Chapter 117 Argument

Chapter 117: Argument

Their past relationship wasn't the kind where they could rightfully demand changes from each other.

Just like when he used to smoke, Qin Shuyi would tell him to leave if he smoked again, but she wouldn't outright ask him to quit.

Lighting up but not smoking was a habit he gradually developed later on.

But if Qin Shuyi had directly demanded he quit from the start, all she would've gotten was a scornful laugh.

"How do you know I wouldn't have listened to you?" Ling Jue stared at her, his eyes turning red.

She never even tried to bring it up. She was too lazy to spend time on him, too disdainful to discuss a future with him.

"If I had said it, how would you have responded back then? You would have said, 'Qin Shuyi, you're getting greedy.'" She met his gaze, each word a stab to his heart.

Ling Jue's lips moved soundlessly, at a loss for words.

Back then, he couldn't understand his own heart at all. He only thought that if things with Qin Shuyi ever ended one day, he would just enter an arranged marriage naturally, even if that end might never come.

She was well-behaved and never made a fuss; they never argued. So he deceived himself into thinking their situation was fine.

If Qin Shuyi had tried to control him, he believed he would have changed. He would have gradually reduced how often he went out to have fun, but his mouth certainly wouldn't have said anything nice at first.

He just refused to admit that he was already defeated by Qin Shuyi from the very beginning, from the moment he wanted her.

His shoulders slumped. "I'll change. I won't touch those things anymore."

Qin Shuyi pressed her lips together. "I don't want anyone to change or give up anything for me."

Those were his hobbies. How could she know he wouldn't regret it later?

Ling Jue's eyes were red at the corners, glaring at her, teeth gritted. "That's all bullshit! Qin Shuyi, don't you get it? You're the most important thing! I'm messed up, but I'm not the man I used to be. You tell me to look forward, so why can't you see me for who I am now?"

"With what eyes? The eyes of a stranger? Don't make it sound like you're sacrificing something for me."

"Is it me who wants to be strangers? It's you who scattered our past like ashes! It's you who heartlessly drew a line, who doesn't want me!"

"Stop acting crazy."

"I am crazy!" Ling Jue's heart felt like a tangled ball of yarn. "You don't like it, I'll change. But you won't let me change. Then what can I do? What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to stay away from me. I want you to understand that we're just not suitable, got it?" Qin Shuyi was also riled up now.

The problems between them went far beyond just this.

"Can't do it!" His voice rose. "Qin Shuyi! I just can't do it! Do you think I haven't tried? Do you think I haven't let go? I fucking can't do it!"

He was like an angry, trapped beast with no direction.

He couldn't get out.

The people around them stared wide-eyed, hardly daring to breathe.

Director Tian and Tang Wei knew Ling Jue's identity. Master Jue, who was always suave and in control of everything in public, actually arguing with a woman like an ordinary man in love, so angry he was saying things he didn't mean, his fingertips trembling—it was truly an eye-opener.

Especially those phrases like "you don't want me" and "can't let go," so pathetic and aggrieved. It was something else.

Tang Wei felt relieved in her heart, glad she hadn't been greedy enough to try catching up with Master Jue.

With him so deeply stuck in the quagmire of love, anyone foolish enough to get in the way would be doomed.

Tong Tong, who knew nothing about the two's backgrounds, was utterly amazed.

This is why you cast unknowns.

Arguing right in front of the cameras, truly unafraid of being maliciously edited.

But this back-and-forth of love and hate, anger and affection, logical and illogical scolding and arguing—you have to admit, it looks pretty intense.

She could watch another hundred episodes!

Thinking this, even her fear of the fake corpse was pushed to the back of her mind.

However, Qin Shuyi clearly wasn't planning to give her the chance to keep watching the drama.

Seeing Ling Jue trembling with anger, and noticing that besides Tang Wei and Tong Tong, other guests were also subtly noticing the commotion and looking over, she kept a straight face.

"Let's talk outside."

Ling Jue didn't move.

Qin Shuyi glanced at him and walked away.

Ling Jue was silent for a second, then followed her out.

...

With the two gone, the frozen air in the room seemed to start flowing again.

The people who had witnessed the little lovers', or rather ex-lovers', argument looked at each other.

Tong Tong opened her mouth. "Sister Wei, who was that? Miss Qin's ex-boyfriend? How did he get into the production team?"

Tang Wei initially wanted to pat her head, but then saw her own gloves and the smeared human tissue on them. She fell silent for a moment. "Anyway, remember: don't look, don't guess, don't get involved. Be polite to him and Miss Qin. They're people we can't afford to offend."

Director Tian also took the opportunity to step in and smooth things over. "Everyone, continue with your work. Miss Qin will still be conducting evaluations later."

The most confused was Shen Yaochuan.

What happened? What happened?

In the time he was buried in his work, how did Qin Shuyi seem to get into an argument with that sharp-tongued Assistant Ling?

Damn it! Did he dare to be sarcastic to Sister Shuyi?!

"I'll go see..." he started, not even having taken off his gloves yet, when Director Tian held him back first.

"Alright, don't add to the chaos. Miss Qin won't suffer any losses."

Shen Yaochuan didn't care about anyone's opinion in the industry, but Tian Lizhi was, after all, a familiar elder. He held back and could only obediently continue filming, though his eyes kept drifting outside.

...

Outside.

Under the eaves, the two stood side by side for a while, letting the cold wind blow.

"Is it because you think it's dangerous that you don't want someone close to you doing extreme sports?" Ling Jue spoke first, his voice much calmer.

Qin Shuyi also softened her tone. "Yes. People who don't cherish life often find that luck isn't on their side. I want everyone around me to live well.

My parents have been working tirelessly to give more people a chance to live. I know I should respect each individual's choices, but I don't like people who don't hold themselves in high regard."

Ling Jue let out a sigh, his tone strained. "I used to... not see any meaning in living, nor did I have any particular stake in the future. Only during the adrenaline rush of extreme sports could I clearly feel my own existence.

For me, they weren't some deep-seated passion—just a way to find myself. I've hardly touched any of that this past year."

Qin Shuyi paused. "That's good."

"I'll keep that in mind from now on. I won't participate in those dangerous activities anymore."

He looked at her. "I don't need to search for meaning outside myself anymore."

Qin Shuyi met his gaze. "Basing the meaning of your life on another person is even more dangerous."

Ling Jue smiled. "No. It's that I *want* to live now—and to live well."

Only by living well, living like a proper person, could he be worthy of approaching Qin Shuyi, take good care of her, and provide her with a better environment to thrive in.

----------------------------------------