He Thought She’d Never Leave—Until She Did - Chapter 20

Song Yu didn’t seem the least bit surprised by her words. He reached out, pulling her tightly into his arms—just like he had five years ago—holding her with desperate force as he whispered beside her ear, “As long as you can forgive me, I’m willing to die.”

An He stared at him as if he were insane, her eyes cold and emotionless. “You said it yourself. Fine then—go die.”

Ignoring her struggle, Song Yu buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath. Whether it was the alcohol or something else, his face was flushed as his voice came out soft and low, “Hehe, I love you.”

Even when they’d been at their best, he had never said those words.

But now, hearing them again, An He felt nothing at all. She tilted her head slightly and said flatly, “Love? You think you’re worthy of saying that?”

Song Yu knew she hated him—hated him and the entire Song family. “I know I’m not worthy,” he said quietly, “but I’ll make myself worthy. Just wait for me.”

Then he released her and turned to leave.

An He had no interest in what he was planning to do. Her phone rang; she pulled it from her bag and answered. A soft, childish voice came through.

“Mommy, when are you coming home?”

“Mommy will be home soon. What’s wrong, Xixi?”

“Nothing, I just miss you.”

“Is your nanny there?”

“She’s warming milk for me.”

“And have you been good?”

“I’ve been really good!” Xixi said proudly. “I took my medicine on time, drank all my milk, didn’t run off anywhere, and even read my books.”

“You’re amazing.” Thinking of her daughter’s innocent face, An He’s expression softened into a gentle smile. “Wait for Mommy, okay? I’ll be home soon.”

“Okay! Xixi will wait for Mommy!”

Just as the call ended, a commotion erupted nearby.

“Something’s wrong! There’s been a car accident outside!”

“A car crash? What kind?” someone asked.

“It looks like Mr. Song’s car hit another vehicle!”

“Mr. Song? Which one?”

“Who else? Song Yu from the Song Group!”

“How’d that happen?”

“They said his car suddenly malfunctioned and rear-ended someone—looked really bad.”

“Is he okay?”

“The car’s totaled. Do you think a person can be tougher than steel?”

An He followed the direction of the crowd’s gaze. Two cars sat wrecked in the middle of the road—one a Maybach, the other a Volkswagen.

The Maybach had not only slammed into the Volkswagen but also crashed into a telephone pole, snapping it clean in half.

Maybe it was the angle of the collision, but while the Volkswagen didn’t look too damaged, the Maybach was a twisted mess.

“That guy’s probably done for.”

“Yeah, doesn’t look good.”

From a distance, An He watched silently. Then her phone rang again—this time, it was Tang Wei.

“You’re really heartless, you know that?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“My people saw everything. Song Yu rear-ended that car on purpose. If you hadn’t said something to him, would he have done something that crazy?”

“I didn’t force him,” An He replied coolly. “Has nothing to do with me.”

“Cold-blooded woman,” Tang Wei laughed softly. “I’m starting to think you don’t even have a heart.”

“I don’t,” she said evenly. “So do yourself a favor—don’t mess with me.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Tang Wei chuckled. He had no death wish. “But hey, if Song Yu really dies, what will you do then?”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“So you’re really not going to care about him?”

“We’re not close.”

An He hung up before he could continue.

A second later, a message popped up on WeChat.

[If we’re going to put on an act, we have to go all the way. Since we’ve agreed to pretend we’re dating, we’ll act like a real couple. Dinner tomorrow night, wedding dress fitting the day after. I’ll announce our engagement date soon after.]

They had agreed to this long before.

[Okay,] she replied simply.

As she pocketed her phone, she noticed Liu Chen rushing over. Moments later, an ambulance arrived.

Song Yu was lifted onto a stretcher. Despite the wreckage, he was still conscious, his eyelids trembling as he searched the crowd for something—or someone.

When his gaze met hers, his lips moved slightly.

An He understood exactly what he was saying.

“Hehe, I said I’d die for you—and I did. So, can you forgive me now?”

Without waiting for him to be loaded into the ambulance, An He turned and walked away.

Years ago, every time she had begged him to stay, he had only ever left her with his back.
Now, it was her turn to walk away.

Song Yu reached out a trembling hand toward her, but she was too far. His arm dropped weakly back to his side.

“Mr. Song,” Liu Chen said softly, “she’s not the same woman she was five years ago. You should forget her.”

If he could, he would have long ago. “I can’t,” he rasped. “Not even in death.”

People said Song Yu’s love was strange and unexplainable. But it wasn’t—not really. Over all those years together, his feelings for An He had already seeped into his bones. He’d just been too blind to realize it while she was still by his side.

Only after losing her did he understand: he loved An He.
He could not live without her.

Unless… he died.

“Hehe, I heard Song Yu was badly injured this time—broken ribs, still unconscious,” Tian Tian said, sipping her drink. “I just don’t get it. Why would he suddenly crash like that? Doesn’t he have a driver? Why was he even behind the wheel?”

An He lounged on the sofa, feeding Xixi pieces of tangerine without looking up. “Maybe he finally went crazy.”

“That’s beyond crazy.” Tian Tian frowned. “He’s playing with his own life.”

“No one understands how people like him think,” An He said lightly. “Maybe he just didn’t want to live anymore.”

“Not want to live?” Tian Tian blinked. “That makes no sense. The Song Group’s at the top of Nancheng. He’s one of the city’s richest men, top ten on the wealth rankings. Even poor people want to live—why wouldn’t he?”

The more Tian Tian thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Her gaze lingered on An He.

An He felt her stare and frowned. “What?”

“You don’t think his accident had anything to do with you, do you?”

“No.” An He didn’t mention their earlier conversation. “Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me.”

“You sure you didn’t do something to him?”

“No.”

“You really don’t know him anymore, huh?”

“We’re strangers.”

Xixi tilted her head. “Mommy, who are you and Auntie talking about? Is it my daddy?”

“No,” An He said firmly. She hated when Xixi called that man “daddy.” “Mommy already told you—your daddy went to space.”

“Space is so far away,” Xixi said softly. “When will Daddy come back? I miss him.”

“When he’s done with work,” An He said, rubbing her head. “It’s getting late, sweetheart. Go wash up, and Mommy will tuck you in after.”

Once Xixi had gone, Tian Tian scooted closer. “Hey, does Song Yu even know about Xixi?”

“She’s not his child,” An He said coldly. “So why would it matter if he knows?”

“Fair point.” Tian Tian grinned. “But if he ever found out you had a daughter, don’t you think he’d lose his mind?”

Only Tian Tian and An He knew that Xixi was adopted.

“Let him go crazy,” An He said. “It’s none of my business.”

“I bet he would,” Tian Tian said with a laugh. “Because he loves you.”

“You really believe that?”

“I didn’t before. But after tonight… maybe a little.”

“Why?”

“Because that party the other night? He hosted it just to see you. He even used someone else’s name because he was afraid you wouldn’t show up. Tell me, would a man go that far if he didn’t still care?”

Tian Tian blinked. “Hehe, I think Song Yu really hasn’t forgotten you.”

“If he tries to win you back, would you say yes?”

An He placed another tangerine segment in her mouth, chewed slowly, then said, “No.”

“And if he confessed?”

“I don’t take back what I’ve thrown away.”

Tian Tian nodded. “Fair enough. After what he did to you back then, he doesn’t deserve forgiveness.”

Then something came to mind. “Oh, do you remember Zhou Rong?”

Of course, An He remembered. Half the blood in her body had gone to that woman. “What about her?”

In An He’s mind, Zhou Rong should’ve been living a charmed life—the Song family had treated her like a precious treasure, even adopting her.

She’d had everything—comfort, wealth, and Song Yu’s protection.

She remembered once overhearing a conversation between Song Yu and his mother. She’d been bringing tea to the study when she heard Song Mother ask, “What do you plan to do about Rong?”

Song Yu’s voice was firm. “She’s my lifelong responsibility. I’ll never let her suffer, and I’ll make sure she’s happy every day.”

An He hadn’t listened further. That one sentence alone had shattered her completely.

“I ran into her recently,” Tian Tian said. “She’s not doing well. Her condition’s gotten worse, and apparently the Song family barely checks on her anymore. Oh, and since you left five years ago, Song Yu hasn’t visited her once. When I saw her, she was being kicked out of the Song Group building after trying to see him.”

“Can you believe that? Back then, the Songs drained you dry to save her, and now they’ve tossed her aside like trash.”

“People are strange.”

Some things were beyond understanding. An He didn’t care anymore. “Let them do what they want. All I care about is Xixi.”

“By the way, what did the doctor say after you took Xixi for her checkup?”

“Her test results weren’t good enough. She can’t have the surgery yet.” An He’s brows furrowed. “We’ll have to wait.”

“Will she need to be hospitalized?”

“She hates hospitals,” An He said softly. “We’ll let her rest at home for now.”

Tian Tian set down her cup and squeezed An He’s arm. “Don’t worry. Xixi will be okay.”

An He nodded. “She will. I believe she will.”

That night, Xixi suddenly had trouble breathing. Her heart was acting up again, and she was rushed to the hospital. Thanks to quick treatment, her life was saved, but she was admitted to the ICU.

There was someone else in the ICU, too.

When Liu Chen saw An He, he hesitated before walking over. “Miss.”

“Assistant Liu,” An He said coolly, “I’m not part of the Song family anymore—and I’m not your ‘Miss.’ Please call me Ms. An.”

“Yes, Ms. An.”

She gave a faint nod.

“Are you aware that Mr. Song was in a car accident?”

“No.”

“He’s in the ICU. They’re not sure if he’ll make it.”

“Oh? How unfortunate.”

Her detached tone made Liu Chen frown. “Are you still angry at him?”

“No. We’re strangers.”

“But Mr. Song never stopped thinking about you.”

An He’s expression hardened. “Assistant Liu, let me make this clear—I have nothing to do with Song Yu. Not now, not ever. Don’t mention him to me again.”

“I know you resent him, but Mr. Song had his reasons. It was the Madam who—”

“I said I don’t want to hear it.” She cut him off. “And for the record, I don’t resent him. His life or death means nothing to me.”

When a woman hardens her heart, no blade can pierce it. An He was exactly that kind of woman.

Realizing there was no convincing her, Liu Chen sighed inwardly. Mr. Song, I tried.

Inside the ward, the man on the bed stirred, as if sensing something. His tightly shut eyes suddenly opened, turning weakly toward the door.

Through the glass window, his gaze met An He’s.

That moment from before flashed through his mind.

“Hehe, what will it take for you to forgive me?”

“Die, and I’ll forgive you.”

With tubes running down his arms, Song Yu ignored them, tearing off his oxygen mask with trembling hands. His voice was hoarse but determined.

“Hehe, I did what you asked. So now… will you forgive me?”