Faced with Fu Yuan's sudden, unreserved embrace and her humble, tearful plea, Lu Cheng did not, as she had imagined, immediately soften and pull her into his arms, offering the long-desired comfort.
He merely stood there quietly, allowing her to cling to him like a helpless, drowning kitten.
On his face, there was even a hint of a playful smile, as if he were enjoying the prey's final struggles.
It wasn't until Fu Yuan's crying gradually changed from initial heart-wrenching sobs to suppressed, intermittent sniffles that Lu Cheng slowly extended his hand.
It wasn't to embrace her, nor was it to comfort her.
Instead, with his distinctively jointed fingers, he gently lifted her beautiful, tear-streaked face, forcing her to look up and meet his gaze with her lovely eyes, already blurred by tears.
"Oh?"
His voice remained gentle, but to Fu Yuan's ears, it was incredibly cold… "You don't care?"
"Then… what about Yan Che?"
"Are you willing to discard that perfect shadow you created?"
Boom—!!!!
This seemingly casual, yet deeply cutting question!
If Lu Cheng's earlier mention of "substitute" had merely torn away her last pretense, then now, the name "Yan Che" spoken directly from his lips, utterly and mercilessly crushed her last, most ridiculous shred of self-respect!
He… he really knew everything!
He knew what ridiculous and pathetic things I had been doing for the past three years!
He knew I had found a substitute to satisfy my humble longing!
Beneath her self-proclaimed pride and schemes, she was like a clown, performing what she thought was a brilliant act, unaware that everything had long been seen through.
At this moment, all of Fu Yuan's psychological defenses completely collapsed!
She abandoned all resistance, and that last bit of ridiculous dignity.
She looked into Lu Cheng's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and begged in a voice that was almost humble, trembling with a deep sob:
"He's just a plaything…"
"Just… a tool I used to miss you…"
"I was wrong… Lu Cheng, I truly know I was wrong…"
"In my heart, from beginning to end, there has only ever been you…"
"Truly, only you…"
Lu Cheng looked at her, completely stripped of all dignity, humbled to the dust.
He finally showed a hint of satisfaction.
Very good.
This proud peacock, covered in sharp quills, was finally, completely smoothed of all its barbs, its sharp claws retracted.
Soon, it would become a canary, one he could play with as he pleased.
He said no more.
He simply extended his arms and directly scooped up Fu Yuan's soft, charming, yet slightly trembling body—trembling from excitement and shame—by the waist!
Then, with unhurried steps, he slowly walked towards the presidential suite, which had long been prepared on the top floor of the Purple Celestial Hall!
At the same time, with an equally possessive voice, he whispered in her ear:
"Then… I'll reward you."
"Tonight."
"You are mine."
...Inside the presidential suite.
Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows was the most dazzling and prosperous night view of the entire Imperial Capital.
But at this moment, Fu Yuan had no mood to appreciate any of it.
Her entire world was filled only with the man before her.
Lu Cheng gently placed her on the soft, large bed.
But he did not, as she had imagined, immediately… He merely looked down at her, pointed to the bottle of decanted red wine on the nearby liquor cabinet, and slowly commanded:
"Pour the wine."
Fu Yuan was slightly stunned, but then, she immediately understood Lu Cheng's meaning.
She had not the slightest hesitation or resistance.
She simply obediently got out of bed, her bare, snow-white, tender feet treading on the soft carpet.
She walked to the liquor cabinet, and with hands slightly trembling from nervousness and excitement, picked up the wine bottle and poured two glasses of blood-red, top-tier vintage wine for Lu Cheng and for herself.
Then, like the most obedient, most humble maid, she returned to Lu Cheng with the wine glasses, respectfully handing one of them into his hand.
Lu Cheng took the glass but did not drink.
He merely gently swirled the crimson liquid in the glass, his gaze intensely fixed on her, and continued to ask in an undeniable tone:
"Tell me."
"You said I'm the only one in your heart…"
"So, how did you miss me all these years?"
Fu Yuan looked at him, no longer able to suppress the emotions that had accumulated in her heart for years like a volcano!
She downed the red wine in her glass, and under the dual influence of alcohol and emotion, she completely succumbed… She continued to drink, and intermittently, incoherently, began to pour out her longing for him over the years.
She told him how much pain and despair she felt when her father forcibly prevented her from seeing him back then.
She told him how, over the years, she had madly missed him every sleepless night, even resorting to finding a substitute to fill the emptiness in her heart.
Finally, there was the jealousy and unwillingness that almost consumed her entirely when she saw so many women around him!
She cried, she laughed, like a madwoman, yet also like a child.
All her vulnerability, all her disgrace, all her love and hate, were at this moment, unreservedly, displayed before this man.
She, voluntarily, offered up everything she had… In the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight fell upon the messy large bed, Fu Yuan slowly opened her eyes amidst a wave of soreness.
She turned her head, looking at the handsome, god-like man still sleeping soundly beside her.
Feeling his strong, powerful heartbeat and even breathing, and… the arm still tightly, possessively wrapped around her waist.
In her heart, there was an unprecedented, immense sense of unreality.
Everything that happened last night was like a wild and sweet dream.
It made her sink, made her infatuated, made her… savor the taste, unable to stop.
But dreams, after all, must end.
An indescribable confusion and… fear, silently crept into her heart.
He… how would he treat her after he woke up?
Would he coldly push her away as before? Was it just a crazy night… or would he… include her in his vast "collection," becoming one of his so-called spoils of war?
She didn't know.
But she knew that she had finally obtained what she most wanted… This feeling of controlling her own destiny made what she wanted to do most now was return to the Fu Family.
To let her father see clearly… she was never a pawn who accepted her fate!
She wanted her own life, her own choices!