Chapter 58 Scheme[Part 4]

Blushing, he replied shyly, "I wished for the princess to always be happy."

The memory flooded back, and Xia Qiuzhi leaned against the railing, tears streaming down her face.

When Zhou Yi said he didn't want to bother with her anymore, only she knew how much it had hurt.

Because she had never imagined such a possibility, she had taken his love for granted, squandering it recklessly.

Now, she was finally tasting the bitter fruit of regret.

[Xia Qiuzhi's regret value increased by 30; affection value increased by 20.]

Zhou Yi, who was replying to a WeChat message, raised an eyebrow.

It looked like she'd had a fight with Wang Xuan. Otherwise, why would her regret value suddenly spike?

He chuckled bitterly. If only she had realized sooner.

Zhou Yi only retained the memories of his previous self. He couldn't analyze the dynamic between Xia Qiuzhi and his former self from an outsider's perspective.

In this regard, Wang Xuan saw things most clearly.

Zhou Yi assumed Wang Xuan's hostility stemmed purely from disdain for his former self.

But in reality, Wang Xuan was afraid—afraid that Zhou Yi might take Xia Qiuzhi away.

He had no idea how many arguments Wang Xuan and Xia Qiuzhi had over him.

Though Xia Qiuzhi had treated his former self poorly, it wasn't as though she harbored no feelings for him.

In many ways, she relied heavily on Zhou Yi. Whenever something happened, he was the first person she turned to—not because she needed money, like Chu Han—but because she shared her joys, sorrows, and vulnerabilities with him.

In Xia Qiuzhi's eyes, her fragility could only be seen—and accepted—by Zhou Yi.

In this world, who else would treat a girl from an orphanage like a princess except Zhou Yi?

If Xia Qiuzhi hadn't met Wang Xuan—if she had tempered her temper and learned to cherish Zhou Yi's efforts and affection—they might not have ended up where they were now.

But alas, life offered no second chances.

---

Zhou Yi was utterly exhausted today and dozed off in the car. His newly purchased phone lay carelessly beside him.

"Hey, we've arrived. Wake up."

The driver's voice jolted Zhou Yi awake. Rubbing his eyes, he said, "Thank you."

After paying the fare, Zhou Yi stepped out of the car. The street was dimly lit, with few pedestrians in sight.

Inside a small fast-food restaurant, a woman was busy cleaning. Her profile glowed softly under the warm yellow light, exuding gentleness.

For Zhou Yi, the scene was comforting, filling him with warmth and ease.

It was 8 PM, and Jing Wen's shop was nearly empty. She was bent over, wiping down tables.

Zhou Yi pushed open the door, holding his new phone.

"Welcome… Xiao Yi!"

Jing Wen stopped mid-motion, her eyes lighting up with surprise.

She set down the cloth and stood awkwardly, still flustered by their earlier encounter.

She wondered if she looked presentable. If only she had known Xiao Yi would visit today, she would have dressed up properly.

Zhou Yi placed his phone aside and walked over.

"Sister Wen, let me help you clean."

"No, no, just sit down. I'm almost done."

"Really?"

"Yes, sit for a bit. I'll wash my hands and pour you some water."

Jing Wen hurried into the kitchen, washed her hands, then returned with a glass of water for him.

"You're out late. Doesn't your school check dorms?"