After returning home with the child, her ex-husband knelt down and gently coaxed her.

[Ningning, where are you? I admit I was a bit harsh today. I shouldn't have said those hurtful things when you broke up with me. Please forgive me, don't be angry anymore, okay? Tell me where you are, I'll come pick you up and take you home.]

[Ningning, answer the phone.]

Ningning, please don't be angry anymore, okay? I really don't want to break up.

......

These were the messages Lu Xiyan sent her right after they broke up, along with countless voice messages.

Anning's hands were shaking so badly that she continued scrolling down.

One month after the breakup:

Ningning, I told you I could fight for it. I got a job at OuTeng, and I can give you anything you want. More money, a better life—just tell me, and I'll give it to you.

Ningning, look back at me, I really can't take it anymore. I miss you so much...

[Anning, I beg you, please come back and see me, I'm really having a hard time.]

......

Two months after the breakup:

Anning, I've noticed that when you're not around, the nights feel just as long as the days; I can never seem to get through the night until dawn. Have you even thought about me?

[Anning, I accept what you said. You said you were just playing around, fine, no problem. But since you're planning to play around, why can't you play around forever? Why can't you lie to me forever? Come back, come back to me, can you keep playing me?]

......

She had read countless text messages on Anning's old phone, reading every single word and sentence.

She was certain she hadn't missed any of Lu Xiyan's messages or voice recordings.

She saw everything he sent her.

She simply didn't reply, dared not reply, couldn't reply.

Anning's tears kept falling, landing on her phone.

Her fingertips trembled as she continued scrolling down.

There was also a voice message that Lu Xiyan sent last.

It was three months after their breakup.

She tapped on the voice message she had listened to countless times. Lu Xiyan's voice sounded even deeper and hoarse through the old phone, as if it had been polished by sand.

"Anning, I don't think I like you that much anymore. You don't have to avoid me anymore. From now on, if we ever meet again, we'll be strangers."

The last message in the WeChat chat window stops here.

In her longing for her departure, Anning spent countless sleepless nights listening to Lu Xiyan's voice messages until she fell asleep.

She knew perfectly well when Lu Xiyan was thinking of her and when he gave up on her.

She knew even better that the phone would never be disconnected, because Lu Xiyan had paid for an unlimited amount of phone credit after she left Jinghai.

But he couldn't get through on the phone.

Anning's tears fell onto the screen, blurring her vision.

Because of those last words, she completely turned off her phone. She thought Lu Xiyan had really given up on her, so she chose to seal the phone away forever and never opened it again.

Anning felt a sharp pain in her heart and suddenly swiped her phone quickly, exiting WeChat and opening SMS.

Many unread text messages are mostly "GG" messages, and there are also monthly balance reminders.

Anning scrolled through each message until she saw an unread text message sandwiched between the GG messages. Her eyes narrowed, and she stared at the unread message before clicking on it.

Upon reading the message, An Ning abruptly covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls.

She gasped for breath, struggling to speak, her sobs escalating into a wail.

[My dad died because of me... I have no father anymore, and my mother will never wake up. Anning, do you think this is God's retribution for my deep obsession with you, so it's a lesson for me. Anning, I don't love you anymore, I can't afford to love you anymore. As you wished, you are free.]

"Lu Xiyan..."

"Lu Xiyan... Ah—"

Anning clutched her phone and burst into tears.

She didn't realize she had missed the text message!

She didn't know that Lu Xiyan had told her about his parents' accident four years ago.

She didn't know that he had gone through such a painful past.

She really didn't know!

"ah--"

An Ning felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She gripped her phone tightly, wishing she could crush it into her heart.

She always felt that Lu Xiyan was her moon, illuminating her life.

But her moon had also fallen into the mud, becoming incomplete and losing its luster.

At that time, she knew nothing.

Even after they reconciled, he could still act as if nothing had happened, continuing to tolerate and cherish her as always.

She naively believed that her moon had never dimmed and remained as bright as ever.

Looking back now, I can only imagine how much pain he must have been in.

What were your feelings when you sent her this text message?

He lost his father, his mother is in a coma, and his left hand is injured...

How much pain he must be in!

it hurts!

She deserves to die! Why did she miss this message?!

"Nene!!"

Hearing the crying, Li Chunfang rushed over and was shocked to see Anning lying on the ground, sobbing.

"What's wrong, honey?! Don't scare your mom!"

She hugged Anning tightly, who was trembling with sobs, and gently stroked her sweat-dampened hair. "Daughter, Mom is here, Mom is here. Don't be afraid, Mom is here."

"Western Banquet—"

"west Yan—" An Ning cried uncontrollably, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry—"

Li Chunfang's heart skipped a beat. Looking down at An Ning's heartbroken expression, she felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

It's all because of Xiao Lu.

It's because Xiao Lu is in so much pain.

Li Chunfang hugged her tightly, wondering if clearing up the misunderstanding would make things better, and if making up would make her daughter alright.

......

When An Yucan called, An Ning had just calmed down and was sitting in her room in a daze.

Li Chunfang heard her phone ringing urgently, stopping and starting repeatedly. Worried, she glanced at Anning and quickly went out to find her phone.

Upon seeing that it was An Yucan calling, she quickly answered the phone.

"What's wrong, son?" The call was so urgent; something must have happened. She quickly asked, "Are you feeling unwell? Mom will come pick you up from school right now."

"Mom, I'm fine." An Yucan's voice sounded a little agitated on the other end of the phone. "I just want to ask you something, but don't let my sister hear me."

Li Chunfang glanced in the direction of Anning's bedroom, walked to the balcony, and said, "What is it that you can't let your sister know?"

"Mom, tell me the truth, is my sister's divorce from Xi Yan related to my illness?"

When An Yucan asked this, Li Chunfang suddenly froze, and after a long while, she opened her mouth and asked, "Where...where did you hear all this nonsense?"

"I'm asking you, is it true or not! Don't try to hide it from me!" An Yucan shouted excitedly.

"Yes, yes, I'll tell you the truth, don't upset our son!" Li Chunfang quickly reassured him, "You absolutely mustn't get agitated, I'll tell you the truth."

"So it's true?" An Yucan asked. "My sister divorced because of me, and left Jinghai for four years because of me? She's so unhappy because of me?"

Just as Li Chunfang was about to deny it, she turned her head and saw the direction of the bedroom. An Ning's heart-wrenching cries were still echoing in her ears, and the repeated calls of "Lu Xiyan" made her heart ache terribly.

Then her son started questioning her again. If she told the truth, she was afraid it would aggravate his condition.

She couldn't admit it, nor could she deny it; she was so anxious that her eyes welled up with tears.

"I knew my illness wasn't an ordinary one, and it couldn't be cured so easily."

She remained silent, and An Yucan knew he was right.

"So, Xuanxuan is also Xiyan's?" An Yucan's voice trembled. "Mom, how can I be at ease with my sister like this!"

Li Chunfang was afraid that he would be upset, so she hurriedly comforted him, "Son, don't think too much about it, you must not think too much about it."

"Mom, let's go find Brother Xiyan and explain things clearly?" An Yucan said. "I don't want to see my sister unhappy. She's already suffered enough. We can't be so selfish. Let's go find Brother Xiyan, tell him the truth, tell him that my sister didn't deceive him or betray him, and ask him not to misunderstand my sister. My sister really loves him."

"Okay, okay!" Li Chunfang quickly agreed. "Don't go. Just stay at school and don't overthink things. Mom will go and talk to Xiao Lu to make things clear."

She turned to look towards the bedroom. "It's time to clear up the misunderstandings of the past few years. We can't let your sister suffer any longer."