"This is my final piece of advice to you as your former friend," Qin Yuhan said calmly.
Cen Ya immediately panicked. "Yuhan, you don't want me anymore either?" she asked anxiously.
"Didn't you block me first?" Qin Yuhan asked plainly.
Cen Ya felt utterly ashamed.
Qin Yuhan said nothing more and walked toward the door.
She had conveyed what needed to be conveyed, and advised what needed to be advised. As a former friend, she had done all she could.
However, as she reached the door, Qin Yuhan suddenly stopped. There was one more thing she had almost forgotten to do.
After a long hesitation, she finally spoke, "Um... that, if... I mean, if Ou Minghan is really sentenced to death, you, as his family, can go to the designated location to collect his ashes. They will notify you then. But..."
Qin Yuhan hesitated again. She finally took a deep breath and made up her mind to advise, "Ashes are not edible!"
With that, Qin Yuhan left without looking back.
She walked so quickly because what she had said was so peculiar, and she dared not imagine Cen Ya's reaction.
These words were relayed by Ye Zhi, who had asked for her help. Although she felt that an ordinary person would never do something as strange as eating ashes, when it came to Cen Ya and Ou Minghan, she felt that any bizarre situation seemed possible.
Forget it, she would no longer concern herself with these matters. Fortunately, Cen Ya seemed to have suffered many setbacks recently. After hearing Ou Minghan's words, although Cen Ya was angry and sad, she did not insist on others finding ways to help her save Ou Minghan.
Clearly, Cen Ya also understood that saving Ou Minghan was impossible.
In the room, Cen Ya sat stunned on the floor. Qin Yuhan's last sentence was inexplicable, but she had no mood to dwell on it.
It was time for her and Ou Minghan to end, and she should fulfill her promise and live properly with Gu Sheng.
However, Gu Sheng had not returned for so long, which made her somewhat flustered. After thinking for a while, Cen Ya decided to actively seek out Gu Sheng.
Soon, Cen Ya stood below the company building where Gu Sheng worked, her lips bitten, her heart filled with anxiety.
She had come to find him so suddenly; she didn't know if Gu Sheng would be happy or angry.
Never mind, she wouldn't care anymore.
She walked into the company building and informed the receptionist of her purpose.
"You want to see Gu Sheng?" the receptionist asked, surprised. "He resigned a month ago!"
"Wh-what..." Cen Ya was shocked. Why hadn't Gu Sheng told her about something so important!
"Why don't you call him and ask what's going on?" the receptionist suggested.
Cen Ya agreed. She left in a daze and came outside the building. Unable to help herself, she took out her phone and called Gu Sheng.
The call was connected quickly. Cen Ya immediately told him she was at his company. She couldn't help but ask, "Gu Sheng, why did you resign? Um... I'm not saying you can't resign, but what happened? Why didn't you tell me?"
Gu Sheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you at my old company now?"
"...Yes." Cen Ya's heart was in turmoil. Gu Sheng had never avoided her questions like this before.
"Wait there, I'll pick you up. We can talk about it face-to-face," Gu Sheng said.
Cen Ya could only agree. However, Gu Sheng's willingness to meet and talk with her relieved her.
Soon, Gu Sheng came to find Cen Ya.
After that, Gu Sheng drove her to another residential area.
"I've been busy looking for a place to rent lately. This is what I just found these past couple of days..." Gu Sheng took out the key and opened the door.
Cen Ya was very surprised. She walked in. The apartment was small, with only one bedroom and one living room. Cen Ya's brow furrowed subconsciously, but then her expression turned somewhat dejected.
There was only one bedroom; this must be Gu Sheng's hint to her.
Noticing her expression, Gu Sheng explained, "It's a bit small, but the transportation here is convenient, and the living facilities are complete. Don't worry about the rent; I've already paid for a year in advance..."
"It's fine, smaller is better. Smaller means cheaper rent," Cen Ya came back to her senses, turned to him, and asked, "Gu Sheng, when are we moving? As long as you're with me, I don't mind even the hardest life..."
Gu Sheng's expression dimmed slightly. "Xiao Ya, I've decided to move back home and follow my parents' arrangement to go on blind dates."
"Wh-what?" Cen Ya felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She looked at Gu Sheng blankly. Tears instantly streamed down her face. Trembling, she asked, "Gu Sheng, you don't want me anymore either? You clearly said you would always love me..."
"Xiao Ya, I also want to love you forever. I really wish I could be the one to give you happiness. But I've realized," Gu Sheng took a deep breath and gave a bitter smile, "that during the time you've been with me, you haven't been happy."
"I haven't..." Cen Ya denied it blankly.
"Xiao Ya, don't deceive yourself anymore. I know that only Ou Minghan can make you happy. Even if he hurt you, you're happier thinking about him every day than being with me. So," Gu Sheng's expression became a little more relieved, "I won't force you anymore. I'm going to fulfill your wish. You don't have to pretend to be with me anymore; you can spend your entire life remembering him."
"Gu Sheng..."
Cen Ya wanted to say more, but Gu Sheng raised his hand to stop her. "Xiao Ya, when I helped you figure out how to rescue Ou Minghan, I had already promised my parents that I would come home, listen to their arrangements, sever ties with you, and no longer contact you.
As for my apartment, my parents are planning to sell it, so I've rented this place for you. But don't worry, it won't be that quick to sell that place. You just need to move out within a month."
Cen Ya was stunned. She felt that all of this was too absurd.
She had already prepared herself to live a good life with Gu Sheng, but now Gu Sheng didn't want her anymore? And it was her who, for Ou Minghan, had pushed Gu Sheng away with her own hands?
"...Also, I've found you a job. It's very easy, and the salary is enough for your daily expenses, Xiao Ya," Gu Sheng paused, then sighed, "I've gotten used to life without you, and I'm ready to forget you and start a new life. In the future, you need to take good care of yourself."
Gu Sheng left at some point. Cen Ya looked at the empty apartment and finally couldn't help but burst into tears.
It wasn't that she had no choices. She had had so many chances to choose, but each time, she had unhesitatingly chosen to abandon everything and rush towards Ou Minghan. But now, she had lost everything. Was it really worth it for an Ou Minghan?
*
At the airport, Qin Yuhan was preparing to go abroad again to continue her piano studies. Ye Zhi personally came to see her off.