Chapter 52: Red Marks on the Neck

Tang Man’s tone was gentle, yet also carried a hint of imperceptible perfunctoriness. Of course, this might not be called perfunctoriness either. It’s just that when certain words are said too many times, it’s hard to be sincere.

She stroked Si Jiahe’s cheek, her movements gentle.

“Jiahe, it’s not like we can’t see each other in the future. Even couples who break up can get along as friends.”

Tang Man herself didn’t quite believe these words, but under such tenderness and affection, Si Jiahe’s heart actually calmed down a bit.

However, Si Jiahe still hung his head, clutching the corner of his clothes with one hand, not saying a word.

After a long while, not hearing any sound, he couldn’t help but look up again. Just as he caught Tang Man’s gaze, he was about to lower his head, but raised it again. He pursed his lips for a good while before finally speaking. “Man Man, are you really going to marry him?”

Tang Man said, “Yes, if all goes as expected, we will be engaged this year.”

This time, Si Jiahe didn’t cry, because he knew that no matter how many tears he shed this time, it would be useless. Tang Man would not turn back. Back when they broke up, she was so resolute and never looked back once. It was the same now.

He just looked at Tang Man with teary eyes. His hand couldn’t help but move a little, tugging at the hem of Tang Man’s dress, holding her hand.

“Man Man, don’t give up on me.” Si Jiahe pleaded, “You…don’t give up on me. I can get treatment properly, listen to you, and never be willful again.”

“Don’t give up on me, okay?”

Tang Man raised her hand to look at her wristwatch. More than twenty minutes had passed. “Jiahe, it’s late now. I’m leaving first. Go see Dr. Bell tomorrow. Take your medicine on time, go to your appointments on time, and don’t be willful anymore.”

“Jiahe, I hope you take good care of yourself.” Tang Man said finally, “This is the first and last time. If you do this again, I will turn a blind eye. You know my personality. I absolutely mean what I say.”

Si Jiahe didn’t say anything.

After Tang Man bent down to put away the first-aid kit and put it back in its original place, she stood in front of Si Jiahe for a good while before preparing to leave, walking towards the door.

Sensing Tang Man’s intention to leave, Si Jiahe immediately stood up too, his whole body tense. His dry eyes instantly showed traces of moisture, but he held back and didn’t shed tears again. He followed closely behind Tang Man. When Tang Man’s hand was on the doorknob, he still couldn’t help but reach out and grab her.

Calling her name incessantly.

In Tang Man’s moment of hesitation, he turned around, pulling Tang Man’s hand behind his back against the door. He looked at Tang Man with teary eyes, pursing his lips, stubbornly like a child, refusing to let her go.

This time, Tang Man was also at a loss.

This was why she previously felt that although Si Jiahe was like a block of honeyed candy, sometimes he was too clingy, the reason being unknown as to what kind of environment he grew up in to form such a personality. In some ways, it was very much to her liking, but in other ways, she found it a bit too sticky.

The two of them were at an impasse here when Tang Man’s phone rang. She glanced at Si Jiahe before taking out her phone and looking at the screen.

It was a call from Xie Li.

She had stayed up here for too long.

Tang Man didn’t answer the call. She looked at Si Jiahe, deciding not to say any more.

In front of this man, you couldn’t take a single step back. Si Jiahe knew well the principle of ingratiating himself and had become skilled at it through practice.

If she retreated a little here, Si Jiahe would cling to her like a leech, making it impossible for her to leave tonight, and then he would pester her incessantly afterwards.

“Si Jiahe, I’m getting engaged.” Tang Man’s voice was very soft, but carried weight.

“I’m really getting engaged, and may even get married.” Tang Man said, “Jiahe, don’t turn yourself into the kind of person you hate the most. And you also know that I hate people pestering me relentlessly.”

Si Jiahe lowered his head, pretending not to hear.

At this moment, the doorbell outside rang. Si Jiahe looked up at Tang Man as if startled.

They both knew who was outside the door.

Xie Li must have gotten impatient waiting downstairs, or rather, Tang Man not answering the phone made him unable to sit still, so he came upstairs and rang the doorbell.

Tang Man reached out and hugged Si Jiahe, then turned the doorknob. With a click, Si Jiahe couldn’t help but burst into tears. Tang Man acted as if she didn’t hear, her face calm. She walked around Si Jiahe, and just before opening the door, she said one more thing.

“Don’t self-harm like this in the future. Scars on the wrist don’t look very nice.”

“I’ve arranged with Bella for you to go see her tomorrow morning.”

Then, just like countless times before, she opened the door and left without looking back.

The door closed gently with a push. Tang Man walked out and saw Xie Li standing to the side, not knowing how long he had been standing there. His expression was calm, his hair smoothly tucked behind his ears, with a few strands falling over his forehead.

Faint sobbing could be heard from inside, growing louder and louder. In the silent late night, Tang Man could hear it even through a closed door.

Xie Li heard it too. Just standing outside the door, he could feel the heartbreak of the person inside. But so what?

He had seen such scenes many times.

So, he looked at Tang Man for a good while before smiling slightly. He reached out and took Tang Man’s hand, saying softly, “Let’s go back. It’s late now, and you have work tomorrow.”

Tang Man nodded.

The two of them held hands and went downstairs together. Xie Li’s mood seemed to be good. At least the atmosphere in the car was not as oppressive as when they came here. Tang Man could breathe a sigh of relief in the car.

“Are you hungry?” Xie Li asked Tang Man when they were about to reach home.

This whole ordeal had taken several hours. Although they had eaten dinner a bit late, it had been seven or eight hours ago.

As they exited the elevator, Tang Man instinctively touched her stomach upon hearing this question. It was completely flat.

Only then did she feel that she might indeed be a little hungry, so she nodded.

“A little.” Tang Man opened the door, and Xie Li followed behind. As they changed shoes in the entryway, she thought for a moment and turned her head to say to Xie Li, “I don’t think I have much food in my fridge.”

There were only a few slices of toast for breakfast and a few eggs. Usually, for convenience, she would simply boil an egg in hot water and toast two slices of bread in the toaster for breakfast.

And the nearby supermarket was probably closed by now too.

Xie Li made a sound of acknowledgment and then said, “I’ll go take a look first.”

Tang Man nodded, “I’m not that hungry anyway. There are still a few hours until dawn. I’ll go take a shower first.”