Tearing Off All Pretense

"Was I not clear enough? The fate between us ends here! Your child is gone, and the Response Omen has already come true. It proves that you and I were never meant to be." Zhang Gaoqiu's voice brimmed with righteous dignity:

"Sister-in-law, fate begins and fate ends; flowers fall and flowers bloom. None of this can be forced. We can only let nature take its course." Zhang Gaoqiu's voice was full of emotion. "If you can accept reality, we can still part on good terms. But if you cannot... then we will tear off all pretense, and we will not even be able to remain cousins."

"Brother Zhang, the Shen family is gone, my parents are dead, and the old madam has passed on too. Now, you are all I have left." Tears as large as beans rolled from Shen Ling's eyes.

"But I am destined only to pass through your life. You cannot possibly stop me from running toward someone better, can you? If you truly wish me well, then it would be better to let go now. You must know that a forcibly twisted melon is not sweet. When the time comes, neither of us will be happy. Better to lay it all out now and make a clean break." Zhang Gaoqiu sighed faintly, his voice full of helplessness. "Besides, Zhang Chen is a very good man, worthy of your lifelong trust. Why must you look down on Zhang Chen? The two of you were joined by your parents' command and the matchmaker's words, a pair made by Heaven and fashioned by Earth. Why must you cling to me without letting go?"

Shen Ling looked as if she had been struck by lightning. Her eyes stared blankly at Zhang Gaoqiu, then she silently lowered her head to look