Qin Xuanye shifted slightly to the side.
Chen Ruanruan's embrace met empty air.
She felt a pang of regret.
And a sense of loss.
But she quickly adjusted her emotions and said, "Xuanye, did you come to Tao Village because you were worried about me?"
Qin Xuanye seemed not to hear her.
He asked,
"You just said Liuyue came back? She left again?"
The joy drained from Chen Ruanruan's face, leaving it pale.
Seeing this, Chen Haotian said with displeasure,
"Yes, Chen Liuyue left with Wei Miao a while ago."
"You're Ruanruan's fiancé. Why aren't you concerned about how Ruanruan is doing here, instead of asking about a stranger?"
When Qin Xuanye heard she was with Wei Miao, his heart felt sharply pierced.
He lowered his head, his long eyelashes casting a shadow under his eyes.
His tone was solemn and earnest as he said,
"She is not a stranger."
Chen Haotian didn't understand. "Huh?"
Chen Ruanruan seemed to sense what was coming and reached out to grab him.
"Xuanye."
But he gently evaded her grasp.
Qin Xuanye raised his head, looked at the siblings before him, and said word by word with seriousness,
"Liuyue is not a stranger. She was once my girlfriend."
It took Chen Haotian three seconds to process this.
Then he realized what was happening.
Ruanruan's fiancé, Qin Xuanye, was actually Liuyue's ex-boyfriend?
Chen Haotian's fists clenched until they creaked. He gritted his teeth and said, "Why didn't you say something so important from the start?"
Yes.
Why didn't he mention it at their first meeting?
Qin Xuanye had thought he hated Chen Liuyue, that there was no possibility left between them in this lifetime.
He thought that by dutifully agreeing to the arranged marriage and being with a seemingly suitable fiancée, his life would just continue like that.
But fate plays cruel tricks.
He simply couldn't let go!
Asking him to give up Liuyue was something he couldn't do.
Qin Xuanye spoke: "I'm sorry, Ruanruan. Let's call off the engagement."
Chen Ruanruan shook her head vigorously, tears welling in her eyes.
With a choked voice, she took a step forward, trying to hold his arm.
"No, don't, Xuanye. You can't do this to me."
But Qin Xuanye's face was icy cold as he decisively pushed her away.
"But I've realized I still have feelings for Liuyue."
"I can't lie to myself."
Chen Ruanruan's tears fell in streams.
Chen Haotian watched, his heart aching for her, and exclaimed,
"Liuyue is already Wei Miao's girlfriend now! Qin Xuanye, can't you have a shred of decency?"
"Besides, think of all Ruanruan has done for you. Are you blind?"
"If you just break it off like this, what will people in our circle think of Ruanruan?"
Qin Xuanye gave Chen Haotian a deep look.
"You are a good brother."
"But not to Liuyue."
Chen Haotian, furious and flustered, retorted, "Liuyue, Liuyue, is Liuyue all you can talk about? Can't you see Ruanruan is crying?"
Qin Xuanye finally sensed something amiss.
"But you're always saying 'Ruanruan, Ruanruan.' Could it be that you..."
Men understand men.
One look was enough.
Chen Haotian took a half-step back, feeling guilty.
He couldn't meet Qin Xuanye's gaze.
Qin Xuanye gave a slight nod. "I understand."
Chen Ruanruan understood none of this. She only knew her fiancé was abandoning her.
She only knew Qin Xuanye was being lured away by Chen Liuyue.
She hurried forward, not worrying about saving face.
"Xuanye, I know you were Liuyue's ex-boyfriend. I don't mind!"
"I know you dated for less than a month after high school graduation. That's even shorter than the time we've been together."
"You're just feeling unwilling to let go. It's not Liuyue you like."
"It's just that unfinished romance from when you were eighteen."
Chen Ruanruan's words were light, yet they seemed to brush aside the fog and touch upon a possible truth beneath.
Qin Xuanye was taken aback.
"I just like that unfinished romance?"
But the next moment.
He shook his head decisively, his gaze gradually becoming clear and firm.
"No, it's the present Liuyue I like."
"It's the Liuyue who sweetly called me 'brother-in-law.'"
Chen Ruanruan took a deep breath, suddenly seeming to connect the dots. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"That white shirt Chen Liuyue was wearing in her social media post that day... it was yours!!!"
Qin Xuanye gave a firm nod.
Chen Ruanruan looked as if she had suffered a tremendous blow and stumbled back a few steps.
"Did you sleep together?" Her voice trembled.
Qin Xuanye frowned with distaste. "Don't think of Liuyue in such a bad light."
"She's trying to steal my fiancé, and you tell me not to think badly of her?" Chen Ruanruan let out two cold, bitter laughs, her eyes full of condemnation. "You wouldn't let me go home with you, but you took Chen Liuyue to your place."
"Qin Xuanye, you betrayed me from the moment you laid eyes on Chen Liuyue!"
Qin Xuanye lowered his head and admitted,
"Yes, I betrayed you."
"Because I realized I've always liked Liuyue, whether she was Tao Liuyue or Chen Liuyue."
"I'm completely lost to her for this lifetime."
Slap—
Chen Ruanruan raised her hand.
A sharp slap landed on Qin Xuanye's face.
He didn't dodge at all, taking the blow squarely.
"Chen Ruanruan, it's over. I'm sorry."
After saying this, Qin Xuanye turned to leave.
Chen Ruanruan felt all strength leave her body. She reached out towards him, but he didn't look back.
She cried out unwillingly,
"Stop right there! Xuanye, Qin Xuanye!!!"
"It's so late, where are you going?!"
Qin Xuanye didn't turn his head, his voice clear and loud. "I'm going to find my moon."
Chen Ruanruan covered her face, tears streaming down.
She sneered, "Your moon, your moon... then what am I supposed to be..."
A warm fingertip brushed across her cheek, wiping away a tear.
"Ruanruan, please don't cry." Chen Haotian looked at her with heartache.
Chen Ruanruan looked at him, a flicker of wariness in her eyes.
The gesture was too intimate.
It crossed the boundary of what was appropriate for a brother towards a sister.
She took half a step back, frowning, and said, "Brother, you could have handed me a tissue. I can wipe my own tears."
Chen Haotian's finger paused in mid-air, then finally dropped helplessly.
"Ruanruan, actually, Qin Xuanye isn't that great. He's not worthy of you!"
"There are many other options around you. Sometimes you should broaden your perspective, for example..."
Chen Ruanruan shuddered and quickly interrupted,
"Enough! Brother, you are my brother, and that's all you'll ever be!"
