TFRLTOP Chapter 27 Part 2

“I’m sorry.” For the first time, the domineering Huo Xiao lowered himself, guilt lacing every word. “If I had known my decision back then would bring you so much pain, I would never have done it. The truth is, I’ve always been…”

Waiting. Waiting for you to let me in. Waiting to make you the mistress of the Huo family.

“Then end it.” Chu Yun’s voice was soft.

“End the arrangement.”

“What?” Huo Xiao froze.

“It’s over, Fifth Master Huo.” Chu Yun tried to lift a smile, but she was so drained that the corners of her lips gave out halfway and fell again. “My suffering wasn’t something you gave me—it was always there. I’m just… tired.”

She drew in a deep breath, forcing back her tears, and said with forced ease, “Turns out this kind of money really isn’t easy to earn.”

“But still, I’m grateful it was you who showed up back then, and not some other man.”

“I’m sorry. Even if the rest of my life won’t be very dignified, at least…”

At least what?

Huo Xiao stared at her intensely.

“At least I don’t have to pretend to love you.” Her words came out so light they barely seemed to disturb the air.

Huo Xiao’s body gave the faintest, almost invisible tremor.

“Is that so?” He heard his own voice, calm and steady.

“Fine. I’ll give you what you want.”

With nowhere else to go, Chu Yun had only her gambler father’s shabby old flat. Unable to resist Huo Xiao’s insistence, she let him personally take her there. By the time they arrived, someone had already cleaned the place, the fridge was stocked with fresh vegetables, and a Huo family physician was waiting.

When everything was settled, it was already past midnight. Chu Yun couldn’t hold out any longer and drifted off, though even in sleep she remained restless, murmuring in her dreams. Huo Xiao sat by her bedside, scanning the cramped little room. He wanted to reach out and touch her face, but was afraid of brushing against her wounds.

Half-dreaming, half-awake, Chu Yun opened her eyes. Seeing his silhouette seemed to calm her. In a soft voice, Huo Xiao asked, “These days… what has it felt like, being by my side?”

It was like he was punishing himself, craving an answer he already dreaded.

The truth had been laid bare the moment Chu Yun said those words—pretend to love you.

A wrong beginning. An unequal relationship. What right did he have to expect her to drop her guard, to fully accept his love and his charity?

Huo Xiao asked himself, What more do you even want to know?

Under the dim light, Chu Yun slowly blinked and uttered just four words:

“With fear and trembling.”

It landed in his chest like a heavy hammer.

With fear and trembling.

Over and over, the words echoed.

See—she wasn’t heartless. She was simply used to adapting to hardship, used to finding little ways to soothe herself, amuse herself. She knew how to be grateful for small mercies in misfortune, how to secretly rejoice at tiny windfalls. She didn’t even dare to ask for too much—afraid she wasn’t worthy, afraid it would only be exchanged for more suffering.

How could she possibly take his lofty devotion at face value, in circumstances like this?

Bitterly, Huo Xiao thought: This is what I deserve.

Before leaving, with Chu Yun already asleep, he pressed a barely noticeable kiss to her forehead. In his heart, he whispered: I’m sorry. I won’t let go.

Let’s give each other two months. Two months from now, I’ll beg you for a chance to make amends. When you graduate, when we can stand as equals, we’ll sit down and talk honestly. I’ll show you my true heart. I’ll pursue you, give you everything I have. My greatest wish is to make the rest of your life free of worry. I’ll always be waiting for the day we grow old together.

He left her a black card and transferred ten million into her bank account.

Ming Ming stared at the number as if the digits were strangers.

She let out a quiet sigh.

“What’s wrong? Isn’t this what you wanted?” the system asked.

“Nothing. It’s just… in the end, he still didn’t give me a condo as a breakup fee.” Ming Ming sighed again, looking desolate.

“Didn’t he leave you the black card? You could just swipe it at the sales office!”

Ming Ming shot it a resentful look. “You don’t get it. After everything I said back then, how could I still spend his money? I had to have some pride!”

“…” The system was speechless. “Why waste your useless pride at such a crucial moment?”

“Ugh, I was furious, okay? That one burst of backbone. But the next morning, the first thing I worried about was revenge from the He family and those rich young ladies. I didn’t even have time to stay mad at myself.”

“Yeah… I’ve seen it clearly now. I’m just a nobody. I’ll never be someone at the top.”

She said it so small, so pitiful, that even the system felt a pang of sympathy. Then she muttered under her breath: “But you know… a couple’s grace lasts a hundred days. If I don’t spend his money, at least he’ll feel guilty. Later, if the male and female leads fight because of me, maybe they’ll pity me instead of tormenting me…”

System: Who gave you the courage to think those two can even be together anymore?

Was this the legendary density of someone single since birth?

The system gave up. The whole world was breaking down anyway; it was just waiting for the final tally to hit her with the truth.

Meanwhile, Ming Ming sat down with pen and paper to do her finances and decided her final year’s dorm fees had been a total rip-off.

Graduation was just around the corner, job hunting was brutal, and even the system couldn’t say how far this world line had to go before she’d finally be released. All Ming Ming could do was grit her teeth, find work, and support herself.

She got an internship at a small company, slacked off during office hours, coding for side gigs, then delivered food after work. Rain or shine, she kept running. It was exhausting, but fulfilling.

A familiar kind of life.

During this time, Ye Weiran called a few times to catch up. She really wanted to see Ming Ming, but work was too hectic, and Ming Ming couldn’t spare a single minute.

Ye Weiran mentioned that the elite families of S City were in upheaval—several suddenly toppled overnight, including the He family. They had planned to send He Chengtian abroad, but he ended up crippled in an airport bathroom, tendons cut in both hands and feet.

As for the Li family of S City—gone without a trace, wiped from the records.

She listed a few more names Ming Ming didn’t know. But Ye Weiran did—they were all people present that night. No one said outright who was responsible, but everyone knew: the Huo family had acted.

“Tsk tsk, karma.”

That was what she said, but Ming Ming didn’t really feel it. To her, it was like a narration in the script of this world line, nothing to do with her. If she wanted payback, she preferred the thrill of throwing punches back that night.

“Glory to the working people!” After a long day, she collapsed on her bed, staring at the two bank cards, shedding tears of self-deception.

“I regret it. I don’t want this pride anymore. I’m already dead. What good is pride? Tomorrow I’m buying a house! I deserve some enjoyment!” Ming Ming thrashed around on her bed like a dumb fish flopping onto shore, and the system couldn’t bear to watch.

But the next day was just as busy. After finishing her last delivery that night, she was about to tell her boss she was quitting.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would buy a house for sure!

“Oh no, another order? We’re about to close! Xiao Chu, I’m so sorry—could you stay just a little longer tonight? Please run this last delivery. I’ll add fifty bucks to your fee!”

Fifty…

Ming Ming: “Deal! I’m on it!”

Riding off on her beloved little e-scooter, she zipped down the nearly empty late-night streets.

No hint of coolness in the summer air—just waves of humid heat, even the breeze felt like steam.

Thinking how she wouldn’t need to work nights anymore once she bought her house tomorrow, Ming Ming was in high spirits, even joking with the system: “Tell me, why is it that being poor doesn’t make me immune to heatstroke?”

The system didn’t have time to reply. The next second—beep!

“Congratulations. Side mission complete. Hidden achievement unlocked.”

“This world is now entering settlement.”

“World rating: Pass.”

“Commencing exit…”

Beep-beep-beep!

From far away came the shriek of horns. Headlights blinded her, too bright to open her eyes.

Bang!

…

“Help! Somebody call an ambulance! There’s been an accident!”