Chapter 68 I Have Never Loved You

"I have nothing to say to you. Don't waste my time—go amuse yourself somewhere else."
When Qin Youtian reached out to grasp Hua Qinci's hand, she slapped his away without hesitation. She had no patience to be pestered by this brute any longer.

"Does it mean nothing to you? Do you not care at all about how I feel?" Qin Youtian stared intently at Hua Qinci, his eyes glistening with unshed tears of bitterness.

He had done so much for her—so why did she think only of leaving, day after day? Why did she insist on divorce, not as a wife, but as a husband? Why must she be so tangled, so ambiguously involved with that Liu Qingyun?

Hua Qinci had expected Qin Youtian to resort to violence again, but to her surprise, he changed his approach this time.

She frowned. Qin Youtian was indeed rather unattractive, and undeniably violent; he seemed to have no redeeming qualities. Yet, try as she might, she couldn't find any grave faults in him, either. If it were only about settling down for an ordinary life, he might even be considered a decent choice.

But looking at him, only Liu Bingbing could possibly love him so fiercely.

"In fact, I think you and my cousin Liu Bingbing are a perfect match. You see, you care for her, and she loves you. What a fine pair you make."

"Don't talk to me about my cousin. Talk about yourself. After all this time together, do you truly feel not even a trace of..."
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Qin Youtian hesitated, as if the words stuck in his throat. Hua Qinci was indifferent. "What? Are you saying—not even a trace of affection for you?"

She thought back on their days together, the bittersweet moments, time flitting by like a fleeting horse’s shadow, yet still leaving indelible memories in her heart.

But she had much yet to accomplish, and all those beautiful moments were but a season's bloom; once the flowers withered, even if they blossomed again next year, they would never be the same.

"I have never loved you." As she spoke, a sharp ache stung her eyes, nose, and heart; tears shimmered at the rim of her eyes.

She felt, at last, that this farce was not hers to play any longer—it was time for the curtain to fall.

Perhaps, once she left, Qin Youtian and Liu Bingbing could live happily together. After all, just now, Qin Mingyue had already dispelled her disdain for Liu Bingbing and agreed to let her into the family.

If Liu Bingbing were nearby and overheard those words from Qin Mingyue, she would surely have leapt for joy.

"Heh." Qin Youtian laughed, a pain in his heart and eyes that was hard to put into words.

"May I go now?" Hua Qinci hefted the bundle slung over her shoulder.

Qin Youtian turned away, sniffed quietly, then turned back and took her by the hand. "Before you leave, will you grant me one request?"

"What is it?" Hua Qinci looked at him in disbelief.
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"Look, dawn has broken. I want to go hunting in the mountains. Will you go with me? In the evening, you can leave. Then, my mother and I will simply tell everyone that you were unfortunately taken by a wild beast in the mountains. That way, the Qian family won't come searching for you anymore—it will be better for you."

Hearing this, Hua Qinci paused, her lashes fluttering softly, and then she smiled.

"All right," she replied, her voice hoarse—perhaps because this was her final farewell.

Qin Youtian’s suggestion was truly thoughtful. It really was.

So she told herself.

"Mother, rest for a while. I’m going up the mountain to hunt," Qin Youtian announced, rising to prepare for his departure. He’d been busy with countless things lately, and it had been a long time since he’d last been up the mountain.

"Be careful, Tian’er, and come home early," Qin Mingyue called after him, her heart aching with sorrow. How could she not see her son’s feelings for Hua Qinci? Otherwise, he would never have risked so much for that jade pendant.

"Ah," Qin Mingyue sighed softly. Perhaps it was for the best, after all.
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