149 Part Ways (2/2)

”Are you serious?”

”Why wouldn't I be?” he asked in a calm and collected voice.

Li Xueyue loathed his aloof nature. One minute he was warm, the next he was cold. ”We'll have to part ways.”

”Not for a long time.”

”It might be.”

”Not if you planned it that way.” Yu Zhen stood up, his eyes filled with accusations as if he had already reached a conclusion. ”Unless, you plan to test my patience.”

”Why would I test your patience?” Li Xueyue frowned, abandoning her teacup onto the table.

”Your father advised me to stay away from you. To give you space. Why?”

”I thought it was my turn to ask personal questions since you already asked yours,” Li Xueyue gritted through her teeth, shooting out of her chair. What was he doing right now?

”Just answer me. Why can't you come with me to Hanjian?”

”I have to avenge someone.”

”Who?”

”Me.”

Yu Zhen blinked in disbelief. ”Don't tell me it has to do with your previous parents?”

”I'm sorry to disappoint you,” she sarcastically said, crossing her arms over her chest. ”But yes, it has to do with them.”

”Li Xueyue,” he coldly addressed, closing the distance between them. In a low and anguished voice, he whispered, ”This revenge will ruin you.”

She refused to listen, shaking her head in disagreement, even if similar words from Li Wenmin echoed in her mind. ”No it won't. This revenge will bring me satisfaction.”

”Why do you have to throw away this comfortable life of yours to pursue petty revenge?”

”That's none of your business.”

”Xueyue,” he tried again, ”Why do you have to linger in the past?”

”Nothing you say will change my mind, I—”

”You're starting a new life with your current parents now, aren't you?”

”That doesn't change the past!” she cried out, taking steps back to create some distance between them.

Yu Zhen shook his head in disappointment, his heart torn by her. ”Neither can vengeance change it.”

”That's enough, Yu Zhen. I don't wish to see you any longer today,” Li Xueyue harshly said, hugging her elbows, keeping her arms close to her chest. She didn't like the truth spewed out of his mouth.

”Don't let your past destroy your present.”

”It's already sabotaging my future!” she yelled out, her eyes wide and vicious. ”You have no idea how much they've tormented me. You have no right to tell me what to do.”

”How could they possibly torment you when you're sheltered by the Li Family?” Yu Zhen cooly asked, keeping his calm when she couldn't. Someone had to be rational in this argument, and he decided it would be him.

Li Xueyue blinked, licking her lips at the realization that struck her. ”What they did to me in the past, it can't be erased. It haunts me every night and I can't sleep from it.”

Yu Zhen's gaze softened. He approached her and reached out to gently hold her, but she slapped his hands away. He was taken back by her violent approach. She stared at him as if he was a monster, as if he was the enemy. And it was all because he disagreed with her.

Li Xueyue was horrified at her own response. She didn't mean to hit him like that.

Her heart raced with panic, her eyes growing wide, but she did her best to hide it all.

Li Xueyue would rather come off as a bitch than someone weak. If she was weak, everyone could hurt her. She didn't want to be weak. She wanted to be strong. Strong enough to withstand the lethal gaze of Viscount Bai, powerful enough to trample them.

Li Xueyue squeezed her eyes shut. He said he was patient, but no one can ever be patient for long. Soon, they'll snap and get tired of it. He was no exception.