Chapter 54: This Isn’t Over Between Us

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I hadn’t expected Jiang Yue to say that; I thought she really believed Cheng Jun’s blatant lies. Yet in the end, she coldly shook off Cheng Jun’s hand and stood up. Cheng Jun, still wearing that pathetic expression, looked at her pitifully and said, “Yueyue, I’m really wronged!”

“I went to see her just to understand Chu Jianghe’s situation clearly. Why don’t you believe me?” Jiang Yue looked at him with cold eyes and said, “Cheng Jun, it’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s because there are too many holes in your story. Do you really think I’m that stupid?”

Cheng Jun was stunned for a moment; perhaps he truly thought Jiang Yue was easy to deceive. But I didn’t think so. Jiang Yue was one of the smartest women I had ever met; her intelligence was exceptionally high. She just got a little lovesick, which made her seem less sharp. But now, she was clear-headed.

She stared at Cheng Jun and continued, “Jiang Zi already told me—you and Liu Qing know each other, and the first time you met, you almost raped her.” Cheng Jun froze, his expression gradually stiffening.

Jiang Yue went on, “I know you want to say Jiang Zi is trying to sow discord. But I’m telling you, Cheng Jun, I’m willing to believe Jiang Zi. And Liu Qing wouldn’t cut her wrist for no reason!”

“Do you really think I’m stupid?”

Cheng Jun seemed unable to keep up the act anymore; he sneered coldly and quickly returned to his usual demeanor. He shrugged, “Do as you please. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”

“You… you really disappoint me!” Cheng Jun picked up a cigarette, lit it slowly, and said calmly, “You disappoint me too. Because you don’t trust me, and all that talk about never being apart from me—was it all a lie?”

Jiang Yue’s eyes instantly reddened. Her voice trembled as she said, “It’s you! You never intended to be with me properly from the start.”

Cheng Jun sighed deeply, “Then what’s the point of saying anything? Just go, don’t block my sight!”

Jiang Yue’s once caring expression turned sharp and cold. She said coldly, “Cheng Jun, listen to me. When the case investigation concludes, if it turns out to be you— including what happened to Chu Jianghe—I won’t let you off!”

Cheng Jun turned to look at her and said indifferently, “Done talking?”

Jiang Yue said no more. She glared at him fiercely before turning and leaving his home.

When she got back into her car, she seemed lost and distracted, her gaze vacant like a delicate flower battered by wind and rain. The dim light inside the car cast a pale glow on her face. Tears silently streamed down her cheeks, gathering into crystal droplets on her chin before falling heavily onto the steering wheel, as if echoing the sound of her broken heart.

Her eyes were hollow and confused, devoid of their former brilliance. Her body trembled uncontrollably, as if that could bring her some warmth and comfort. Her thick black hair scattered messily over her shoulders, adding to her disheveled and haggard appearance.

She cried.

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Each sob made her shoulders shake violently, the suppressed crying seeming to come from the depths of her soul. Even seeing her in such pain, I could only think: serves you right!

I knew her tears were not for me. They were for her relationship with Cheng Jun—she felt deceived by him.

I was very familiar with this look of hers. The first time I met her, she was just like this.

...

After sitting in the car for more than ten minutes, Jiang Yue finally calmed down a bit and started the engine.

What surprised me was that she headed to my cemetery.

It was her third time coming here, but the previous two times were not of her own volition.

At the cemetery gate, she seemed hesitant for a long time before buying a bouquet of flowers and the cigarettes I liked.

She lingered at the gate for a long while, then, as if making a firm decision, she walked inside.

At my tombstone, she carefully arranged the items she had brought and then stared blankly at my photo engraved there.

She seemed dazed until a gust of wind blew, scattering her hair.

Only then did she come back to herself, brushing her hair away and muttering to my tombstone.

“Chu Jianghe, I don’t even know why I’m here. I can’t explain how I’ve felt since you died.”

“It’s complicated. I don’t love you, but I keep thinking about you.”

“All these days, I’ve been thinking—you loved me so much, you’d want to see me, right?”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Miss Jiang, you sure know how to flatter yourself.

I’d rather you stay far away from me!

Of course, she couldn’t hear me and kept talking to herself.

“But then I think about how bad I’ve been to you all these years. On the day you died, I still went to see Cheng Jun. You must hate me.”

“So, you probably don’t want to see me at all.”

Well, at least you have some self-awareness.

Then get lost! Don’t dirty my tombstone.

She went on, “I’m feeling very conflicted now. I feel deceived but also unwilling to give up.”

“And I don’t think I love Cheng Jun that much after all. I don’t know why, but when I’m with him, I keep thinking about you for no reason.”

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“Liu Qing told me you were killed by Cheng Jun. I didn’t believe it.”

“But something happened today that forced me to doubt him.”

“If it really was him who killed you, once the police finish their investigation, I will make sure justice is done for you!”

Jiang Yue, oh Jiang Yue, now you want to seek justice for me—too late!

Even if justice is served, what good would it do?

Would I come back to life?

Would I forgive you for the coldness you showed me all these years?

No, if you want my forgiveness, try in your next life!

She kept talking for a long time and finally took out a cigarette, lit it, and started smoking.

I watched her awkwardly light the cigarette and puff on it—she never touched these before and even hated the smell of tobacco.

After a few puffs, she started coughing violently but still didn’t throw it away.

She looked at the photo on my tombstone.

She smiled and cried, struggling to speak as tears and mucus ran down her face, a pitiful sight.

“Do you know? I dreamed of you last night. I dreamed about those things I never cared about before, but now I miss them so much after waking up…”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Maybe… maybe I really can’t let you go!”

“If I had another chance, I’d be willing to understand you.”

“But it’s too late. There’s no ‘if’ anymore.”

Watching her so disheveled, I unleashed all my resentment: “Do you know what I regret most in my life?”

“It’s knowing you, becoming your husband, and treasuring you like a gem.”

“Do you know how much I hate you? How dare you say these things? If I could, I’d kill you!”

Though I knew she couldn’t hear me, saying all this made me feel much lighter.

All the anger I had buried in my heart for so long finally found release.

Seeing her now, tear-streaked and pitiful, anyone would feel sympathy.

But I am no longer human—I am a ghost.

My heart is as hard as stone.