Chapter 66: Rupture

Shameless.
Get out of Jiang family.
Each curse like slap on face—heart shatter worse than pain thousandfold.
Slapped to floor—ugly pose—swollen cheek—no mercy. Silent—face in shadow—tears string down.
“Hey! Why hit? Talk properly?” Zhou Lin heart ached—ten months flesh—knelt—held face.
Jiang Sheng glance—cold hum—“Didn’t talk? Father’s fault if child not taught!”
“Spread outside—where put Jiang face—my face!”
“Busy no marriage no kids—we agreed—you resisted—for a woman!”
“What can you do with a woman! Dare tell outsiders? They’ll think you disgusting!”
Rage spent—hand chest again—drink—cold at silent floor.
“Jiang Ya—silence won’t escape.”
Stood—look down—sentence—“Won’t break—fine—I have ways.”
“Lived years—not for nothing—I’ll find that woman—talk myself—or her parents—hear how absurd their daughter!”
Wooden fingers moved—up—red eyes—near bleeding.
Looked up like god untouchable—never dared touch—now lowest beg—“Don’t… Dad… please don’t find her—not her fault.”
“Don’t force me—I can’t choose—outsiders I bear—but don’t push… okay?”
“Except this—all else I obey—never blamed you… please Dad…”
Jiang Sheng brow slight knit—complex—flash pity—look away—“Don’t beg—father—no need grovel.”
“Warning today—weigh right wrong—correct errors—or ruin life.”
“Can’t choose—we choose for you. Stay tonight—reflect.”
“More outrageous.” Door slam bedroom.
Living room—Jiang Ya kneeling Zhou Lin.
……
Zhou Lin stroked swollen face—tears still—numb stare—never saw calm daughter such despair… for a woman—risk scorn—worth it?
Long comfort—Jiang Ya moved.
Turned—red eyes—last hope—Zhou Lin saw through.
Hand withdrawn—tired sigh—“Don’t blame us—you say we force—you force us too.”
“No parent wants child abnormal—hurt—understand? World worse than you think!”
“But Mom…” blank—tears dry—hoarse—“I only… only…”
Just love someone—wrong?
Just want happiness—so hard?
Zhou Lin stop—ruthless—“Enough—we never agree.”
“Time—you end it yourself—we pretend never happened—life as before.”
“Insist—we find her—I move in with you until resolved.”
“Think—simple or big mess.”
……
Five AM—fish-belly white dawn.
Qi Yu waited Jiang Ya apartment all night—no return. Messages no reply—calls missed.
Sofa—lights off—stare dark. No sleep—no drowsiness.
First anxious at phone—each message sunk—heart oddly calm—exhausted calm—no struggle—no imagine strength.
Numb—void black—unwanted thought—denied fast.
Seven—could not sit.
Unease—old district—empty morning roads—eight home.
Qi Li opened door—surprised.
“Xiaoyu so early?”
“Something—talk you and aunt.”
“What?” Glanced living room—“Aunt took Xuan school—buying food—not back.”
Bedroom—door closed.
“What? You look terrible—sick?”
Hand to forehead—Qi Yu dodged—awkward withdraw.
Clear on way—now quiet—Qi Li—temples ache—heavy lids.
“Fine… Mom—I need tell you.”
“Mm—listening.”
Serious—Qi Li tense—premonition.
“Someone I like—together half year—didn’t tell you.”
Relief—held hand—“Really? Photo? Let Mom see?”
“She’s a woman.” Calm eyes.
Qi Li blank.
Smile withered—corner fell—shock doubt—not Zhou Lin rage—just watch—deep mixed.
Unexpected silence—brow knit—planned words—“Know hard accept—won’t lie.”
“Meant later—yesterday her family knew—should tell you.”
Long stare—lowered—wet caught.
“Mom—say what you think.”
Silent.
Half beat—back—tears heavy—unclear.
Gripped hand tight—hard ask—“Family knows… will they agree?”
Stunned—brow knit.
“Even if not—I won’t leave her.”
Deep look—bitter smile—“Then? Abandon family—carry world’s weight forever?”
“Too naive Xiaoyu.”
Pulled hand—raised brow—“Not you—how know naive? Why care world’s eyes—equal—your bias tradition.”
Sigh—urge—“Young—think unimportant—reality not unbreakable.”
“If her family agrees—continue—if oppose—don’t persist foolishly—understand?”
“Young—room to try—later no return.”
“Never thought return!” Cold firm—“Adult—choices deliberate—I bear consequences.”
Worried—“Don’t want you hurt—love you worry—”
Old lines—tired.
Avoid touch—stood—cold at disappointed pity—once soft now ridiculous.
“If you cared—you wouldn’t say you didn’t want to birth me.”
“Failed marriage—you regret—married man you never loved.”
“No marriage—no me—less worry—right?”
Last words to Qi Li.
Left fast—ignored block.
Limit—stairs tried Jiang Ya again—failed—Li Wen—Jiang Ya could answer—just not hers.
Hah.
Truth surfaced—doubt tree—still stubborn for answer.
No lunch appetite—bun—sat hallway bench—crowds passed—still—scrolled old chats—dazed—slept against wall unknowing.
Evening nightmare—grey sky—empty hall—hollow heart—forgot blink—skeleton staring one direction.
~8 PM neighbor kind—trouble?—tired smile—silent.
~9 PM—giving up—she appeared.
Jiang Ya—finally.
Four eyes—surprised—step near—about speak—Qi Yu hugged hard.
“Where were you? No reply? No answer? Scared you’d never return.” Held tight—pretense shattered—heart only Jiang Ya—mind only her.
Jiang Ya let hold—hand touched back—dropped.
Controlled voice—“Why here?”
Eyes closed—her scent—“Waited for you.”
Heart sour—eyes full—brow knit—hold tears.
……
Hand fisted—pushed—look away—“Not here—upstairs talk.”
Pushed—stunned—stared face—followed apartment.
Door—Zaizai greet—Jiang Ya knelt pet.
Normal night illusion—unease.
Followed bedroom—back—coat off calm—nothing to say.
Behind—stopped—“Why no reply no call?”
Stalled—folded coat slow.
All night wait—so cold?
Grabbed hand—face her—“Answer!”
Brow sorrow—lost stare—lowered—“Sorry.”
“Sorry means what?”
“Don’t want answer… let go?”
“No.” Struggle—tighter wrist—“Fine—not that—last night family—how talk?”
“Not smooth?”
Turned away—“You guessed—why ask?”
“I care about you not them!” Uncontrolled—“They reject—you—your stance?”
Questions—eyes red—deep breath—body sour shake.
Bit lip—long—“Sorry.”
Sorry ignited Qi Yu.
Hated those three words.
Once sorry ended them—again?
“Don’t want sorry!” Mad—red eyes—chin grip—“Look at me Jiang Ya!”
“Sorry means what—speak.”
Forced face—eyes stubborn down—tear corner—“Sorry… Qi Yu… I can’t choose.”
“Never asked you choose!” Tears rain—soften—“Together—face together—no choice needed…”
“Forced you? Threatened? Tell me—we solve together!”
Solve together?
Flash waver—Gang Sheng’s warning in ears—will find Qi Yu—her family—cannot imagine aftermath…
Qi Yu wrong—coward—order collapse—kin prejudice—colored glasses—selfish base—not worth love.
Slow look—wet eyes—corner smile—“Sorry… only sorry… calm down—okay?”
Blank—laugh through rage—“Calm?”
Smile wider—tears face—“Calm what?”
“Jiang Ya—breaking up?”
Break up—Jiang Ya brow flicker—look away—broke free—walked out—no yes no.
Back turned—clown—pride trampled each step.
Fists—explosion.
“Are you human! Heart at all!”
“Waited all night! No word—mad asking others find you—how worried!”
“You—one calm and send me away—what am I? Toy? Warm bed? Take discard!”
“I’m cheap to like you!”
“Selfish—only yourself—never others—always so lofty!”
“You said lack love—you don’t deserve love! Love your parents—let them control forever!”
“Don’t regret!”