The Billionaire's Hidden Affection-Chapter 663 - 660 Forcing Him to Show Himself 4_1

Upon hearing the word "prison," Mother Huang turned pale. "Xiaojue... this... you’re not trying to scare us, are you? The Zhou Family is so powerful... Besides, Zhou Ting likes you a lot..."

"Mom, if you want to visit me in prison someday, or hear about my mysterious death or something similar, then continue to indulge Yang Wei and your sister. Otherwise, stop associating with them!"

Mother Huang was in disbelief. After a moment, she faltered, "Xiaojue, is it really that terrifying? We’re just trying to do what’s best for you..."

Huang Xiaojue had already reached the door. He turned back, his voice surprisingly calm. "Yes, I know you’re always looking out for me—so much so that my wife was driven away by it all. Mom, ask yourself honestly: were you doing this for me, or to satisfy your vanity in front of your side of the family?"

He turned and left without saying goodbye to his parents.

Mother Huang ran after him, crying, "Son, son..."

Father Huang grabbed her. "Our son has a point," he said gravely. "Woman, if you don’t rein yourself in, you’ll truly ruin his life."

「For several nights in a row, the moon shone brightly, and the stars were few.」

The wind carried the faint scent of summer flowers.

A long ginkgo-lined walkway stretched out, flanked by verdant, graceful ginkgo trees, some already bearing small, green fruit. Nearby lay a tranquil, still lake, its center blanketed with water lilies.

The streetlights cast a dim glow. Huang Xiaojue sat down on a long bench. Across from him, the lights in the towering apartment buildings were dimming as people turned in for the night. After a moment, he took out his phone.

He hadn’t dialed this number in nearly a year. Even when they occasionally crossed paths, they never spoke or acknowledged each other, strangers despite their history.

But tonight, he wanted to see her. He longed for it with a desperate intensity.

It was just like all those times they’d brushed past each other... He’d appear nonchalant on the surface, but who could know the storm raging within him?

No matter how reserved a person was, how could anyone else see the corruption festering deep inside?

That kind of pain was slowly, almost completely, burying him.

Over time, he’d thought he had grown numb, that he no longer cared, that the past was truly past. But he hadn’t anticipated that the wound lay in the deepest recesses of his soul; even after all this time, a fresh cut would still draw blood, raw and painful.

Tonight, he had suddenly, completely lost control.

I don’t want to keep pretending anymore. Can’t I stop?

Xixi, I’ve always loved you, but I’ve always been unworthy of your love.

He was desperate to see her, even if only to hear her voice.

It rang for a long time before the call finally connected.

"Xixi..."

The other end remained silent.

"Xixi!"

He, too, fell silent, unable to voice the words he so desperately wanted to say.

A long time passed, so long that Yan Xixi thought he had hung up. Just as she was about to end the call herself, she heard him let out a long sigh.

Yan Xixi still said nothing.

It all started with that fight with Mother Huang, didn’t it? By the time I sent that disgraceful video to Yang Wei, not a single shred of my feelings for Huang Xiaojue remained.

Huang Xiaojue, you never truly understood me. All my life, I’ve been searching for a sense of security—a feeling you never once gave me.

But I don’t need it anymore.

Only I can make myself feel safe.

"Xixi... I’m sorry..."

She heard his sigh travel through the phone, seemingly carried on the wind.

"Xixi, every time, it was I who hurt you..."

She finally spoke, her voice surprisingly cold. "Huang Xiaojue, are you calling to plead for Yang Wei again?"

Never! Why would I care about Yang Wei?