He Thought She’d Never Leave—Until She Did - Chapter 24

That day, Song Yu did something else—he took out a stack of letters he had written to An He, one for every month they’d been apart, dozens in total. His hands trembled as he handed them to her.

An He accepted them, opened one right in front of him, and skimmed through a few lines.

“Song Yu, do you really think writing a few letters on a whim will make me forgive you?”

“Sorry, but that’s impossible.”

Her expression was calm and detached as she tore the letters apart and flung the shreds into the air.

The wind scattered the fragments everywhere. Watching them drift away, Song Yu felt as if his own heart had been ripped to pieces.

That day, his body finally gave out. He collapsed and was taken away by ambulance.
An He turned and walked away without a flicker of emotion.

He had brought all of this upon himself.

When An He got home and finished her shower, the doorbell rang. She opened the door—only to see the last person she expected.

It was Zhou Rong.

Since the last time they’d met, An He had never seen her again. Tiantian had mentioned that Song Yu had sent Zhou Rong abroad, though no one knew exactly where.

Because of that, Song’s mother had quarreled bitterly with her son, even threatening to cut ties with him.

But Song Yu was cold and unyielding—once he decided on something, no one could change his mind. “Mom, you know me. No one can stop what I’ve decided to do.”

And so, Song’s mother completely lost contact with Zhou Rong. Even though she tried to find her later, she got nowhere.

That was what Tiantian had told her. As for why Zhou Rong had suddenly come to her door today, An He didn’t know. Her tone was indifferent. “Miss Zhou, what brings you here?”

Zhou Rong took off her sunglasses. “Miss An, aren’t you going to invite me in?”

An He stepped aside. Zhou Rong walked in and looked around. “You live here alone?”

An He sat down across from her. “That’s personal. I’d rather not answer.”

Zhou Rong hadn’t really expected an answer. She smiled faintly and got straight to the point. “Miss An, as long as you leave Song Yu and leave Nancheng, you can name any condition you want.”

So that’s what this was about—a negotiation.

An He sat back lazily. “And what if I don’t leave? What are you planning to do?”

“You know the Song family will never accept someone like you. Better to leave on your own than be driven out.” Zhou Rong smiled thinly. “Besides, his mother wants me and Song Yu to be together.”

The “mother” she mentioned was, of course, Mrs. Song.

“So?”

“You leaving would be best for everyone.”

An He gave a quiet laugh. “So sacrificing me is what’s best for everyone? Miss Zhou, you must be confused.”

Realizing that reasoning wouldn’t work, Zhou Rong pulled out a bank card. “There’s five hundred thousand here. It’s yours if you go.”

“Five hundred thousand?” An He raised a brow. “So that’s all Song Yu is worth to you?”

Zhou Rong frowned. “What? Not enough?”

“No,” An He replied coolly, not even glancing at the card. “Don’t talk to me again unless it’s fifty million.”

“An He, don’t push it!” Five hundred thousand was already everything Zhou Rong could gather—where was she supposed to get fifty million?

“If you think I’m pushing it, you can leave.” An He gestured toward the door. “Goodbye.”

Zhou Rong’s expression twisted. “You’re a married woman, An He. Does your husband, President Tang, know you’re sneaking around with another man?”

Her tone sharpened into a threat. “If you leave now, I’ll pretend I never knew. Otherwise—”

“Otherwise what?”

“Otherwise, your husband will find out soon enough.”

An He’s voice was light. “I’m not someone who responds well to threats, Miss Zhou. Feel free to do as you please.”

Zhou Rong hadn’t expected her to be so impossible to deal with. Her smile vanished. She stood abruptly, voice rising. “An He, what are you so smug about? Do you really think Song Yu loves you? He’s just been toying with you! You were nothing but my blood donor before, and that’s all you’ll ever be!”

“You should know your place—and get out while you still can!”

She said it with the confidence of someone who believed she held power. Song’s mother had once promised her that Song Yu would marry her, and Zhou Rong had clung to that.

She had long forgotten Song Yu’s warning—“There will only ever be one mistress of the Song family: An He. No one else.”

Zhou Rong threw a plane ticket in An He’s face. “Pack your things and leave. Now.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll tell the media about you and the Song family. Let’s see how you like it when they all think you slept with your own brother.”

The old An He might have panicked or run away.
But not anymore. She had weathered worse storms—this was nothing.

An He slowly stood and walked over to her. Zhou Rong folded her arms smugly. “That’s more like it. Take your things and—”

Smack!

An He slapped her hard across the face.

Zhou Rong froze, eyes wide, before realizing what had happened. “An He, you hit me! You actually hit me!”

“You deserved it.” An He grabbed her by the collar. “If it weren’t for my blood, you’d be dead. I didn’t ask for your gratitude, but you come here to bully me? Is that what passes for upbringing in the Zhou family?”

“And don’t think that having Mrs. Song behind you means anything.”

“Remember this, Zhou Rong—I’m not afraid of you or the Songs. Try to step on me again, and you’ll regret it.”

She raised her hand again and slapped Zhou Rong a second time. “If you don’t want to die, get out of my house. Now.”

It was the first time Zhou Rong had ever been hit. Dazed, she stumbled toward the door.

“Wait.”

An He bent down, picked up the bank card and plane ticket from the coffee table, and threw them at her. “Take your things with you. If I ever see you again, I can’t promise you’ll walk away.”

Her tone was gentle, almost soft, but the words were sharp as a blade. Zhou Rong’s face went pale, then flushed red with fear. She bumped into the door on her way out but didn’t dare stop.

Just as An He was about to close the door, Tang Wei appeared.

He saw the anger still on her face and asked softly, “You had a fight?”

An He didn’t want to talk about it. “No.”

Tang Wei stepped inside, looking around. “Where’s Xixi?”

“At Tiantian’s,” she explained. “She doesn’t like staying in the hospital. Once she started feeling better, she wanted to come home, and I’ve been too busy lately, so she’s staying there.”

“You could let her stay with me.” Tang Wei paused and turned to her. “Have you really not thought about my proposal?”

He was referring to his suggestion that they turn their fake marriage into a real one.

“I told you, I don’t need a man.”

“But you could at least try to trust me. Hehe, you’re exhausted. I can be your support—believe me.”

“I’m sorry,” An He replied. “I don’t want to depend on anyone.”

She walked to the bar counter. “Coffee or water?”

“Water.”

Tang Wei hesitated before saying again, “Tiantian needs a father too. And I happen to be the right person for the job.”

An He handed him the glass. “Tiantian has me. That’s enough.”

Realizing persuasion was useless, he sighed. “By the way, there’s a project that needs you personally.”

“Send me the proposal first. I’ll take a look.”

She had always worked behind the scenes, rarely appearing in public. But for Tiantian’s sake, she planned to start showing up more.

“When’s the surgery scheduled?”

“Next week,” she said, lips tightening. “But the surgeon had an accident. We’ll have to wait until he recovers.”

“What kind of accident?”

“Car crash.”

“Serious?”

“Broken ankle.”

That was why she’d been in such a bad mood lately. After waiting so long for the surgery date, it had to be postponed again.

“Do you have enough money?”

“Almost.”

“If you need help, just ask.”

“Not for now.”

Tang Wei sighed softly. “You really can’t lean on me, can you?”

An He had leaned on people before—on the Song family, and on Song Yu. It had only brought her pain. She’d learned the hard way that the only person she could rely on was herself.

“It’s just who I am. I’m sorry,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “I just hope someday you’ll say yes to me.”

The sudden ring of her phone cut the moment short.

She picked it up—and heard Song Yu’s weak voice.

“Hehe, where are you?”

“What do you want?”

“I want to see you.”

“I don’t have time.”

“Hehe, don’t hang up,” he coughed lightly. “I’m not feeling well. Could you come to the hospital?”

“No.”

“What if I die?” he suddenly asked.

“If you really do, I’ll show up at your funeral,” she replied flatly.

“You’re really heartless, Hehe.” He gave a bitter laugh. He should’ve known better than to expect anything else.

“Song Yu, stop calling me for nothing,” she said coldly. “I’m busy.”

But Song Yu hadn’t called just to see her. He had another reason.

“That child… her name is Xixi, right?”

At the mention of Xixi, An He immediately tensed. “What are you trying to do?”

“I’ve contacted a heart specialist from Paris. He’s arriving tomorrow,” Song Yu said. “Didn’t she need surgery soon? Bring her over tomorrow afternoon.”

“No need.” Her voice turned cold. “Song Yu, my life has nothing to do with you.”

“You know how serious her condition is,” he said, using Xixi to persuade her. “Do you really want to wait until she collapses again?”

He pressed on gently. “This doctor is the best in the world for cardiac cases. I showed him Xixi’s records—he’s confident he can help. I know you’re still angry with me, but for her sake, can’t we call a truce?”

When she didn’t answer, he added, “You don’t want to lose Xixi, do you?”

Nothing mattered more than her daughter. An He bit her lip. “What time tomorrow?”

“Two in the afternoon.”

“We should add each other on WeChat,” he said. “I’ll send you the doctor’s information.”

For Xixi’s sake, An He compromised once again. “Fine.”

…

Zhou Heng, who had overheard the call, couldn’t help smirking. When Song Yu hung up, he said, “So that’s why you were up all night calling people. I get it now.”

“Trying to be her kid’s stepdad, huh?”

Song Yu put his phone away, face expressionless. “If Hehe’s willing, I don’t mind.”

Zhou Heng groaned. “You really are hopeless. It’s just a woman—how can she be worth all this?”

“It’s worth it.” Song Yu said firmly. “She may not be worth it to others, but to me—Hehe is.”

Zhou Heng gave a short, derisive laugh. “You made your bed. Now lie in it.”

Song Yu didn’t deny it. It was his fault. Which was why he was doing everything he could to fix it. “Do me a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Make things difficult for Tang Wei’s company. Keep him too busy to go near Hehe.”

“Aren’t you afraid An He will find out?”

“She’s taking care of Xixi. Even if she does find out, she won’t have the time or energy to deal with it.”

“You really are a male temptress.” Zhou Heng muttered under his breath.

Song Yu didn’t care what Zhou Heng thought of him anymore. The only thing that mattered was getting An He back.

“But let me remind you,” Zhou Heng said, “An He isn’t someone you can win over easily. You could end up losing everything. You’d better be ready for that.”

“Don’t worry,” Song Yu said, his tone steady and resolute. “I’ll get her back.”

“And if you don’t?” Zhou Heng asked, curious to see what Song Yu would say.

“Then there’s no point in living.”

Zhou Heng stared at him for a long moment, then muttered, “…You’re out of your damn mind.”

Zhou Heng had never been in love, never cared enough about anyone to lose his sanity like this. He couldn’t understand Song Yu’s madness. But since they were brothers, he still did as Song Yu asked—creating several problems for Tang Wei’s company, enough to keep him constantly occupied.

Meanwhile, An He, too busy with Xixi’s medical situation, didn’t contact Tang Wei. She just assumed he was swamped at work. That had always been how they operated—when there was something to discuss, they talked; when there wasn’t, they drifted apart.

“Cough, cough—what did you just say?” Tian Tian choked on her water. After catching her breath, she asked again, “Who did you say reached out to the doctor?”

“Song Yu.” An He replied quietly.

“Didn’t you stop talking to him?”

“It’s about Xixi,” An He said, pressing her lips together. “I can’t risk missing any opportunity. I looked into the doctor Song Yu recommended. He really is a top authority in cardiac surgery. Every operation he’s performed has been successful. I just… I want Xixi to get better as soon as possible.”

Tian Tian nodded. “That makes sense. Nothing’s more important than Xixi right now. But… I still think Song Yu has some ulterior motive. What if he uses this against you later?”

“I don’t have time to worry about that,” An He said calmly. “Right now, I just need to save Xixi.”

“If he ever tries to use this to threaten you, don’t you dare give in again,” Tian Tian warned, worried she’d get hurt all over. “Don’t care what he says or does.”

“Don’t worry. He can’t threaten me anymore.” An He wasn’t the same woman she’d been five years ago. She wouldn’t bend so easily now.

“You’re going to see the doctor soon, right? Do you want me to come with you?”

“No need.” An He gave her a reassuring pat on the hand. “You’ve got your own mess to deal with. I can take Xixi myself.”

Tian Tian sighed—her own family was a disaster lately. “Alright, but call me if anything happens.”

She paused, then asked, “By the way, where’s Tang Wei?”

“Probably at the office,” An He said indifferently.

“Probably? You two haven’t talked?”

“No.”

What An He didn’t know was that Tang Wei had been trying to handle a storm. One thing after another hit his company, and it didn’t take long for him to sense something was off. After ordering his assistant to investigate, he quickly learned who was behind it—the Zhou family.

And since the Zhou and Song families were old allies, it didn’t take much for Tang Wei to put the pieces together.

He went straight to the hospital.

Song Yu was on a call with a specialist in Paris when Tang Wei arrived. He didn’t look the least bit surprised to see him. When he hung up, he motioned for his assistant to leave.

“Mr. Tang, is there something you need?”

Tang Wei walked over and sat down on the sofa. “The trouble my company’s been having—it’s your doing, isn’t it?”

Song Yu didn’t even bother to deny it. “If you think so, then sure.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“Because of Hehe?”

At the sound of that name, Song Yu’s face darkened instantly. He didn’t even bother to hide his hostility. “You should call her An He.”

“And if I don’t?” Tang Wei smirked, leaning back leisurely. “Does her name bother you that much? If just hearing me say it makes you this mad, what would you do if you knew everything we’ve been through over the years?”

“Tang Wei.” Song Yu’s voice dropped to a low growl. “Watch your mouth, or I can’t promise what I’ll do.”

“Oh? What else could you possibly do? Hit me again?” Tang Wei laughed. “You really think you’re in any condition to do that?”

“You can find out.” Song Yu’s tone was flat, dangerous.

“Sure, let’s find out.” Tang Wei crossed his legs, deliberately provoking him. “Hehe and I have spent years together—working side by side, sharing meals, going out on weekends.”

He smiled, twisting the knife. “I know everything she likes. And she knows mine.”

“Even Xixi loves me the most.”

“You know Xixi, don’t you? Such an adorable little girl.”

Song Yu’s jaw tightened, his glare sharp enough to kill.

Tang Wei ignored it. He toyed with the ring on his finger and said casually, “This wedding ring—Hehe and I picked it out together. It symbolizes forever.”

Song Yu knew their marriage was fake. He knew. But hearing it still tore through him like a blade.

“Tang Wei, that’s enough!”

“Not nearly enough.” Tang Wei rose from his seat, still smiling. “Hehe promised me that once Xixi recovers, we’ll move back to Los Angeles. The three of us. We won’t ever come back.”

He gave a mocking little nod. “Looks like all your effort will go to waste, Mr. Song.”

He buttoned his jacket as he turned to leave. “Oh, right—thanks for finding that surgeon for Xixi. Both Hehe and I really appreciate it.”

Every word—Hehe and I—was salt in Song Yu’s open wound.

“Get out!”

Tang Wei laughed softly. “See you around.”

When the door closed, Song Yu finally snapped. He grabbed his phone and hurled it against the wall, shattering it to pieces. Liu Chen rushed in immediately.

“Mr. Song!”

“Discharge me.”

“You’re still running a fever. The doctor said—”

“I said discharge me!”

“…Yes, sir.”

Tang Wei caught the tail end of that as he left, a smirk tugging at his lips.
If Song Yu wanted to play—fine. He’d play this game to the very end.

While the men waged their private war, An He took Xixi to the amusement park. They were scheduled to see the doctor that afternoon, but she wanted her daughter to relax a little first.

They didn’t play anything too intense—just gentle rides and games that wouldn’t tire her out.

When Xixi asked for ice cream, An He bought one and they shared it—one bite each, taking turns.

Cream covered the little girl’s lips as she giggled nonstop. “Hahaha—”

An He reached into her bag for tissues when suddenly, one appeared in front of her.

“Thank you,” she said automatically, then looked up—and froze when she met Song Yu’s gaze.

The warmth in her eyes vanished instantly. “What are you doing here?”

“Just passing by,” Song Yu replied, pulling out another tissue.

He wasn’t passing by. He had come deliberately. Tang Wei’s words had left him rattled—he couldn’t risk losing her again. The thought of her disappearing once more terrified him.

An He didn’t take the tissue. She pushed his hand away. “I don’t need it.”

His fingers twitched before he drew his hand back.

She found her own tissue and gently wiped Xixi’s mouth.

Xixi blinked between the two adults. “Mommy, who’s this uncle?”

“Is he trying to chase you?”

“Does he want to be my daddy?”

The child’s intuition was sharp—she could tell at a glance.

“We don’t know him,” An He said calmly. “And he’s not trying to chase me.”

Her phone rang just then, and she stepped aside to answer it.

Left alone, Xixi tilted her head at Song Yu. “Uncle, are you chasing my mommy?”

Song Yu had always disliked children—loathed them, even. But with Xixi, something was different. Warmth bloomed in his chest despite himself. He nodded. “Yes. I’m chasing her. But your mommy’s not easy to win over.”

“That’s okay,” Xixi said cheerfully. “Just give her lots of flowers and you’ll win her heart.”

Song Yu smiled faintly. “Do you want me to chase her?”

“Yes,” Xixi said, her tone soft but steady. “I’m sick, and I don’t know how long I’ll live. If I die, Mommy will be really sad. I don’t want her to be sad. If you can take care of her, that’d be nice.”

Song Yu’s chest tightened. He reached out and stroked her hair. “You’re not going to die. You’ll get better, I promise.”

“Don’t just comfort me,” Xixi said quietly. “I know my own illness. I’ve heard the doctors say they can’t save me. I’m okay with it. I just want Mommy to be happy.”

Song Yu’s throat burned. “Don’t worry. Your mommy will be happy. And you’ll get better too. I promise.”

This little girl—she was too precious. Song Yu had never liked any child before, but Xixi melted him completely.

When An He came back and saw them talking, laughter on Xixi’s face, her expression darkened. She walked over and pushed Song Yu aside. “Mr. Song, if you have nothing better to do, please leave.”

She took Xixi’s hand and started walking off, but Song Yu stopped them.

“Hehe, please. Let me stay with you both for a while, alright?”

If he had said those words five years ago, An He would’ve cried from joy. But not anymore.

Her tone was cold. “Thanks, but no.”

“Hehe,” Song Yu said, voice low and pleading. “I came out of the hospital with a fever. My head’s pounding, my stomach’s still bleeding. The doctor told me to keep a good mood. Please—just pity me for once. Let me stay with you two a little while.”

“I won’t say anything. I just want to be here.”

“Xixi’s heavy. You’ll get tired holding her. Let me carry her.”

“Song Yu, enough. I said no, and I meant it.” An He pointed toward the exit. “If you want to show compassion, go rescue stray cats or dogs. My daughter and I don’t need you.”

“But I need you,” Song Yu said, eyes red-rimmed. “Just today—please. Just this once. Isn’t that okay?”

He just wanted to protect them.

(t/n: The phrase “男妲己” literally means “male Daji,” referencing Daji, a legendary femme fatale in Chinese mythology whose beauty and manipulation led to the downfall of a dynasty. Here it means Zhou Heng is calling Song Yu a seductive troublemaker.)