Chapter 54: I Hate It Most When Others Lie

When you fall in love with someone who is always just out of reach, only then do you truly fear the loneliness of night.

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“You’re back so late. Where have you been?” The man’s indifferent voice drifted into her ears.

Xue Zuining opened her eyes to see him, his figure lounging leisurely on the sofa. Meeting the slow, scrutinizing look he sent her way, she swallowed before replying, “I went to the hospital to have my dressing changed, then took a walk in the garden downstairs.”

“It must be a large garden, for you to have wandered so long you lost your way,” Lu Huaining replied, raising his gaze, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickering in his eyes.

Frozen in the entryway, Xue Zuining wondered—did he believe her?

“Come here. Why are you just standing there?” Lu Huaining patted the seat beside him. Watching her nervously bite her lower lip, her steps hesitant as she made her way toward him, his deep-set eyes grew cold and shadowed, his mood seeming to sink even further at the sight of her anxiety.

“Have the autumn begonias in the garden faded yet?” Lu Huaining cast her a sidelong glance, his tone detached.

Xue Zuining paused, remote control in hand. She remembered she hadn’t noticed any scent of begonias just now, and reflexively replied, “The weather’s turned cold—the begonias have already withered…”

Lu Huaining regarded her, his lips curling with meaning as he spoke slowly, “What a pity. I’d thought, if there was a chance, I’d go see them with you.”

Xue Zuining forced a laugh. “When spring comes next year, the other flowers in the garden will be even more beautiful.”

“You’re quite confident,” Lu Huaining’s gaze grew steadily colder.

Suddenly, a sharp cry escaped her lips. She felt her arm seized, her body yanked forward, tumbling into the sofa. Before she could react, Lu Huaining was already above her…

“No—” Xue Zuining gripped the sofa’s edge, trying to break free, only to feel a sharp pain at the freshly closed wound.

“There aren’t any begonias in the garden at all.” Lu Huaining’s eyes glinted with icy anger as he looked down at her—clearly afraid, yet still stubbornly resisting. “What I detest most is being lied to.”

With those words, his large hand gripped her chin, lowering his face to hers. He captured her tightly pressed lips in a fierce, possessive kiss, ravaging her mouth, prying apart her lips with rough insistence, his tongue plunging inside, greedily tasting every softness she had to offer…

It was not mere venting, nor pure anger—rather, it was as if he was suppressing something, seeking solace in her.

A muffled whimper escaped Xue Zuining, her breath coming short. She gave up her futile resistance, knowing full well that to challenge this man now would only provoke the beast within him.

For those who lie, whether the falsehood is wicked or kind, guilt is an instinctive reaction, even if a sliver of hope remains.

Just as she thought she would suffocate this time, Lu Huaining abruptly released her. Watching her gasp for breath, chest heaving, he murmured, “Did you enjoy yourself today? Did you remember to visit your mother?”

Stunned, Xue Zuining stared at the man so close to her, her lips parted as she panted faintly, flushed as if stained with blood from his bruising kiss. She met the dark depths of his gaze, feeling herself exposed and utterly transparent.

Seeing the worry gathering in her eyes, Lu Huaining felt an unfamiliar emotion stir within him. Loosening his grip, his elegant fingers traced her cheek as he spoke in a low voice, “If you’re so afraid… why can’t you just behave?”

“I…” Xue Zuining wanted to explain, but words only seemed to make things worse. Since he had spoken thus, he must already know she’d gone to the hospital. “You can punish me for disobeying, but… please don’t use my mother’s illness against me.”

Lu Huaining’s eyes narrowed slightly. He slowly got up from where he’d been pinning her, his fingers brushing through her disheveled hair. His gaze lifted, a cold sneer tugging at his lips as he said, “Isn’t she… the best punishment for you?”

At those words, Xue Zuining flipped over, her earlier forbearance replaced with the alert readiness of a cornered kitten, bristling all over.

“Lu Huaining, can’t you find another way?” she gritted out, teeth clenched. Seeing his calm face and the scornful look in his eyes, her anger flared, but she restrained herself.

Lu Huaining looked at her coolly. “One effective method is all that’s needed… isn’t it?”

Xue Zuining’s eyes widened, her anger burning so hot she felt her blood boiling in reverse.

“Let’s go!” Lu Huaining suddenly stood, a single word slipping from his lips. He strode toward the door, pausing after a few steps to glance back at her, eyes glinting coldly. “Did you not hear me?”

“Where are we going?” Xue Zuining was furious, but despite her reluctance, she got up and followed him out.

Seated in Lu Huaining’s convertible, the chill of a winter night’s breeze seeped in through the slowly rising roof. She couldn’t help her confusion.

The car moved at a moderate pace, nothing like the wild, reckless driving of before. Tilting her head, she could see the stars drifting slowly overhead. For now, she let everything else slip away, feeling a rare sense of peace.

As she mused, Xue Zuining stole a glance at Lu Huaining’s concentrated profile. Two buttons of his shirt were undone, his sleeves rolled up to the elbows. The evening wind tossed his thick hair, lending an unexpected charm to his usual severity.

She withdrew her gaze and sat quietly. She didn’t know where he was taking her, only that, in this moment, he seemed not to want any disturbances at all.