"I was too cowardly before."
He gave a bitter smile, a smile more pitiful than tears, "I knew clearly that you're someone I'm not allowed to have, yet my heart refused to listen. I was afraid if I stayed with you, my mom would faint on the spot, cry and say I was unfilial, that I let down my ancestors; I feared my dad would beat me in his rage, would cut off my financial support, even sever our relationship. And I feared those outside, gossiping about the Shaw Family producing an inappropriate uncle and niece pair, ruining a century-long family reputation. So I chose to hide, to escape, to personally push you away."
"I knew you had me in your heart, even just a tiny spark, even just a flicker of glance, I could feel it. But I still pretended not to see, pretended you were just an immature child, and I was a rule-abiding elder. I didn't dare to respond, didn't dare to get close, fearing that one wrong step would mean eternal damnation."
