“Ah Yan, things aren’t what you think!”
Cao Wen sprinted all the way, finally catching up to her at the market entrance. He grabbed Xu Duoyan’s arm tightly.
Looking into Xu Duoyan’s dimmed eyes, he’d never felt such panic before, as if this was the last chance to explain.
“Don’t be angry, please listen to me, alright?”
Cao Wen pleaded softly, holding her hand and gently shaking it, “Please?”
Xu Duoyan felt dizzy, staring at Cao Wen: “Just tell me, is what Zheng Kui said true? You better not be lying to me.”
“It is. What he said is true.”
Cao Wen answered immediately.
Xu Duoyan gave a careless smile.
He admired his honesty.
But he thought the whole thing was too ridiculous—not because of Cao Wen, but because of himself.
He tried to pull his hand away, but the harder he struggled, the tighter Cao Wen held on, leaving a red mark on his arm.
He felt angry—how could he not?
But that anger wasn’t only at Cao Wen and Zheng Kui’s dirty dealings; deep down, he was angry at himself for being so blind and trusting wholeheartedly.
He couldn’t understand what Cao Wen was really after.
Now that things had reached this point, he didn’t want to argue or probe further. He just felt utterly exhausted.
“Maybe at first you didn’t mean well, but after all this time together, I believe you were sincere. I’m grateful for how you took care of me and Mother. I’ll pack up and leave with her. Whatever happened before, it’s all wiped clean.”
Xu Duoyan’s heart ached.
He tried his best to keep calm, to look peaceful.
Upon hearing this, Cao Wen loosened his grip and instead hugged Xu Duoyan tightly.
“Don’t go.”
“I know my plea might be powerless, and I might not be able to keep you, but I want you to know everything.”
Cao Wen wrapped his arms around him firmly, resting his chin on Xu Duoyan’s shoulder, voice hoarse: “I’m not the Cao Wen you think I am. The real one died during that fight at the Qian Family’s place. I’m just someone near death who somehow took over his body to keep living.”
“In this body, I’m afraid you’ll see through me. I’ve hidden my identity carefully but couldn’t control my feelings.”
“Ah Yan, I like you.”
“When I found out about Zheng Kui’s dirty schemes, I really wanted to kill him. There’s still room to fix other things, but the facts that have already happened—I can’t change them. I should have told you the truth from the start, but I was scared and tried to bury it all. I’m sorry.”
Xu Duoyan froze.
His hand, which had been about to push Cao Wen away, stopped mid-air upon hearing this.
There was too much information all at once; he didn’t know what to be shocked by first.
If he understood correctly, Cao Wen meant that the original person—when Xu Duoyan first came to the Cao family—had left and never returned, and the person before him now was someone else reborn.
It sounded like a tall tale, like something a storyteller would say.
But if it wasn’t the same person, then in all those days and nights, Xu Duoyan would have felt it most keenly.
Cao Wen was truly different from before—though he hadn’t known the original Cao Wen well, the current one was clearly changed in behavior, skills, and personality.
He had long wondered why one person’s character could change so much, but never considered this possibility; he simply felt he couldn’t read Cao Wen.
Now, hearing the explanation, it was unexpected but seemed the most reasonable answer.
And then he said…he said he liked him…
Xu Duoyan didn’t dare breathe deeply, afraid if he took in too much air, this dream would shatter.
Seeing Xu Duoyan no longer resist, Cao Wen slowly released him, lowering his gaze to meet his eyes: “Do you…believe what I said?”
Xu Duoyan nodded.
Cao Wen exhaled deeply.
He thought Xu Duoyan would look at him like a monster, think it was an excuse or be afraid of him.
But Xu Duoyan was much calmer than he’d imagined—perhaps he had been overthinking.
If they had just sat down and talked everything through, maybe it wouldn’t have come to this.
Now that the secret in his heart was out, Cao Wen felt relieved.
Taking this chance, he no longer wanted to guess what Xu Duoyan was thinking.
Whatever Xu Duoyan’s decision, he would respect it.
All he asked was that there be no more secrets between them.
Even if Xu Duoyan’s heart belonged elsewhere, even if that person was not accepted by the world, at least they knew the truth between them.
“So what about you, Ah Yan? Is there something you haven’t told me?”
Still trying to process the earlier revelations, Xu Duoyan’s body stiffened at Cao Wen’s words; his shoulders tensed, and he suddenly looked pale.
Did Cao Wen know something?
Xu Duoyan hesitated to meet Cao Wen’s eyes.
Though they each had their secrets, his own hidden truth was even harder to accept.
If he spoke it, and revealed what he found laughable, it should be him who was the joke.
Despite his inner struggle, Xu Duoyan knew this might be the only chance to be honest.
If not today, when else?
Seeing Xu Duoyan’s complicated expression, Cao Wen’s heart sank. It seemed he was right.
Still, he forced a smile: “It’s alright. I won’t blame you.”
“You know everything, don’t you?”
“?”
A low, slightly hoarse voice drifted into Cao Wen’s ear.
It was soft, almost quiet, yet it struck his ears like thunder cracking open the sky.
He couldn’t believe it and gasped sharply: “You—you…I didn’t hear wrong, did I?”
Seeing Cao Wen’s strong reaction, Xu Duoyan guessed he didn’t know yet.
He lowered his head, whispering: “That’s right, I’ve never really been mute.”
Before Cao Wen could ask why, Xu Duoyan’s breath quickened, almost rushing the words out, as if if he waited longer he wouldn’t be able to say it.
“I was pretending all along. I never lost my voice. Because I’m a man, if I spoke, people would see through me!”
His voice rose gradually, speed quickened, until the truth was almost shouted.
His chest heaved violently.
After so many years, finally exposing the secret weighed on his heart brought a terrifying desire to escape—but speaking it out felt like a great relief.
“What are you saying?”
Cao Wen looked at Xu Duoyan as if he’d lost his mind, tilting his head.
“Even if you don’t want to accept me, there’s no need for this.”
Xu Duoyan looked up into Cao Wen’s eyes, enunciating each word: “Everything I said is true, just like everything you told me is true.”
Cao Wen opened his mouth, realizing Xu Duoyan was not joking.
For a moment, his stomach felt heavy.
He didn’t know what to argue or ask; even the air was silent.
He didn’t know whose hidden truth was more shocking.
He had laid his heart bare, and now this…
Cao Wen swallowed hard, then oddly asked: “So you like Qiao Family’s Fourth?”
Everything suddenly made sense if that was true.
Xu Duoyan furrowed his brows, surprised Cao Wen would ask now, but still answered honestly: “Of course not.”
Then he glanced at Cao Wen carefully, hesitating to continue.
Things were already complicated; he feared Cao Wen might not handle it well.
Seeing Xu Duoyan’s reluctance, Cao Wen forced a pale smile: “If there’s anything else, just say it. It’s already like this, no need to pile on more confusion.”
Xu Duoyan pressed his lips.
“I don’t like Qiao Family’s Fourth. But I like you.”
Xu Duoyan’s eyes lowered slightly as a faint smile tugged at his lips: “I know you won’t accept it, but I once foolishly hoped to try. Thank you for letting me know everything about you, and for letting me say the things I thought I’d never be able to.”
Suddenly, he reached out and hugged the stunned Cao Wen.
“You told me not to give up just because hope is slim. Things aren’t impossible; if you don’t try, then there’s truly no hope. I’ve thought about giving up, running away to start over, but now I know the answer, Cao Wen. I won’t make things hard for you.”
After speaking, Xu Duoyan let go: “I should be the one to say sorry. If you hate or resent me, I’ll accept it. But please don’t despise the feelings I have for you.”
Cao Wen had imagined a thousand reasons to be rejected, but never that it would turn out like this.
Ignoring all the details and process, it actually became a story of mutual affection.
But! His mind was a mess, maybe because so many shocking truths came crashing down all at once, making him drown in details and process without thinking about the result.
Neither of them knew how they made it back.
But their moods were already completely different from when they left.
Cao Wen stayed awake all night, thinking but unable to figure out what to do.
Only near dawn did he finally fall asleep, and when he woke, it was already broad daylight.
His room had no windows; only after stepping outside did he see the sun high in the sky.
The house was unusually quiet—no rooster crowing, only dust gently floating in the sunlight.
A breeze stopped, settling on the square table, where lay a piece of paper and a small pouch side by side.
Cao Wen stepped forward and picked up the paper.
It was a belated Divorce Certificate.
Xu Duoyan had already pressed his fingerprint in the corner, leaving a space next to it for Cao Wen.