The Only Choice - 59

The private room was already alive with the sound of someone singing a soft, syrupy love ballad from the KTV area. The volume was low, so conversations were still clearly audible.

Song Li quickly stepped in, pulling Yao Ruo aside. "What are you doing, Yao Ruo!"

Yao Ruo wore an expression of pure innocence. "What did I do? What did I even say?"

Song Li's face was a frantic signal for her to shut up.

Yao Ruo gave a light laugh. "I was just stating a fact. Look, I'll show you Tang Zhen's social media post."

She scrolled through her phone, found the post, and thrust the screen right in front of Zhou Fanfan.

The picture showed about four people. The one taking the selfie was a woman with short hair. In the background, three men were partially visible. The one furthest away was turned slightly to the side, his eyes downcast as he spoke to the person next to him. It was Guan Yuanbai.

He really was with them.

Song Li blinked twice, raising her voice. "That's Yan Chenghuai's cousin? I've never even met her… Come on, it's just work stuff! Don't read into it!"

Yao Ruo said, "I didn't say anything else. I just found it strange that Zhou Fanfan doesn't seem to know about the people he meets or the things that happen during his business trips. Don't couples talk? She doesn't even know when he's coming back."

Song Li took a deep breath, feeling like she'd just triggered a disaster. She shot a look at Xu Xiaoqian, silently asking her to keep an eye on Zhou Fanfan, while she physically dragged Yao Ruo away.

Zhou Fanfan watched them leave out of the corner of her eye, then lowered her gaze and focused on her food.

Xu Xiaoqian studied her expression. "Fanfan, don't listen to her nonsense."

"Yeah."

Her reaction was muted, almost unnaturally calm. For her, that was the abnormal part.

Xu Xiaoqian asked, "What's really going on with you and Mr. Guan? Did you have a fight?"

Zhou Fanfan shook her head. "No… but, well, sort of."

"What happened?"

Zhou Fanfan said, "Actually, a few days ago, we were supposed to go get our marriage license. Because of Grandma's illness. But when I got there, I felt like it wasn't the right time. Later, he said… he said that me not wanting to marry him wasn't just about the timing. It was because, deep down, I just don't want to marry him. I don't love him."

Xu Xiaoqian was stunned. "Wh-what? How could that be! You light up every time you mention him. That's not what 'not loving someone' looks like—you do love him! Did you explain that to him?"

Zhou Fanfan said miserably, "Xiaoqian, after he said that, I started doubting myself too. How do you even define 'love'? I feel like I like him so, so much… but I'm also genuinely afraid of marriage. I wonder if my feelings for him really haven't reached the point of love."

"'Love' is such a heavy word. I can't define it either. But I think your fear of marriage has nothing to do with whether you love Guan Yuanbai or not. You just have zero sense of security when it comes to marriage itself." Xu Xiaoqian thought for a moment. "Look, let me ask you this: Do you, right now, still want to be with Guan Yuanbai?"

"Of course…"

"Being with him makes you happy, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to keep feeling that happiness with him?"

Zhou Fanfan said, "I do."

"Then that's it! I've told you before, live in the present. Marriage is the same; it has its beautiful side. Why resist the good it can bring now just because of what might happen in the future? Maybe… it will stay beautiful." Xu Xiaoqian added, "And even if it does turn sour someday, you can just kick him to the curb! But honestly, I doubt that day will ever come with how much Mr. Guan adores you."

Zhou Fanfan: "…"

Xu Xiaoqian continued, "I just think… since you like him so much right now, don't let go easily. Finding someone who truly cares is hard."

"Right, right, right! Don't let go easily, and definitely don't pick fights over nothing!" Song Li hurried back at that moment. "Fanfan, I told Yao Ruo to shut up. Don't misunderstand, okay? You know she had a thing for Yuanbai before, she just can't stand seeing you two happy!"

"Yeah." Zhou Fanfan had lost her appetite. "I'm full. I'm going to head out."

"Hey—! I invited you here to hang out, not just eat! Why are you leaving already?!"

"You guys have fun. Don't worry about me."

Zhou Fanfan hadn't been in the mood to socialize anyway, and with Yao Ruo here, she wanted to leave even more.

After she left, Song Li and Xu Xiaoqian exchanged looks.

Song Li fretted, "What do we do? Did I just wreck their relationship?!"

Xu Xiaoqian shot her a glare. "Serves you right for inviting that Yao Ruo."

"I just thought more people would be more fun, so I sent a message to the group chat telling everyone to come! I didn't invite her specifically."

"Hmph. You just wanted to invite more girls."

"Hey, don't make stuff up!"

Worried, Song Li pulled out her phone and called Guan Yuanbai. But Guan Yuanbai was swamped at that hour and didn't pick up. His assistant, He Zhi, took the call.

Song Li briefly explained the situation and asked He Zhi to pass the message to Guan Yuanbai, which He Zhi agreed to do.

---

Guan Yuanbai finished his work during the lunch hour. On the car ride back to the hotel, He Zhi relayed Song Li's call and mentioned the incident with Yao Ruo.

Guan Yuanbai, sitting in the back seat, was silent for a moment. "What was her reaction?"

He Zhi said, "Mr. Song mentioned that Miss Zhou didn't seem to react much at the time, but he was still worried she might misunderstand and hoped you could explain. Should we call Miss Zhou?"

Guan Yuanbai pulled out his phone, but seeing the dormant chat history of the past few days, he said, "It's too late there now. I'll do it tomorrow."

He said 'tomorrow,' but the next day, Guan Yuanbai was rushing to the new energy facility, and He Zhi didn't see him make the call.

He suspected the two were having issues. It was different before when he was by Guan Yuanbai's side, he'd often see him texting or calling Zhou Fanfan. But since coming abroad, there had been no contact at all.

Was the conflict that serious?

He Zhi found himself worrying about it for the next couple of days.

Honestly, he had a very good impression of Zhou Fanfan. He found the young lady utterly charming and a perfect match for his boss. He really hoped they wouldn't break up…

---

A few days later, it was finally time to return home.

Their flight landed in the Imperial Capital at 8 PM. On the way home from the airport, Guan Yuanbai checked his phone.

There were no messages from Zhou Fanfan.

What was she doing? Was she angry that he hadn't contacted her these past few days?

Truthfully, even though he'd been incredibly busy, he'd still had time to chat with her before bed. But he'd been wrestling with his own resentment. He kept telling himself it was normal, they hadn't been together long, her feelings might not have deepened to love yet, her not wanting to marry was understandable. But he still felt a profound disappointment.

Not contacting her felt like a silent protest against her…

Yet it tortured him just the same.

When he'd heard about the Yao Ruo incident, part of him had hoped she would confront him about it. Anything would have been better than silence. Just one question from her would have been enough.

But she hadn't…

Did she not even care about that sort of thing anymore?

Guan Yuanbai tightened his grip on his phone and opened his own social media feed, his eyes landing on a picture of her.

It was one he had taken of her eating dessert. She'd complained he'd caught a bad angle, but he found it utterly captivating, even the smudge of cream on her cheek looked like a cute mark.

He had posted that picture. She'd accused him of sabotaging her image and tried to grab his phone to delete it… In the end, he'd bargained with a snack, and she'd finally given up.

Remembering these little moments made his chest ache.

Now she wasn't contacting him at all. Was she planning to end things?

Guan Yuanbai stared at his phone for a long moment before suddenly speaking. "He Zhi."

"Sir?"

"Drive to her place."

He Zhi glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Yes, sir."

He Zhi knew exactly who "she" was. Conflicts like this needed to be resolved face-to-face once back in the country!

He Zhi enthusiastically changed course towards Zhou Fanfan's apartment, only to hit a dead end—she wasn't home.

"Sir, what should we…"

Guan Yuanbai didn't answer, instead calling Zhou Fanfan directly. Whatever the outcome, he needed to see her and talk tonight.

However, no one picked up.

Guan Yuanbai sat in the back seat for a long while before saying, "Let's head home for now."

"…Alright."

Arriving at Xinghe Bay, Guan Yuanbai sent He Zhi home first.

Walking to his door, he pulled up Song Li's number, intending to ask if her girlfriend knew where Zhou Fanfan was tonight…

He pushed the door open while dialing. A faint, eerie blue light spilled from within. The living room lights were off, but the TV was clearly on.

"Hello? Yuanbai?"

The call connected. Guan Yuanbai said, "I'll call you later," and hung up. He hurriedly changed his shoes and walked in. Sure enough, someone was in the living room.

The coffee table was littered with snacks, an opened bottle of red wine, and a glass. The wine level had dropped significantly, and only a drop remained in the glass. Behind the table, on the carpet, sat a figure with flushed cheeks and dazed, misty eyes, clearly very drunk.

Guan Yuanbai froze, uncharacteristically at a loss for words, and just stared at her.

Zhou Fanfan had been here for a long time.

Yao Ruo had said he was returning today. She didn't know if it was true or what time he'd arrive. So she had just come over and waited, stubbornly refusing to contact him.

Now, hearing the door, he was really back. A tumult of emotions welled up inside her.

Happiness and grievance, all the feelings she'd bottled up over the past few days came pouring out. She started crying, fueled by the alcohol, weeping uncontrollably.

Guan Yuanbai visibly panicked. He rushed over and knelt in front of her. "What are you doing here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming…"

"Hold me."

Tears blurred her vision as she reached for him.

In that instant, the cold facade Guan Yuanbai had painstakingly maintained for days shattered completely.

Nothing else seemed to matter. He just needed to see her, to hold her.

Guan Yuanbai took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him, as if trying to merge her into his very being.

The moment he embraced her, Zhou Fanfan's sobs intensified. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, tears soaking into his collar.

"Are you trying to break up with me? Waaaah…"

Guan Yuanbai was taken aback. "You're twisting things around. Isn't it you who wants to break up?"

"I don't! Waaaah… You're the one who stopped talking to me! You're the one with other girls! They all know when you're coming back, but I don't…"

"I'm not with any other girls. The one Yao Ruo mentioned is a manager from our partner company. It's purely professional. I didn't even know about that social media post at first; she just took it randomly. Don't listen to Yao Ruo's nonsense."

"But you not contacting me is a fact…"

Guan Yuanbai's heart melted into a puddle. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have deliberately given you the silent treatment. Please don't cry, okay?"

"Waaah… Why are you saying sorry?" Zhou Fanfan was even more confused now. She clung to him tightly, choking out between sobs, "I'm the one who's wavering… I'm the one who messed you around… I'm the one who didn't think about the future, who just wanted to date, who's irresponsible… I'm the one who should be sorry. Guan Yuanbai, I like you. I really, really like you. I don't know what love is… but if there is such a thing as love, then the person I love must be you. No one compares to you. Waaah…"

Guan Yuanbai held her tighter. "Really?"

"Yes… I was just scared before. I always thought marriage was full of trivial, annoying little things… that it meant being trapped, having to compromise, facing countless 'have-tos'… My parents were like that… They loved each other once, but they still left each other in the end. So I'm scared… scared every marriage will turn out that way…"

"That depends on the people involved. All I know is, I would never let go easily." Guan Yuanbai helped her up from the floor, settling her onto his lap. He gently patted her back, finally understanding the root cause, the model of her parents' marriage had left her with a deep-seated insecurity.

"Even if you stop loving me… you still wouldn't let go?" she whispered.

His heart ached. "Zhou Fanfan," he said, "I love you. I can't let go."

---

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