As night fell, in the heart of the imperial capital, the Purple Celestial Hall, a private club usually only open to a select few powerful individuals.
Tonight, it was unusually quiet.
Gone was the usual hustle and bustle of carriages, and gone were the social gatherings with clinking glasses.
Because Fu Yuan, with her usual assertive demeanor, had directly booked the entire club.
Tonight, this place belonged to only two people.
Her, and the person she had awaited for many years.
In the vast and luxurious banquet hall, only a few dim wall lamps were lit, creating an intimate yet slightly oppressive and ambiguous atmosphere.
Fu Yuan had changed into a wine-red strapless gown, its silky smooth fabric tightly embracing her exquisitely proportioned figure, enough to drive any man wild.
Her fair shoulders and delicate collarbones glowed softly in the dim light.
She sat alone, quietly at the head of the dining table, symbolizing sovereignty, holding a glass of red wine that had already been decanted, her gaze somewhat lost as she looked towards the entrance.
On her always somewhat cold and arrogant beautiful face, there was, at this moment, a rare hint of... a hint of nervousness and... anticipation that even she hadn't noticed.
Her father's cold and heartless words still echoed in her ears.
But the more he spoke, the more she wanted to rebel. She had once listened to her father, but what was the result?
Wasn't it the same? She gradually became a pawn that could be discarded at any time?
At this moment, she was too lazy to consider those so-called family interests and future prospects.
In her mind, in her entire world, there was only one person's name left.
Lu Cheng.
Just then.
The two heavy doors of the banquet hall were slowly pushed open from the outside.
Without any hesitation, or any pleasantries.
A tall and upright familiar figure, seemingly born with an air of looking down on the world, walked in alone, calmly and unhurriedly, from outside the door.
He had arrived.
As soon as Lu Cheng entered, he ignored the luxurious decorations around him, which were enough to amaze anyone.
His deep eyes pierced through the dim light, accurately and precisely locking onto the person who was also watching him... Fu Yuan.
Their eyes met.
The air, as if in this instant, completely solidified.
Lu Cheng's lips slowly curved into an arc full of playfulness.
He did not follow the so-called gentleman's etiquette and sit opposite Fu Yuan.
Instead, he walked with calm steps, one by one, until he stood before her.
With an oppressive and aggressive posture, he looked down at her.
"Long time no see, Fu Yuan."
His voice was still so gentle and mellow, yet with a hint of familiar teasing that only Fu Yuan could understand.
As if he had suddenly remembered something, he chuckled, recalling high school memories that only the two of them knew, in a tone full of "reminiscence."
"What? Do you want to confess to me again?"
"Speaking of which... I really do miss it."
"The way you are now is exactly the same as when you insisted I be your boyfriend on the school rooftop back then."
Lu Cheng paused, looking at Fu Yuan's beautiful eyes, which had instantly become somewhat nervous and shy due to his sudden "memory kill," and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Just as domineering, just as... unreasonable."
What?
He... he still remembered?
When Fu Yuan heard that Lu Cheng still remembered such distant past events, the softest part of her heart was instantly and deeply touched!
An indescribable joy and sweetness, like the warmest electric current, instantly spread throughout her limbs!
He still remembers what happened between us!
So, in his heart, he hasn't forgotten me either?
However!
Before she could fully recover from this sudden and immense surprise.
Lu Cheng, however, suddenly changed the subject.
On his handsome face, his smile became somewhat... meaningful, and even more heart-stabbing!
"It's just that..."
"I remember, the Fu Yuan back then, although domineering, although unreasonable."
"But she was as proud as a peacock that would never lower its head."
"Her eyes could not tolerate any sand, and she disdained... any substitutes."
His gaze suddenly became sharp, like two sharpest daggers, mercilessly piercing through all of Fu Yuan's disguises!
"How come after so many years..."
"Instead... you've started to... play with other people's shadows?"
Boom—!!!!
Lu Cheng's words!
Stabbed fiercely into Fu Yuan's heart!
"Is he... is he saying I found a stand-in?"
"Is he saying I've fallen?"
"In his eyes, am I already... no longer the proud Fu Yuan who once made him take notice?"
She could no longer maintain the queen's dignity and arrogance!
Her beautiful eyes were instantly filled with endless pain and grievance!
Crystal tears uncontrollably swirled in her eyes, yet she used all her strength to forcibly hold them back, unwilling to let them fall easily before the man she loved!
Under Lu Cheng's oppressive gaze, coupled with her father's cold and heartless words, and her own pathetic fate like a chess piece... all of Fu Yuan's psychological defenses, at this moment, completely and utterly collapsed!
She was no longer the all-powerful queen.
No longer the controller of life and death.
She was just a... poor woman struggling in love, yearning for something she couldn't have.
She abandoned all futile resistance and ridiculous pride.
She abruptly stood up from her seat, extended her jade arms, trembling slightly from excitement and grievance, and desperately, tightly embraced the man she both loved and hated!
She buried her beautiful face, streaked with tears, deep into his broad and warm chest!
With her actions, she made her final and only choice!
"Lu Cheng..."
"I was wrong... I was really wrong..."
"I don't want any shadows anymore, or any substitutes..."
"I only want you..."
"I can even ignore your other women..."
"Lu Cheng, please... look at me, okay?"
She sobbed loudly in his arms, pouring out all the grievances, all the unwillingness, all the longing, and all the love that had accumulated in her heart over the years, without reservation, at this moment!