Chapter 117: Luo Ange’s New Flame — A bonus chapter for those urging Bixi to update.

I shouted at him, “Shu Congxuan, shut up! This has nothing to do with you. Go back now.”

Feeling Luo Ange’s knife-like gaze piercing my face, I grabbed him and lowered my voice, “Listen to me…”

He pried my hand away, grinning, “I won’t disturb your family dinner any longer. Goodbye.”

I watched helplessly as he walked away, my heart tightening into a knot, like a piece of clothing thrown into the washing machine’s spin cycle—wrinkled and unsightly.

I ran after him, shouting, “Luo Ange, stop…”

He did stop, but didn’t turn around.

I stepped closer and hugged him from behind, pressing my face to his back, choking out, “Luo Ange, you don’t believe me, do you?”

He said nothing. My heart grew colder by the second, as if I were sinking into an icy abyss.

After what felt like an eternity, Luo Ange pried my hands apart and gently pushed me away. Seeing the calm, unreadable look in his eyes, I finally felt despair wash over me.

He took a step back. “Yi Lanshan, I really have something to attend to. I have to go.”

I looked at him, “Luo Ange, what do you mean?”

He said nothing, turned, and left. I took two steps back, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.

At that moment, someone rushed over. “Luo Ange, explain yourself clearly.”

Noticing Luo Ange’s fists clench, I was frightened and quickly stepped between them. I didn’t dare grab Shu Congxuan but held onto Luo Ange’s arm, feeling the fury building inside him. I pleaded desperately, “Luo Ange, don’t be impulsive. Let’s leave here first, okay?”

He sneered coldly and pushed me aside. “I’ll leave here naturally. Yi Lanshan, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other.”

His strength was formidable, and I fell against Shu Congxuan.

No one saw how Shu Congxuan struck. He threw a punch; Luo Ange dodged and countered.

The last time at Jingnan Villa, Shu Congxuan had fought Luo Ange but hadn’t retaliated because Luo Ange wanted him to give up. This time, Luo Ange fought ruthlessly, and Shu Congxuan, fueled by a surge of anger, exchanged blows with him.

When my grandfather and father came out, Amu and Ah Yun caught up too.

The scene wasn’t chaotic because Luo Ange held the upper hand. Shu Congxuan suffered minor injuries; Luo Ange remained unscathed, dusted off his sleeves, and walked away leisurely.

My mother tended to Shu Congxuan’s facial wounds. He remained stoic and silent, staring intently at me.

Under his gaze, I felt guilty and turned to look at my grandfather.

My grandfather appeared restless, constantly smoking, as was my father. The whole family was uneasy, except Yi Huayang, who remained composed, chatting on the phone with Rong Luo.

Suddenly, my grandfather asked, “What do you plan to do?”

I hesitated briefly before answering, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have lied. A man like him can’t tolerate even a speck of sand in his eyes. I’ll try to stay calm for a while and focus on my internship.”

After resting a bit, I left with Shu Congxuan and returned to his home. Together with Xia Qi, we packed up and decided to move back to the courtyard house.

The day before Teachers’ Day, Xia Qi decided to go home. As she said, only home is a place that doesn’t disdain you for being dirty.

I accompanied her but didn’t go upstairs with her. I watched her enter, then quickly turned and left.

Some things, I was unwilling to think about deeply, let alone let Xia Qi know.

I foolishly hoped she remained the innocent, naive girl she used to be—that those things never happened.

I took a taxi to Luo Ange’s villa, but the guard told me he wasn’t home.

I didn’t bother going to Lanfeng Group; if he intended to avoid me, he had ways to keep me from finding him.

I simply sent him a message, recounting everything from start to finish, ending with, “Am I really so unforgivable?”

But he never replied. Not once.

On Teachers’ Day, the most talked-about news was Luo Ange attending the groundbreaking ceremony for Kang University’s new teaching building, and Shu Congxuan attending a teacher appreciation event. The media even captured photos of the two together, making headlines as the most handsome uncle-nephew duo in Kang City.

When I saw the photos, I was sitting in the Language Research Institute office, discussing the upcoming Yunnan trip with the oracle bone inscription expert, Mr. Zhou.

The other two interns in the office, both well-connected, were debating who was taller, richer, and more handsome—Luo Ange or Shu Congxuan—with no conclusion after a long discussion.

Mr. Zhou’s reason for going to Yunnan was that some local ethnic minorities, whose ancestors lived in the mountains, had discovered inscriptions on cave walls. The local authorities wanted him to authenticate them.

Initially, this task wasn’t assigned to me. The two well-connected interns avoided it for various reasons, and since I desperately wanted to leave Kang City for a breath of fresh air, I volunteered.

After the itinerary was set, I packed and went home for a rare meal. Yi Huayang wasn’t there; if she had been, we’d likely have argued again and couldn’t have eaten properly.

If she had been home, I would have tried to accommodate her—after all, she was pregnant and my sister.

Though I disapproved of her relationship with Rong Luo, I borrowed a famous saying: I may not agree with how you live, but I will defend your right to live differently from me.

When my grandfather heard about my trip to Yunnan, he seemed nervous and asked if it was dangerous.

I laughed at his worry. I had traveled alone to Lijiang and Dali in my sophomore year. Now, going with Mr. Zhou and under local government escort, how could it be dangerous?

My father served me a piece of fish. “Good, good. Go out and relax.”

You see, a father knows his daughter best.

After dinner, I played a bit of Go with my grandfather. Then my father said, “Come on, daughter, let’s go to the gym and practice boxing.”

He found me a lightweight boxing outfit, rubbing his hands in anticipation. “Come on, just imagine I’m the person you hate most.”

I stretched my limbs. “I don’t have anyone I hate most.”

My father laughed heartily. “Now I’m Luo Ange. Hit me.”

As soon as he finished, I threw a left hook, forcing him to retreat until he leaned against the railing.

Zhou Fan was on duty today. He leaned at the door, watching us sweat profusely and applauded, cheering me on.

My father took several punches from me, and I took a few on the stomach from him. Eventually, we lay on the mats, panting, sharing silly smiles.

That was our way of forgiving and forgetting.

After boxing, Zhou Fan treated us to a late-night snack. They had barbecue and beer; I sat quietly, eating two shrimp dumplings and drinking a cup of corn juice.

The wind blurred my vision. Suddenly, I missed Luo Ange terribly, but I knew clearly that five full days had passed without a single word from him.

My father was slightly tipsy. Zhou Fan nudged me, hitting a sore spot: “Hey, little sister, I heard you found a tall, rich, handsome boyfriend?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. He dumped me.”

He nodded. “After your internship, you should move back home. When you disappeared recently, Director Yi was so anxious, sending me tasks every day.”

I smiled. “You want me to move back and live in the room where Du Fanchuan and Yi Huayang had that thing?”

He fell silent, understanding that while I was willing to reconcile with my father, completely letting go of that episode was another matter.

The two policemen risked driving under the influence to escort me back to the courtyard house. Before leaving, my father suddenly hugged me and slipped something into my bag.

When I discovered a thick stack of hundred-yuan bills, I couldn’t help but think this little old man was actually quite endearing.

A moment later, I received a message from him: Don’t refuse me.

I imagined countless scenarios of seeing Luo Ange again, including him being with another woman. But when that scene actually unfolded—watching him hold her hand through the special passage—I suddenly couldn’t find my breath.

I’d once read on Weibo that the most painful thing in love is when everyone else strides forward, leaving the past behind, but you remain standing still, foolishly believing you can return to what was.

That day at my home, Luo Ange had already made things clear. It was I who foolishly thought he was just upset, that once he cooled down, we’d be loving again.

I thought that because he hadn’t sent back my belongings, including my dog, it meant it wasn’t over.

But in reality, silently and without a word, it was already the end.

Without my consent, he had mercilessly sentenced our love to an indefinite imprisonment.

Mr. Zhou called me several times before I snapped out of it and followed him through security with my suitcase.

The plane roared as it landed. Local authorities sent a vehicle to pick us up and promised to take us to the mountains the next day.

After eating a bit, Mr. Zhou went for a walk. Seeing someone accompany him, I returned to the hotel to rest.

Luo Ange’s private number, which had been unreachable for days, surprisingly answered on the second ring. But it was a woman’s coy voice: “Are you looking for Ange? He’s taking a shower.”

I forced myself to believe it was a hallucination, a dream. But then Luo Ange’s voice shattered the illusion mercilessly: “Honey, where are my underwear?”

Do you know the feeling of despair seeping into your bones? The sensation of countless leeches sucking your blood? The agony of being cast from heaven into hell?

I sat on the floor, dry-eyed, until midnight. I couldn’t stop my mind from conjuring scenes of Luo Ange entwined with that woman. I couldn’t find peace to sleep.

In the early morning, I drifted into a restless slumber, only to be jolted awake by endless nightmares.

The car journeyed five hours on the highway before turning onto a rugged mountain road. All around were lush trees and low-tiled houses.

The staff briefed Mr. Zhou on the cave’s condition. I took notes, but someone reminded me to look again. I lowered my head and suddenly realized the entire page was filled with Luo Ange’s name.

I hurriedly tore it up and started over. Fortunately, the two staff members didn’t blame me. Mr. Zhou kindly asked if I was experiencing altitude sickness.

I felt like crying but shook my head, assuring them I was fine.

Mr. Zhou even joked, “My shy apprentice here—don’t you dare bully her.”