Chapter 90 - Oopsie, Sorry! (1/2)

Zhou Jinhai's eyes drooped down as he contemplated Darren's words in his mind. His mind somehow realized which rose had dwindled in his life but his heart wasn't accepting it. If he accepted, his world will collide once again.

”Are you talking about... Chen... Chen Xiu?” He stuttered to complete his question. As if he couldn't bring himself to even say her name. As if it was too painful to even remember that name.

”HEOL! You do remember her name. That's a shocker,” Darren snickered with contempt making Zhou Jinhai curl his fingers into his palm. ”Do you know how much I envied you because of her?” Zhou Jinhai raised his brow in surprise. ”But now, I pity you. I really do.”

”Daz, let's stop here.” Dylan tried to stop Darren since he could see how Darren was hurting himself along with Zhou Jinhai.

Darren, however, didn't listen to him as he added, ”Jin Ge, I only lost the person who gave me a second chance at life. You...” He laughed with no humor as he went on, ”You lost that one person who loved you with all her heart. With all she was. Doesn't that make you the most pitiful person between us? I never had anything but you always did. You had everything. Perhaps, that's why you didn't know how to cherish her.”

Zhou Jinhai took off his spectacles and rubbed his eyes. It seemed like he was trying to massage his tiredness away but how could Dylan and Darren be fooled so easily? They knew Zhou Jinhai was trying to hide his tears from them.

Putting his spectacles back on, Zhou Jinhai placed his hand on Darren's shoulder and said, ”You're right. I had everything. I took it all from you after all. Today, I realized I even took Xiu from you. Do you really have to make me hate myself to that extent?”

”Yes. I do. I never questioned you for anything. But... I'll never stop questioning you for her death. It wasn't a suicide. You and everyone around you pushed Ah-Xiu from that balcony. I won't let this go. Ever.” Darren spoke without holding back at all.

Zhou Jinhai had a sad smile on his face as he said, ”I set her free back then. That was the only way I knew to save her.”

Darren shoved his shoulder saying, ”Stop fooling yourself. All she wanted was to hold your hand. She went through all that because you were holding her hand. But the moment you abandoned her and stopped being her support, she gave up. You still don't even realize how desperately she wanted to hold your hand.”

The rims of Darren's eyes had reddened as he bit his tongue to hold back his tears. To be honest, this battle of revenge was the most difficult for Darren himself. On one side was the girl he loved wholeheartedly and on the other side was Zhou Jinhai. Describing Zhou Jinhai and Darren's relation couldn't be done in a few words.

They both had defied the norms of society to keep their friendship and brotherhood. Even when they fell apart, they didn't stop caring for each other. But the death of Chen Xiu managed to stand like an unbreakable wall between them.

Seeing Darren like this, Zhou Jinhai finally realized something. He didn't just break Chen Xiu back then. He ended up breaking Darren as well. His heart shook violently at this realization. One left the world because of him and the other was living like a dead person. He really wished to ask Darren, 'Just how much did you love Chen Xiu?' but he couldn't bring out the words. The words got stuck in his throat just like his emotions that had choked up.