Chapter 184 - 137_2
As the words fell, the room plunged into a long silence.
Except for Lu Ziyuan’s rapid breathing, neither of them spoke again.
The hand on the back of her neck remained, and Xie Wanqing didn’t dare to struggle at all for fear of angering him.
After a while, he hoarsely said, "If... if he didn’t take the drug, would you..."
His sentence was uttered haltingly, and finally, as if he found himself laughable, he stopped.
Releasing her, he turned around and kicked the side table to pieces with a single blow.
The solid wooden table was smashed to splinters by his kick, which frightened Xie Wanqing so much that she shivered, thinking that if she had been on the receiving end of that kick, she would have died on the spot.
Lu Ziyuan turned back, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his arms, gritting his teeth, "You’re considerate, making yourself the antidote without even checking if he really needed it."
He realized that sickly man was full of schemes, using his hands to take away his person.
He not only played him but also got what he wished for.
And yet, it was he who had initiated everything!
The familiar metallic taste welled up in his throat, and Lu Ziyuan swallowed it, glaring viciously at the person in his arms, "Do you think I would be stupid enough to let him, who was under the influence of an aphrodisiac, leave Cuiyun Pavilion?"
Xie Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat, subconsciously unwilling to hear his words.
But her chin was lifted by him, not allowing her to evade.
"Listen carefully, he’s just a trickster! A seasoned trickster!" He said each word with blood in his teeth, "The effect of the aphrodisiac powder only lasts for two hours. I drank it myself, and by the time he left, the drug had already worn off. He didn’t need you to relieve him of anything!"
His eyes were red-rimmed, and every word seemed to bleed, appearing not only terrifying but also pitiful.
Xie Wanqing listened in a daze, recalling the overlooked details in an instant.
She remembered last night, Pei Yuqing’s gentle and meticulous demeanor, without a trace of urgency, indeed didn’t seem like someone who was drugged.
Despite his arrogance and pride, Lu Ziyuan was no fool; even if he believed Pei Yuqing to be useless, he couldn’t possibly let an aphrodisiac-affected rival return.
So...
What he said was true.
Pei Yuqing indeed wasn’t drugged last night.
He had deceived her.
He deceived her again.
Xie Wanqing, somewhat disoriented, thought of the bits and pieces from the past few months they had spent together.
They hadn’t known each other for even a year, but the time spent together was not short.
Especially after marriage, there were many out-of-control kisses between them.
If he had asked for consummation, she wouldn’t have refused at any time.
Why...
Why did he choose to deceive her?
Because it was a blade Lu Ziyuan handed over. He only needed to go along with the plan to achieve his goals.
In the confrontation between the men, he won completely.
Lu Ziyuan’s high-profile invitation, drugging him, enticing him with beauty, and forbidding him to leave were indeed arrogant, so he reaped what he sowed and paid the price.
What was she but a piece in their game?
Or perhaps, a trophy?
She was the one deceived, while Lu Ziyuan was the one filled with regret and pain.
Pei Yuqing was the biggest winner.
Xie Wanqing blinked, finally understanding everything.
She slowly lifted her eyes, looking at the man before her with red-rimmed eyes shining with tears, and curved her lips slightly, saying calmly, "Even if he deceived me, so what? We are husband and wife. Consummation is the most normal thing."
"...What do you mean?" His already pale face turned worse upon hearing this, "With me, you hold grudges for the smallest mistakes, but when he deceives you, you aren’t the least bit angry?"
Xie Wanqing didn’t speak, just looked at him calmly.
That gaze carried a hint of mockery, as if saying, he’s my rightful husband, and what do you as a former fiancé who uses forceful means have to compare with him?
Lu Ziyuan’s breath caught, trying to suppress the bitterness in his heart.
But the pain had already seeped into his bones, and he could no longer endure it. In extreme pain, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Blood splattered onto Xie Wanqing’s face, and she widened her eyes in shock, her hand on his chest unconsciously tightening.
Is his internal injury still not healed?
How...
Lu Ziyuan raised a hand to wipe his lips, his gaze landing on her face.
In the girl’s beautiful eyes, besides panic, there wasn’t a trace of worry or urgency.
If she shed a tear, he would be at a loss and wish to beg for mercy.
But even when he coughed up blood, she remained unmoved.
He thought, perhaps this was karma.
The karma for not protecting her well in his past life.
His rough fingertip gently wiped the bloodstain from her cheek.
Then, holding her hand, he placed it against his chest, pressing it onto his beating heart.