Chapter 253: Are You Really Reborn?
Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Are You Really Reborn?
At this moment, the way Su Zhaozhao looked at him no longer held any of the tenderness or emotion it once had.
Her face was expressionless, her gaze resting on him felt distant, as if she were looking at a stranger.
In that instant, Lin Shumo felt a pang of immense pain, but Su Zhaozhao had already spoken. "I know you’re close to her, and I won’t blame you for it."
’He’s the second male lead, after all,’ Su Zhaozhao thought. ’And out of everyone, he’s the one who’s changed the least since I transmigrated into this book. It’s only natural he’d act according to his character design. It’s understandable, really.’
’Lin Shumo hadn’t really done anything wrong. This was just his role in the novel.’
’But she also knew that her relationship with Lin Shumo could never go back to the way it was.’
’He was the heroine’s devoted second male lead, and she just couldn’t accept that for herself.’
’So, it was best to just let the heroine have her second male lead back.’
"I’m sorry, Zhaozhao. I know this is unfair to you, but... I had no other choice..."
’Jail... if she really goes to jail, Gu Qingran’s life will be ruined.’
Lin Shumo still felt this was too cruel to Gu Qingran. More importantly, he just couldn’t believe that she was truly that malicious.
Seeing her acting so deranged now, he had no idea what could have pushed Gu Qingran to this state.
"It’s alright, Lin Shumo. Let’s just say I’m doing this for the sake of our past friendship," Su Zhaozhao told him.
’After all, Lin Shumo had shown her a great deal of kindness when she first arrived here.’
Hearing this, Lin Shumo opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out.
Xie Huaizheng led Su Zhaozhao home.
The moment they got back, Xie Huaizheng pulled Su Zhaozhao into a tight embrace.
"Zhaozhao, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to go through that."
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Su Zhaozhao let out a small laugh. "You didn’t do anything wrong. This is their problem."
"But it’s also because of me. I share some of the blame for the mistaken identity, but I’m very lucky."
’How should I put it? They both bore some responsibility for the initial mix-up, yet Gu Qingran had directed all her rage at Su Zhaozhao.’
"There, there. It’s over now, and that’s what matters. Don’t overthink it. It was all Gu Qingran’s fault," Su Zhaozhao said.
’In any case, Gu Qingran definitely wouldn’t be showing her face around here again. This time, even if she avoided jail, she wouldn’t be staying in West State.’
"Zhaozhao, is there some bad blood between you and her? Why did she say you were reborn?" Xie Huaizheng reached out and stroked her hair.
Her hair was exceptionally soft and felt wonderful to the touch. He stroked it again and again, finding it hard to stop.
Su Zhaozhao’s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. She replied, "I have no idea... Maybe she’s really gone mad?"
Xie Huaizheng gazed at Su Zhaozhao, a slight smile playing on his lips. "In any case, no matter what, you’re mine."
’If Su Zhaozhao had found Xie Huaizhen first back then,’ he thought, ’would we have ever even met?’
A wave of fear washed over Xie Huaizheng every time he considered it.
’What a close call.’
"Mm, I’m hungry. Let’s eat."
"I’ll do it," Xie Huaizheng said, heading into the kitchen. "It’s too late to cook a proper meal. How about some noodles? Tomato and egg? And maybe I can stir-fry some preserved vegetables with pork?"
They were simple, home-style dishes. The preserved vegetables were a gift from Wang Anning a couple of days ago; she and her family had sun-dried them themselves.
"Sounds good," Su Zhaozhao agreed. She was hungry.
Downstairs, the crowd had dispersed.
It was noon, and everyone was heading off to eat and take their midday rest.
Everyone went their separate ways.
The crowd of onlookers in the courtyard had all gone.
As for Gu Qingran, she was taken to the hospital for a check-up, with Lin Shumo accompanying her the entire time.
Gu Qingran was still trembling as she spoke to Lin Shumo. "Shumo, you have to believe me! I’m truly innocent. That Su Zhaozhao is reborn! She died young and had a miserable death in her previous life, that’s why she suddenly showed up here in this one!"
Lin Shumo frowned. "Qing Ran, calm down. Stop making a scene."
"I am not making a scene!" Seeing that Lin Shumo didn’t believe her, Gu Qingran grew even more agitated. "Everything I’m saying is true! Me, too! Lin Shumo, believe me! In the future, you’ll get promoted and become a doctor at a big hospital in Beijing. And you love me, don’t you? You’ll stay single your whole life for my sake."
Gu Qingran was past the point of fear now. She was spilling everything.
Including everything about Lin Shumo’s future.
Lin Shumo froze when he heard her words.
’He was in love with her?’
’It was true that he’d had some fond feelings for Gu Qingran in the past.’
’But after meeting Su Zhaozhao, those feelings had completely vanished.’
’He knew his feelings for Gu Qingran back then hadn’t been true love. He’d simply been drawn to her hardworking, kind, and gentle nature—her resilient personality had attracted him.’
’But with Su Zhaozhao, his heart would race. Just exchanging a few words with her was enough to make him happy.’
’When he learned that Su Zhaozhao had gotten married, he was heartbroken.’
Even now, his mind was replaying the last look Su Zhaozhao had given him.
It was so cold and distant. Her meaning seemed crystal clear.
’She understood his position but was unwilling to accept his actions.’
’From now on, he feared they could no longer even be friends.’
The thought sent a heart-wrenching pang through Lin Shumo, and his chest tightened until it felt hard to breathe.
But there was absolutely nothing he could do.
’He couldn’t just abandon Gu Qingran. She had come here for him. If something happened to her on his watch, how could he live with himself?’
Lin Shumo knew that his sense of responsibility made it impossible for him to let her go completely. And so, he finally made his choice.
"Qing Ran, just focus on getting better. You’re sick," Lin Shumo told her.
"No, I’m not sick! Lin Shumo, why won’t you believe me? When have I ever lied to you?"
But Lin Shumo just said, "That’s right, you never used to lie to me. That’s how I know you’re sick now—saying such absurd things, doing such strange things. Gu Qingran, you’ve changed so much from the girl I remember that I barely recognize you anymore."
"Shumo, please, I’m begging you! Please believe me!"
But Lin Shumo had the doctor hold Gu Qingran down and administer a sedative.
Watching Gu Qingran lie quietly on the bed, he turned and walked away.
The next time Su Zhaozhao heard anything about Gu Qingran, it was that she had been sent back to her hometown. Her mental state was a cause for serious concern, so she was admitted for treatment at a local hospital there.
She had to suspend her studies as well.
But none of this had anything to do with Su Zhaozhao anymore.
’Gu Qingran, the story’s proper heroine, had ended up in such a state. Su Zhaozhao felt no sympathy. She had brought it all on herself.’
’To think she’d been reborn and still hadn’t learned a thing.’
’After being reborn, she could have had a much better future, but she was too stubborn and set in her ways.’
’She seemed to think that being reborn made her omnipotent, that she could just latch onto the powerful male lead, sweep aside all obstacles, and for some reason, blame an innocent cannon fodder like her for everything.’
Still, Su Zhaozhao breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, no one had believed Gu Qingran’s words. Otherwise, she feared she would have been treated like a freak.