I alone am the Honoured One!-Chapter 750: Realization [2]

Zhao Tian sat silently as his hands rested on his knees.

'Why do we have to suffer?'

His fingers twitched slightly.

She was right.

He had been so consumed by his own pain, so lost in his grief, that he had failed to see the people still standing beside him.

The ones who refused to leave him, despite how much he tried to push them away.

The weight in his chest grew heavier.

Xia Shenyi's soft sobs reached his ears, muffled against his lap.

He felt the warmth of her tears seeping through the fabric of his robes.

He slowly raised his hand hesitantly and then, with a deep breath, he placed it gently on her head.

His fingers brushed through her dark strands, as if afraid she would pull away.

She didn't.

Instead, her shoulders trembled even more, and she clutched the fabric of his robes in a desperate grip.

"You're an idiot…"

Zhao Tian exhaled softly "I know," he murmured.

He lowered his gaze, staring at the woman curled up against him.

He had made her suffer.

Xia Shenyi sniffled and her body shook with emotion "Then stop shutting us out. Stop acting like you don't have people who care about you. Stop making us feel like we've already lost you too."

Zhao Tian closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

Slowly, Zhao Tian lowered himself, wrapping his arms around her trembling body.

He held her tighter, pressing his forehead against her shoulder.

And for the first time since Yao Jing's death…

He allowed himself to grieve.

After a long moment, Xia Shenyi slowly pulled away just enough to meet his gaze.

Her eyes, swollen and red, stared at him and Zhao Tian's heart pained to see her like this.

She looked just as broken as he was.

And it hurt.

His fingers trembled slightly as he raised a hand to wipe the tears staining her cheeks and his thumb lingered just beneath her eye.

"…I'm sorry,"

A choked breath escaped her lips, and without thinking, she surged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck in a desperate embrace.

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Zhao Tian stiffened for a moment before his body instinctively reacted and his arms secured around her waist, pulling her impossibly close.

Outside the room...

Li Jia stood at the door looking at them.

She came back with the thought of apologizing to him... to tell him she wasn't trying to pressure him, that she just wanted to be close to him.

But what she saw when she opened the door froze her in place.

Zhao Tian, the man who had kept himself locked away in grief… was finally allowing himself to lean on someone.

But that someone… wasn't her.

Her chest tightened, and a mix of emotions surged through her heart.

Jealousy.

Relief.

Sadness.

Love.

Li Jia pressed her trembling hand against her lips, forcing down the ache in her throat.

She had always known.

That no matter how much she loves Zhao Tian, no matter how much she tries to reach him…

There was a part of him that only Xia Shenyi could touch.

Then, silently, she turned away, walking back down the hall, leaving them alone.

As much as it hurt…

Tonight, Zhao Tian needed Xia Shenyi more than he needed her.

And that was something she had to accept.

Meanwhile, Xia Shenyi hesitated before moving her fingers to cup his face.

Her thumb caressed over the faint redness left by her own slaps, and guilt flickered in her eyes.

"…Did it hurt?"

Shaking his head, he replied "No..."

With a deep sigh, she spoke "Please realize.. there are people here who love and rely on you."

"If you stay like this, this will hurt them too."

"I know there's a part of you that feels like... like if you move on, you'll be betraying her. That's not true."

"If Yao Jing is here, she would be furious at you for acting like this."

Zhao Tian just lowered his head and gave a nod.

With a smile, she raised her hands to cup his cheeks "Now go and apologize to others."

Nodding his head, he gently got up from the bed and stepped out of his room.

As he walked toward the stairs, he saw Li Jia.

She was sitting on the stairs, her arms wrapped around her knees, lost in thought.

"Jia."

Startled, she hurriedly turned back to look at him "Tian?"

She scrambled to her feet in an instant.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward to her "I am sorry..."

But without warning, Li Jia pulled back her hand, landing a strong punch on his chest.

Not enough to actually hurt him, but enough to make a point.

Zhao Tian blinked and she spoke "That's for ignoring me all this time."

She punched him again and her fingers curled in his robes "That's for making us worry."

He just looked at her and his eyes softened "I am sorry."

Gripping his robe, she pulled him closer "Say that again."

"I am sorry, Jia."

A single tear slipped down her cheek and before he could react, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

Zhao Tian carefully wrapped his arms around her in return.

"I missed you, Tian,"

"I've missed you for so long…" she murmured, her lips brushing lightly against his jaw.

Her grip tightened around his neck as if she was afraid that he would push her away.

"Elder Yao Jing is gone. But we are still here."

"Sister Lingxi, Sister Shenyi, Ziyu, Sister Yixian… me." She placed a hand on his chest, feeling the slow, steady rhythm of his heart.

"We're all still here, Tian."

Her eyes shimmered with emotion as she whispered, "But it feels like you're not."

Zhao Tian's gaze softened, but he didn't speak.

Li Jia tilted her head, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "Do you even remember the last time you looked at me? Truly looked at me?"

His fingers unconsciously tightened on her waist.

He knew that for the past three months, he had been distant.

Li Jia must have sensed his hesitation because she cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze.

Her eyes burned with longing and love.

She leaned in and her lips were just a breath away from his lips.

"Come back to us, Tian."

With that, she leaned forward and kissed his lips.

Zhao Tian gently closed his eyes and reciprocated the kiss...