Chapter 192

What's wrong?

Lu Fang was suddenly flustered—he'd never been this way even when facing mortal danger—but seeing Lu Ling's tears, he was utterly at a loss.

Yet, with his wit, he immediately understood why she was crying.

"You silly girl!" Lu Fang's eyes turned red as he leaned close to Lu Ling, brushing away her tears with his hand, gazing tenderly into her tear-filled eyes and sincerely saying: "Sweetheart, unless I die, I'll never leave you in this life."

"R-really? I—I…"

Lu Ling's nose tightened, trying to stop crying, but she couldn't hold it back—instead, she wept even harder, her sobs choking off any coherent words.

Lu Fang pulled her into a tight embrace; beyond her sobs, she felt safe, resting her chin on his broad shoulder and nuzzling gently.

It was the first time the two of them had been this intimate.

And it was what she had longed for—this made her feel secure.

Before this, Lu Ling's heart had always been tense—she feared Lu Fang would choose Li Yu, feared he only saw her as a sister.

She truly couldn't imagine a life without Lu Fang.

As for when she had fallen for him, she wasn't sure—perhaps the moment she learned she wasn't a member of the Lu family.

Perhaps when she was wronged and he immediately stood up for her, angering the head of the Buddha Kingdom's Flame Clan.

Or when he willingly ventured into the Buddha Kingdom's trial grounds to search for her parents.

Especially after hearing from her mother, Zhao Qingzhu, that despite being warned multiple times of the danger at the execution site, he had still gone for her without hesitation.

She was terrified of losing him.

Even when Lu Fang had told her parents in the Buddha Kingdom that he liked her, she still hadn't felt secure.

Because her intuition told her he truly liked Sister Li Yu.

When Lu Fang learned Song Ce might harm Li Yu, Lu Ling would never forget the tone in his voice—on the verge of collapse.

She had considered, on the journey back from the Buddha Kingdom, trying to mend her relationship with Li Yu—she believed she could do it—but in the end, she never broke through that final barrier.

Because she had heard from Li Yu—the truth of his feelings while watching the sunrise.

Yes, Lu Ling had selfish motives, and she was too overwhelmed to speak—this was simply too hard: to personally bring together the person she loved and someone else. It was too cruel for her.

After returning to the capital, Lu Ling saw Lu Fang being careless, never going to see Li Yu for a proper talk.

She felt both happy and guilty.

During their conversations, she clearly sensed Lu Fang truly liked Li Yu—and finally, she couldn't help but remind him.

While Lu Fang was on his diplomatic mission to Luo Sha, Lu Ling deliberately sought out Li Yu, probing with words, and learned of their visit to the Wenyuan Academy to watch the sunrise.

Loving someone is truly a war within the heart.

There is sweetness, there is grievance, there are moments when you want to give up and let go—but mostly, there is unwillingness to part. If the heart were countless parallel lines, at this moment, Lu Ling's heart had become a tangled knot.

Finally, under Lu Fang's apology, Lu Ling broke down—she never wanted to cry in front of him, but she simply couldn't hold it back.

"Shh, don't cry, or you won't be beautiful anymore."

Lu Fang's heart was a storm of emotions, yet his mind was strangely clear—fragments of his interactions with Li Yu and Lu Ling flashed before him, and only now did he realize he had overlooked her feelings because of her thoughtfulness.

Lu Ling felt his warmth and his gentle patting on her back as she sobbed: "I-I don't… don't want to… cry."

Lu Fang could no longer control his emotions—he kissed her forehead, her nose, her chin, and finally pressed his lips to hers in a deep kiss.

Crash!

The sound of a teacup shattering on the floor echoed.

Xiao Tao's eyes widened in shock; she clapped her hands over her mouth, standing beside her—a woman in a white dress: Li Yu, frozen rigid in place.

After regaining her composure, she forced a faint smile: "I should've told Ling'er I was coming. Actually, there's nothing important—I came at a bad time. I'll come again another day."

No sooner had she spoken.

Li Yu vanished from the spot—she had left using the power of Grand Righteous Qi.

Lu Fang silently sighed deeply, yet he did not loosen his hold on Lu Ling—perhaps he had been too selfish, greedily wanting two loves, and ended up breaking everyone's heart.

"Brother… go… chase after Sister Li Yu… explain to her."

Lu Ling pushed lightly against Lu Fang.

Lu Fang held Lu Ling tightly, whispering in her ear: "Let me hold you—right now, I only want to hold you."

…

Behind the Wenguan Marquis's mansion.

"Xiao Tao, you're back—did you see Sister Li? Did she agree to come?" Lu Ling rose immediately upon seeing Xiao Tao return.

After Li Yu had witnessed her and Lu Fang's intimacy yesterday, she had assumed he would go explain to Li Yu—but this morning, she had tested him and confirmed Lu Fang had not gone to speak with Li Yu.

It seemed Lu Fang had only sent a message-charm to Li Yu.

Seeing Lu Fang's forced cheerfulness today, Lu Ling felt heartbroken—for she sensed his inner sorrow.

Before sending Xiao Tao to invite Li Yu, Lu Ling had already sent a message-charm explaining the situation, emphasizing Lu Fang's feelings for Li Yu.

But Li Yu had never replied.

Xiao Tao shook her head: "Miss, Li's steward said Master Li Yu has already left the capital. No one knows when she'll return."

Lu Ling frowned: "She left the capital? Did she say where?"

Xiao Tao replied softly: "No, it seems even the steward doesn't know."

Lu Ling sighed, opening her mouth but unable to speak—had she known this would happen, she should've cleared everything up with Li Yu on the journey back from the Buddha Kingdom—back then, it might've been easier to accept.

Yesterday, Li Yu had witnessed that scene firsthand—any woman would find it unbearable.

As for Li Yu's departure, Lu Fang showed little reaction—he even took the initiative to pull Lu Ling to his study to proofread "Water Margin." Their relationship, ironically, had drawn much closer after that kiss.

To outsiders, they were clearly a couple deeply in love.

"Sister Li sent me a message-charm yesterday—she said she wants to travel and see the scenery of the Great Zhou Empire, and told me not to worry," Lu Ling murmured distractedly while proofreading.

Lu Fang affectionately stroked her head: "I was wrong before—I greedily wanted two loves, and that was unfair to both of you. These past two days, I thought hard—and if I truly ask my heart, I realize I can't live without you."

Lu Ling sighed: "Aren't you going to try to win back Sister Li? I know you really like her…"