Chapter 70 - But I don't love you.

Chapter 70 - But I don't love you.

"Where are you taking me?" Jing Lihua asked as the car sped in a certain direction.

"You promised I could take you to the terrace of the Sunset Square in the future. Then why not I take you there today and we find a better spot for tomorrow."

"I didn't promise any such thing." Jing Lihua thought that this President Li a.k.a 'Devil' was so different from what she had heard in rumors. "You said I'll live up to my reputation but I can't say the same to you."

"The me I show you is not the one I show to the other world."

"Should I be flattered to know that?" Jing Lihua laughed. Though she had told Li Zhiqiang from that she suspected him beginning, in her heart she hadn't known it till he admitted that it was indeed the President Li. Thankfully, even when she was suspicious, she hadn't done anything to disrespect him.

"Why are you so concerned about taking me there?" He had mentioned it at least two times. First ta the terrace. Then in the dining room.

He didn't answer.

When they approached the skyscr.a.p.er, Li Zhiqiang guided her to the terrace. When Jing Lihua stepped out, sharp wind welcomed her and chilled her to the marrow. Jing Lihua shuddered but the next moment a warm blazer was carefully wrapped around her by Li Zhiqiang. "There was no need" His body heat was still inside the blazer so when it covered her, she felt quite comfortable. Jing Lihua had pale skin so even a little emotional stimulus would cause her blushed cheeks to stand out vividly.

Right now she was thankful that it was night so her face couldn't be seen. What would be left of her image if President Li saw her blushing at something as small as this?

"What now?" Jing Lihua looked at him in confusion. "How is this place going to help me remember anything?"

Li Zhiqiang grabbed her elbow and guided her forward. He wasn't forceful. Jing Lihua followed him. His other hand went around her other elbow as he took her to the edge. Letting her stand there, he retreated.

"What are you doing?" Jing Lihua couldn't understand but she didn't move. She looked around and back at Li Zhiqiang who stood not far. when she saw his face, a memory flashed into her mind.

...

Six years ago.

At the age of twenty. A young girl was standing at the edge. Her eyes were emotionless as she stared at the whole city. "So strange. Such a big city yet I feel so alone." She looked at the pitch-black sky. That night it was starless, lacking its usual charm. Just like her. She lacked her charm that night. The girl who was as flourishing as a fresh flower had withered.

"Mother." She took a step ahead. She was at the end of despair. "You were the only one who sacred for me. Weren't you...?" Jing Lihua had stepped forward. She wasn't feeling pain or anything. It was just emptiness. She felt like there was no point in living anymore. She was so empty, just dead inside.

She had closed her eyes and remembered what had happened on her birthday before taking another step towards the edge. Su Liwei... It had always been Su Liwei. They were already engaged. It was their first meeting after five years. She wasn't expecting much from him. After all, they hadn't seen them for quite long.

But she wasn't expecting what met her either.

On her birthday six years ago, a drunken Su Liwei had arrived at her door and told her countless things. "Ask your grandfather to break off this engagement."

"Why? Su Liwei... Didn't you use to say we would get married when we were..."

"We were just kids. How could you be still holding on those words!"

"But Su Liwei, I lov..."

"Don't say that!" His eyes were bloodshot. His voice was on the verge of a breakdown. Tears were gathered at the corners of his eyes. "We are not meant to be. We can't be together. I've sworn to destroy you. At the dead body of my mother, I made a promise. She made me make a promise before she died..." His voice was emotional. "I can't break that promise."

"Su Liwei, it's okay. We'll work out something together."

"No, we can't! She wanted you to suffer. All of you. She wanted me to destroy Tang Yuyan and everything related to her. And I... I made that promise."

"Su Liwei..."

"Even if I forsake my promise, my uncle won't let you off. Jing Lihua! He loved my mother. He would do anything for her. My mother's heart had blackened with vengeance. It was not your fault for what happened to her. But she wouldn't care. She would go to any extent just to get what she wanted. She killed herself. Did you know that? She killed herself just because I told her that I couldn't... Even I... No, you don't know a lot of things and I can't tell you all. The less you know, the better it is. But you need to understand, we can't be together. But you won't be safe alone either. Please ask your grandfather to break off this engagement. And..."

"I won't! Su Liwei, I love you and..."

"But I don't love you." He had coldly said.

That one sentence had shattered the whole world of Jing Lihua. She was just twenty, hopelessly in love. Besides Su Liwei, she couldn't think of anything else. Not even her grandfather. Jing Lihua had no recollection of how she had managed to find her way to the top of Sunset Square. But she did recall wanting to end her life that day.

She had stepped closer and closer. She had stood at the edge, ready to fall at any moment. She had looked into the endless abyss of darkness and wondered if it would be painful or not. But she didn't care. The pain would be only temporarily before the relief arrived. It would suffice for the pain.

She had her body lose and let herself fall when a pair of arms reached out from the darkness, wrapped around her waist and pulled her back.