The Cold Huang Family

A month passed in a flash. The slightly chilly spring weather made one feel truly comfortable, but not everyone felt that way.

Ling sat in a luxurious gray car, her clear, dark eyes empty as she gazed at the large black gate of the Huang Family. This place had once been where her heart felt warmest, where she felt the warmth of family, where Aunt Jin Xiu, Uncle Fu, and he were, where all the people she loved resided. But now, this place was the coldest, even colder than the Mai Family...

"Go inside..."

She looked at Wu Dan Feng beside her, her clear eyes devoid of emotion. As for him, he only smiled, watching her receding figure, for he knew that after today, his Cherry would no longer suffer, no longer...

Ling quickly stepped inside. She slowly looked at everything as if to never forget, to engrave it deep into her heart.

"What are you doing here?"

Immediately after, Ling encountered his cold voice, his face that never smiled at her, that would never turn to look at her even once.

"Can't you smile at me?"

She smiled weakly, her demeanor startling him. He had seen Mai Hui Ling as arrogant, haughty, defiant... but never as weak as this, her empty eyes preventing him from looking directly at her.

"Smile! Do you think I can smile at someone who would commit such an inhumane act for her own sake? Is that possible?"

Lang sneered at Ling, and she didn't bother to explain further. Perhaps he thought that day's incident was something she and Nghi had done together?

"Perhaps..."

Ling lowered her head and smiled. Perhaps now she had no regrets. She was tired of looking at him, because the more she looked, the colder her heart felt.

"But I also thank you, because if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to marry Wei."

Lang said with a smile, his eyes growing hazy, as if he were lost in his own sweet thoughts. As for Ling, she could only stand there watching him smile, but not at her. Was she not worthy of him turning his head to look at her even once? Five years spent behind him, only to receive a faint smile.

"Oh, and let me tell you, Wei is already one month pregnant."

He spoke again, his voice filled with happiness, yet it was like a knife piercing deep into her unhealed wound. Their child was conceived on her birthday? They were happy while her blood stained the cold ground? Was that fair to her? Was that fair?

Ling looked at Lang. She wanted to cry, wanted to punch that cold face, wanted to ask why, why he treated Mai Hui Ling like this? Treated her like this? But now she couldn't, because her tears had dried up. She was tired of living a lie, tired of standing in the shadows watching them.

"You want to marry her?"

Ling asked softly, her face sculpted as if from a block of wood, cold and terrifyingly emotionless, like a stone suddenly thrown into the calm lake that was him, making him momentarily unable to answer her.

"She will never set foot in this Huang family. My daughter-in-law, I only accept Ling. Her child, when born, can only be Ling's child."

Aunt Jin Xiu's voice rang out, trembling. She wore a simple yet elegant light blue dress. She looked at Ling, her eyes filled with love and affection.

"Daughter-in-law? Her? Impossible. My wife is my decision. Wei is the one I love, what's wrong with me wanting to marry her? And her child, Mother, don't even think about taking it away..."

*Slap*

"You unfilial son."

Before Lang could finish, Aunt Jin Xiu slapped him across the face, her eyes, usually filled with gentleness, now held only coldness and anger.

"I already said, if you don't accept her, then just pretend you don't have this son."

Lang said indifferently, then walked away, his steps quick, as if he didn't want to stay there.

As for Ling, from beginning to end, she just stood there silently watching them, a faint smile she couldn't hide on the corner of her lips. Was this the noble love people often spoke of? Love is sacrifice, forgiveness, tolerance, and even suffering? Perhaps so. The sweetness of love could only be for those who loved each other, and a third party like her would surely have no share.

"Aunt, I love you very much..."

Ling smiled faintly, her slender hands embracing Aunt Jin Xiu. Her clear eyes buried into the collar of the aunt's dress, greedily inhaling the faint scent of camellia, also to hide the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks. Aunt Jin Xiu also embraced Ling gently, warmly, as if holding her own daughter. In this place, more than anyone, she wanted Ling to be happy, wanted to fulfill her promise from years ago to that person, but she feared she could no longer.

"You silly girl, no matter what happens, Aunt will always be by your side."

She said, tears also falling uncontrollably, her arms embracing Ling even tighter, as if afraid she would disappear. It pained her to see Ling sad, but she wondered if anyone understood that.

"Thank you for always being with me."

She smiled again, a beautiful smile like a gentle autumn breeze watering the souls of the lost, a smile that, at this moment and in the future, would be etched deep into Aunt Jin Xiu's heart.

Then Ling walked out of the Huang Family, her steps very quick, as if wanting to leave that place. Her tears, as if held back for a long time, then streamed down, soaking her face.

Currently, if she had one wish, she would wish she had never existed. Never been born. Never seen the brilliant sun... then perhaps she wouldn't know what pain was? Why did all the people she loved leave her one by one? Mother left, Aunt Diana left, Uncle Alex left, her sister left, and now he too.

It seemed there was nothing left for her to regret here.

Perhaps so...