Chapter 703 An unforgivable rift
The same beautiful night when two newly wedded couples were basking at the peak of their bliss, the same couldn't be said about a certain someone who was staring outside his balcony towards the open sea. The weddings were held in a church near a scenic beachside hotel where a one night stay was provided for everybody.
Jin breathed in the cool but faintly salty air, listening to the calming sound of the waves friendly greeting the shore. His mind was devoid of any thoughts but at the same time, it felt as if it was bombarded by many.
As he lowered his gaze, his eyelashes blinked upon seeing Shui stepping into the beach. She walked on the soft sand, making her way towards the sea. Jin didn't know why but instead of turning away back to his room, he chose to silently stare at her back. Shui was watching the waves reach up to her feet and chuckling, she waved them back and forth, splashing the water around.
A few strong gusts of winds made her hug herself and wrap the woolen shawl around her tighter. Jin tapped his finger on the balcony's railing and frowned.
*Meow*
He looked down and found Ai-chan staring at him and climbing on his body up to his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she rubbed her face against him. A warm smile curved his lips and he tickled her under her chin. Down, Jun-cute was circling his feet, sending him his own signals.
Jin laughed and picked him up too. "You two are really cute."
Down at the beach, Shui realized that it might have been a bad idea to come outside after all. She thought a stole would be enough, but the winds were growing gusty and cold, making her shudder. She was too lazy to go back and fetch a jacket. She flipped some sand in the air, sighing.
She slowly felt a warm jacket cover her stole bound shoulders and surprised, she slightly jerked her head up.
"Jin…?"
She couldn't help but part her lips in shock. "You are awake? And the cats too…" she beamed and ruffled their heads.
The two cats jumped down from his shoulders and began hopping around in the sand with each other.
"They wanted to play outside," he shrugged. "Then again, you are awake too."
"Ah," she awkwardly scratched her chin, "I was feeling bored and the beach looked fun. It is so beautiful at night. Th-thank you for your jacket…" she clutched it closer to her.
"Hm."
They stayed silent for several moments, especially remembering the trip and the kiss. Even though everything seemed normal, both struggled to initiate more conversation.
Jin was tapping his fingers on his trousers with his thumb inside his pocket. "...You shouldn't be out when it's this cold."
"I know," she smiled. "I just thought it would feel refreshing."
Jun-cute came and sat beside her feet, staring at her hard.
"Hehe, do you want me to hold you?"
As if right on the cue, he jumped into her arms and settled like a king. With his furry body against her chest, she immediately felt the warmth seep in.
Ah it's so warm…
"Let's sit…?" She asked a moment later.
Jin didn't mind and he joined her. They kept a small distance between them as they sat on the sand. Ai-chan rested against his chest, tired from all the running around.
They watched the dark horizon ahead in silence. The waves gently kissed their feet, sending them a sense of rejuvenation through their troubled hearts.
Shui smiled as she said, "I am really happy for Jun and Ai."
"Hm."
She looked at him and saw the hint ofjoy in his gaze as well. It gave off a feeling as if a long journey had finally come to its conclusion. His shoulders seemed light and relaxed as if a burden was lifted off them.
He then peeked at her and asked, "What are your plans now?"
"My plans?"
"Yeah about your future. You said you were interested in taking art."
"Oh yes," she gave a wide grin, "Mom is a cool artist too. She even helped Aunt Shuang with her multiple video games projects. I am thinking something along the similar lines. To become a design artist for marketing and advertising?" She scratched her head. "I am still not sure if I am cut out for it though hehe…"
"You are. You always drew the good stuff," he smiled. "I know you will do great."
With his black eyes so sharp and focused on her with an equally strong belief for her future, she felt her heart skip several beats. She pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Th-thanks…"
She coughed. "Your days will be busy in the Liu Corps with Uncle Jinhai, right? CEO training must be tough. Bro is doing the same."
He didn't answer.
"Hm?"
"I will be leaving for Paris."
Shui blinked rapidly, staring at him hard. "Paris?"
"Hm. My Grandma and Grandpa are there. From Mom's side. You know that. They live on and off Beijing and Paris. I thought about it for a while and decided that I will work in his company and learn business management from Grandpa."
Shui couldn't wrap her head around this sudden bomb dropped on her and her heart sank as if she was thrown into the sea. "B-But why suddenly?"
"It's not sudden. Like I said, I have been giving it some thought for a long time. Bro Nian had also studied in Paris to become a patisserie. I thought it would be a good change of pace for me too," his stance didn't faze, "I will not be leaving immediately though. Once I see my nephew or niece and spend some time with him or her, I will leave."
A long and sharp silence ensued. The sound of the crashing waves felt defeaning.
"...O-Oh."
Her voice trembled and her lips quivered with the cold. "So you are leaving. For how much time…?"
Jin clenched his fist, feeling his heart pound in his chest. "Not sure at this point. It will be at least for five years though."
She bit her lip hard, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. The cold wind hurt her moist eyes but she could care less. "And this is purely to have a bright career and future and nothing to do with the past or the condition or the fact that you will be forced to live in the same city as me and forced to bear my presence and forced to keep seeing my face again and again and again?"
"It has nothing to do with that."
The cats felt the disturbance in the air and raised their heads, worriedly purring and rubbing their paws on them.
Shui gently placed Jun-cute on the ground and stood on her feet. She removed the jacket from the shoulders and handed it back to Jin.
He panicked and anxiously got up on his feet too. "It's still cold-"
"Not really, Jin. Not anymore."
Tears streamed down her face as she forced a smile on her lips. "And you were right. You don't deserve to be forgiven because you are a coward. You think that your past with Kang Xue has hurt me? Then you are wrong because that pain doesn't come even remotely close to this decision. You were right again. Since it's God's condition, who are we to challenge it? We should keep following it with our heads ducked and mouths shut for the rest of our lives even if that means crushing our own hearts."
"Shui-"
"I wish you good luck and a safe journey. I believe we don't have anything to talk about anymore."
Neither did she say anything further or spare him any glance as she turned her back to him and walked away, hugging herself. But this time, the culprit for that embrace was not the harsh, cold wind but Jin's icy, callous words that froze her heart miserably.
Jun-cute and Ai-chan stared at Jin, who stood extremely quiet, his gaze fixed at a faraway distance. He watched Shui's figure disappear into the hotel, his heart trembling with the bleak realization that there would probably not be any next time to talk to her ever again. He could feel it within him crystal clear.
It was not only Shui's love, but Jin had brought forth a deep and unforgivable rift into their precious friendship too. And he didn't know if those cracks would ever mend.
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