Here is the polished version of Chapter 20.
Between her and Zhou Du, timing always seemed to be their cruelest enemy.
Heavy snow fell like goose down, piling up in thick layers on Chu Luyao's shoulders.
Chu Luyao seemed oblivious to the biting cold, walking for a long, long time in this world of ice and snow.
The vast, blinding whiteness reminded her of the time before she was with Zhou Du.
Back then, Song Yuheng had just passed away from his illness. She thought her heart had died right along with him.
She had never imagined she would fall in love with another person in this lifetime.
She hadn't even thought about dating or marriage, believing she would grow old alone, carrying her regrets for Song Yuheng to the grave.
She never expected Zhou Du to walk into her heart, step by determined step.
She hadn't tasted that flavor in so long—that long-lost feeling of happiness and heart-fluttering excitement felt foreign, even dangerous to her.
She instinctively shrank back in fear. Yet, for every step she took back, Zhou Du took one step forward.
Just like that—retreating and advancing—after a tug-of-war lasting three years, she finally nodded.
If the Zhou Du of that time knew that the future Chu Luyao would do such things, he would surely have avoided her like the plague.
If life offered a chance to start over, would Zhou Du still run toward her with that same unwavering determination?
Chu Luyao pulled a hideous, self-deprecating smile.
He wouldn't. Zhou Du was hiding from her again and again; couldn't she see that clearly yet?
After wandering in circles, Chu Luyao eventually walked back to the hotel. The moment she stepped into the warm lobby, the snow on her body instantly melted into water, soaking through her clothes and chilling her to the bone.
"Hello, the man in this photo is my husband. This is our wedding photo. I... I accidentally lost him. Could you give me his contact information?"
Chu Luyao's face was frozen pale as she mustered the last of her courage to ask.
The receptionist in the lobby hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
The last spark of hope in Chu Luyao's eyes was extinguished.
Seeing how truly pitiful she looked, arriving all alone and soaked in melted snow, the receptionist softened. She said that while she couldn't reveal a guest's private information, she could help dial his number for her.
Chu Luyao nodded excitedly, her eyes glued to the receptionist's hands as she dialed Zhou Du's number.
After a series of cold, mechanical beeps, Zhou Du's voice finally appeared.
The moment she heard his voice, Chu Luyao immediately stepped forward and snatched the phone.
"Ah Du!"
Chu Luyao's voice trembled with nervousness.
Zhou Du paused for a long time without speaking.
"I... finally found you."
Chu Luyao's voice choked up. Her heart panicked at his silence. Her lips quivered for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.
Warm tears fell to the corner of her mouth, rolling onto her tongue with a chilling bitterness.
"Ah Du, I know I was wrong. It was my fault. I shouldn't have been seduced by Song Yuhuan. I've already aborted the child, and I kicked Song Yuhuan out of the company. Come back... okay?"
Chu Luyao begged bitterly, yet Zhou Du remained consistently calm.
"Chu Luyao, I don't care about those things anymore."
Hearing Zhou Du's voice after so long, even words of rejection were enough to move her to tears.
"Ah Du, it doesn't matter if you don't want to come back. As long as you agree to let me stay by your side, I'll do whatever you want."
Chu Luyao tried to win Zhou Du back in the clumsiest, most desperate way possible.
After a moment of silence, Zhou Du spoke lightly, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion and helplessness.
"Chu Luyao, what is it you want to get from me before you will finally let me go?"
"No, that's not it! Ah Du, you misunderstood me."
Chu Luyao's mind was already in chaos; she couldn't speak a word of defense.
"Chu Luyao, I'm tired... If you really want what's best for me, then let go. Don't come looking for me again."
Click.
Zhou Du hung up the phone.
Life is not a game; there is no "restart" option.
Zhou Du hung up decisively, giving Chu Luyao no chance to continue her delusion.
This was better for everyone.
Chu Luyao stood there, trembling all over. He was truly cruel.
A relationship of over a dozen years—he threw it away just like that.
Zhou Du truly didn't love her anymore, and she had truly broken his heart completely.
Chu Luyao had never realized this point with such sobering clarity.
His single phrase—"let me go"—thoroughly woke her up.
She was the one who cheated and had a change of heart first; how did she still have the face to shamelessly say Zhou Du didn't want her?
She had realized it the moment Zhou Du left.
It was just that she had been deceiving herself, pretending not to know, lying to herself that Zhou Du still loved her and was just waiting for her to win him back.
Chu Luyao's heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife. She couldn't see any hope of redemption.
Is there still a chance? Does she still have the courage?
Chu Luyao didn't even know herself.
All the information regarding Zhou Du's whereabouts had been obtained through other means.
Zhou Du was guarding against her strictly. Even a phone call or a meeting was a Herculean task, let alone changing his mind.