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“Then what about you? Would you let another man treat you the way I do?”

Lu Yichen held her close, but his embrace was nothing more than that—just holding her, without any other movement. Like in their youth, he simply cherished her warmth and softness, only occasionally feeling a stir of desire.

“…No.” After a long pause, she finally answered, no.

“You’re lying. That man—he held you, kissed you. The whole country saw it. Do you still want to deceive me? Tell me, today, did he kiss you or hold you?” His voice sharpened as he suddenly pressed down on her. Though he knew she remained pure, the images he had seen ignited his anger—fierce and overwhelming.

Xia Yuwei was abruptly flipped beneath him, his masculine presence overwhelming her. Moments ago, he was still the safe and adorable boy she once knew. Now, as his tall figure loomed over her petite frame, he was undeniably a man.

“Yichen, he is my fiancé.” She forced herself to ignore his madness and bitterly uttered these words. Indeed, when Lu Yichen pinned her down like this, his strength was astonishing; struggling or pushing him away was nearly impossible. Deep inside, she didn’t want to push him away either. But what did their relationship even mean now?

Her words stirred Lu Yichen’s rage. He shoved her away so hard she nearly tumbled off the bed, but he caught her just in time, pulling her back into his arms.

“You don’t have to remind me! You—what are you thinking? Tell me, what exactly are you thinking? Why are you in such a hurry to get engaged to him? Why don’t you just marry him already?

“Do you love living abroad that much? Do you crave wealth and glory so deeply? Then why not stay with me? Everything he can give you, I can too!”

Facing Lu Yichen’s fury, Xia Yuwei’s heart ached again—not just because of his harsh words, but because of the thick wall that stood between them: her parents, her nationally announced fiancé.

Back then, how much had she hesitated? How had she given up on him? She could barely remember.

Even though he had done something she could never accept, even though her parents were resolutely opposed, she still wasn’t willing to give up. She called him, hoping to get some strength from him. But where was he then? He had scolded her and mysteriously vanished...

Now he came back, asking for her—wasn’t it already too late? She had decided to forget him, because forgetting him meant no more sorrow, no more pain. Letting go gave her the chance to find another happiness, to accept a love that was tender and attentive, didn’t it?

Why, after breaking her down, did he still want her? What was he thinking? She wanted to ask him, just what was he thinking...

“I thought about being with you too, but where were you then? Do you even remember what you were doing?” Xia Yuwei looked at Lu Yichen with tear-filled eyes.

He blamed her, resented her, but hadn’t she also blamed and resented him?

Even on their engagement day, she foolishly held onto a faint hope—imagining he would appear like a hero from a story, stealing her away from the public’s gaze. But nothing happened. She didn’t know that at that very moment, he was indulging himself in another woman’s bed.

When she saw him again, he was holding a dangerously alluring woman, ignoring her completely as he walked away.

Once more, he refused to answer her impulsively dialed calls, killing her heart all over again.

Looking into her tearful eyes, seeing her plaintive gaze and hearing that she had thought about being with him—that alone calmed his heart considerably. Yes, that was the key.

“Really? You really thought about being with me?” He gradually lowered his face closer, forehead resting against hers, murmuring like a wounded child in need of comfort.

Xia Yuwei silently wept, her shoulders trembling.

“What’s the point of saying all this now?”

“Lu Yichen, knowing you is a curse—you torment me, make it impossible to forget you, yet I can’t be with you,”

“You’ve come back just to torment me again, making it impossible for me to leave with peace of mind...”

“...Who told you to be so young? Who told you to be so reckless and irresponsible... Who told you to have such an unbearable temper...”

“...You’ve done everything you shouldn’t, and neglected so many things you should have done...”

“What’s the point of being with someone like you... You only exist to break my heart, don’t you...”

Xia Yuwei sobbed as she scolded him. Since he reappeared in her life, she hadn’t known a single joyful day. All because of him! Now, just as she thought she was about to escape this torment, he dragged her back into an abyss of pain.

Her tearful, chattering complaints like a little girl softened Lu Yichen’s heart deeply.

For the first time, he realized how much she cared for him, how many grievances she had endured on his behalf, how many tears she had shed.

So all these years, he hadn’t been the only one longing for her—she cared for him this much, she was hurt for him.

She wasn’t an old woman—she was only twenty. Her frail shoulders couldn’t bear so much pressure and sorrow...

“Don’t cry... Weiwei, please don’t cry, okay? You’re hurting me. What can I do to stop you from crying...” He held her close, one hand stroking her hair, the other wiping away her tears. There was a hint of panic, joy, and heartache all mixed together...

His actions and words, so manly and tender, made Xia Yuwei’s sobs choke and stifle. What should she do now? Who could tell her what to do?

“Weiwei, please don’t cry, okay?... Otherwise, let me kiss you, comfort you a little, alright?” Lu Yichen gently lifted her chin and softly kissed her eyes, tracing the tear marks on her face.