C14 Former Girlfriend

After a brief chat, he had the driver take Yang Xue and Qu Ningyuan away.

Exhausted, Qu Ningyuan trudged home, feeling incredibly weary and ready to collapse into bed. But as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he encountered someone he wished to avoid: his ex-girlfriend, Chen Huan.

Chen Huan was a former flame of Qu Ningyuan's, one he had cherished deeply. However, when his family's fortunes dwindled, she left him for a wealthy heir. Ashamed and impoverished, Qu Ningyuan couldn't bring himself to confront her for an explanation, especially since he was jobless at the time. His feelings for Chen Huan were genuine.

It might even be called true love, for to this day, Qu Ningyuan couldn't claim to have completely forgotten her. The love of one's youth is often the most pure and indelible.

Approaching Chen Huan, Qu Ningyuan asked, "Huan, is something wrong?"

"Ningyuan," she replied.

Upon seeing him, Chen Huan rushed into his arms and wept, her tears flowing freely. Qu Ningyuan, unsure of what to do, simply held her, gently patting her back, too hesitant to speak.

Once her tears subsided, Chen Huan spoke up, "Ningyuan, why didn't you come looking for me back then? You know I had nothing to do with Zhang Yang. I don't like him. My mother locked me up at home and wouldn't let me out. She was the one who called you behind my back."

Qu Ningyuan had always known that Chen Huan was loyal and wouldn't betray him. But given his family's dire financial situation, he couldn't offer her a future, and her mother had made her stance clear. He felt it was best not to entangle matters further.

He had tried to reach out to Chen Huan a few times, but she had always turned him away, leaving him with little to say. Seeing the wealthy Zhang Yang frequenting her home and even going out for coffee with her, Qu Ningyuan felt he had no choice but to step back. After all, he couldn't provide her with the future she deserved. It was only natural for her to seek better prospects.

"I've tried to see you a few times, but your mom always turned me away at the door, insisting that she wouldn't let us be together. I also noticed Zhang Yang coming to your place every day, and you two having coffee together. I thought maybe you wanted to break up with me but didn't know how to say it, so I stopped trying to reach out to you."

"What are you talking about? Do you really think I'm someone who would choose wealth over love? When I say I like you, Qu Ningyuan, it means I'm committed to you. I won't turn to anyone else. My mother has her opinions, but I am my own person."

Qu Ningyuan used his Heavenly Eye to review her past few years and realized she wasn't lying. But what good did that do? Time couldn't be turned back. What's done was done, and there was no going back. Even if he had the chance to start over, Qu Ningyuan wouldn't dare to hold on. Without the Heavenly Eye, he'd still be a poor kid, and he'd still end up letting down Chen Huan.

"Xiao Huan, I'm sorry. I've let you down. I was wrong back then, but it's all history now. We can't turn back time."

"What do you mean we can't go back? You never loved me. If you did, you wouldn't have left me, no matter what."

"Xiao Huan, listen to me. We're not young anymore. We have to consider our families. It made sense for your mom to want you to leave me—I was broke and had no prospects. My father had just passed away, our family was drowning in debt, my mother was sick, and my little sister was still in school. I had a whole family to take care of. You'd be better off with Zhang Yang. He's wealthy, and he's really into you. He'd surely treat you well."

"What he feels for me is irrelevant. I care about you. Did you know my mom took my phone and locked me in the house, forbidding me to leave? She only let me out when I agreed to go on a date with Zhang Yang. The first chance I got, I ran to find you, only to be told you'd moved. Can you imagine how heartbroken I was?"

As she spoke, Chen Huan couldn't contain her tears, and Qu Ningyuan felt a sharp pang in his heart as he watched her cry. Over time, his feelings for her had diminished. He had forced himself to stop thinking about her, yet he hadn't anticipated the depth of her feelings for him. To this day, she still harbored deep love for him, unable to let go.

Qu Ningyuan felt a profound sense of guilt. He thought that if fate hadn't been so cruel, if it hadn't taken his father and left his family in ruins, perhaps they wouldn't have had to part ways.

"Xiao Huan, let's not talk about this anymore. What's done is done, and we can't go back. I have a girlfriend now, and I hope you find your happiness soon too."

"I can't believe it, I just can't. You must be lying to me. Don't you love me anymore? I've even fallen out with my mother because of you. It hasn't been that long, and now you're telling me your feelings have changed? You must still love me, you must!"

Qu Ningyuan was starting to feel a headache coming on. This girl just wouldn't listen. He had already committed to a relationship with Yang Xue, and aside from that, Yang Xue had shown him genuine affection. He also had feelings for her. The most pressing issue was that he was in too deep now. If he dared to betray Yang Xue, Yang Liguo would never forgive him.

So, Chen Huan, I'm sorry, but I can't be with you. In the past, I didn't have the right to be with you, and now, I simply can't. It seems we're destined to be apart in this life. I hope that in the next one, I'll have the freedom to choose my path without being manipulated by this cruel fate.

"Xiao Huan, everything I've told you is the truth. If you can't believe me, there's nothing I can do. Please don't seek me out again, or my girlfriend might get the wrong idea. It's getting late; you should head home."

With those final words, Qu Ningyuan strode away, not daring to look back.

Chen Huan was stunned by the outcome. She had played out their reunion in her mind countless times, but never like this. Where had she gone wrong? Why did it have to end this way? She loved Qu Ningyuan so deeply; how could he treat her this way? Surely, he was just making excuses. It hadn't been that long; how could he have moved on so quickly?

I've sacrificed everything for you, my home included. I've poured so much into this, and yet, you couldn't even muster the courage to stay with me or to declare your love. Instead, you swiftly fell for someone else. It turns out I was just foolish and naive, believing the sweet nothings men say. Now I'm left to suffer the consequences, and I'm powerless to do anything about it. Qu Ningyuan, I despise you.

From upstairs, Qu Ningyuan watched Chen Huan walk away, a pang of regret souring his heart. She was likely the one he had wronged the most in his life. Little Huan, stop wasting your time on me. Find love with someone else. I'm not the man who can bring you happiness.