Whoever Feels Guilty Can Take It Personally

For some reason, Shen Heng's heart skipped a beat. "You're leaving?" he asked in a low voice. "Where are you going?"

Chu Tianqing delivered that classic line: "Somewhere nobody knows me, to start my life over."

Shen Heng was so angry he laughed. Irritation welled up from somewhere, and he gritted his teeth. "Shen Xixi, I never thought you were this kind of person. Whenever something happens, all you want to do is run away. You don't have a shred of responsibility. I really misjudged you."

After being scolded out of the blue, Chu Tianqing stammered, "I think leaving is the responsible thing to do. If I stay, I'll only make everyone uncomfortable."

Shen Heng sneered. "You're pretty good at talking back. And to think I cleaned up your messes again and again. What a waste of my time. I'd have been better off going out and feeding stray dogs."

What a tongue on him! Chu Tianqing stared at him in disbelief. "Are you saying I'm worse than a dog?"

"I didn't say that," Shen Heng replied calmly. "Whoever feels guilty can take it personally."

Seriously, this man is the worst!

Chu Tianqing's face turned bright red with anger. She turned to look out the car window, pouting in silence, though her eyes had already filled with tears.

Heavens, I've been wronged!

Shen Heng had taken it upon himself to make her his family's adopted daughter. Had he asked his biological younger sister Lin Bufan what she thought?

She had read the original story. Lin Bufan hated her for being the cuckoo in the magpie's nest and would never pretend to be sisters with her.

If she accepted the title of the Shen family's adopted daughter, she would have to go back to visit Ms. Jiang and Papa Shen and fulfill her filial duties, wouldn't she? Then if she went back, how could Lin Bufan return?

All she had to do was sit there, and even if she did nothing, she would become a green tea stirring up trouble between them and their child.

Chu Tianqing's mind was in turmoil. She tried hard to work out how to explain all this to Shen Heng so he would understand what she was thinking: she wasn't leaving to escape responsibility.

Before she could figure it out, Shen Heng suddenly spoke. "Lao Liang, pull over. I want to get out and walk for a bit."

Lao Liang agreed and slowly pulled the car over to the roadside.

Only then did Chu Tianqing notice that the car had just reached Qing River Bridge.

Shen Heng got out of the car and strode to the middle of the bridge, where he stopped to enjoy the evening breeze blowing against his face.

Chu Tianqing watched him through the car window. After waiting a few minutes, she decided to get out and walk over.

The wind on the bridge was strong, blowing up from below and leaving Chu Tianqing somewhat disheveled.

Seriously, who understands what this feels like?!

I have it so rough!

She clutched her trench coat tightly around her and shuffled over to Shen Heng's side. "Brother, aren't you cold?" she asked quietly. "Be careful, you'll catch a cold standing out in this wind."

"I'm so worked up right now, a little cold wind is just what I need to cool down," Shen Heng said coolly. He turned to look at her. "Shen Xixi, are you really going to leave?"

Chu Tianqing swallowed nervously and tactfully explained her worries and thoughts.

"So I think the best solution is for me to leave," Chu Tianqing said sincerely, sniffling. "Brother, you'll understand, won't you?"

Shen Heng silently shook his head. "Everything you've said is based on the assumption that Bufan hates you. Don't rush into a decision. At least let me ask her what she thinks. Don't assume she's a petty person before you even know."

Chu Tianqing had nothing to say in response. Fine, he had a point. She would let him ask.

She really looked forward to Lin Bufan dealing with this self-righteous brother of hers.

"Okay, then I won't leave," Chu Tianqing relented, dropping a hint while she was at it. "Brother, let's go back. I'm so tired and want to go back to sleep."

"There's a stray dog over there," Shen Heng said out of the blue.

Chu Tianqing didn't catch on and thought he was insulting her again. "What?"

"At ten o'clock, there's a little white dot." Shen Heng pointed it out to her. "That looks like a puppy."

Chu Tianqing looked in the direction he was pointing and sure enough, saw a little white dot. The streetlights were dim and yellow, so at first glance, one might have thought it was a plastic bag.

Only someone who looked closely would realize it was a living creature.

"It's true," Chu Tianqing exclaimed in surprise. "It really is a puppy."

"Come on, let's go take a look."

With that, Shen Heng strode toward the bottom of the bridge.

Chu Tianqing couldn't stop him in time and could only chase after him. Heaven knew how uncomfortable she felt, without the slightest sense of security.

Shen Heng soon drew near enough to hear the puppy whimpering pitifully.

Both banks of the Qing River had been reinforced, and below the slope was a vertical river channel. It was currently the dry season, and the water was some distance below the slope, which was why the puppy couldn't climb back up.

Shen Heng walked down the slope and bent over to look. The puppy was lying on a rock, with more exposed rocks beside it. It should be safe to step on them.

He estimated the distance by eye and jumped straight down without hesitation, making Chu Tianqing cry out in alarm.

"Hey, calm down! Don't jump into the river!" Chu Tianqing hurried after him to check.

Just as she reached the bottom of the slope, a head suddenly appeared. Shen Heng looked up and held the puppy out to her. "Take it. It's very weak and won't bite."

Chu Tianqing reached out to take it, but also had to hold down her skirt, making her feel that her dear big brother's line of sight was especially dangerous.

"Y-you, close your eyes," Chu Tianqing managed to squeeze out. "No peeking."

At first, Shen Heng didn't understand why she wanted him to close his eyes at a moment like this. Then it suddenly dawned on him, and he remembered everything.

Uh, he seemed to have... forgotten to buy a few important things.

It wasn't his fault. Fang Ke had handled these things before, and he had said he didn't understand girls' affairs.

Shen Heng turned his head away, closed his eyes, and held the puppy up high.

Chu Tianqing hurriedly took the puppy and held it in her arms. She stepped back twice and stopped. "All right, you can come up."

Shen Heng braced both hands on the edge of the river channel and nimbly climbed up. He took the puppy from Chu Tianqing's arms, and the two climbed back up, one behind the other.

The atmosphere was a little awkward. Whenever Chu Tianqing thought about how Shen Heng knew she wasn't wearing any underwear, she wanted to die of shame and indignation.

Shen Heng stood beneath a streetlight and used its light to examine the puppy.

Chu Tianqing cleared her throat and tried to break the awkward silence. "It doesn't look like it has any external injuries. Let's find a pet hospital and have it checked. I remember there's a twenty-four-hour pet hospital not far from where I'm staying now."

"Okay, let's go there." Shen Heng started toward the car, then suddenly added, "I'm sorry. I overlooked something."

Chu Tianqing's face turned scarlet. "Brother, don't you think it would be better to let that matter rot in your stomach?" she said through gritted teeth. "I don't want to hear that apology."

Shen Heng laughed and looked back at her. "No, I don't. I should apologize when I need to. You said Fang Ke didn't like you and always bought you ugly clothes. To make you feel a little better, I picked out this outfit myself. Do you like it?"

Chu Tianqing was already numb, her heart cold as dead ashes. "I like it. Thank you, Brother. If you could remember to buy the whole set, I'd be even happier."

Shen Heng couldn't help laughing. He looked up and suddenly thought the starry sky was beautiful tonight.