Chapter 981: At the End of One’s Rope

This man once caused her pain, was the reason she left Beijing for Nanmian.

No matter the ordeals she faced later, even at the brink of losing her life, she never resented him.

Her feelings for him never diminished.

Regaining her memory, recalling everything from the past, she understood that this man was unreachable for her.

The girls around him, the many confidantes, made her the least likely to stand by his side.

"Qianghai, are you really going to ruin your body like this?!"

Accusation and anger rang out.

Gu Jin held Qiu Qianghai’s hand, sensing how frail his body had become.

Clearly at the prime of his life, the golden age for a man.

Yet Qiu Qianghai’s body had reached the point of exhaustion.

His body was weak to the point of collapsing, internally hollowed out, leaving merely an empty shell.

Qiu Qianghai was supported by Du Nan and Gu Jiajie, Gu Jin’s questions and anger echoed in his ears.

As if he didn’t hear, his sad yet loving eyes were firmly fixed on Minmin.

The girl standing on the sofa was a stranger’s face, but the worry in her eyes and her clear affection for him were vividly present.

Seeing this girl still harbor feelings for him even at such a moment, Qiu Qianghai’s pale face showed a complex expression, his lips curved into an indescribable arc.

"Minmin—"

A husky, infinitely tender and affectionate voice rang out.

Minmin stood before the sofa, looking at his pained expression, her feet remained still.

She still remembers the moment before leaving Beijing, the woman who stood proudly before her, informing her that she was carrying Qianghai’s child.

No one knew how desperate she was at that moment, nor the heartache she felt.

Seeing Minmin indifferent, Qiu Qianghai reached out his trembling hand toward her.

"Minmin, Minmin—"

He kept calling Minmin’s name, each utterance filled with helplessness, despair, and anxiety.

Gu Jiajie looked at Qianghai’s state, gritting his lips tightly.

Since Minmin’s sacrifice, he had always been with Qiu Qianghai, mostly staying in Nanmian.

He witnessed all the pain, despair, and self-torture Qianghai endured after losing Minmin.

His grief was no less than anyone else’s.

This man, even after finding so many women reminiscent of Minmin later, never let any of them touch him.

Every time he faced those women, he also knew Qianghai’s self-inflicted torment.

"Minmin—"

Qiu Qianghai’s desperate plea eventually softened Gu Jiajie’s heart.

He knew the truth behind Minmin leaving Beijing and understood the misunderstandings.

Enough time had passed; everything was enough.

Listening to Qianghai’s increasingly weak yet painful call for his sister, he shut his eyes tightly.

When he opened them again, clarity returned to his gaze.

He turned to Minmin, "Minmin, Qianghai is calling you."

The rest, he would explain to his sister, but as for what would happen between her and Qianghai, he would not interfere.

Qianghai’s suffering, his weakness, and despair ultimately softened Gu Jiajie’s heart.

Despite his sister’s sacrifice, he did not entirely blame Qianghai.

But some things are not solely for Qianghai to bear.

Hearing her brother’s call, Minmin finally moved.

Step by step, she walked toward them.

Meeting Qiu Qianghai’s eyes filled with hope from despair, her long-repressed emotions erupted, tears cascading like broken strings of pearls.

In matters of emotion, she was cowardly.

But as long as there was someone pushing her from behind, she could no longer hold back.