Standing outside wasnāt ideal, with people walking past from time to time.
Eleven didnāt want to cause trouble for herself, so she nodded and walked in.
Jin Xiangbei came in and closed the door. To make sure no one else entered, he locked it from the inside.
Eleven noticed his actions but was not afraid.
He had lines he wouldnāt cross ā he wouldnāt do anything to her.
"Eleven," he called her by her nickname out of habit, "Iām planning to go to the United States. I wonāt stay in Xicheng."
"Really? That sounds good. I wish you happiness."
"Iām going alone." Jin Xiangbei clarified.
"Alone?"
What about Yao Ruoshui?
"I plan to divorce her. Iāll bring it up during dinner tonight."
Eleven was taken aback. "Divorce?"
Hadnāt they just got married last month?
Was marriage a joke to him?
"Iām going crazy..." Jin Xiangbei clutched his head and sighed, "This suffocating life is driving me insane. When I go home and see those faces, I feel like my heart is clogged up, suffocating me."
Eleven just stood there politely, not avoiding his gaze. But she didnāt respond to his monologue.
In this moment, she could sympathize with him and understand him, but beyond that, there was nothing she could do.
She had done nothing wrong in this situation; she had not wronged anyone, so she owed nothing to anyone.
Seeing him fixated on her, Eleven said, "CEO Jin, it sounds like your marriage is not very happy, and for that Iām sorry. But beyond regret, I have no other feelings. So, Iām not sure why youāre telling me all this."
"You really donāt understand?" Elevenās aloofness made him feel even more suffocated.
The more he thought about it, the deeper he sank into the abyss of despair.
Eleven shook her head, "I really donāt understand."
Jin Xiangbei took several steps towards her, his presence bearing down on her.
"I know... Youāve moved on, while Iām still hovering around the past," Jin Xiangbeiās deep gaze remained fixed on her, "But Eleven, canāt you really come back? Look closely, Iām right here, Iāve never left. Can you please come back?"
Suddenly, he embraced Eleven, "Please come back... If youāve lost your way, Iāll guide you. If youāre tired, we can rest. If you donāt want to move, thatās alright. Just stand there and Iāll run back to you."
Eleven remained unmoved. Though she knew he clung to her tightly and she couldnāt free herself, she didnāt struggle to push him away.
Suddenly, her phone rang. She took it out of her pocket - it was a call from Feiāer.
This wasnāt a good time to answer, so she silenced the call and ignored it.
A moment later, Jin Xiangbeiās phone also rang. He looked at it and turned his phone off.
Eleven took this opportunity to break free and said, "How many times do I have to repeat myself, Jin Xiangbei? Itās over between us. I told you, Iām not turning back."
"Why?" Jin Xiangbei clutched her arm in desperation, "Eleven! What do I need to do for you to forgive me? Tell me! TELL ME! What do I need to do for you to open up to me again? What do I need for you to come back to me?! Yes, I messed up, I messed up big time! I resent her so much, if she werenāt my mother, I would even have thoughts of killing her! But what can I do? No matter how much I resent her, I canāt do anything to her. Sheās my mother!!"