【It’s not because you’re not good enough, not because I don’t love you anymore. It’s just that the way you treat me makes me feel like your world doesn’t need me.】
France.
Two days passed in a flash. After a long day of work, Huo Zhili stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly gazing at the night view of the entire city.
He had been standing there for who knows how long, his fingertips repeatedly brushing over his phone screen. The page was clean—no new messages at all.
Huo Zhili dialed the home number, and it was quickly answered. A respectful voice came through the receiver, “Young Master Huo.”
“Has Miss Yu returned?” His voice was low, his jawline tense and cold.
The servant hurriedly replied, “Not yet.”
Huo Zhili responded indifferently, “Let me know as soon as she returns.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
After hanging up, a message from Huo Songyi popped up on the screen: 【Brother, are you on a business trip?】
He tapped lightly on the screen and replied with two words: 【Yes, back in three days.】
Back in the country.
Yu Qingyu’s recent clinic appointments and surgeries were only scheduled for four days.
After all, she would be going abroad in a week.
That day, she spent the morning in the operating room and the afternoon in the clinic.
At 5:30 p.m., as she finished work, a message popped up on her phone from Lou Minghe: 【Do you need a ride?】
She tapped lightly on the screen and replied calmly: 【No need, I drove.】
Once inside the car, Yu Qingyu instinctively checked her phone. The screen remained empty.
He had only deleted her, not blocked her.
That tiny flicker of hope was once again shattered by reality.
Her heart felt as if it were being pricked by fine needles, a dull ache spreading through her.
She could force herself to let go of him immediately, could rationally sever all lingering thoughts, but her heart needed time to slowly adjust—this person had occupied twenty-six years of her life.
Ever since she began to babble as a child, a seed had been planted in her heart: when she grew up, she would become Huo Zhili’s bride.
In the past, they had argued and fought, and every time, she was the first to back down.
She always blamed herself for being too sensitive, too immature, for disturbing his career when he was busy.
Every time she calmed down, she would take the initiative to apologize, holding him and softly admitting she was wrong.
But this time, she knew better than anyone that neither of them was at fault.
It was just that he didn’t love her anymore.
After a long silence, Yu Qingyu slowly tossed her phone onto the passenger seat and started the car.
Tonight, she was going home for dinner to tell them about her decision to study abroad.
The words “study abroad” were spoken with calm detachment, but only she knew that beneath that calm lay an undeniable sadness and the resolve to let go.
If she didn’t leave, she might keep draining herself emotionally, endlessly clinging to him.
At 6:30 p.m., Yu Qingyu smoothly parked her car in the villa’s parking spot.
The moment she turned off the engine, the car door was pulled open from the outside. Lou Minghe leaned against the car, having waited for some time.
She looked up at him, her voice carrying a hint of barely noticeable fatigue.
“Brother, were you smoking outside, or were you waiting for me on purpose?”
“Waiting for you on purpose,” Lou Minghe replied succinctly.
Yu Qingyu said nothing more and pushed the car door open to step out. “Let’s go inside.”
Just as they were about to walk in, Lou Minghe couldn’t help but ask the question that concerned him the most: “Qingyu, are you really sure about this?”
He knew her too well—the girl who had revolved around Huo Zhili since childhood. Letting go so easily was no simple matter.
Yu Qingyu’s fingers unconsciously brushed across her phone screen, a flicker of pain passing through her eyes before she calmed down.
“My wholehearted love gradually became a shackle in his eyes, worthless entanglement, something he took for granted.”
She paused, her tone light yet resolute:
“Two days, not a single message. He isn’t clueless—he just doesn’t care. Maybe he’s still waiting for me to lower my head and admit defeat again… Forget it, this time, I don’t want it anymore.”
Lou Minghe gazed at her profile, her composure clearly forced, his eyes filled with tenderness as he spoke softly and gently, “Mm, you deserve better.”
As his words fell, the two stepped side by side into the entryway.
In the living room, Lou Yunting was watching a drama with Yu Kexin. Seeing them return, both were taken aback.
“You’re back.”
Lou Yunting spoke first, his sharp gaze catching the faint redness in Yu Qingyu’s eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
Yu Kexin also immediately noticed her daughter’s unusual state.
By nature, Yu Qingyu was lively and loved to act spoiled, but at this moment, she was excessively proper, lacking her usual vibrancy.
Yu Qingyu took a deep breath, her tone calm yet heavy. “Dad, Mom, I’ve accepted the offer from Johns Hopkins. I’ll be going abroad in a week.”
“So sudden? … Have you discussed this with Zhili?” Yu Kexin was greatly surprised.
She knew all too well how much her daughter loved Huo Zhili—previously, when they suggested sending her abroad for further studies, she had refused without hesitation for his sake.
Lou Yunting, having weathered the business world for years, showed no change in expression, only saying mildly, “As long as it’s your own decision, it’s fine.”
Yu Qingyu looked at Yu Kexin and confessed, “We… aren’t compatible. We broke up.”
Yu Kexin was stunned upon hearing this and was about to press for details when Lou Yunting gently took her hand, his glance signaling her to stay calm.
He turned to his daughter, his tone gentle yet carrying unwavering support.
“Going abroad to continue your studies is a good thing. Your mother and I support you.”
Outwardly composed, Lou Yunting was already seething with anger inside.
Even if this relationship had been one-sided on Yu Qingyu’s part, he had personally betrayed his daughter’s sincere feelings. To treat such affection so lightly—this was an account he would remember.
As for Yu Kexin, her heart ached unbearably.
That feeling of having to let go despite deep love—she understood it all too well.
After saying those words about the breakup, Yu Qingyu seemed to have lifted a heavy stone that had long weighed on her heart. She quickly walked to Yu Kexin’s side, gently resting her forehead against her mother’s shoulder, her voice soft and soothingly understanding.
“Mom, don’t let what happened between us affect your relationship with Aunt Sheng. When it comes to dating, breaking up if it’s not right is perfectly normal.”
Yu Kexin gently patted her back, comforting her.
“Mom knows. From now on, love yourself well. Someone better is waiting for someone as beautiful and smart as you.”