"I'm sorry." Song Xi apologized immediately, her reaction so swift that Lou Yuming didn't even have time to respond.
Lou Yuming glanced at her, his tone remarkably calm. "Sorry for what?"
Song Xi behaved herself this time, saying, "No matter the reason, I apologize!" kuAiδugg
Lou Yuming had expected her to argue back a few times, but he hadn't anticipated her being so obedient. This was something he hadn't foreseen.
Since that was the case, Lou Yuming couldn't bring himself to get angry. Instead, he sat elegantly on the sofa, about a meter away from the hospital bed. Without looking at her, he slowly and methodically, item by item, settled accounts with her.
"You got into someone else's car, what did you talk about?"
Song Xi obediently replied, "We didn't say anything. I just wanted to anger you at the time."
Lou Yuming's mouth twitched, and he continued to ask, "What was the kidnapping about?"
Song Xi carefully observed his expression. "... The police, didn't they tell you?"
Lou Yuming's gaze flickered towards her. "I want to hear you explain it clearly."
Song Xi licked her dry lips and recounted everything truthfully, but she deliberately omitted the part about Mi Xuan.
"Nothing else?" The man's eyes were sharp, like an eagle's.
Song Xi bore the pressure and shook her head. "No!"
"Song Xi, don't lie to me."
Song Xi insisted, "There's really nothing else. Oh, my head hurts a little."
Lou Yuming knew she was likely faking it, but he still got up and walked over. His well-defined fingers touched her head. "Where does it hurt? Here?"
"Mmm, yes, it really hurts!" Song Xi leaned into his embrace.
Facing her little ruse, Lou Yuming saw through it but didn't expose her. Mi Xuan had already told him everything, admitting that she had initially lured Song Xi to the abandoned factory. However, Lou Yuming couldn't understand why she could still protect someone after going to such lengths, even if she regretted it later.
This woman was truly foolish!
Perhaps sensing the hostility emanating from the man, Song Xi said, "What about Mi Xuan? Is she not hurt? This has nothing to do with her. I'll handle it myself, don't worry."
She was actually interceding for her!
Lou Yuming poked her forehead with his index finger. "You, you really don't make things easy for anyone."
Two days later, Song Xi could already walk around.
The first thing she did was go to see Mi Xuan.
Mi Xuan's leg was broken, and she would have a noticeable limp from now on. But she deserved it, so she didn't resent anyone.
When Mi Xuan saw Song Xi, she felt guilty and dared not look at her. After all, if it weren't for her momentary lapse in judgment, Song Xi wouldn't have been put in danger. If Song Xi hadn't been clever and reported to the police beforehand, neither of them would have gotten out that day.
"Song Xi, I..."
Mi Xuan wanted to apologize, but she felt that a simple "I'm sorry" was too light. Yet, besides "I'm sorry," she didn't know what else to say.
So, the moment Song Xi was about to speak, Mi Xuan mustered her courage and said first, "I will announce my retirement from the industry."
Song Xi was stunned.
Mi Xuan continued, "I know that anything I say now is futile. You don't need to persuade me. I just feel that with my current state, I'm no longer suitable to continue in the entertainment industry. I... I should take responsibility for my actions."
Since she had said it to this extent, Song Xi naturally wouldn't say anything more.
"Think it through yourself. If you want to retire, then retire, but don't attribute the reason for your retirement to me. This has nothing to do with me. Mi Xuan, we are all ordinary people with our own lives. You don't have to focus all your attention on me. You'll meet more people in the future. Will you resent everyone who lives more comfortably and better than you?"
"Besides... everything you see is what I want you to see. You have no idea how I live behind the scenes, and I won't tell you how miserable my past life was because it's meaningless now."
"I just hope you see clearly whether you are comparing yourself to others or to yourself."
Song Xi's words were deafening and thought-provoking.
Mi Xuan fell silent. After a long pause, she suddenly asked, "About the love gu thing..."
Song Xi let out a cold laugh. "What, you believe that too?"
Of course not! As expected, it was fake.
But Mi Xuan was shocked. In such a dangerous situation, she could actually calmly fabricate a story. The most crucial part was that both she and Anna had believed it simultaneously. This was not something an ordinary person could do.
This was the gap between her and Song Xi, wasn't it?
Song Xi glanced at her and turned to leave. "I've already told Lou Yuming that this has nothing to do with you. You don't need to thank me; I just don't want to waste time on this."
"We don't need to see each other again in the future."
For some reason, hearing these words made Mi Xuan's heart sink. A wave of powerlessness and regret washed over her from behind.
"...Thank you."
Her voice trembled uncontrollably. Finally, she looked at the closing door, couldn't hold back, covered her face, and sobbed softly.
Mi Xuan knew in her heart that her friendship with Song Xi had been destroyed by her own hands.
...
Back in the hospital room, Lou Yuming rushed forward, his expression angry. "Where did you go? You're still running around when you're injured! Do you know—"
Before he could finish, Song Xi stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.