Chapter 605: He Doesn’t Mind Being a Substitute
Her thoughts scratched at his sleep.
Then he was awakened, and would...
Xia Weibao reeled in her thoughts; she couldn’t think about it anymore, couldn’t always be lost in the past.
Lu Hualiang had opened his eyes at some point, capturing the desolation on her face in his gaze.
That expression again, who was she longing for?
She was looking through him, at who?
Caught in the act, Xia Weibao felt somewhat panicked and tried to get up from the bed.
But Lu Hualiang stretched out his hand, pulling her back, holding her in his arms.
He suddenly grabbed her hand, placing it on his nose.
"Just now, did you want to do this?"
Xia Weibao nodded, then shook her head.
"Did I disturb you?"
Lu Hualiang did not answer her, instead intently staring into her eyes, "Are you treating me as a substitute for someone else?"
Such candid words laid bare the thoughts in Xia Weibao’s heart, making her instinctively want to flee.
She knew telling the truth would hurt, but she didn’t want to lie to him either.
"I’m sorry..."
"I don’t mind," Lu Hualiang spoke calmly.
Xia Weibao was stunned, "What?"
What did he mean he didn’t mind, didn’t mind what?
Didn’t mind her treating him as a substitute?
Lu Hualiang took her hand and gently kissed it on the lips.
"I don’t mind you treating me as a substitute."
Lately, she had been capricious, obviously developing feelings for him, yet wanting to flee, often staring at him absentmindedly.
He hadn’t understood before, but after watching her sleeping face last night, he thought it over.
This contradiction and struggle, the only explanation was, she was treating him as a stand-in for the one in her heart, wanting to be close, yet feeling guilty.
On one hand, she coveted his warmth; on the other, she was overwhelmed by guilt.
That’s why she was torn.
So, how could he make things difficult for her?
Being used as a substitute was the same as throwing his dignity to the ground and trampling on it.
But in front of her, his dignity had long since dissipated.
What did it matter if he was a substitute for now, this was only temporary.
As long as she stayed by his side, as long as she was willing to give him a chance, one day, he would outshine the one in her heart and become the real thing!
And since she was conflicted in her heart, it meant that she liked him too.
From this perspective, it wouldn’t take long to become the real thing.
"Director Lu, please don’t be like this."
Xia Weibao felt very confused.
The more uncomplaining and unconditional he was, the guiltier she felt.
"This is my own decision, you don’t need to feel any psychological burden."
How could she not feel burdened!
This was too unfair to him!
Xia Weibao wanted to cry.
What exactly did they want from her!
She felt almost driven crazy!
Emotional infidelity was still infidelity, and moreover, she had all sorts of ambiguous interactions with Lu Hualiang, which meant she had already betrayed Emperor Xia Liang.
She couldn’t do this, but she found it increasingly difficult to control herself.
Closing her eyes, tears slid down from the corners.
Lu Hualiang raised his hand, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"If you feel sorry for me, give me a chance, try to like me."
Xia Weibao suppressed the sourness in her heart.
Actually, she had already fallen for him...
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be in such pain.
Sometimes she wondered if she could let go of the past and start over.
Emperor Xia Liang was a matter from a thousand years ago, the man had been dead for a thousand years; what was she holding on to?
In modern society, people break up every few days, divorce every few months.
Why couldn’t she let go of the past and enter into a new romance?
But she couldn’t do it!
She couldn’t forget.
It wasn’t because of the deep-seated feudal thinking of ancient times, but because she loved Emperor Xia Liang.
Loved him deeply.