TMDP CH 28

Chapter 28: When You Broke Up with Me, Did You Still Love Me?

Xia Ye cried into his hands, shaking his head.

“You insist on leaving, and it’s because of me, isn’t it? You still love me, which is why you’re so heartbroken. You’re still angry with me, right? I know you haven’t forgiven me yet, but I can wait. Please, don’t hurt yourself like this. Give me a chance to make it right this time. I’ll do better,” Han Mingxiu pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation as he pressed his face against Xia Ye’s knees. His hands lightly gripped Xia Ye’s waist as if clinging to his last lifeline. “You still love me; I know you do. You won’t leave me. You can’t leave me.” The scent of fir in the room was thick with sorrow.

“Senior,” Xia Ye finally stopped crying after a while. His hoarse voice, tender and pained, broke the silence as he asked, “When you broke up with me back then, did you still love me?”

“Of course. Of course, I loved you,” Han Mingxiu lifted his head urgently at the familiar title. “I’ve always loved you, and I still do.”

Xia Ye nodded. “I loved you too. I loved you back then, and now… it seems I still love you.”

Han Mingxiu’s face lit up with a fragile hope, but it quickly faltered when Xia Ye gave him a bitter smile. “But so what if I still love you? Back then, didn’t you also decide you didn’t want me?”

Han Mingxiu was at a loss for words. He wanted to argue against Xia Ye’s logic, to tell him this separation was an unnecessary act of revenge. But seeing Xia Ye’s sorrowful yet resolute expression, he couldn’t muster a single rebuttal. Xia Ye had given up everything. He’d even ripped away a part of himself and handed Xia Li over with his own hands. What more could Han Mingxiu possibly ask of him?

“Senior,” Xia Ye’s voice trembled as he continued, “You said you wanted Xia Li. Now, I’ve given him to you. Please love him as much as you love yourself. If one day, you realize you don’t love him as much anymore or if your future partner can’t accept his presence, please… return him to me. Let me love him.”

Han Mingxiu pressed his head against Xia Ye’s knees and shook it vehemently. His voice was hoarse and fervent. “There won’t be anyone else. I will always love him. Always…”

And I’ll always love you.

But Han Mingxiu knew he no longer had the right to say those words to Xia Ye.

“No more broken promises this time, okay?” Xia Ye gently patted Han Mingxiu’s head as if entrusting him with a sacred responsibility. I’m giving you the most precious part of me. Please don’t let me down.

As they held hands now, it was just that—holding hands. The bond they shared, reignited for this fleeting moment, was perhaps only enough to last for the three minutes it took them to descend the stairs.

Han Mingxiu led Xia Ye slowly down to the living room. Waiting there were the Han family’s heads, Han Junze and Tang Xi, their expressions stiffened at the sight of the two men with swollen, tear-streaked faces. Though they hadn’t been told the whole story, they could more or less piece together what had happened.

“Dad, Mom, Xia Ye is leaving now. I’ll see him off,” Han Mingxiu said, his voice hoarse.

“There’s no need. I can leave on my own,” Xia Ye responded, bowing deeply toward the elder couple. “I’ll be on my way. Please take good care of Xia Li in the future.”

“Ah, Xia Ye, don’t be like this,” Tang Xi said, her heart heavy as she saw Xia Ye on the verge of tears again. She couldn’t bear to see him leave like this, her own eyes welling up. Frustration bubbled within her toward her foolish son—how could Han Mingxiu hurt such a good child so deeply, to the point where now, no one could stop him from walking away?

Han Junze, however, spoke up. “Xia Ye, if you don’t mind, I’ll drive you.”

Before Xia Ye could reply, Han Junze had already risen, taking his car keys and standing by the entrance, ready.

The patriarch’s commanding presence left no room for refusal. Xia Ye could only nod. “Thank you, Uncle.” He bid farewell to Tang Xi, casting one last glance toward the second floor before lowering his gaze with reluctance.

As he took a step forward, he realized that Han Mingxiu hadn’t let go of his hand.

“Go check on Xia Li for me. See if he’s kicked off his blanket,” Xia Ye said softly.

“Alright.”

Tears streamed steadily down Han Mingxiu’s face, dripping from his chin onto his dampened shirt collar. Clenching his jaw, he forced himself to loosen his grip, turning away to climb the stairs and tuck Xia Li in.

The moment their hands separated, the lingering warmth vanished, dissipating as quickly as their once-shared love. It was as though no matter how tightly they held on, nothing could be preserved.

Xia Ye lowered his gaze and turned toward the front door, following Han Junze outside.

Neither of them said goodbye.

There was no need for goodbyes.

T/L: Han Mingxu, how dare you let go of Xia Ye’s hand! T.T

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