"My entire life has been spent either admiring Feng Xing's back or trying my best to become someone worthy of him. Marrying him has always been my dream."
"Saying these things to you, you might think I'm naive or unreasonable, but that's just how it is."
"Falling in love with someone means going mad for them, losing all reason and disregarding everything else."
"Heh heh..."
Nangong Shanshan let out a self-mocking laugh.
Only she knew the bitterness and torment of such a love.
"Look at me, complaining to you like this."
"By the way, does Young Master Yun have someone he likes?"
Ye Lingyun thought for a moment, a slender figure appearing in his mind.
However, he quickly shifted his thoughts.
"Perhaps, but a wise person doesn't fall into love. Even if I have feelings for someone, my rationality still prevails."
Nangong Shanshan shook her head.
"You can still remain rational because your love isn't deep enough. But that's for the best; at least you won't be like me now, preparing wedding dresses and a wedding all by yourself."
By the end of her sentence, she didn't know what else to say about herself.
"Miss Nangong, do you truly feel happy in this kind of marriage?"
Happy?
Ye Fengxing used Nangong Shanshan, with no personal feelings whatsoever.
Where would happiness come from?
"I know what you're trying to say, but my decision to marry Ye Fengxing won't change. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
They were both smart people and understood each other.
It seemed that trying to influence Nangong Shanshan, a woman who valued love above all else, was basically impossible.
But then...
"Miss Nangong is a devoted person, but sadly, Master Feng's heart belongs to someone else."
"If Miss Nangong wishes for her marriage to be perfect, perhaps she should make better plans for herself."
"I consider this meal as already eaten. I have something else to do, so I'll be going now."
Nangong Shanshan's expression changed, and her heart sank.
Besides Tang Xiaomin, she couldn't think of anyone else Ye Fengxing might like.
She loved Ye Fengxing deeply, and she understood that a person's feelings for another weren't easily changed.
"Tang Xiaomin... you are the biggest obstacle to my happiness in this life."
...
In a shopping mall, Tang Xiaomin was looking around.
"Xiaomin, here, here!"
Zhang Meiyu approached Tang Xiaomin.
"Let's go. There's a shop over there that specializes in handmade yarn. Pick any color you want. I've recently learned to knit several new patterns."
Zhang Meiyu said this with a hint of pride on her face.
Her life had been one of being served. Now that she had learned handicraft knitting, it was natural for her to feel a sense of accomplishment.
It was spring now, and the weather was starting to warm up, so thick sweaters weren't needed.
Although, she didn't like wearing sweaters.
...
In a shop selling all sorts of yarn, Zhang Meiyu was carefully selecting.
The sales assistant introduced, "Madam, the one you're holding is a new arrival! It's very soft and made of excellent yarn. It won't cause static electricity when knitting scarves or other knitted items."
Zhang Meiyu shook her head.
"It's good, but it will pill. I'll look at other options."
In this regard, Zhang Meiyu seemed quite professional.
Tang Xiaomin couldn't interject, and she wasn't skilled in this area either.
When they left, they had bought a bag full of yarn of various colors.
Looking at Zhang Meiyu's demeanor, she was truly intent on doing handicraft knitting at home.
Since they were already there, Tang Xiaomin also took Zhang Meiyu to buy two sets of new women's clothing. Zhang Meiyu immediately removed the tags and put them on.
"Xiaomin, do I look good?"
Tang Xiaomin nodded. "You look good, the beige suits you." She meant it.
They browsed through several floors of the mall, and Zhang Meiyu spent Tang Xiaomin's money without blinking an eye.
This wasn't an everyday occurrence, so Tang Xiaomin indulged her preferences and let her buy whatever she wanted.
Afterward, they went to a restaurant on the fifth floor of the mall for a meal.
Today, they were just like an ordinary mother and daughter.
A short while later, Zhang Meiyu went to the restroom.
Tang Xiaomin watched her walk away, feeling a bit dazed.
She had fantasized about days like this many times, always envying Tang Yiyi.
She herself never imagined that she and Zhang Meiyu would have a day like this.
Life was unpredictable, but she had decided to reconcile with herself and happily accept her current life.
Half an hour passed. Tang Xiaomin had finished her meal, but Zhang Meiyu still hadn't returned.
For some reason, Tang Xiaomin felt a sense of unease.
She got up to check near the restroom to see what Zhang Meiyu was doing.
She opened each stall door, but strangely, there wasn't a soul in the mall restroom.
As she walked out of the restroom and was about to search elsewhere.
Just then, a cleaner wearing a mask ran over in a panic.
"Oh no, someone's going to jump off the building! Oh dear..."
The cleaner hurried away, but Tang Xiaomin heard her clearly.
Without a second thought, she climbed up the stairs.
The door to the top floor was ajar. Tang Xiaomin pushed it open forcefully.
The scene before her made her heart clench.
Zhang Meiyu was standing at the edge of the rooftop, her back to Tang Xiaomin, motionless.
The place was still under construction, and there were no railings at the edge, putting Zhang Meiyu in a very dangerous situation.
"Come back quickly, don't stand there!"
Tang Xiaomin instinctively shouted, and at the same time, hurried forward.
Zhang Meiyu, who had been standing there, suddenly moved and made a motion as if she were startled and stepping back.
But she suddenly slipped, and in the second before she fell, she glanced back at Tang Xiaomin and then plunged straight down!
"No!"
Without hesitation, Tang Xiaomin leaped down to save her.
As her body plummeted rapidly, she reached out, trying to grab Zhang Meiyu.
Hurry!
Just a little more!
Just a little bit more!
But she seemed to have forgotten that this mall was only five stories high, about twenty meters.
Just as her fingers brushed Zhang Meiyu's fingertips, Zhang Meiyu's body hit the hard floor with a thud.
The world around seemed to freeze at that moment.
Crimson blood spread on the floor and continued to expand.
Zhang Meiyu blinked her eyes twice, trembled, and raised her hand to touch Tang Xiaomin's face.
There was no fear in her eyes, only a look of maternal love.
Her hand slipped uncontrollably, and in her loving gaze, her pupils gradually lost the focus that signified life.
"No..."
"Don't!"
"Don't do this!"
Tang Xiaomin broke down in tears, her blood-stained hands in a panic, like a headless fly.
"Don't..."
"Don't leave... I..."
"You still owe me so much, how can you leave..."
"Don't go... Don't!"
...
She looked around, longing for someone to help her.
But all around were people with horrified expressions, staring blankly at the accident scene, their faces growing paler by the second.
The wail of an ambulance siren cut through the bustling city.
In less than ten minutes, medical personnel arrived.
After examining Zhang Meiyu's condition, they shook their heads helplessly.
They took a white sheet and covered Zhang Meiyu's body, which was growing cold.