CHAPTER 452: CHAPTER 277 LOVE IS SO HARD

Hospital.

After almost a week in the hospital, when Tian Xin was discharged, Yang Junyi took her hand, "Come with me to a place!"

Tian Xin did not expect that he would take her to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

They had been there once before, just a little, just so little, and they would have been husband and wife.

Life is just like that, only missing a little, yet it’s missing so much.

Tian Xin didn’t go in, "Junyi, thank you for your care over the past week. I think both you and I are mature and sensible people. I truly do not wish for such hurt to trouble me, so I live actively and strive. But marriage, for me, I don’t want to think about it right now. I hope you can respect my thoughts."

Yang Junyi knew she had been very calm these days, yet such calmness was like an undercurrent beneath the sea.

Because the more calm it is, the more invisible the reefs.

"Tian Xin, I also want you to know, no matter what happens, I will never leave you behind," Yang Junyi said earnestly, looking into her eyes, "I am willing to wait for you, until your feelings settle."

The two of them, from their past romance till now, have rarely quarreled. A seemingly bland interaction, yet there’s another facet of emotional sublimation.

He also understands that Tian Xin, appearing strong, is actually the most fragile.

He wants to marry her and spend a lifetime together.

But her heart is extremely delicate, and he cannot let her bear any more burden.

He is willing to wait for her, standing by her side.

Even if it means just accompanying her for a lifetime, it is good too!

"Thank you..." Tian Xin said, moved.

Bei Ran took a lot of her time to be with Tian Xin, and after work, they would go for a SPA together, then sit in a coffee shop.

"I’m really okay, Ranran, you should spend your time with the kids!" Tian Xin looked at her and took a sip of coffee.

Bei Ran gazed at her, "Big Fish and Little Fish are very sensible. I’ve noticed that they are becoming less and less in need of me; the children are gradually growing up and already starting to be independent! Thinking back to the time when I was pregnant, you were by my side just the same. Xinxin, we’ve been through so many years together, time is a testament to our friendship. Love is something that lasts for a lifetime, and so is friendship."

Tian Xin smiled, a rare occurrence: "People always have to go through a lot to understand a lot. Right now, I just want to find my brother; everything else can wait."

"Any leads?" Bei Ran asked, "Why don’t I help you search as well?"

"He’s been missing for so many years; I don’t even know if we can find him!" Tian Xin lamented, "It’s just that mother misses him terribly, and I hope to fulfill her dream."

As the two were drinking coffee, Tang Baijin walked in.

The moment Tian Xin saw him, her expression changed instantly.

The faint smile that had been hanging on her lips swiftly disappeared, and she lowered her head to stir the coffee in her cup with a spoon.

She should have expected that the world was so small; she and Tang Baijin would always meet.

"You’re all here!" Tang Baijin approached to greet them, "I’m glad you’re both okay!"

Bei Ran naturally saw the change in Tian Xin. She looked at Tang Baijin, who smiled genuinely, a sunny smile she had not seen for a long time.

"Why isn’t anyone talking?" Tang Baijin felt puzzled.

Tian Xin’s hand under the table clenched Bei Ran’s, not wanting her to say anything.

Bei Ran said bitterly, "This coffee is somewhat bitter!"

Not only the coffee, but her heart was bitter.

Her heart was full of bitterness.

Tian Xin was her best friend.

Tang Baijin was her first love.

Tian Xin had been with her through countless difficult times, and Tang Baijin had once sworn to protect her to death.

Two people who should have had no intersection became entangled in the closest way through a twist of fate.

Clearly, Tang Baijin had not realized this.

Tang Baijin sat down across from them, "Just add some sugar, and it won’t be bitter anymore!"

But, Tang San Shao, haven’t you realized? You’re not Bei Ran’s sugar, nor are you Tian Xin’s sugar.

Tian Xin stood up, "I still have things to do, I’ll be leaving first!"

She only took a sip of her coffee, then rapidly left.

Bei Ran hurriedly followed her, and Tian Xin ran quite a distance before stopping, hugging a big tree.

Bei Ran also arrived out of breath, approaching and seeing Tian Xin’s shoulders shaking.

This incident, no one had ever asked Tian Xin.

Bei Ran knew it should be Tang Baijin.

She thought, Gu Qingchen might have guessed it too, and as for Yang Junyi, he might not have mentioned it, but they were all intelligent people.

Tian Xin leaned her forehead against the tree, "I thought I could manage not to care, but the moment I saw him, I found I simply can’t control my emotions..."

"I’m sorry, Tian Xin... It’s all because of protecting me, that you’ve ended up like this..." Bei Ran reached out, patting her shoulder.

"Bei Ran, I’ve never blamed you, nor have I blamed Tang Baijin. He had struggled for so long and lost control. Qian Zhi Ling once said, without an antidote, he would have only one way to go," Tian Xin said softly, with tears.

Bei Ran nodded, "Even if he is dead, he wouldn’t want to hurt you. You know that, right? That’s why you can’t bring yourself to hate him!"

"Yes!" Tian Xin nodded, "It’s precisely because I know he didn’t want to hurt you, nor did he wish to hurt me. He had no idea what he was doing. I want to hate him, but I find myself unable to. However, I’m afraid to see him..."

She was always a woman, after all; he was her first man, and it had all happened so suddenly that she was entirely unprepared.

She couldn’t hate him because he had never hurt her.

She was afraid to see him, not wanting to evoke those traumatic memories.

"Qin Shan is no good, and so is Song Xuyao..." Tian Xin said intermittently, "If it wasn’t for Song Xuyao tying me and him together, I would have carried him onto our little boat and left together..."

"Song Xuyao..." Bei Ran furrowed her brows, "How is he involved?"

"He’s after news of Qin Shan." Tian Xin continued, "He’s gone mad for revenge, completely insane, not knowing what he’s doing. He’s only looking for Qin Shan, to avenge Song Chenxi..."

Bei Ran knew that Song Xuyao was also an obsessed man, but his obsession had driven him to madness, and he no longer knew right from wrong!

If he still retained his sense of justice as a police officer, he should have helped Tang Baijin when he saw his plight, instead of further harming him and causing Tian Xin’s downfall!

That night, Bei Ran escorted Tian Xin home, and it was already late.

She returned home, feeling somewhat disoriented.

Gu Qingchen embraced her from behind, "Baby..."

Seeing that it was him, Bei Ran looked into his eyes in the night and silently, yet firmly hugged him back.

Gu Qingchen could tell she was in a bad mood.

"Is it about Tian Xin’s situation?" he asked.

Bei Ran nodded, "You know who it is, right?"

Gu Qingchen nodded: "I’ve made a guess."

"This is also a hurt to Junyi!" Bei Ran sighed.

Gu Qingchen pulled her to sit with him on the bench in the back garden, taking in the scent of the night air.

"What’s done is done, baby, you shouldn’t think too much about it," Gu Qingchen said softly, "I’m here for everything, aren’t I?"

Bei Ran leaned against his chest; she was indeed in low spirits.

Tang Baijin’s rare good spirits, yet he doesn’t know who he’s hurt!

The fear that Tian Xin is trapped in will definitely not be overcome soon.

Yang Junyi is even more innocent; he didn’t do anything but still got hurt.

"You should keep her company more!" Gu Qingchen suggested.

Bei Ran looked towards him, "What about Junyi? How is he doing?"

Gu Qingchen didn’t hide it from her: "He’s depressed, focusing all his energy on his career."

"I hope time can heal everyone’s wounds," Bei Ran sighed, "Only time can make each of them feel better."

"They will get better, definitely," Gu Qingchen assured her.

Police Station.

Gu Qingchen arrived early in the morning and went straight to Zhuo Yufeng’s office.

"This early?" Zhuo Yufeng glanced at him and continued to look at the materials in his hand.

"I need things Song Xuyao has used," Gu Qingchen got straight to the point.

Zhuo Yufeng ordered his subordinates to fetch them, "Have a seat for a moment! You’re not just looking at his things for the sake of it, are you?"

Gu Qingchen said directly: "I want to know if he is the son the Tian Family lost years ago!"

Zhuo Yufeng put down the materials in his hand, "Are you planning to verify it yourself?"

"Yes!" Gu Qingchen confirmed, "I am a doctor, after all. Besides, this concerns everyone in the Tian Family. I don’t trust others to handle it."

Zhuo Yufeng said: "Actually, when Tian Xin first told me that her brother had disappeared, my initial instinct was Song Xuyao. But we need solid proof, instincts can’t be taken as evidence."

Gu Qingchen took away Song Xuyao’s belongings; he needed to get the lab results out as soon as possible.

In a dilapidated building, a lunchbox was thrown out, hitting Mama Tian on the head.

She ran in to argue: "Are you blind? Throwing a lunchbox around like that!"

Song Xuyao’s beard had grown out and was not trimmed, his hair in disarray. He just glanced at the woman without a word, his unresponsiveness evident.

Mama Tian, though she entered in anger, felt an inexplicable pity when she saw his condition.

If her son had not disappeared, he would be about the same age, wouldn’t he?

If her son received no kindness, would he end up like him?

Overwhelmed with sadness, Mama Tian no longer scolded him, instead saying, "You’re a capable young man, why hide here? Go bathe, get a haircut and shave, and you’ll look like a fine, strong young man again!"

"Have you said enough?" Song Xuyao scoffed coldly, looking very fierce, "Leave!"

Mama Tian was startled by his fierceness, but she refused to leave and asked, "Have you been wandering like this since you were young? Do you have a home? Do you have a family?"