Chapter Forty: The Whole Truth Revealed (Part Two)

My rebirth legend without interruptions

I looked at her ashamed gaze and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "No, you don't need to feel guilty or blame yourself. I have never held anything against you; none of this is your fault, it has nothing to do with you. The one I hate is Xia Jianren, and the one who has a grudge against me is Xia Jianren!"

My face grew cold as I spoke in pain. "But the only thing I resent is—why... why, when you knew I liked you, didn't you tell me... tell me you already had a boyfriend!"

"What?!" As soon as the words left my mouth, Zhang Li and Su Xin cried out in shock almost simultaneously. Seeing her astonished expression, I thought she was only just realizing what I had discovered, and so I smiled wryly and shook my head. "Don't worry, I'm not a scoundrel, I'm not someone who creates trouble without reason, nor am I the sort who would cling and pester endlessly. To the girl I like, I only hope for her happiness. Rest assured, I won't disturb you or your boyfriend, and I certainly won't hate you because of this. I just thought, since you already have someone you love, it's fine for me to avoid you, right? So... so this morning, I decided not to pay attention to you anymore, hoping you'd get angry and then we'd part forever, becoming strangers... Haha, that's all I wanted to say. Since you were so curious, now you know, isn't that enough?"

"When... when did you see me with a boyfriend?" Su Xin blushed deeply, biting her lip as she asked. After the truth was revealed, she wasn't flustered or embarrassed at all. Instead, her words carried a gentle shyness that left me stunned and confused. "Yesterday, on the street—I saw you holding a man's hand..."

"Hmph, was that man handsome?" Su Xin pouted, a proud smile spreading across her face. "You silly thing, so that's what all this was about... Now I understand why you acted that way this morning..." She glanced at me with a playful scold. "You misunderstood. Actually... actually that man is my cousin—the one I mentioned last time, who’s really good at computers and studies at China University..."

"Ah?" Hearing Su Xin's words, I was completely dumbfounded...

So after all this fuss, it was just a misunderstanding? All this time, it was just me making trouble out of nothing? I stared wide-eyed at the blushing Su Xin, earnestly asking, "Su Xin, are you telling the truth?"

"Mm..." Su Xin replied softly. I suddenly stood up from my chair and slapped myself hard across the face! Damn it, I was acting crazy, tormenting myself for no reason! Thankfully, Su Xin pressed me for an explanation, or else I wouldn't have known how to cry about this in the future! Overcome with emotion, I grabbed Su Xin's soft hand excitedly. "That's wonderful! That's wonderful! So it was all just a misunderstanding! I'm sorry, Su Xin, I was foolish to believe what I saw with my own eyes... I... I deserve it!"

"Don't... don't do that..." She murmured shyly. "We both share responsibility for this, Xiao Qiang... Now I realize just how important you are to me... I'm sorry for being childish and rejecting you before. Back then, my heart was confused, unsure if what I felt was love, so I used the excuse of only being friends..."

"Hmm? What does she mean by that? She didn't understand her feelings before? Does that mean now she's saying..." Hearing her words, my heart soared with joy. No matter what, I had to seize this moment! Gazing at her with deep affection, I smiled softly. "Su Xin, no matter what, I'll always wait for you. I'll wait until the day you say yes, because I love you."

"Hmph, silly, I'm not saying no now..." When she looked at me with infinite shyness, I knew at last that the day I waited for had arrived! Filled with excitement, I pulled her gently into my arms and whispered tenderly, "Su Xin, I will cherish you, love you, and make you the happiest woman in the world!"

"Oh, what are you doing... there are people here..." Su Xin, acting like a bashful little lady, gently pushed me away, her face reddening as she saw Zhang Li's mischievous grin.

"Hahaha..." I couldn't stop giggling, never before had happiness come so swiftly. Just moments ago, we were coldly determined to part ways, and now, in the blink of an eye, we had become a couple. I never expected this. Today's meal was both the most miserable and the happiest I’ve ever had in my life! I wanted to tell the whole world—I had won Su Xin, I finally had the girl I secretly loved for over ten years!

"What are you laughing at, silly?" Su Xin cast me a charming glance, making my heart pound wildly. I could hardly believe that this beautiful, delicate woman would become my first girlfriend. It felt like a dream, as if I’d leapt from hell straight into paradise.

"Congratulations, boss, you've won the beauty!" Zhang Li grinned wickedly at me. "I knew you’d eventually win Su Xin—looks like I was right all along."

"Oh, come on, how is it that such a beautiful thing sounds so crude when you say it?" Wang Lili, beside us, pinched Zhang Li’s ear, playing the role of wife. "Hmph, what do you mean 'won over'? Does that mean I was won over by you too?"

"Ouch, honey, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Can’t you go easy?" Zhang Li lamented his abused ear while begging for mercy, making both Su Xin and me smile, and the whole table was enveloped in laughter and joy.

Ding ding ding...

Just then, a familiar Nokia ringtone sounded from my pocket. I took out my phone and saw it was Miss Zhang from the real estate company. I answered immediately.

"Hello? Is this Mr. Xiao?" Miss Zhang’s voice came from the other end.

"Yes, this is Xiao. Is that you, Miss Zhang? What can I do for you?"

"Well, it's about the three-story house in the west of the city you asked me to watch for. One of my friends works at a real estate agency, and it just so happens that the owner is looking to sell. Apparently, the owner has gone bankrupt and urgently needs money. So I'm asking if you’re still interested in that house?"

Hearing her words, I nodded immediately. "As long as the house isn't too old, of course I'm interested. But before making a decision, I need to see it first."

"No problem, I've already contacted the owner. Are you free this Sunday? We can go see the house together then."

"Sure, Sunday works. Let’s confirm then. Goodbye." After hanging up, I looked up to find my three companions staring at me as if I were some sort of monster. I laughed, puzzled, "What? Do I have dumplings on my face?"

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