Back in her apartment, Lin Zhou threw herself onto the sofa. She curled into a ball, trembling like a wounded animal.
Her mind was a chaotic mess. Shen Che's face—that pale, haggard face—kept alternating with the sunny, handsome face from her memory, tearing at her nerves.
A liar! He was a complete and utter liar!
Her devoted waiting, her long-distance love affair—it was all a one-woman show she had directed herself. And the leading man she had longed for was living right above her, watching her like a spectator in a play for three years.
He had heard her footsteps going up and down the stairs, heard her laughter when she watched a comedy, heard her sighs as she tossed and turned at night, consumed by longing... He knew everything, but he said nothing.
How could anyone be so cruel?
Lin Zhou shot up from the sofa, grabbed a glass from the table, and hurled it against the wall.
CRASH!
The sound of shattering glass was piercingly loud in the empty room. Shards flew everywhere, just like her shattered heart.
No, she couldn't just let it go. She needed an explanation, a reason! She had to know why he did this to her!
Rage overcame sorrow. She wiped away her tears, stood up abruptly, and rushed out the door again. She was going to demand answers!
She flew up the stairs to the sixth floor like a whirlwind and pounded on the door.
"Shen Che! Open the door! Get out here!"
"You think you can just hide in there and everything will be fine? You coward! You liar!"
"You better explain yourself! Why did you do this to me?!"
She yelled and cried, completely losing the quiet, gentle demeanor she usually had. She channeled all the grievances and longing of the past three years into her current fury.
The door finally opened.
Shen Che stood behind it, his face even paler than before. He looked at her tear-streaked face, his eyes filled with pain.
"Zhou Zhou, don't be like this..."
"Like what?!" Lin Zhou tried to push past him into the room but was blocked by his body. He was thin, but surprisingly strong.
"Let me in! I want to see what the hell you've been up to for the past three years!"
"Don't come in," Shen Che said, his voice hoarse and urgent. "It's a mess... It's not what you think. Please, calm down, give me some time. I promise I'll explain everything."
"Time? I gave you three years! Wasn't that enough?" Lin Zhou completely lost control. "Shen Che, I truly regret ever meeting you!"
After saying this, she pushed him away with all her might and ran off.
Shen Che didn't follow. He leaned against the door, his body slowly sliding down until he was sitting slumped on the cold floor. He raised his hands to cover his face, his shoulders shaking violently. A suppressed, agonizing sob escaped from between his fingers.