Chapter 122: How Will They Choose

Even with Ye Xuan’s answer, Yang Bingyu didn’t seem all that thrilled.

As Ye Xuan sat there puzzled, his phone rang. Seeing Lin Aoxue’s name on the screen, he hesitated briefly before muting the device and tossing it aside.

Yang Bingyu looked at him in confusion when he didn’t answer. "Why aren’t you answering your phone?"

"It’s nothing. Just a spam call," Ye Xuan replied perfunctorily, keeping his head down as he ate.

Yang Bingyu let out a soft "Oh" and didn’t press the matter further.

Over the next few days, Ye Xuan stayed by Yang Bingyu’s side, keeping her company while shopping, watching movies, and cooking for her. They were as sweet and affectionate as any ordinary young couple. This gave Yang Bingyu the illusion that they could stay this happy forever.

Until a week later, when Lin Aoxue appeared at Yunju Mountain Villa and shattered the tranquility.

"Why are you here?" Yang Bingyu frowned as she opened the door and saw Lin Aoxue standing there.

The injuries on Lin Aoxue’s legs hadn’t fully healed, forcing her to rely on a wheelchair. Despite resting for a week, her complexion remained noticeably pale. She had lost a significant amount of weight and wore a stony expression, her eyes exceptionally cold.

"Where is Ye Xuan? Tell him to come out and see me." Lin Aoxue didn’t answer Yang Bingyu’s question, instead demanding to know Ye Xuan’s whereabouts.

A flash of displeasure crossed Yang Bingyu’s mind at the mention of Ye Xuan, but she still allowed Lin Aoxue inside.

"Come inside first. Ye Xuan is cooking in the kitchen." Saying that, she reached out to help push Lin Aoxue’s wheelchair.

"No need. I can do it myself."

Her good intentions were met with a cold rejection. Left with no choice, Yang Bingyu withdrew her hands and gave a helpless pout.

"Bingyu, who is it?" Right at that moment, Ye Xuan poked his head out of the kitchen with a spatula in hand.

When he saw Lin Aoxue’s figure, his expression instantly changed. He cast a guilty glance at her, then quickly turned around and darted back into the kitchen.

Lin Aoxue’s hands, resting on her knees, clenched into fists. She bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes cast down as she sank into unknown thoughts.

It was obvious that there was a problem between the two of them. Standing off to the side, Yang Bingyu didn’t know what to do. After hesitating for a moment, she asked again, "Do you want some water? I’ll pour you a glass."

Just as she was about to turn and get the water, Lin Aoxue rejected her kindness once more.

"There’s no need. I’m just here to say a few words to Ye Xuan, and then I’ll leave."

"Uh... alright then. I’ll go cook. You guys talk." Yang Bingyu smiled awkwardly, then walked into the kitchen to swap places with Ye Xuan.

"Xue... Xue’er, why are you here?"

Ye Xuan actually didn’t want to see Lin Aoxue, but Yang Bingyu insisted he go out, so he had no choice but to brace himself and face her.

Lin Aoxue looked up at Ye Xuan, her eyes dark and her lips pressed into a thin line.

Her demeanor threw Ye Xuan into a slight daze, as if he were looking at the Lin Aoxue from before their divorce. Back then, she had looked at him exactly like this—cold, disdainful, and utterly indifferent.

Ye Xuan’s heart trembled violently. He wanted to explain something, but ultimately held back.

Lin Aoxue remained silent for a moment before mustering the courage to speak. "What did you mean by the words you had White Snake pass on to me? Were all the promises you made to me before just lies?

"Ye Xuan, why are you doing this? Why are you avoiding me? Do you not love me anymore?"

Over the past week, she had hoped countless times that Ye Xuan would appear at the door of her hospital room. She had made call after call trying to reach him, and even dreamt of his return in the dead of night. Initially, she assumed he was busy and that was why he was ignoring her. But as time passed, she realized he wasn’t busy—he just didn’t want to talk to her.

Lin Aoxue wanted to act cool and pretend she didn’t care at all, but her heart couldn’t stop thinking about him. After struggling for a long time, she finally decided to come see him in person. Given her injuries, she really shouldn’t have been moving around, but she couldn’t wait any longer. She had to find him and demand an explanation. Even if they were going to break up, it had to be said face-to-face. She refused to accept this kind of ambiguous separation.

Her questions threw Ye Xuan into a panic, though he tried his best to steady his emotions. He had specifically instructed White Snake to keep a close eye on Lin Aoxue and prevent her from wandering around before her injuries healed. He wondered how on earth they were doing their jobs.

Seeing that Ye Xuan remained silent and didn’t even dare look at her, the emotions Lin Aoxue had been suppressing all this time instantly erupted. With red eyes, she glared at him furiously and roared.

"Say something! What do you really mean? You were the one who told me to wait, and now you’re the one saying we should separate!

"What do you take me for? Am I, Lin Aoxue, just a dog you keep around, Ye Xuan? Something to be beckoned and dismissed at your whim?"

"I... I didn’t." Ye Xuan didn’t know how to respond. He had been forced into this situation. How could he not want to be with Lin Aoxue?

But being together would only put Lin Aoxue in danger, which was the last thing he wanted. The recent incidents had already terrified him. Time and time again, Lin Aoxue had hovered on the brink of life and death. He had been lucky enough to save her before, but what if his luck ran out? What if something truly terrible happened to her?

"You didn’t? If you didn’t, then what is the meaning of treating me like this? Yes, I like you, but you can’t just trample all over my feelings!

"Ye Xuan, give me a straight answer today. Either you come with me to the Civil Affairs Bureau right now to remarry...

"Or we end this completely and never contact each other again. You choose."

Lin Aoxue’s heart ached so much it felt like it was dying. She desperately wanted to cry, but not a single tear would fall. She had already cried enough these past few days—cried until she was numb.

Ye Xuan hadn’t expected her to come to him directly and force his hand for an answer. Seeing her like this, his heart ached immensely.

Even though he hadn’t visited her or stayed in touch, White Snake reported on her condition every single day. When she cried, when she was in pain—Ye Xuan knew every little detail.

Ye Xuan stood stiffly in front of her, completely at a loss for how to reply. He wanted nothing more than to take her to get their marriage certificate right this instant, but logic told him he couldn’t.

Meanwhile, Yang Bingyu was equally tormented in the kitchen. Lin Aoxue and Ye Xuan had made no attempt to hide their conversation, so she heard every single word clearly. She also desperately wanted to know what choice Ye Xuan would make. Would he return to Lin Aoxue’s side, or would he cut ties completely?

"Xue’er, can you please go back to the hospital first? Give me some time to calm down. Once I’ve thought things through, I’ll give you an answer."

Ye Xuan still couldn’t bear to leave Lin Aoxue. He wanted to quickly resolve the matters in Jianghai City, and then take her back to Jingcheng with him.