Chapter 5 I Said It Was Worth It
"Song Sheng, I'm asking you."
I stayed silent for a long time. Qin Zhimin looked impatient.
"It was worth it."
Qin Zhimin, to me, your future was priceless. Always.
"What did you say?"
I wiped the tears off my face, turned back, and raised a smile at him.
"I said it was worth it."
"Heh." He gave a cold laugh. "If it was worth it, then tell me why you never went to college. Five Hundred Thousand would have been more than enough for your tuition.
"Song Sheng, a life bought by selling love. How did you end up this down and out? What right do you have to live like this?"
With every sentence, he stepped closer to me.
Until our noses touched.
Close enough that I could see the mist in his eyes, and my red-rimmed eyes reflected in them.
In that moment, I suddenly wanted to tell him.
Qin Zhimin, no. It wasn't like that. I didn't sell our love. I never took the Five Hundred Thousand your mom gave, either.
But Jiang Qingyao's face flashed through my mind, and those warm scenes between them.
I drew back.
What good would saying it have done? He already had a nearly perfect life.
His life was only missing me, someone who didn't matter.
Song Sheng, it was time to let go.
"Song Sheng, say something. Answer me."
I bit my lip hard.
Right then, a phone ringtone cut in.
Qin Zhimin stepped back a few paces, cleared his throat, and answered.
"Are you home yet? I already showered. I'm about to get my beauty sleep."
It was Jiang Qingyao's voice.
Qin Zhimin glanced at me and answered her. "Almost home. You sleep first. Good night."
A long time ago, he had coaxed me in that same gentle tone.
On that narrow wooden bed, Qin Zhimin had held me and talked about our future.
"Song Sheng, why did you come back so late today?"
Footsteps came from behind and cut off my thoughts.
Feng Yi wore an old undershirt. His eyes were clear, the hair on his forehead slightly damp with sweat, and he held a basketball in his arms.
He looked like he had just finished a game and was heading back.
"Who is he?"
Qin Zhimin frowned and looked at the young man standing beside me.
"Let me introduce you. My boyfriend."
I didn't know what kind of contest had pushed me. By the time I realized it, I had already linked my arm through Feng Yi's.
Qin Zhimin's face looked terrible. He turned and strode into the car.