Xiaojie finally put on her high heels, took a look in the mirror and felt pretty satisfied. She picked up the expensive LV bag she had bought and elegantly walked out of school with Xia Xian, who was dressed in simple and plain clothes.

  "Xuan Xuan, last time I saw a skirt that caught my eye. Although it's too early to wear it now, let's prepare in advance. I don't have the taste to pull it off, but I think you can! Later, you try it on." Li Jina said, sizing up Xia Xuan from head to toe.

  "All those goddesses with great taste can't even dress themselves properly, what style could I possibly have?" Xia Xuan said with a helpless smile, not minding it at all.

  "This is what I've cultivated, but you're naturally emitting it. Plus, with your two years of part-time work and social experience, your temperament has become even more mellow!" Li Jina leaned in close to Xia Xuan's body, took a sniff, and was greeted by a faint, delicate fragrance that left her savoring the scent.

  "Get out of here! You think I'm wine or something, getting better with age!!" Xia Xuan felt that Li Jinai was a bit crazy today.

  "Look, you just don't believe me! Wait till the waiter tells you!" Li Jina felt that talking to Xia Xian was like playing a lute to an ox.

  "My elder sister, which salesperson told you that this dress doesn't suit you at all!" Xia Xian was speechless. Miss Li, the one who defeated you is not innocent and naive!

  "Alright, alright, I won't say any more. You have to try on that skirt today, even if it doesn't fit you well, just so I can put my mind at rest!" Li Jina issued her final command.

  "You're satisfied now!" Xia Xuan's heart was filled with regret! If only he had known earlier, he wouldn't have come!

  "It's me who should be afraid of you, look at you, wearing long sleeves and pants in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Are you not hot in the summer?" Li Jina was puzzled, Xia Xuan wrapped himself up like a mummy every day, how afraid of being seen was he?

  "It's just a habit!" Xia Xuan scratched his head, thinking of a strategy. He couldn't try on the skirt for now, otherwise...

  "It's here!" Li Jina pointed to a uniquely decorated, large storefront boutique. At first glance, it was clear that they sold high-end brand clothing, which ordinary people couldn't afford. No wonder the skirt looked so good! You can't buy a good skirt even if you spend a few thousand yuan?

  Xia Xian was dragged into the boutique by Li Jina, who was pulling her arm. The sales staff immediately welcomed them with a smile, apparently Miss Li was a regular customer here, and the sales staff were very familiar with her!

  "Where's that skirt I liked last time? Bring it out and let this miss try it on, can you?" Li Jina ordered, sitting down without any politeness.

  "Alright, just a moment!" The waitress was warm and welcoming, her soft voice sounding especially pleasant.

  "Is my evening gown ready?"