Chapter 601: Chapter 601: Will You Have Regrets?
In the end, it was Du Ruo who spoke first, breaking the deadlock: "After so many years, have you been well?"
Li Yufei looked at Du Ruo.
Perhaps, in front of others, she might not need to answer this question seriously.
But Du Ruo was different.
While she and Du Shaoheng were still dating, Du Ruo took great care of her and treated her like a sister.
At that time, she and Du Shaoheng were about to discuss marriage, yet she suddenly proposed to break up, causing an uproar within the Du Family, leaving them with many speculations about her.
Only Du Ruo knew in her heart that Li Yufei had her own pursuits.
Even though she couldn’t agree with abandoning her feelings for her ambitions, she still chose to respect and bless her.
Therefore, this question made it impossible for Li Yufei to avoid.
Li Yufei said: "These years... have been alright."
Du Ruo: "Hearing your answer, it seems like you’re forcing it."
Li Yufei: "It’s not forced. What I have now is what I aimed for before. Now, I can say I’ve achieved my goals."
She broke up with Du Shaoheng to wrest control of the Li Family from her stepmother.
She had achieved that.
But it didn’t mean there were no regrets in her heart.
A while ago, she took Junjun to the aquarium, seeing Guan Yue and Du Shaoheng deeply in love, she couldn’t help but fantasize for a second — if, back then, she gave up the family business and married him, living a life of a supportive wife and educating children, would it have felt warm and happy?
But in this world, there’s no such thing as having it all.
She seemed to be born ambitious.
This was something she was very certain of.
Du Ruo said: "Yufei, I asked you out for coffee today to share some heartfelt words."
Li Yufei said: "What heartfelt words?"
Du Ruo: "Your choice to give up Shaoheng and inherit the family — perhaps others don’t understand, but I understand. I know you would not regret that choice, and now you’ve gotten what you wanted. But, through all these years, Shaoheng has never let go of you in his heart."
Li Yufei turned her face: "I know."
Du Ruo: "What about you, have you let him go in your heart? Do you still love him?"
Li Yufei closed her eyes briefly: "Love. I’ve always loved him and never stopped. Perhaps until the very end of my life, I will still love him, but everything is irretrievable."
She looked at Du Ruo: "I believe you didn’t say this to bring us back together. After all, Shaoheng’s stance is more firm than anyone’s. Even though I’m divorced, I won’t interfere in his life."
This was also why she and Du Shaoheng broke up without contact.
Neither of them had let go.
At that time, both of them had built families and careers; not disturbing each other was the best way to love each other.
Meeting again would only bring tears.
Although nowadays, due to the children, their interactions were frequent enough, but each time, Li Yufei had to adjust her mindset.
Du Ruo: "Perhaps I shouldn’t say this to you, disturbing your peace of mind. I know, just as you said, everything is irretrievable now. You’ve both missed the chance; it’s become the past. Shaoheng is a very responsible man. Even if he loves you deeply, he would never abandon his family. Although he doesn’t love Guan Yue that much, he would never let her down. We both know, there will never be another result for you two."
Li Yufei: "Mm."
Du Ruo: "But... if he’s gone, would you feel regret and sadness?"
Li Yufei’s heart skipped a beat: "What do you mean by that?"
Du Ruo: "I mean, if one day he’s gone, would you regret the choice you made back then?"
Li Yufei’s lips tightened: "Life is finite, time ages, and everyone slowly learns to say goodbye. Perhaps, when we reach that age, we’ll learn to let go, to face farewells, to face our own regrets."
Du Ruo’s eyes turned red: "Maybe you didn’t understand what I meant. I know, birth and death are natural, but if..."
Her words were cut short as she hesitated.
Li Yufei increasingly felt that she was speaking in riddles: "Ruo, is there something you want to say? Just say it."
Du Ruo alternated between deep breaths, drawing in a cold breath, only after gradually exhaling did she tremble and say, "He’s sick."
Li Yufei froze hard!
...
Night fell like ink, and suddenly, at dawn, heavy rain started pouring down.
Bean-sized raindrops hit the car window.
Li Yufei quietly sat in the carriage, listening to the rain outside the window, with her hands supporting her forehead, her body softly leaning against the seat as if all her strength had been drained.
Du Ruo’s trembling words still echoed in her ears:
"Spinal Cerebellar Atrophy...
...
Yufei, have you heard of this disease?
...
The reason we could meet here today is because I arranged to meet with a doctor. I showed him Shaoheng’s medical case, and he told me, this disease is terminal, with no hope for a cure, only to delay.
...
Which means, his life doesn’t have much time left, we might lose him at any moment, whether it’s you, me, Guan Yue, or even Junjun, Xixi, sooner or later, we’ll have to face this ending.
...
Yufei, I know I shouldn’t be telling you this. Shaoheng didn’t want me to mention it to anyone, he doesn’t want to see anyone saddened by this.
...
In the end of his life, he wants to cherish the people he can still cherish, but... you must understand, how much he wants to cherish you, and not leave any regrets between you, but he doesn’t have the right, nor the standing to cherish you.
...
I’ve said so much, I just hope you find out early, no matter what caused your separation in the past, I just hope you’re mentally prepared and leave no regrets..."
Li Yufei’s thoughts returned, raising her head, looking out of the window.
She finally understood why Du Ruo, facing her, displayed such a difficult expression.
As a sister, she knew clearly that her brother had never let go of this woman in his heart.
But just as Li Yufei said, everything is irretrievable, even until the end of life, he and she can no longer cherish each other properly.
Of course Du Ruo felt pain.
She didn’t want to hurt anyone, but she didn’t want her beloved brother to leave any regrets either.
For this, she had been tortured by these feelings for many days.
Li Yufei raised her head, looking at the car roof, closed her eyes, her fingers heavily kneading her brow, as if a nerve in her brain was pulling pain, her eyes sore, stinging, wanting to cry but with no tears.
Just half an hour ago.
When she and Du Ruo parted, both were absent-minded.
Whether for any of them, Du Shaoheng holds considerable weight.
Apart from Du Ruo, Li Yufei was the first to know, which was undoubtedly a bad news — naturally, her mood was ambiguous.
Du Ruo sent her to the car door, and Li Yufei suddenly turned around and said to her: "Ruo, thank you for telling me this."