Stepdaughter of a wealthy family? The little darling of a Beijing tycoon

The landlady didn't think much of it. Looking at the young man before her, she sighed sincerely, "Alright, I'll continue renting to you. You two have had such a tough time. Nian Nian is such a good and sensible girl. I've lived most of my life and I'm very good at judging people. For the past year or so, she's been completely devoted to you, working hard from dawn till dusk to earn money and taking care of you wholeheartedly. It's hard to find a girl in the world who is so sincere to you. You must cherish her!"

The simple and sincere words of advice fell into Qin Xiao's ears and struck him hard in the heart.

He stood in the empty room, looking at the small house that bore the marks of Jiang Niannian's hard work, and countless images uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

I remember her running errands for food delivery, staying up late to tutor, and saving every penny to pay for his surgery; I remember her bringing home hot meals every day, carefully making sure he didn't eat well; I remember how she endured so much hardship herself, yet was always gentle and considerate, her heart and eyes always on him; I remember last night, with tears in her eyes, she stubbornly stood up straight and resolutely turned away.

The playful frivolity of last night at the club had completely faded away, replaced by an unprecedented sense of panic and regret that densely and thoroughly enveloped his heart.

It seems he... personally lost the person who was most sincere to him.

After the landlady left, the small rented room fell into complete silence.

The room was cold and empty, yet every corner was densely filled with fragments of the past year.

Qin Xiao paced slowly around the room, his gaze sweeping over the clean and tidy table, the neatly folded bedding, and the household items placed in the corner. In the past, he only thought this place was simple and cramped, exuding cheapness and vulgarity, and he was full of impatience and perfunctory attitude, regarding it as just a show for his own boredom.

But now, looking back calmly, he suddenly realized that the spotless cleanliness and warm atmosphere of this dilapidated little house were all thanks to Jiang Niannian's daily efforts.

She toiled tirelessly through wind and rain, supporting his fake "down-and-out life" for over a year; she was gentle, considerate, and thoughtful in everything she did, saving the best for him while he pretended to be disabled; she poured her heart out, treating him as her only hope for the rest of her life, betting all her sincerity and tenderness on him.

What began as deliberate acting and casual entertainment gradually transformed over time through their daily interactions. He was blinded by the arrogance of the wealthy and his playful attitude, never truly acknowledging his own feelings.

Last night, when Jiang Niannian pushed open the door, shattering all his lies, splashed wine on his face, and resolutely turned to leave, her tearful yet unwavering eyes, devoid of any lingering affection, replayed in his mind again and again, tearing at his heart.

Qin Xiao raised his hand to cover his eyes and brows, his heart filled with endless regret and self-blame.

He's a complete bastard.

He missed the purest sincerity in the world and personally crushed all the tenderness and devotion of an orphaned girl.

Unable to sit still any longer, Qin Xiao immediately got up, went out, and drove straight to Jiang Niannian's university.

The car stopped downstairs at the girls' dormitory. He stood there amidst the bustling crowd, his tall and straight figure drawing frequent glances from passersby. His eyes were fixed on the dormitory window, his only thought being to see her and personally apologize.

But by this time, Jiang Niannian had already completely lost all hope in him.

Her roommate told her that Qin Xiao had been waiting downstairs for a long time, but she simply nodded indifferently, her eyes calm and unmoved. She had long since let go of her past obsessions and was unwilling to have any further involvement with this person or this absurd past.

Taking advantage of Qin Xiao's absence while he was guarding the main entrance, Jiang Niannian packed up her documents and quietly left through the side door of the dormitory, completely avoiding his waiting.

After that, Qin Xiao did not give up. He came to the campus time and time again and waited downstairs in the dormitory building, determined to win her back. However, Jiang Niannian always avoided him, blocked all contact methods, and when they met, she would walk past him with indifferent eyes like a stranger, leaving no room for negotiation.

The endless waiting and being ignored day after day intensified Qin Xiao's panic and regret.

Until one day, he finally learned some shocking news from Jiang Niannian's roommate—Jiang Niannian had already applied for an exchange program at a prestigious overseas university and would be going abroad soon to pursue her studies.

At this moment, Qin Xiao completely panicked.

He finally realized that if Jiang Niannian left this city and this land, and went thousands of miles away, they would truly be completely separated by mountains and seas, with no further contact between them, and he would never have the chance to make amends in his life.

Without daring to delay for even a moment, Qin Xiao immediately drove to the airport, speeding all the way, his heart filled with fear and urgency.

But he was ultimately too late.

In the vast airport waiting hall, amidst the bustling crowd, he caught sight of the slender figure he had been longing for day and night, carrying a simple bag and queuing to walk towards the security checkpoint, about to embark on a brand new life.

His heart clenched suddenly, and all his pride and self-control crumbled. Ignoring everything, Qin Xiao pushed through the crowd and strode forward, his eyes red-rimmed, and roared with all his might:

"Niannian! Don't go! I was wrong! Please give me another chance!"

In the noisy airport, the roar was particularly abrupt.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Niannian, who was in the group, paused slightly.

She slowly turned her head and looked into the distance at the disheveled man whose eyes were filled with regret.

After many days, when she saw the face that had once filled her heart with longing and also broken her heart, her heart was no longer stirred. There was no hatred, no grievance, only complete relief.

In the sunlight, her features were delicate, and she gently curved her eyes towards Qin Xiao, revealing a faint, gentle, yet completely distant smile.

A smile can erase all grudges, and a smile can also end a lifetime.

There was no attempt to stop him, no questioning, no entanglement.

A moment later, she withdrew her gaze, no longer looking back. With a straight and composed posture, she walked firmly into the security checkpoint and completely disappeared from Qin Xiao's sight.

Qin Xiao stood frozen in place, amidst the crowd, his body ice-cold.

Pedestrians come and go in an endless stream, and the air is filled with the cacophony of voices, but his world has long since fallen into complete silence and desolation.

He stared intently at the empty security checkpoint, his eyes filled with endless emptiness and deep-seated regret.

The spring breeze has blown away, and old friends have gone far away.

He lost the girl who loved him most with his own hands, and in the end, his life was filled with regret, with no possibility of a happy ending.

This absurd love affair, which began with a bet and ended with genuine affection, left him alone, trapped in endless regret, reaping the bitter fruits of his actions, and unable to forget it for the rest of his life.