Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 510 - 509 It’s All Your Fault

Chapter 510: Chapter 509 It’s All Your Fault

The Lin Family lingered for a while longer before they reluctantly left Lin Xia’s home, taking with them the leftover dishes they had packed from the restaurant.

Lin Fang had been silently fidgeting with the hem of her garment, her expression somber as if lost in thought; upon leaving, she deliberately looked back at Lin Qiu and the others.

Lin Qiu and the rest did not notice Lin Fang’s unusual behavior.

When they entered the yard, Lin Qiu asked Lin Chun and her brother to go inside first, as she needed to use the restroom in the back.

Unexpectedly, she came across someone.

The barrier in the back garden wasn’t tall, and Lin Qiu immediately spotted Wu Zhengyang, standing by the fence and smoking a cigarette.

It was normal to encounter a neighbor living next door.

But ever since returning, Lin Qiu had been careful to avoid paying attention to the Wu Family, not wanting to run into Wu Zhengyang.

Upon seeing Lin Qiu, Wu Zhengyang hastily threw his cigarette to the ground.

Ever since he had heard of Lin Qiu’s return, he had deliberately passed by her front door several times, always listening for any sound from next door, just hoping to catch a glimpse of Lin Qiu and to see if she was doing well.

Yet, he had not seen her even once.

Today was Lin Xia’s wedding banquet, and due to the fallout over his relationship with Lin Qiu, the two families had become so estranged that there was no way he could attend the celebration.

He had earlier gone to the Sun Family’s small grocery store across the street to buy some things and to inquire about the wedding. However, he learned from Wang Lan that she hadn’t gone either because Lin Xia had not invited her, and that she did not wish to attend such an event.

Looking at Lin Qiu, Wu Zhengyang’s eyes flickered with pain and relief.

The pain was because if it weren’t for the unforeseen events, following Lin Xia’s marriage, his own wedding to Lin Qiu would have likely been imminent.

Unfortunately...

The relief came from seeing that Lin Qiu looked even more beautiful and seemed to be in good health, indicating she was doing well.

Suppressing the discomfort in his heart, he spoke with difficulty, "Lin Qiu! It’s been a long time!"

Wu Zhengyang’s greeting of it having been a long time cut through Lin Qiu with a particularly sharp heartache.

After all, the two of them had once loved each other so deeply, and if not for Miao Xue’s incident, they might have been married by now. But look where they ended up!

It can be said that before seeing him again, when she had just returned, looking at those familiar scenes, every part of her memory was filled with their sweet past!

How could she forget that so easily?

He was her first love, after all!

But it was this very first love who had hurt her so deeply!

He even made her feel incapable of loving or trusting anyone again!

Fearful to trust men easily, scared to love boldly, she feared the possibility of being hurt once more!

Lin Qiu’s eyes seemed to ice over, calmly observing Wu Zhengyang.

Wu Zhengyang appeared haggard, gaunt, and had lost much of his charm, which had once stood out in her eyes.

No longer the charismatic man she remembered, the one worth entrusting her life to, without those halos, he was just an ordinary man.

She couldn’t help but compare Kang Yijun, who her aunt had introduced, with Wu Zhengyang.

Clearly, Wu Zhengyang was inferior to Kang Yijun in height, appearance, and even temperament.

She thought mockingly to herself, how could she have once been so deeply in love with this man that she thought she would die from it?

How could she have spent so many sleepless nights after their breakup?

She really should hate him! Hate him to the bone!

But now, for some inexplicable reason, she felt pity for him.

Even if her hatred had lessened, Lin Qiu felt she could not forgive Wu Zhengyang.

So she scoffed, "Indeed, it’s been a long time! But I really don’t want to see you!" After that, she stepped away and walked towards the restroom.

Wu Zhengyang’s heart ached as if pricked by needles; the girl who once looked at him with trust and fondness in her eyes had finally drifted away.

But despite the pain, he still forced himself to say, "Lin Qiu! I’m sorry!"

He actually couldn’t sleep at night, always reminiscing about the good times they once shared.

He hated himself; if only he hadn’t been such a fool back then, perhaps things would not have turned out the way they did.

Because of his apology, Lin Qiu’s footsteps involuntarily paused, and a mocking smile flickered across her lips. What use was his "I’m sorry"? Could it heal the wounds she had suffered? Could it erase the painful memories?

But she didn’t want to question anything further because she didn’t want to have any more ties with Wu Zhengyang!

Wu Zhengyang, with moist eyes, watched Lin Qiu walk away without acknowledging him, and gave a self-deprecating bitter smile. He had deeply hurt Lin Qiu, yet was he foolishly hoping for her forgiveness?

The scene of their encounter in the back garden was just then witnessed by Wu’s mother, who was chopping pickled vegetables in the kitchen.

Despite the winter and the plastic sheeting nailed over the windows, which made it impossible for her to hear what they were saying, by observing the look on Wu Zhengyang’s face as he entered, she could guess that he was in great pain!

"Zhengyang, what were you talking to Lin Qiu about just now?"

Wu Zhengyang immediately composed himself, "Mom! We just bumped into each other and exchanged greetings, nothing else was said! Don’t make a fuss. I’ve already wronged her, and if Miao Xue finds out..."

Miao Xue, in his eyes now, was like a mentally unwell patient. If she knew he had any further contact with Lin Qiu, her reckless nature might lead her to do something drastic. He didn’t want Lin Qiu to be slandered or hurt again.

Wu’s mother heaved a deep, habitual sigh, "Ah, I know! I still understand some discretion! Do you think I want to quarrel with Miao Xue? It’s just that I can’t stand it and it makes me angry!"

Although she regretted being envious of the Lin family, she didn’t want their daily life to be constantly in chaos.

"Mom! As long as you understand," replied Wu Zhengyang, somewhat relieved, but he also blamed himself for not being careful enough.

He had only wanted to see Lin Qiu again, to find out if she was doing well, but he hadn’t given much thought to the current circumstances. How could he afford any contact with Lin Qiu now?

If things went wrong, it could end up harming both parties.

Wu’s mother watched Wu Zhengyang retreat to his room, his face etched with sorrow, then continued to chop the pickled vegetables with simmering anger.

In her heart, she seethed with the thought that their family had been cursed since their son got involved with that harbinger of doom, which caused his relationship with Lin Qiu to fall apart, and their household never found peace again.

It was one thing after another, even after having a grandson, she ended up with a miscarriage.

If only none of those events had happened, how good would it have been?

If Lin Qiu, rather than Miao Xue, had married into their Wu family, life would undoubtedly be a different picture. Wu’s mother felt as though she had swallowed the bitterness of coptis root.

Alas, it was all irrevocable, and there was no such thing as a pill for regret in this world...

Lin Xia, half-asleep and half-awake, suddenly sensed as though she was being stared at.

Upon opening her eyes, she saw Lu Zheng’s face close in front of her, his deep-set eyes filled with an unfading tenderness and smile.

"Wife! You’re awake!"

Lu Zheng had actually been awake for quite some time. His arm had been used as her pillow all night long, and because he feared any movement would wake up Lin Xia, he stayed still in the same position.