Heather reluctantly smiled and said, "Mr. Nian, arenât you being too foolish? Why do you insist on being with me when you know full well that I wonât love you and that you will only be someone elseâs substitute? Is it because you want my body? Have you been coveting it for a long time?"
She could only think in such a negative direction.
Nian Shen wasnât angry either; he just looked at her and said, "Canât it be because of feelings? Do you need a reason to like someone?"
She nodded, "Yes, there is always a reason. Like how I love Ah Nian, itâs because of the feelings developed over time, and Iâm very clear about my emotions. Mr. Nian, youâre a smart person, Iâm sure you understand too, right?"
"I understand. You developed feelings over time, while I fell in love at first sight."
Nian Shenâs words left Heather momentarily stunned.
Love at first sight?
Back then?
"How is that possible..." Heather chuckled incredulously, "At that time, everyone wanted to avoid me. Although you didnât have much reaction... love at first sight? I donât believe it."
"Why not believe it? Are you so insecure about yourself?"
"I donât know, I just donât believe it."
"Back then, I didnât see a woman ruined by two ugly scars, but a woman entangled by emotions. She was heartbroken and tearful recalling her beloved, and I felt so sympathetic. I thought, if I could have this woman, I would never let her cry again, so step by step, I led you to my side."
Heather was a bit dumbfounded.
"No one is good to someone for no reason. If that person wasnât you, I wouldnât have taken her to the hospital; if that person wasnât you, I wouldnât have continually helped her, stood by her side; if that person wasnât you, I wouldnât take her wherever I go. Tell me, isnât this love?"
Heather was speechless.
She thought Nian Shen was just that kind of person, so she never read into it too much.
She always found good excuses, so she never took his actions to heart.
But now he tells her, none of it was coincidental, nor was it out of his kindness, but because...
That person was her?
"You said you wanted a simple life, that it would be great if you could be with your Ah Nian. But in reality, you and he cannot live like ordinary people. If you had another way, you wouldnât have left him. This proves that no matter how much you love each other, you cannot be together anymore, but havenât you noticed, I can? I can pretend to be your Ah Nian, or admit I am Ah Nian. Just turn a blind eye, canât we just let it be?"
"Nian Shen... youâre crazy..." Heather truly thought he was crazy, "I thought I was already crazy, but you are crazier than me!"
"I am willing."
"Iâm not. If one day we can be together, it will be because I let go of Ah Nian, and see you as Nian Shen. You are you, not anyoneâs substitute. I hope you can understand this. If you love, donât love so humbly, okay?"
"Can I wait until you let go of him and fall in love with me? Iâm afraid I canât wait. I want to cherish every day youâre here, canât you give me this chance?"
"Thatâs why I want you to give up. My days are numbered, and even if one day I do let go of him, I wonât have the energy to fall in love with you again. Treating you as Ah Nian is unfair to you, and itâs also disrespectful to my own feelings. So, I wonât agree with you, and I ask you to think it over. If you canât figure it out... Iâll leave you for a while, and you think it over."