Chapter 687 - 686: Shock

Su Li was already startled just looking into Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes, but when she heard his voice, her heart gave a heavy thump.

She didn’t know why, but for some reason, she was reminded of the last time she saw Tang Yuanxiao before she died in her past life.

A strange panic bloomed in Su Li’s chest, and her hands balled into fists before she even realized it.

Tang Yuanxiao didn’t notice Su Li’s strange behavior. He just stared at her, his gaze a turbulent mix of shock and a hundred other emotions.

"Are you okay? Have your injuries healed?"

Su Li asked, taking a deep breath.

Tang Yuanxiao didn’t answer her question. Instead, he took a step forward and reached out to grab her.

Su Li recoiled instinctively, dodging his hand. A wary look appeared in her eyes without her realizing it.

"Tang Yuanxiao, why are you here? I... I’m getting married today. If you have something to say, just say it."

Su Li kept her hand on the door, ready to slam it shut at a moment’s notice.

If Tang Yuanxiao hadn’t been injured recently, Su Li never would have opened the door for him, especially not now.

She still remembered how he couldn’t accept the news of her marriage last time, and she was afraid he would say or do something impulsive.

Then there was the issue with Mrs. Tang. Su Li wondered if he had come on his mother’s behalf, to ask her to let Mrs. Tang off the hook or something.

She had only opened the door because he’d been hurt, but it was still bizarre for him to show up at this hour, especially while recovering from an injury.

Tang Yuanxiao didn’t know what Su Li was thinking, nor did he know what his mother had done. When he failed to grab her, he swayed on his feet and almost lost his balance.

His vision kept swimming. He barely managed to steady himself, only to be met with the guarded look in Su Li’s eyes.

Her wary gaze and her words—"I’m getting married today"—pierced him straight through the heart. Tang Yuanxiao felt like he was suffocating.

He thought it was impossible to hurt any more than this, that he’d already reached his limit. But in that moment, he felt an unbearable pain all over again.

Tang Yuanxiao forced himself to pull his hand back. He took a tiny step backward and twisted his lips into a smile that looked worse than a grimace, tinged with self-mockery.

"Su Li, don’t be nervous. I’m not... I’m not going to do anything."

Tang Yuanxiao looked up again, studying Su Li carefully. "I heard you were in an accident. How... how are you now?"

"I’m fine now," Su Li answered softly, but her brows furrowed even deeper.

’Something’s off about him.’ She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but her intuition was screaming that something was wrong.

Tang Yuanxiao saw the strange, wary look in Su Li’s eyes. A thousand emotions surged in his heart. He closed his eyes, steadied himself against the wall, and spoke with difficulty.

"Su Li, don’t be nervous. I’m really not going to do anything. I just came to see you today."

"I just wanted to apologize. To say I’m sorry to your face."

Tang Yuanxiao looked at Su Li, his eyes a storm of emotions too complex to name.

"Su Li, I’m sorry."

It was just a simple apology, but it landed with the weight of a mountain.

Su Li didn’t understand, but looking into his eyes and hearing his apology, her own eyes began to sting, and the feeling pricked at her nose.

Su Li tried to fight back the inexplicable urge to cry, but she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

"Why... why are you apologizing all of a sudden..." Su Li wiped away her tears. "I’m... I’m not supposed to cry today."

Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes slowly reddened as well. He took a deep breath, forcing down the lump in his throat.

"I’m saying it because I should have a long time ago. I owe you an apology."

’An apology I’ve owed you since our last life.’

’In our last life, I wanted to say it, but I never got the chance. I could only whisper it at your grave, but what good did that do?’

’It was all too late.’

Su Li stared blankly at Tang Yuanxiao, her hands clenched into tight fists. "Tang Yuanxiao... what’s wrong with you?"

’What is going on? Why is he being so strange?’

Just as Su Li was about to speak again, she heard her aunt’s voice from behind her.

"Su Li, who’s at the door?"

Su Li whipped her head around. "It’s... it’s just..."

She couldn’t bring herself to say his name. Her aunt and the others would certainly recognize the name Tang Yuanxiao.

’For Tang Yuanxiao to show up here on her wedding day... it just felt wrong.’

Her aunt, who had started to walk over, slowed to a stop upon hearing Su Li’s hesitation.

"I was wondering who was talking out there. You’re up early."

In the dim light, her aunt could make out the silhouette of a man’s head and shoulders. She glanced over a few times but didn’t approach. Instead, she turned back toward her room. "I’m going to go get ready."

Her aunt turned and walked away, leaving Su Li standing there, stunned.

She turned back to Tang Yuanxiao and pursed her lips. "Is... is there anything else?"

Tang Yuanxiao’s gaze went past Su Li, into the house, his thoughts a mystery. At her question, he shook his head.

"Nothing else. Su Li... I wish you happiness."

He spoke the last four words slowly and with great difficulty, but he managed to get them out.

Su Li was stunned once again.

"...Thank you."

The corner of Tang Yuanxiao’s mouth twitched into a smile.

"My well wishes are a little late... I didn’t have time to prepare a gift, so my words will have to do."

"You must... you must be happy... and grow old together."

’You have to stay healthy and grow old. Don’t let it be like our last life, where you suffered so much before you died.’

’Su Li, in this life, you’ve changed your own destiny and the destiny of Tang Mo. Just keep being happy.’

’Be happy... with Wu Sheng.’

Tang Yuanxiao’s heart felt like it was being torn to shreds. He could barely breathe, and spots danced in his vision, but he continued to wish her well in the silence of his mind.

There was no doubt that Tang Yuanxiao still loved Su Li. But at this moment, all he could do was offer his blessing.

’Remembering his past life, he completely understood her choice. If he were in her shoes, he would have chosen Wu Sheng too.’

’Wu Sheng is a hundred times better than me. She’ll be happier with him.’

People always say you can put the pieces back together, but it’s easier said than done.

Between him and Su Li lay a lifetime of resentment. Even if the misunderstandings were cleared away, the scars would remain.

Su Li’s attitude toward him in this life showed that she had found some peace, but that peace didn’t mean the hurt and the scars had never existed.

Some couples can put the pieces back together, but for them, it was just too, too hard.

’How could a lifetime of resentment just vanish into thin air?’

’Those wounds and scars would fade with time, but they would never disappear completely. How could they possibly have a perfectly happy life together?’

Tang Yuanxiao had been unwilling to accept it, unable to let her go... until this very moment. Until today.

"Thank you. Thank you." Su Li never imagined that Tang Yuanxiao would show up so early just to apologize and wish her well.

"Don’t thank me. You have a busy day ahead, so I’ll just..." The corner of Tang Yuanxiao’s mouth twitched, but he couldn’t force a smile.

He didn’t force it. Just as he was about to leave, he saw Su Li’s brow twitch almost imperceptibly as her hand clutched the fabric over her stomach.

The spot she clutched... was her stomach.

Tang Yuanxiao’s pupils contracted. The rest of his words died in his throat, and all the color drained from his face.

"Su Li, does your stomach hurt? Is it bad? What did the doctor say?"

Tang Yuanxiao lunged forward, grabbing Su Li’s arm, his voice trembling.

"If your stomach hurts, why aren’t you at the hospital? A wedding is important, but your health is more important! You should postpone it if you have to! Don’t you know how serious this is? What if you delay treatment and get stomach cancer again? Come on, let’s go to the hospital right now for a check-up..."

Tang Yuanxiao tried to pull her out the door, but she didn’t budge. He turned back and saw an expression of pure, unconcealed shock on her face.