Let's break up.

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“You might lose that leg. Is there any way to reach your family?”

Ji Qingran woke up from unconsciousness, instinctively glancing at the phone clenched in her palm.

Lu Tingyuan hadn’t replied. The chat window still displayed yesterday’s heated argument.

She stared blankly at the rescue worker, her memory stalled before the accident.

The airport shuttle had lost control and overturned on the highway ramp. At that moment, she’d been staring absently at the girl’s phone in the front row. Lu Tingyuan’s sharply handsome face appeared on the screen, his expression and tone unusually gentle.

Ji Qingran was just beginning to guess the girl's identity when the crash happened.

Before losing consciousness, she'd heard Lu Tingyuan’s panicked shout, desperately calling the girl’s name: “Yiyi, don’t be afraid, I’m here, nothing will happen to you!”

She thought then, even if she fell with the bus and shattered into pieces, perhaps no one would care.

“Hey, can you hear us?” The rescue worker shouted loudly. “Your leg’s trapped under the seat. Is there any family we can contact? Get them here.”

A sharp pain exploded from the wound on her right leg, as if countless tiny steel needles were stabbing her flesh.

Ji Qingran shook her head, and when she spoke, her voice was hoarse beyond belief, “I can’t reach anyone.”

Even if she could, he wouldn’t have time for her now.

Perhaps her calmness made her bloodless face appear all the more frightening. The rescue worker paused, then advised, “Amputation is no small matter. You should at least inform your family.”

Ji Qingran glanced out the window. In truth, even without looking, she could sense the bus swaying dangerously, on the verge of falling.

But with that glance, she saw Lu Tingyuan.

He was carrying Su Yiyi, weaving frantically through the crowd of injured passengers, anxiously seeking an available ambulance.

“Lu Tingyuan!”

Instinctively, she shouted his name, afraid he wouldn’t hear. Her hands smacked loudly against the glass.

“Lu Tingyuan! Here! I’m here!”

She beat her palms red and swollen, but he didn’t pause for a moment, quickly running toward the next ambulance.

“Is that someone you know?” The rescue worker followed her gaze.

“He’s carrying his girlfriend, right? She’s barely scratched her arm, the lightest injury on the bus. Look how worried he is.”

“Your family should learn from that. No matter how busy, when something this serious happens, they shouldn’t be nowhere to be found.”

“Want me to call him over? What’s your relationship? Friends? Colleagues?”

Ji Qingran withdrew her gaze, her nails digging deeply into her palm, yet she felt no pain.

“He’s my boyfriend.”

She paused, silent for a moment, then added, “The girl in his arms is his mentor’s daughter. After his mentor passed away, he’s… he’s taken very good care of her…”

Guiding her, protecting her under his wing, caring for her in every way, indulging and pampering her without restraint…

Even she, the official girlfriend, was pushed to second place.

The moment Ji Qingran spoke, tears she’d been holding back finally broke free, falling in heavy drops to the ground.

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The looks from those around her were mixed, mostly sympathy and pity.

Someone tried to comfort her, “Why not call and ask? Maybe he just doesn’t know…”

Ji Qingran murmured an agreement, took out her phone, and dialed Lu Tingyuan.

Perhaps, she was simply unwilling to accept it.

Unwilling that six years of love couldn’t compete with a year of ‘care.’

The phone rang countless times, and just as she was about to give up, Lu Tingyuan’s impatient voice came through, “Qingran, I’m busy.”

Across the crowd, Ji Qingran saw him sheltering Su Yiyi, carefully avoiding her injured arm, his tall figure shielding her from the chaos.

He treated her like a precious treasure.

Ji Qingran opened her mouth, using all her strength to call his name, her voice rough and fragile.

“Ayuan, I…”

He interrupted, impatient, “I told you, I’m busy. We’ll talk later if you have something.”

Then came the beep of a disconnected call.

So many people watching, Ji Qingran tried to appear indifferent, but her eyes were burning red.

No one knew how to comfort her, only urging her to make a decision quickly.

Ji Qingran gave a self-deprecating smile. Was there really a choice?

Either stay trapped here and fall with the bus, broken beyond repair.

Or give up a leg, and gain a life that barely clings on.

“It’s my body. I make the decision.”

She placed her hand on her injured leg, pressing it gently, reluctant. Then she looked up, flashed a pale smile at the rescue worker.

“If you can’t get it out… then amputate.”

…

When Ji Qingran left the hospital, it was already past ten at night.

She was lucky. At the last moment, the rescue workers borrowed a cutting machine from a nearby construction crew, saving her right leg. Not even the bone was hurt—just a stitched wound and excessive blood loss, with no lasting damage.

There were too many injured to be admitted. After swallowing painkillers from the doctor, Ji Qingran dragged her suitcase aimlessly through the streets.

She had nowhere in River City to go. After much thought, she returned to the marital apartment she shared with Lu Tingyuan.

The once-planned marital home—soon, perhaps, no longer hers.

As soon as she opened the door, laughter spilled out.

Lu Tingyuan, apron tied, was cooking porridge; the air sweet with fruit.

Su Yiyi stood close beside him, one arm dramatically bandaged, the other raised high as she wiped his brow, smiling sweetly and arching her brows.

As if the world belonged only to them.

Ji Qingran stared blankly at the scene, her already numb heart twisting in pain.

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Six years of love had survived longing across half the globe, endured the Lu family’s opposition and pressure, but ultimately couldn’t withstand the allure of youth and vitality.

He said caring for Su Yiyi was his mentor’s last request, a duty he couldn’t refuse, nothing more. She shouldn’t overthink it. But in the past year, for that so-called responsibility, what had he really done?

While she suffered through grueling rehab alone overseas, he escorted Su Yiyi to every lavish event in River City.

When she fainted from hypoglycemia and called him for comfort, he’d just rented out an amusement park to cheer Su Yiyi up.

When her old back injury flared, keeping her sleepless for nights, he set off fireworks all night for Su Yiyi’s birthday.

She tried to ignore it, letting Su Yiyi become a thorn between her and Lu Tingyuan, lodged deep and impossible to remove; whenever touched, it left her wounded and raw.

Today, when her life hung by a thread, he chose Su Yiyi without hesitation.

The hope she’d felt seeing him in that moment became the most ridiculous joke.

“Qingran,”

Hearing the door, Su Yiyi glanced at her with slight embarrassment, then leaned closer to Lu Tingyuan, seeking protection.

He gently placed his hand on Su Yiyi’s shoulder, patting her reassuringly. “What are you afraid of?”

Then his gaze landed on Ji Qingran’s face, paused for a moment, and quickly returned to Su Yiyi.

“Yiyi, just drink your porridge. I need to talk to Qingran.”

He stepped forward, leading Ji Qingran to the balcony, never noticing her stumbling gait.

Moonlight spilled across the balcony, outlining the man’s tall, upright silhouette. He stood quietly, still carrying the scent of fruit and fireworks. The collar of his shirt was slightly open, revealing delicate collarbones and a patch of firm chest.

Ji Qingran watched greedily, her thumb unconsciously rubbing the scar on her wrist, reminding herself again and again of her past misery.

He turned, wrapped her into his arms, burying his chin in the hollow of her neck, kissing softly along the tender skin.

“I missed you,” he sighed. “We only see each other once every half year. Don’t fight with me anymore, alright?”

Ji Qingran’s body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed under his kisses.

She gazed at the face she’d longed for, hesitated, and finally nodded. “Alright.”

His next words were, “Qingran, these next few days, please move out.”

Ji Qingran froze, staring at him in a daze.

He kissed her forehead, smiling gently, as if rewarding her.

“Be good, listen. Yiyi needs someone to care for her. If you stay, she’ll feel uncomfortable.”

Ji Qingran finally smiled, her lips curving to hide her distress.

She was beautiful, and when she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared. In the moonlight, she was captivating.

Her voice was ethereal, wavering.

“Lu Tingyuan, let’s break up.”