Chapter 291 He Is a Coward
Facing Aunt Yue’s enthusiasm, Gong Xiaoyu felt it was full of irony.
The biggest obstacle between her and Yue Xiaoyang turned out to be not the opposition from their parents, but from him himself.
Given this, what right did he have to say he loved her?
His attitude today not only hurt their relationship but also her dignity.
Gong Xiaoyu was a sensible person. She put down the things in her hand and politely said to Mrs. Yue, "Thank you very much for the invitation, Aunt Yue. My company is quite busy lately, and I need to go on business trips. If I have the chance, I will visit. I won’t disturb you and Doctor Yue any longer. Goodbye."
When Yue Xiaoyang saw that she was leaving, he reached out to stop her, but Gong Xiaoyu shook off his hand and walked out with big strides.
Yue Xiaoyang wanted to chase after her, but with his mother still there, he hesitated for a moment, and she was already far gone.
Shen Lan watched and understood what was going on. She said, "If you are worried, go after her. You’ve never brought a girlfriend home before. Don’t disappoint your mother; I think this girl is nice."
She bore some responsibility for what had become of her son.
The unfortunate marriage between her and her husband had directly led to her son’s fear of marriage, something she never foresaw and felt guilty about.
Yue Xiaoyang, deeply afraid his mother would force him into marriage, said faintly, "No need, we’re just ordinary friends."
When Gong Xiaoyu saw that he really didn’t come after her, she cried as she hailed a taxi, heading straight back to her own home and not the villa at Summer Coast.
Yu Zheng was waiting downstairs at her place.
When he saw her eyes red from crying, he angrily asked, "Did he bully you?"
Tears streamed down Gong Xiaoyu’s face again. Yu Zheng handed her tissues. He had a thousand questions in his heart but was afraid to touch on her sadness, so he refrained from asking anything.
Gong Xiaoyu sat on a nearby bench. She used up half a pack of tissues. Yu Zheng wanted to pat her on the shoulder, but his hand hung in midair without touching her.
She was sacred and untouchable in his heart. He had utmost respect for her.
He treasured her so much, yet that bastard Yue Xiaoyang dared to make her cry.
Yu Zheng wished he could chop Yue Xiaoyang into pieces.
After a long time, Gong Xiaoyu calmed down. "Yu Zheng, thank you."
Yu Zheng sat by her side, maintaining a proper distance, "Don’t be so polite with me. You can tell me anything that’s bothering you."
Gong Xiaoyu looked up at him. Yu Zheng’s eyes were hidden in the dim streetlight, making it hard for her to see them clearly, but still feeling reassuring.
Why couldn’t she fall for him? He surely wouldn’t make her cry.
Filled with guilt, Gong Xiaoyu said, "Why are you waiting for me here? I don’t come home every day."
Yu Zheng knew she had started living with Yue Xiaoyang. His heart twisted with pain, and he watched the insects under the lamp. He was like a moth drawn to a flame.
"Xiao Yu, as long as you’re not married, I will wait for you."
His parents often nagged him, urging him to actively pursue Xiao Yu, saying that a man couldn’t win a girl’s heart without being proactive.
What his parents didn’t know was how proactive he already was; he couldn’t have been more so unless he cut out his heart to show her.
She was the first girl he ever liked, someone he wouldn’t forget for the rest of his life.
He knew he had very little chance, but he wasn’t willing to find someone else to replace her. If Yue Xiaoyang let her down, he would ruin that bastard.
Gong Xiaoyu was moved. "Yu Zheng, I don’t deserve your goodness. Go find yourself a girl who loves you and will be kind to you. You deserve better."
Yu Zheng’s voice was filled with desolation, "To me, you are the best."
Sometimes he wondered why heaven gave him the chance to meet her but didn’t grant him a complete ending.
Gong Xiaoyu didn’t know how to console him. His feelings were too deep, too sincere, and she couldn’t respond to them.
"Do you often wait for me downstairs?"
Yu Zheng said, "Occasionally." Then added, "I won’t disturb you."
A sour feeling welled up in Gong Xiaoyu’s heart. He liked her so cautiously. What did she do to deserve that?
Yu Zheng didn’t leave until he saw her go upstairs. He then called Yue Xiaoyang, "Come out. We need to talk."
Yue Xiaoyang couldn’t find Gong Xiaoyu at Summer Coast. He guessed she went home and called her, but she didn’t answer. He was getting anxiously distressed when Yu Zheng contacted him.
Yue Xiaoyang asked sensitively, "Did you go to see her?"
Yu Zheng said, "Afraid? If you treated her better, you wouldn’t have to worry about me seeing her."
Yue Xiaoyang wanted to punch him, "Yu Zheng, she is my girlfriend. Even with a little moral sense, you should know to keep your distance!"
Yu Zheng calmly said, "As long as you’re not married, I stand a chance. Yue Xiaoyang, if you don’t cherish her, I won’t let you off."
Yue Xiaoyang’s face turned blue with anger, "Just wait. I’m coming right over."
He sped to the agreed venue, and as soon as he saw Yu Zheng, he punched him. Yu Zheng’s punches were equally fierce, and the two men fought bitterly to a draw.
Yu Zheng had never fought so fiercely. "If you can’t make her happy, stop wasting her time! Yue Xiaoyang, any man would look down on you."
Thinking of Gong Xiaoyu’s disappointed look, Yue Xiaoyang got distracted and was thrown to the ground by Yu Zheng.
He didn’t fight back. He looked blankly at the night sky, wondering how far he and she could still go.
Yu Zheng threw another punch at him. "This punch is for her, you coward."
Yue Xiaoyang seemed oblivious to the pain. What Yu Zheng said was true, he was a coward.
Seeing that Yue Xiaoyang was more seriously hurt than himself, Yu Zheng flexed his joints. Today, he had finally vented his frustration.
Yue Xiaoyang didn’t know when Yu Zheng left or how long he lay there until the raindrops fell on him. He sat up, wiped the blood off his mouth, and dejectedly went back to his car.
He tried calling Gong Xiaoyu again, but she still didn’t answer.
Yue Xiaoyang returned to Summer Coast to wait for her, continuously sending her voice messages: "Xiao Yu, I went too far today. I wasn’t mentally prepared. Give me more time, and don’t fall for someone else."
"I have no confidence in marriage, no confidence in myself. I’m afraid I can’t make you happy. If we have a child, I fear the child will grow up in an unhealthy family, which would be bad for everyone."
"I shouldn’t have worried about so much, but I can’t get past this barrier in my heart. When my mom had a miscarriage, she said if she could choose again, she wouldn’t marry or start a family."
"Xiao Yu, are you asleep? I know you must be crying. I promised not to make you cry, but I failed."
"Xiao Yu, it’s late now. Go to sleep early. Don’t kick off the blanket while you’re sleeping alone."
"Xiao Yu, it’s past three o’clock. I can’t sleep. I want to see you, very much."
"When you listen to these messages tomorrow, reply to me, okay?"
"Xiao Yu, are you awake? Are you still mad? I’ll come to your office. Will you answer my call, please?"
"Xiao Yu, your colleague said you’re taking a rest. Are you not feeling well? I’m so worried I’m about to go crazy. Please, just reply to me, okay? Or I’ll go to your place."