Su Ling looked at the figure before him, sobbing as if on the verge of fainting, soaked and shivering like an abandoned young beast, and let out an almost inaudible sigh.
With some difficulty, he crouched down and gently placed his hand on Gu Yuena's little head, drenched in rain and tears, softly stroking her wet hair.
His palm wasn't warm; it even carried a hint of chill. But that gentle touch seemed to possess some kind of magic.
Gu Yuena's heartbroken sobs faltered.
"You look so miserable..."
Su Ling's voice was still calm, but if one listened closely, beneath that calm lay a deep, barely perceptible weariness and pity.
"How could I possibly bring myself to do it?"
Those words were the last straw, finally breaking through the last of Gu Yuena's defenses.
She suddenly lifted her tearful face to look at him, as if needing to confirm that he really meant it.
Then, as though using the last of her strength, she threw herself recklessly into his arms!
She wrapped both arms tightly around his slender waist and buried her tear- and rain-soaked face against his chest.
Her sobs grew more aggrieved, more intense.
"Wuwu... Husband... I'm sorry... I'll never do it again... Don't leave me... Don't abandon me..."
She wept incoherently, her voice muffled against his lapel, trembling with heartbreaking dependence.
The impact made Su Ling sway slightly. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and he let out a muffled groan, his face turning even paler.
But he didn't push her away.
Instead, with the hand not holding the umbrella, he gently and somewhat awkwardly returned her embrace, holding her cold, trembling body and letting her pour out every emotion in his arms.
The rain continued to pour.
The oilpaper umbrella swayed in the wind, barely