Xie Wanqing was being massaged comfortably, and she let out a soft sigh with her eyes half-closed.

Lu Ziyuan noticed what she was thinking and smiled, "Actually, I have massaged you before."

"???" Xie Wanqing raised her eyes to look at him, puzzled, "When?"

"When?" This question seemed to stump him, and he paused before saying, "Wanwan, when I said I cared for you meticulously, did you think I was lying?"

During those years, every night after he exhausted her to sleep, he always did a great job with the aftercare.

Except for the marks of fingers and kisses that couldn’t be erased, he never let her wake up feeling uncomfortable.

It was just yesterday when he was overwhelmed with passion and really didn’t pay attention.

Xie Wanqing vaguely understood something and fell silent.

He used to be so reticent, shouldering everything by himself, never willing to express his feelings.

A full measure of love, he’d show only a fraction, even hiding that bit.

Sometimes she could feel it, but more often, she couldn’t.

Thinking back now, many of those things between them in the past life were misunderstandings that shouldn’t have happened.

If... if he hadn’t been so autocratic, if he’d considered her feelings more, they wouldn’t have had such a tragic ending...

Xie Wanqing was silent for a long time, suddenly reaching out to wrap her arms around his waist, calling his name.

Lu Ziyuan stiffened for a moment, and answered with a low hum.

Xie Wanqing said, "Don’t be so reckless anymore, and don’t touch Pei Yuqing. I’ll try to love you again."

"...Alright," Lu Ziyuan buried his face in her hair, his voice somewhat muffled, "Wanwan..."

"Hm?"

"Could you kiss me?" He held her hand and placed it on his chest, "Biting me would work too."

He had always wanted her to take the initiative to leave a mark on him, but it had never happened.

Instead, that sickly guy flaunted the bite marks she left in front of him intentionally.

For nearly a year, he often thought about that bite mark, like a rat hiding in the shadows, constantly speculating about the depth of their affection.

...How intense must their passion have been for her to bite him with such force.

Used to countless injuries, numb to pain, when he saw that scene, he was still pained to the point of losing control. How much pain must she have felt when she saw the red marks on Liu Manrou in their past life.

Many memories Lu Ziyuan dared not revisit, those overwhelming regrets could completely devour him, splitting him into different versions of himself.

The part of him that hated himself laughed heartily, thinking these consequences were deserved, nothing more than feeling the emotions she had once felt, a taste of their own medicine.

The part of him addicted to jealousy boiled with murderous intent, wanting to mutilate every man who had touched her, tried to stain her, or caught her eye.

Sometimes he clearly hated himself, and other times indiscriminately hated every man who tried to take her from him, especially that sickly guy.

Let him go?

No, no, no, he’s the one who deserves to die the most!

Lu Ziyuan let out a bitter laugh, never able to forget how they had pledged vows and consummated their union.

As long as that sickly guy is alive, he will never be at peace!

He tightened his grip around the girl’s waist and asked softly, "Can you kiss me?"

Xie Wanqing: "..."

She could defiantly refuse his threats and force, and was not afraid of his cold, grim face. But she had never seen Lu Ziyuan, burying his head in her neck, quietly pleading with her.

No threats, no ruthlessness, the once aloof and arrogant man put himself in the vulnerable position of lover, yearning for her affection.