I don't remember when it started. It seemed like Emma had grown completely numb to him.
His sweet words no longer moved her. His pain and despair no longer made her heart ache.
There was no emotion left. No love. No hate.
So when she heard him beg like that, she just wanted to grant his final wish. After that, they would be strangers.
Besides, she had promised Emilia she would help Noah move on. If he could step out of the shadows sooner, maybe they could both find a good ending, right?
Emma sighed inwardly.
"Where are we going? I only have half an hour. I don't want to get back too late." Her voice wasn't loud, but in the noisy street, Noah caught every word without missing a beat.
"Not far. Just ahead... Let's walk."
Their meeting had been pure coincidence.
His home was nearby.
He'd been bored today, so he'd stepped out for a stroll.
Who would have thought he'd run into Emma?
So they'd gotten into a taxi together.
Isabella saw this scene clearly as she drove home.
She was behind the wheel of her big red BMW when she spotted him from a distance.
The man she loved was getting into a car with Emma?
Where were they going?
A woman's sixth sense never lied.
So she secretly followed the taxi.
Even though she was exhausted from a whole day of shooting, the moment Isabella saw this, she felt like she'd been injected with adrenaline. Hatred surged through her veins.
Emma, you hypocritical bitch.
You're about to get married. Why are you still sneaking around to meet Noah?
And you keep saying you don't love him?
Who would believe that?
Seven years of love. Could she really let it go?
Isabella was going crazy inside. She wanted to rush over and tear off Emma's mask.
But the last shred of reason in her mind stopped her.
She couldn't do that.
She had worked so hard to make up with Emma.
How could she tear their relationship apart again over this?
Isabella knew clearly that with her current strength, she couldn't compete with Emma.
So she had to wait.
She had to endure.
Even though there was some traffic along the way, it took Emma and Noah less than five minutes to reach their destination.
It turned out to be...
The downtown park next to a university?
Coming to this familiar place, she couldn't help but think of the past.
When she was in college, Emma loved this park.
Back then, Noah had stood right here and told her...
"Remember this place, Emma? City A is so big... but this is the only place I truly love. After all these ups and downs, I finally understand something. Once you lose something, you can never get it back." Noah's words were full of emotion, and they struck Emma's heart.
Her heart ached. She didn't speak. She looked up at the phoenix trees, their flowers long withered, their leaves fallen.
In her memory, the phoenix flowers bloomed for a long time. From May until the end of summer every year, fiery red blossoms hung from the branches like burning flames, like never-ending fireworks. So bright. So dazzling.
Back then, Emma naively thought her love with Noah would be just like those flowers. Passionate. Eternal.
But who would have thought that seven years later...
Time had changed everything. No great upheavals. No withered seas.
She and Noah just couldn't go on.
In the end, even the most beautiful flower would wither.
After a long silence, Emma spoke slowly. "Noah, thank you for being with me for these seven years. It's just... we've both changed..."
Before she could finish, a familiar melody drifted over from afar.
The city was developing so fast. Without realizing it, the park had been fitted with speakers of all shapes and sizes along the paths.
They were meant to stir the emotions of passersby.
Seven years ago, this had been a deserted, shabby little park. Forget speakers, there hadn't even been decent benches.
Emma frowned, bitterness filling her heart.
She looked at Noah, whose face was full of deep emotion. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
The music played on, singing a song they once knew:
Memory is like a storyteller, With a voice full of local flavor, Jumping over puddles, bypassing villages, And so on...
You kneaded a city out of mud, Said you would marry me in the future, But after turning around a few times, You threw away your youth.
How ironic the lyrics were. How eternal could anything be?
Who could be the irreplaceable part of another's life?
No one. Life went on. Weren't we all like this?
Could those vows really sustain a lifetime?
A gust of evening wind blew. Emma wrapped her coat tighter and said softly, "Noah, look... aren't we living well enough? Besides, I've found my own happiness. When I get married, you have to come. I wish you and Isabella an early marriage too."
"Yeah... I will. We'll all get better, Emma. Anyway, I still want to tell you... you're the girl I've loved most in my life." Noah's eyes were red.
Maybe it was too windy today. Or maybe the song was too sentimental. Either way, Noah's eyes were red.
Emma nodded. "Then... let's part on good terms. May we both be well."
"Yeah, I promise you. We started here, and we'll end here. I won't bother you anymore. Don't worry." Noah tried his best to hold back the tears as he said this like a man.
Emma nodded again.
Maybe this was what true relief felt like?
No guilt. No regret. No resentment. Like two old friends suddenly saying goodbye.
It felt a little heavy.
Wasn't all parting like this?
The wind around them was still blowing hard. Passersby couldn't see into each other's hearts. Only they understood. Only they could feel what was left to remember in this season of farewell.
Noah looked at her slender figure. His heart still ached.
He couldn't lie to himself. He still loved her. But he had done so many things to hurt Emma. He had long lost the right and the ability to love her.
Now, he had to let her go.
Every spring, summer, autumn, and winter from now on, he would never have the chance to look at the girl in front of him again.
Noah took two steps forward, reached out, and hugged her tightly.
His chin rested against her head. His tears still fell.
Reluctance.
And regret.