Chapter 38: Then No One Shall Have It Easy

A deadly silence spread through the corridor.

Lu Zishu was stunned, caught in surprise.

Ying Jing stood frozen on the spot, though in reality, her mind had already conjured up a grand drama.

She pursed her lips, struggling to keep from breaking into a wide grin.

If humans had tails, hers would surely be spinning like a propeller toward the heavens right now.

Stand steady, don’t let your legs go weak.

Bite your teeth, don’t you dare laugh out loud.

You are a goddess; you must maintain your image.

Mind your manners and behavior in public.

But Wen Fucheng called her "Wife."

She was about to lose it.

She couldn't wait to chase Lu Zishu away.

"Is there... anything else you need?"

Lu Zishu looked at her with a rather resentful gaze, making Ying Jing feel like some kind of heartless woman.

She hadn't done anything to him, had she?

It was a clean break, all things considered.

Hadn't everything that needed to be said been settled back at the club?

"You..."

Lu Zishu didn't know what was wrong with him. Now, every time he saw Ying Jing, his gaze would involuntarily follow her.

Especially after learning from Jiang Li that she had actually done such a thing for his sake.

Although it was a total disregard for her own life.

Just how much would one have to like someone to be so obsessive as to commit suicide for them?

To say he wasn't moved would be a lie.

He just hadn't expected that the current Ying Jing would go to such lengths to avoid him.

She had been humiliated by others.

He had wanted to step in and help.

But before he could even make a move, Ying Jing had already resolved it herself.

He had always known she was capable; she never let herself suffer too much when faced with trouble.

The result was as he had expected, yet Lu Zishu felt not a shred of happiness.

Seeing Ying Jing walk away, he still couldn't help but follow her.

He heard her answer the phone, her tone filled with a joy he had never heard before.

He couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

"Ying Jing, did you ever really like me? I’m not asking about now." He meant the past... the time when countless people whispered in his ear that Ying Jing liked Lu Zishu, the time when everyone knew it.

Her perfunctory attitude was still fresh in his memory.

If she didn't like him, why go to such lengths to pursue him?

Why be so good to him?

He had clearly rejected her countless times.

Who was it that refused to give up even unto death?

"Why?" He took a step forward, moving closer to her.

The distance between them vanished in an instant.

"Why stop halfway through the pursuit?"

Ying Jing retreated as he approached.

"After I started to develop feelings for you, you just stopped liking me? Is your affection really that worthless, Ying Jing? Can you really shift your affections to someone else so quickly? Or was your 'love' for me just a means to an end? Now that your goal is reached, you can just wash your hands of it and walk away. But what about me... how am I supposed to face this? I’m the one who was the victim in this relationship."

In the past, hadn't she wished for him to tell her everything?

Now, what was this expression?

Was she scared by him?

Compared to the aggressive Lu Zishu in front of her, Ying Jing preferred him as that cold, superior figure.

She wasn't Lu Zishu’s fated partner.

In their past life, they had fought until the bitter end; Lu Zishu hadn't even blinked when he set out to destroy her.

She was exhausted by this forced plot!

The male and female leads should just be tied together in a happy ending. Stop coming out to wreak havoc on everyone else, okay!

She was startled by Lu Zishu’s sudden confession.

Hey, hey, hey...

This wasn't the correct trajectory for the plot.

Fine! She, a villainous supporting character, had started to go off-script, the original heroine had set her sights on her brother, and the original male lead had started to slack off—it seemed plausible enough.

But please, don't fall in love with her!

She had deep trauma from Lu Zishu in her past life; it was better not to see him, but the moment she did, she wanted to drop a bomb and kill him, sharpening her knives to hack at him.

When it came down to it, she was indeed involved in this mess—an unlucky soul transmigrated into a book and forced to walk through the original plot.

She was the one who pursued him, she was the one who made a scene, and she was the one who turned the whole city upside down.

Lu Zishu hadn't done anything wrong, but what had she done wrong?

Fine, if she wanted to be with Wen Fucheng with a clear conscience in this life, bowing her head to Lu Zishu wasn't impossible.

"Although it sounds a bit irresponsible, I still want to say that your understanding is correct. I never liked you from beginning to end."

He was shocked.

And even more furious.

"You’ve been playing with me all this time?"

"You can't put it that way! I paid a high price too, didn't I? You can't erase everything I did just because I don't like you anymore." Aside from not liking him, everything else Ying Jing was forced to endure had been real.

Including her reputation.

Lu Zishu’s countless rejections had also subjected her to endless ridicule and sarcasm.

"When it comes down to it, I’m the one who lost more. I haven't said anything, so what right do you have to question me now?" That’s right, why should she be humble? Why should she compromise?

She had lived her life with integrity; when she pursued Lu Zishu, she had nothing to be ashamed of before heaven or earth.

From start to finish, she had been the clown.

"Lu Zishu, don't you think you're being hypocritical? I pursued you passionately for years, making it known to everyone, turning the whole city upside down. In those years, you had countless chances to say yes, but you used them all to reject me. Now that I’ve stopped, you feel uncomfortable. You come to me saying you’ve started to have feelings. You didn't cherish me when I was chasing you, but now that you can't have me, you’re itching for it. All you’re enjoying is the feeling of being pursued that I brought you."

Now that she wasn't willing to chase him anymore, he felt the loss.

Ying Jing calmed herself and continued.

"Yes, I admit it. I started all of this, and I am willing to bear the consequences. But you, Lu Zishu, are the least qualified to blame me. Aren't the rumors I’m currently facing indirectly caused by you? If I don't like you anymore, you should be the one feeling relieved. No one will pester you anymore, and your life will return to its peaceful past. I am willing to bow my head and apologize for all the trouble I caused by intruding into your life—I’m sorry. I have already paid the price for my impulsiveness."

The price had been high.

With her life, with her love, with the entire Ying family and her brother’s future...

Ying Jing truly couldn't face Lu Zishu calmly and remain indifferent.

Even if she knew it was all just a plot.

Reborn, she hadn't truly taken revenge on any of her past enemies yet.

In this life, she was cautious, wanting only to be near her lover, to protect the Ying family and her brother.

She just wanted to live a happy, simple life.

As long as people didn't provoke her, she didn't want to care about anything else.

"I hope we can both be people who know how to let go."

Ying Jing didn't intend to stay any longer; the exit was behind Lu Zishu.

She walked past him.

Lu Zishu looked straight ahead, his expression dark and unreadable.

His words were meant for her.

"It's too late."

Ying Jing turned a deaf ear and continued walking forward.

Lu Zishu slowly turned around, watching her retreating back.

"You came to provoke me without liking me, and now you won't take responsibility after doing so. This water is already muddied; what right do you have to walk away clean and innocent?"

Ying Jing stopped in her tracks. He had returned to the Lu family; the news was already out, and she believed it would be announced to the world soon.

Perhaps the era belonging to Lu Zishu was about to begin.

But so what?

Ying Jing smiled.

If fate was playing a joke on her, and she couldn't avoid the confrontation from her past life anyway...

Then... let no one have an easy time!

(End of chapter)