Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"I know you care about her, Xu Damao." Li Xiangqian's tone softened, "But are you really ready to face the past? Are you really ready to start over? If you keep dragging it out and don't solve it, you will only get deeper and deeper in the end."

Xu Damao's eyes flickered slightly, as if he was thinking about Li Xiangqian's words, but he did not respond immediately. After a moment, he finally raised his head, his eyes firmed a little: "I know, I understand what you mean. I just... I don't dare to face that past. I can't let her suffer again."

Li Xiangqian felt the pain and self-blame in Xu Damao's words. He sighed, stood up, and patted Xu Damao on the shoulder: "You don't have to bear all the pain alone, Xu Damao. You need her, and she needs you as well. As long as you are willing, any problem can be solved."

Xu Damao's eyes flashed with complex emotions. Finally, he whispered, "Thank you, Li Xiangqian. Maybe... I need some time."

Li Xiangqian nodded. Although he knew that Xu Damao might not have completely let go of the past, he believed that Xu Damao would get out of his predicament one day. As for Qin Huairu, Li Xiangqian also understood that the relationship between her and Xu Damao was not as simple as pure love. There were more layers of emotions and entanglements behind it.

Their story is far from over.

When Qin Huairu stood in front of Li Xiangqian, the expression on her face was so complicated that it was almost impossible to fathom. She bit her lower lip gently, and her fingers trembled slightly as she clenched the corner of her clothes. The air seemed to be filled with an invisible sense of oppression, and Li Xiangqian could feel the emotional fluctuations surging deep in her heart.

"Li Xiangqian," Qin Huairu said softly, but with an unconcealable nervousness, "I beg you, don't tell anyone about this."

Li Xiangqian looked up at her, his eyes were calm, but he had some doubts in his heart. He knew that Qin Huairu was never the kind of person who would ask for help easily. She came to him today, obviously because she was forced into some helpless situation.

"What do you want to say, Qin Huairu?" Li Xiangqian's tone was calm, but there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes. He knew that the woman in front of him would not make such a request for no reason.

Qin Huairu took a deep breath and lowered her head, not daring to look directly into Li Xiangqian's eyes. Her hands were still tightly grasping the corners of her clothes, her knuckles slightly white from excessive force, as if she wanted to use this strength to support her heart.

"It's about Xu Damao." Her voice trembled slightly, as if even she herself did not dare to believe what she was about to say.

Li Xiangqian's heart was slightly shaken, and the ripples in his heart made him frown. He felt that there must be more complicated and hidden reasons behind what Qin Huairu said.

"What happened between you and him?" Li Xiangqian couldn't help asking. His relationship with Xu Damao was complicated, and now Qin Huairu was standing in front of him and making such a request. Obviously, there must be an unknown story behind it.

Qin Huairu raised her head slightly, with an indescribable emotion flashing in her eyes - whether it was regret, helplessness, or guilt, Li Xiangqian had no idea. She shook her head slightly, as if she wanted to deny her thoughts, but she didn't say it out loud.

"Do you think he doesn't deserve your help?" Li Xiangqian continued to ask, with a hint of heartache and helplessness in his tone. Qin Huairu's behavior made him feel uneasy.

"I... didn't mean that." Qin Huairu finally raised his eyes, a trace of bewilderment in his eyes, "It's just that there are some things I don't want anyone to know. I don't want him to bear more pressure."

Li Xiangqian stared at her, feeling the pain and struggle behind her words. He suddenly realized that the relationship between Qin Huairu and Xu Damao was much more complicated than he had imagined. The emotional entanglement between the two may have long been beyond Li Xiangqian's understanding.

"What exactly happened between you two?" Li Xiangqian's voice gradually became softer. He didn't want to force her to ask her anything, but hoped to hear a more truthful answer.

Qin Huairu took a deep breath, as if she was making up her mind. "Xu Damao, he is not what you see." Her voice was low, as if she was talking to herself, "He has too many unspeakable pasts. He has been struggling in that shadow all along. You don't know how much he has endured."

Li Xiangqian frowned, and understood the meaning of Qin Huairu's words. Xu Damao's rough and straightforward image was just to cover up his inner fragility and pain.

"He has been blaming himself for his past mistakes, right?" Li Xiangqian asked, with a hint of sympathy and understanding in his tone.

Qin Huairu did not answer directly, but nodded slightly, tears flashing in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let the tears flow. She knew clearly that Xu Damao was not a bad person, but he was bound by his own mistakes and could not extricate himself.

"I know you want to help him." Qin Huairu whispered, "But you also have to understand that if he is not willing to face some things, no matter what others do, they can't change anything."

Li Xiangqian was silent for a moment, his mind full of mixed thoughts. Qin Huairu's words made him understand Xu Damao's difficulties better, and also made him realize more clearly that not everyone could understand Xu Damao's past, and even he himself might not be able to get out of that shadow.

"You're afraid that he will be hurt again, right?" Li Xiangqian asked softly.

Qin Huairu's eyes flickered slightly, with a trace of pain and helplessness in them. She nodded, her voice almost inaudible: "I'm afraid that if things continue like this, he will be completely lost in his past and unable to extricate himself."

Li Xiangqian looked at Qin Huairu's eyes, and an inexplicable emotion rose in his heart. He understood her worries and her fears. The pain that Xu Damao had experienced had been deeply imprinted in his heart, and Qin Huairu naturally did not want the pain to surge again.

"Qin Huairu, I understand your concerns." Li Xiangqian's tone became gentler, "But you have to know that running away is not the solution to the problem. What Xu Damao needs is to face it, not hide it."

Qin Huairu's expression changed slightly, she pursed her lips tightly, as if she was lost in deeper thought.

"What do you want him to do?" Li Xiangqian continued to ask, his eyes gentle but firm. "Do you want him to continue to carry these burdens, or face them bravely and untie the shackles that are bothering him?"