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Chapter 43 — The Break

“Yao-meimei, help me…”

Xie Zhuoguang followed her gaze but still said nothing.

That air of detachment, of otherworldly indifference — it nearly drove Yu Mingyao mad.

He wouldn’t say whether he had drunk the tea or not. He wouldn’t say whether he, like her, had memories from their past life. Nothing!

No, no!

She shook her head repeatedly and took a step back.

Fear crept across her face.

When she had first entered the room, her face had been bright and radiant — now it turned deathly pale. Her dark, clear eyes sank deep into their sockets, like the ghostly fire of a puppet’s glass eyes.

Yu Mingyao could barely breathe.

She could only dig her nails deep into her thigh to use the pain to anchor her sanity.

She stared intently at Xie Zhuoguang, not missing a single shift in his expression.

But unfortunately, he remained that distant, untouchable gentleman — like green bamboo glazed in dewdrops after rain, showing not a trace of strangeness.

It was precisely because of this that, as Yu Mingyao locked eyes with him, her lips twisted into a cold sneer.

If you had spent ten years, day and night, thinking of a man… constantly pondering his likes, his inner thoughts… then even in his seemingly unchanging demeanor, you’d glimpse his true heart.

Ten years — more than three thousand days and nights.

She would never again have that much time, never again hollow herself out, bleeding her heart dry, just to try and make a flower bloom in a desert.

Never again.

Tears, like pearls, welled up from her dark eyes.

Without a word, she fled as if she had encountered a monster.

Seeing this, Xie Zhuoguang felt a tight, unspeakable ache rise in his chest.

“You…”

He reached out to touch her face.

But as soon as he extended his hand, Yu Mingyao slapped it away.

“Don’t touch me! What right do you have to touch me?”

Her force was resolute.

So resolute that she casually wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.

In such a sorrowful moment, her entire body felt… light.

There would be no moment more relieving than this.

Her lips curled upward. Her pale, exquisite face now shone like a brilliant plum blossom on crystal snow — dazzling and peerless.

Tears mixed with her smile. “Xie Zhuoguang, I owe you nothing anymore. And I… I don’t hate you anymore either.”

How ridiculous.

A whole lifetime later, she realized she never even recognized what kind of man her own husband was. What a joke!

In her previous life, she had been so humble, exhausting herself to please him, to serve him. Even when her grandmother and elder brother had worried for her, she defended Xie Zhuoguang before them.

She had made excuses for him.

Claimed they were a loving couple, perfectly harmonious.

Said he was merely awkward and stubborn, and that he would eventually be moved by her sincerity.

In the end, it was all a lie.

Xie Zhuoguang was the one who had seduced her, who drank the tea and stole her innocence!

How could she not hate him? How could she not resent him?

For this guilt, she had been meek and submissive in the Duke’s household, allowing herself to be trampled on for so long.

And he — how could he stand by and watch her be humiliated?

Yu Mingyao simply could not understand.

She took another step back.

“Since the heir of the Xie family is unharmed, I shall take my leave. I apologize for disturbing you earlier.”

Her retreat was clean and decisive, without a trace of hesitation.

As the sweet, cloying scent of begonia powder from her skirt brushed past his nose, Xie Zhuoguang’s hand shot out faster than his mind, grabbing her slender, pale wrist.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps the drug was taking effect — his palm, unlike its usual coldness, burned with heat.

Yu Mingyao neither turned back nor struggled. Like an empty shell, she let him hold her.

Time ticked by, and she still didn’t move.

Xie Zhuoguang tasted bitterness and confusion. He didn’t even know what had offended her.

Wasn’t it natural to want to possess someone you loved?

He didn’t think he had done anything wrong.

She was the one who had teased him first — ever since their first meeting, it was she who had focused all her attention, her mind, her heart on him.

Back then, she had been capable of love, of melancholy, of gazing at him like a betrayed lover. Now… was there not even a sliver of care left in her?

He slowly released her wrist, his voice still cool.

“You mean to say… you never once cared for me?”

His words echoed through the room, but Yu Mingyao never turned around.

“No.”

Xie Zhuoguang’s voice began to tremble. “And that day at the Sunrise Pavilion?”

“That day?”

Yu Mingyao finally turned back, her face full of mockery.

“In the eyes of the heir of the Xie family, wasn’t I always a fickle, unchaste woman? For a frivolous girl like me to toy with a man for a bit — isn’t that perfectly normal?”

Seeing Xie Zhuoguang’s eyes nearly burst with rage and his breath catch, her heart felt even more satisfied.

Some people… are just despicable.

He had rejected her sincerity, only to dirty himself in the mud.

Facing Xie Zhuoguang’s murderous glare, Yu Mingyao smiled gently. As she turned, he suddenly lunged forward and gripped her tightly from behind.

His burning chin pressed into the hollow of her neck.

“I beg you… don’t marry Pei Shang.”

Hearing this, Yu Mingyao’s lips curved in amusement.

She ignored whatever turmoil he felt behind her and softly replied, “Next time you see me, you should address me as your sister-in-law.”

“I’ve come of age and am ready for marriage. I hope you will respect yourself, Heir Xie.”

After half a year, she finally returned those exact words to Xie Zhuoguang.

Like a trigger, those words shattered Xie Zhuoguang’s composure.

He seemed like a demon on the verge of collapse. He opened his mouth and bit down hard on the junction between her neck and shoulder.

Yu Mingyao lifted her slender, snowy neck, allowing him to do as he pleased.

Whether it was a bite of hatred or a kiss of passion — she felt nothing.

Only when she noticed his aroused body pressing against her did she speak coldly.

“Xie Zhuoguang, look at what you’ve become. You disgust me.”

At those words, the man who had just clung to her froze instantly.

She knew how proud he was. His towering pride was easily shattered by a single sentence.

How had she ever loved such a weak man so desperately?

Indeed — getting someone is the beginning of disillusionment.

The next moment, despite his burning desire, he let go of her.

He once again became the refined, jade-like gentleman others saw.

“My apologies.”

The cold voice behind her was clear and composed, with no trace of the earlier heartbreak.

It was as if the whole scene had been a dream.

When one wakes — people part ways.

“No harm done,” Yu Mingyao said with a faint smile. Just as she was about to leave the room, Xie Zhuoguang’s indifferent voice sounded behind her.

“If Miss Yu has truly decided to marry into the Pei family, I hope you’ll uphold propriety and not give others reason to doubt you.”

Upon hearing that, she truly wanted to snap back, ‘It takes two to tango.’

But after some thought, Yu Mingyao only responded solemnly, “I will live in harmony with him all my life and bear many children.”

The past was over. Now, she was going to meet her beloved!

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Meanwhile…

So hot… it’s so hot…

Where was Yao-meimei?

Pei Shang felt like he was burning up, the unbearable heat making him desperately seek something cool.

But he still hadn’t seen Yu Mingyao.

It felt like he was roasting alive. Pei Shang nearly broke into tears.

Yao-meimei… Yao-meimei… where are you? Why aren’t you here yet?

Under the sandalwood window frame, Pei Shang pressed his face against the whitewashed wall, hugging himself tightly in the corner.

Yu Mingyao had searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. Just as she returned to her room, disheartened, she caught sight of Pei Shang curled up like that.

A tall, grown man, shrunk like this — wasn’t he afraid of being laughed at?

Her heart, which had sunk to the bottom, was instantly rekindled by the sight of Pei Shang — like a moldy old object basking under a blazing sun.

Nothing but joy.

A bright smile spread to her brows.

Yu Mingyao quickened her steps, like a swift little swallow wanting to dive into Pei Shang’s arms.

In her joy at seeing her beloved, she overlooked how clearly wrong he looked.

It wasn’t until she got closer that she saw Pei Shang’s pitiful, abnormal appearance.

Always elegant and handsome, the young man now had misty eyes. He lifted his tearful, rabbit-red eyes and pouted miserably.

“You finally came. I’ve waited so long… it feels like years have passed before you came!”

His body was weak — only his mouth still moved. Even though he wanted to prop himself up and touch her, he couldn’t; he had no strength at all.

“Yao-meimei… I feel terrible…”

His voice was as soft as a kitten’s, low and pitiful. Seeing that Yu Mingyao didn’t embrace him, he pitifully rubbed his cheek against the wall.

This pitiful yet heart-melting sight nearly melted Yu Mingyao’s heart.

Her voice softened unconsciously, as if coaxing a child. “Why aren’t you getting up? If you feel unwell, why not come inside? Why suffer under this window eave?”

“If someone sees you like this, they’ll think I mistreated you.”

She reached out to pull Pei Shang up.

Though he didn’t seem sturdy, once in her arms, he was surprisingly heavy. His sudden weight nearly made her stagger.

Thankfully, she had kept a tight grip around his waist the whole time.

Pei Shang’s fevered breath fell on her collarbone.

“I was afraid that if I went inside, someone might see and ruin your reputation. If I stayed out here and caused a scene, at most people would think I was unruly and useless — it wouldn’t harm Yao-meimei’s name.”

Before he spoke, Yu Mingyao had been able to banter and flirt playfully. But with Pei Shang’s honest, sincere words, she knew she couldn’t joke anymore.

True feeling must be met with true feeling — that’s what separates real love from empty affection.

Without a word, she used all her strength to help him onto the beauty couch.

The windows were shut tight; even the screens were closed. To be safe, Yu Mingyao even went to fetch Yan Yue, instructing her to stand guard outside and let no one in.

She had seen the effects of such medicine before and knew how to ease it.

Even without resorting to the most direct method, relieving his discomfort slightly would be easy.

With everything prepared, Yu Mingyao bit her lip, her cheeks flushing.

Step by step, she approached the figure lying on the couch with his back to her.

It was clear Pei Shang was in great discomfort — he had started groaning unconsciously. His limbs flailed restlessly as he struggled to remove his clothes, but lacking experience, he fumbled clumsily.

“Yao-meimei… help me…”

He heard her approaching footsteps and turned toward her.

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