After welcoming her friend into the house, Zhong Xintian sent Dongdong off to take a bath with Lu Zongyue, while she pulled Luo Aili to the backyard, sitting down on the rocking chair and brewing a pot of herbal tea.

Luo Aili wasn’t in the mood to enjoy tea. After a single sip to moisten her throat, she immediately launched into it.

“You’ve lost your mind! When Dongdong told me, I couldn’t believe it, but it turns out you really took that jerk in!” Jerk.

Just from the word she used, it was clear that Luo Aili didn’t think highly of Lu Zongyue. In fact, it was safe to say her opinion was quite low. Zhong Xintian sighed quietly but kept her smile bright. “I didn’t take him in; he just comes over sometimes.”

“Sometimes comes over?” Luo Aili squinted. “How often?”

Zhong Xintian quietly swallowed. “Uh… about… every two days?”

“Zhong Yuanyuan!” Luo Aili suddenly stood up, furiously placing her hands on her hips.

“Shh, lower your voice,” Zhong Xintian tried to calm her down.

Luo Aili took a deep breath, managing to suppress her emotions with difficulty. After a moment, she calmed down and lowered her voice. “Every two days? Isn’t that basically him living here all the time?”

Well…

Zhong Xintian gave a wry smile.

Seeing her expression, Luo Aili became even more exasperated, grabbing Zhong Xintian’s pale arm and adopting an elder sister’s authoritative stance. “Tell me honestly, you… you haven’t… softened toward him, have you? Did he beg you a little, and now you’re thinking of going back to him?”

“You’ve misunderstood! He didn’t beg me,” Zhong Xintian quickly clarified. “He… he just hopes we can both let go of the past and at least be friends.”

“What do you mean by that?” Luo Aili looked suspicious.

Zhong Xintian gestured for her to sit down and drink tea. She took a few sips herself and gathered her thoughts before slowly explaining everything that had happened between her and her ex-husband—omitting the more ambiguous parts, of course.

“So, that’s why he suddenly had a change of heart and came to see you!” Luo Aili, after hearing the story, wasn’t relieved. If anything, her frustration with Lu Zongyue deepened. “It’s because he was betrayed by his current woman and came crawling back to his ex-wife for comfort.”

Zhong Xintian felt a tug at her heart, an indescribable emotion swirling in her chest. She sighed softly. “Aili-jie, don’t talk about him like that.”

“Why not? Did I say something wrong?” Luo Aili’s tone was sharp. “Are you feeling sorry for him?”

“It’s not like that…”

“Still denying it? Look at you, your eyebrows are all knitted together!”

Zhong Xintian was speechless.

Seeing the sadness she couldn’t hide, Luo Aili’s heart softened. She toned down her fierceness and her gaze turned gentle. “Yuanyuan, don’t blame me for meddling. I’m just worried about you. I saw how much you used to love that guy, how you put up with so much to stay by his side. I’m just afraid you’ll get dragged in again, and if…”

She didn’t finish her sentence.

Zhong Xintian gazed at her friend, who was a few years older than her. Over the years, Aili had cared for her like a sister. How could she not be touched?

“It’s not what you think.” She gently held her friend’s hand. “Zongyue really doesn’t want to reconcile. He…” She paused, her eyes lowered slightly. “I think he’s tired. Being betrayed by someone you love isn’t easy to bear. Maybe he doesn’t want to love anyone anymore.”

“How do you know that?” Luo Aili was unconvinced.

“I know,” Zhong Xintian emphasized softly. “Because that’s how I feel.”

Luo Aili was stunned. She looked at her friend’s face, which had only recently regained some of its former vitality, and couldn’t help but feel pity. “Yuanyuan…”

“Aili-jie,” Zhong Xintian smiled sweetly as she lifted her gaze again. “I know you care about me. If it weren’t for your help all these years, I might not have made it. I also need to thank you for lending me this house. The restaurant business hasn’t been great, and I really want to pay you rent soon…”

“What are you saying?” Luo Aili cut her off, slightly displeased. “If you really consider me a friend, don’t worry about that. Anyway, Zheng Yong and I bought this place for vacations, but we hardly come here. It’s perfect that you’re looking after it for us.”

“I know, and because I consider you like a sister, I’m thick-skinned enough to stay here,” Zhong Xintian’s smile became even sweeter, her eyes curving. “Don’t worry. I can handle my own feelings. I won’t let myself get hurt again.”

“Good.” Luo Aili patted her hand in satisfaction, but after a while, she couldn’t help but sigh again.

“What is it?” Zhong Xintian asked.

Luo Aili didn’t respond immediately. She turned to gaze at the distant mountains, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. After a long pause, she spoke softly. “I just think women are foolish when it comes to love. Back when I was with Zheng Yong… I just hope Lu Zongyue won’t hurt you again this time. You’re such a sweet and thoughtful woman; you deserve to be treated well.”

“He treats me… kindly,” Zhong Xintian whispered. “Don’t think too badly of him. Back then, he didn’t really want to marry me. But to put his father’s mind at ease and for the sake of the baby I was carrying, he gave up his own happiness. He could have been entirely selfish, but he wasn’t. At heart, he’s… someone who’s easily moved.”

“That’s exactly what worries me,” Luo Aili smiled bitterly, reaching out to poke Zhong Xintian’s delicate nose.

“You silly girl, I was afraid you’d defend him like this! You say he’s easily moved, but you’re even more so! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have told you about his illness back then. If you hadn’t gone to see him, you wouldn’t be caught up in all this now.”