Chapter 115: She Cried from Being Wronged
Su Zhaozhao was stunned by what Xie Huaizheng said.
She had imagined that Xie Huaizheng would question her or interrogate her about the matter.
Or that he would simply break up with her, believing her reputation was sullied.
In this era, a girl’s chastity was paramount. A chauvinist might not be able to accept someone like her and would choose to leave.
But she never expected him to just say that if she confessed everything about her past, he would be willing to stay with her.
’How could he be so foolish?’
’He looks so fierce and cold, so why is he being so good to me? It must be because he likes me, right?’
’But if he likes me, why would he believe what other people say?’
Su Zhaozhao was both touched and heartbroken, and her eyes couldn’t help but turn red.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had cried, but right now, she truly wanted to.
Xie Huaizheng looked at Su Zhaozhao’s reddened eyes, where tears shimmered, dazzling and radiant in the sunlight.
’Beautiful people are beautiful even when they cry.’
But Xie Huaizheng was in no mood to appreciate the sight.
He much preferred seeing her smiling.
He was both angry and worried, and he couldn’t stop his hand from reaching up to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Do you still like that man? Didn’t you say he was ugly? Do you really like him?"
His chest heaved with anger.
’How long has it been since I’ve felt this defeated? I always thought I could hold my own against any man.’
’Plenty of girls like me, too.’
’But now, my confidence is wavering. A girl as smart and clever as Su Zhaozhao probably wouldn’t judge someone based on looks, would she?’
’So maybe... she doesn’t like me that much?’
"What makes you think I like him?" Su Zhaozhao slapped his hand away, refusing to let him touch her.
Xie Huaizheng’s hand was knocked aside. Seeing the wary, distant look on the girl before him, his chest felt tight and heavy, like the sweltering, humid air before a downpour.
"They investigated and brought back a letter. A love letter you wrote to that man."
"Let me see it," Su Zhaozhao said.
Xie Huaizheng hesitated for a second, then said, "I threw it away."
"Do you think I’m blind? You think I can’t tell you’re lying?" Su Zhaozhao nearly rolled her eyes at him.
No matter how good an actor he was, he couldn’t fool her.
Xie Huaizheng had no choice but to obediently take the letter out of his pocket.
Su Zhaozhao took it, opened it, and glanced inside. When she saw the childish handwriting and the explicit, cheesy lines, she couldn’t help but snort with laughter.
"You idiot, Xie Huaizheng. You’re a complete idiot."
’AAARGH, how could he believe something so ridiculous?’
’To think that I would date a man like that? That I would write something so cringe-worthy?’
’Even the original owner of this body couldn’t stand a man like that. According to the novel, her parents forced her to marry him.’
’Let alone me!’
And yet, he actually believed this letter.
Xie Huaizheng’s brow furrowed. "You’re scolding me?"
He felt so wronged. He wanted to marry her, only to be told she used to have a boyfriend, wrote him love letters, and was even planning to marry the guy.
He was even willing to accept it, as long as Su Zhaozhao was honest with him. He would do anything she asked.
And in return, Su Zhaozhao called him an idiot?
Su Zhaozhao couldn’t hold back any longer. She slapped the letter against his chest. "Tell me, are you an idiot or not? Do you really think my taste is so bad I’d like a man like that? Besides, I’m engaged to you! You’re so outstanding and handsome. You think I’d pass you over to go marry a pig?"
"My stepmother definitely forged this, and you believed it? Have you ever heard me talk like this? We’ve been together for so long, and I’ve never said anything remotely like this."
"And this handwriting is definitely not mine! If you want proof, I can show you what my handwriting actually looks like. It’s completely different."
Su Zhaozhao was so angry her head began to throb. She clutched her chest.
’This is awful!’
She had always been ridiculously optimistic; this was the first time anyone had made her this furious.
Seeing Su Zhaozhao clutch her chest, Xie Huaizheng quickly steadied her. "Are you okay? Don’t get so angry you make yourself sick."
His words did nothing to quell her anger. She landed two solid punches on him.
But all it did was make her own hand ache.
"I don’t want to talk to you anymore! You stupid pig! How did I end up with such a dumb fiancé? I could handle other people not believing me, but for you to believe I wrote this letter...!"
She looked at Xie Huaizheng, her eyes brimming with tears.
Before, she was hurt. Now, she was just plain angry.
Xie Huaizheng was frantic. He was wrong.
’Damn it. I didn’t trust Su Zhaozhao enough. My first instinct was to think it might be true.’
’Instead of denying it outright.’
He cupped Su Zhaozhao’s face, wiping away her tears. "Zhaozhao, don’t cry. It’s all my fault. Go on, hit me."
Su Zhaozhao tried to push him away. "I don’t want to hit you. It’ll just hurt my hand."
’He’s hard as a rock. How could I possibly hurt him?’
She was still furious.
Xie Huaizheng watched her, still so angry, tears streaming endlessly down her face.
In that moment, she seemed much more fragile.
It was a stark contrast to the calm and composed demeanor she usually projected.
’She’s just like a little girl right now, and I’m the one who bullied her.’
Xie Huaizheng’s heart ached terribly.
It was the first time he had ever seen Su Zhaozhao cry like this, and he was the one who had caused it.
’If my family finds out, they’ll kill me.’
Seeing that Su Zhaozhao couldn’t stop crying, Xie Huaizheng couldn’t help but lean in and kiss her eyes, kissing away the tearstains on her face.
The soft, warm press of his lips on her cheek, at the corner of her eye, made Su Zhaozhao freeze.
She forgot how to cry.
’How could Xie Huaizheng kiss me like that?’ She stared wide-eyed at the handsome face looming before her.
At that moment, the tall man was leaning over, cupping the girl’s face and kissing her with the utmost care.
It was as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the world.
When Xie Huaizheng saw that she had stopped crying, he paused.
"Zhaozhao, please forgive me. I was wrong. I was so wrong."
Su Zhaozhao couldn’t stand the pitiful, puppy-dog look in his eyes.
"Fine," she said. "I forgive you. But you can’t misunderstand me like this again."
It would truly break her heart.
Hearing her words, Xie Huaizheng let out a soft chuckle.
The dark clouds hanging over him vanished in an instant.
A smile bloomed in his eyes, spreading across his entire face.
His brow, which had been tightly furrowed, finally relaxed completely.
He took Su Zhaozhao’s hand and pulled her into his arms.
With his other arm, he wrapped it around her waist and pressed her head against his chest.
"You’re right," he said. "I’m such an idiot. How could I not see something so simple?"
It was probably because his concern for her clouded his judgment. He had placed Su Zhaozhao in the most important place in his heart, so even the slightest thing concerning her could make him lose all reason.
But thinking about it, he realized she was right. How could a girl as smart and capable as her ever fall for a man like that?