Wu Tian froze.
"What do you mean? Engaged to whom?"
The girl took a deep breath, her voice quiet but firm.
"You know… you haven't contacted me all week. Then my parents introduced me to someone. Usually, I would refuse… but this time… I agreed."
Wu Tian remained silent. His gaze was steady, his expression unreadable.
She continued.
"I met my fiancé there. He's a good man. He keeps many snakes at home… I was scared at first, but with him… I felt safe."
Wu Tian still didn't speak.
"He had liked me for a long time. He asked his mother to arrange our marriage. Because you were angry and ignored me… I decided to give him a chance."
Silence filled the VIP room.
"Yesterday, he took me out. He owns a bakery. On the way home… he gave me a ring." She looked down at the table, her eyes trembling. "At first, I thought of you. But because you ignored me… I accepted his proposal."
She added, almost in a whisper: "I'm sorry… for breaking my promise to always love you."
Wu Tian spoke softly "Why did you do this? Were you forced by your parents? If so, I can talk to them. I could even prepare our wedding immediately."
The girl shook her head. "As I said… you ignored me for an entire week."
"I'm sorry… I was angry because you went out with another man. ou said you were busy with me, but you went out with him instead."
"Didn't I tell you he's just a friend? I only felt awkward refusing his invitation. And I wasn't alone with him, we went with others."
Wu Tian exhaled sharply, his voice rising slightly. "That's exactly the problem. You feel awkward with him… but not with me. You never thought about how I felt."
He then took her hand. "Come. I'll speak to your mother and cancel the engagement."
But she slowly withdrew her hand. "I can't. My brother already told her everything about my past… and he accepted it. He's the only one who doesn't care."
Wu Tian shook his head hard. "I also accept your past! Didn't I say it's not your fault? You were just unlucky to have a father like that. I promise I'll protect you… make you happy… make you forget all of it."
The girl closed her eyes briefly. "I came today… to say goodbye." She stood.
Wu Tian immediately rose, trying to hold her hand again.
"I still have three days before the engagement. We can meet again if you want." She thought for a moment, recalling something. "But Tomorrow… I'm going to buy a dress. So I won't be able to see you. Goodbye."
She left the VIP room, leaving Wu Tian alone amid untouched food.
The scene shifted.
Wu Tian looked at his phone. There—photos of her in a wedding dress.
A few days later, a photo of her wearing a ring at an event.
Wu Tian muttered "Being engaged doesn't mean married… I have to destroy their relationship before it's too late."
But a few days later, another photo appeared.
She was standing with a man, captioned "Living with my fiance. My mother-in-law asked me to give him a chubby baby soon."
Wu Tian shed tears—for the first time. A surge of overwhelming emotion erupted.
He rushed off toward her home.
He kicked the door of her house—but it was too sturdy.
He smashed a window and jumped inside, only to be blocked by a man.
"Where's Shin?" Wu Tian demanded, his tone fierce.
The man—Haru, Shinon's brother—glared.
"She's not here. And you'd better not look for her again."
Wu Tian lost control. Swiftly, he grabbed a shard of glass and threw it.
Haru dodged and attacked.
Wu Tian knew he wouldn't win in a physical clash, so he tackled Haru, pinning him to the floor. He pressed the glass shard against his neck.
Wu Tian whispered sharply "You know I never back down once I've decided… right?"
"Enough!" a woman's angry voice came from behind.
Wu Tian turned and saw Shinon's mother standing there, her expression heavy with sorrow.
Wu Tian stood to face her. "I just want to see Shinon. I promise I won't hurt her—only take her away," he tried to convince her.
The woman exhaled heavily. "She doesn't want to see you. She's already happy—"
"Enough," Wu Tian interrupted. "I don't care about that. I'm sure something is affecting Shinon…" He paused briefly, then, in a low, threatening tone, continued: "Sooner or later, I will know everything—the location, why she left me, even who put her in that position."
He waited, ensuring the tension hung in the air, letting the woman absorb every word.
"So… will you tell me?"
"I suppose you'll find out eventually," the woman exhaled softly. "She's inside. Make sure you don't disturb her."
The woman left to approach Haru, who sat with his head bowed.
Wu Tian understood the implication and decided to go to Shinon's room. He stepped forward slowly, recalling the events of the past few days.
'Why is Shinon at her home? Shouldn't she be with her fiancé? And where is that monkey-faced fiancé of hers'
Many questions ran through Wu Tian's mind until he reached Shinon's door.
He opened the door and his eyes widened at the sight before him.
Shinon lay asleep on the bed, a tube attached to her nose, and the monotonous beeping of a heart monitor filled the room. Wu Tian stepped closer, staring at her pale, weak face.
A flicker of memory crossed his mind:
Shinon: Sorry, I couldn't contact you today. I was at the hospital for a check-up.
A photo of a beautiful woman with a pale face appeared on Wu Tian's phone.
Wu Tian: "Is that true? What illness do you have? Is it serious?"
Shinon: "It's serious. I have a lung condition. The doctors say I won't last long, at most until July next year."
Wu Tian felt worry, but also hope.
Wu Tian: "You know, I experienced something similar. When I was young, I had a lung condition, and the doctors said I wouldn't survive. But here I am. In fact, the doctor passed away before me. Hahaha."
Shinon: "Xixixi, so that's why you were so exhausted after running one kilometer and always slept on the ground after running."
Wu Tian: "Back then, I wasn't in good condition. After running, my vision would darken, my head would spin and ring, that's why I did that."
Shinon: "You know, lately I've been having strange dreams."
Shinon: "For the past month, I've dreamed of floating on a small boat in the middle of a lake."
Shinon: "Lately, the dream changed, the boat I was on washed ashore on land full of lilies."
Wu Tian: "You know, white lilies symbolize rebirth. I'm sure it's a sign that your life will be better."
Shinon: "Hmmmmm, you're so stubborn. What if I die? Don't change the subject!"
Wu Tian: "If you die, I'll confront the god for making your life suffer."
Shinon: "Xixixixi, you're such a braggart."
Wu Tian: "You will survive."
Shinon: "I hope so ❤️."
The scene shifted.
"Tian, if I die, what will you do?" she asked.
"I'll bury you. I hope it happens when we're old so I won't be lonely for long. If there was no prohibition that those who commit suicide go to hell, I would go with you," Wu Tian replied.
"Hmmm," she puffed her cheeks in frustration. "You should live well, marry another woman, and start a family. I'm sure there are many good women out there."
"No, there is no one good besides you in this generation."
"Hmppp, you're so stubborn. What if I die—"
"You will survive," Wu Tian paused. "Didn't I already say this? And now look—it's August. I'm sure the doctor will die before you." Wu Tian chuckled lightly. "I told you, as long as you stay optimist, the impossible thing can become possible."
She grasped Wu Tian's hand tighter.
"By the way, how are you feeling?"
"Better. The doctor said as long as I avoid cold places, I'll recover soon."
They walked in silence.
"By the way, I'll have my final check-up soon."
"Don't lie to me. What are the chances this time?"
She smiled. "70%."
The scene shifted.
"Sorry, Wu Tian, I'm (!=busy) undergoing the examination."
"My mother introduced me to (!=someone) my doctor."
The scene shifted.
"Shin," Wu Tian hurried to Shinon and held her hand.
"Wu Tian?" Shinon was startled by his presence.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you say you were busy?"
From behind came a voice: "I'm the one who took her out to—"
"He's my (!=friend) doctor," Shinon interrupted. "He invited me out. I felt awkward refusing, so I lied to you."
"Awkward? It's fine, I understand. Besides, this isn't the first time you've done this," Wu Tian said, walking away from them.