Douluo Dalu: Sign in to the Flame Princess-Chapter 83 - : Zhu Zhuqing’s Emotional Struggle

"Don't worry, I didn't hit him too hard. It may look serious, but it's mostly superficial wounds." Gently smoothing Zhu Zhuqing's hair from her forehead, Zhao Ming felt a pang of sadness at the sight of her pale face. Zhu Zhuqing was such a strong girl, how much pain must she have endured to shed tears like this?

He had witnessed everything clearly earlier—Dai Mubai had attacked Zhu Zhuqing without holding back at all. He was nothing short of a scoundrel, even worse than a beast!

Even though Zhao Ming had provoked him somewhat, that still didn't justify Dai Mubai's violent actions towards his fiancée.

Zhao Ming couldn't imagine himself acting that way. If he encountered such a situation, he certainly wouldn't strike his own woman first. At the very least, he'd get rid of the troublemaker before dealing with internal matters.

Why resort to violence? Couldn't things be resolved by talking?

A man like Dai Mubai, who abuses women, had no right to be with Zhu Zhuqing. Zhao Ming would never allow Zhu Zhuqing to end up with someone like him.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Mubai with eyes full of loss and disappointment, tears glistening. Streams of sorrow flowed down her cheeks. Zhao Ming could see her fragility, her despair, and her anguish.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing in such a vulnerable state, Zhao Ming's heart softened. He set aside any improper thoughts and stepped forward, pulling her into his arms. Zhu Zhuqing flinched, then struggled to break free.

But Zhao Ming wasn't about to let go.

He tightened his embrace.

Zhu Zhuqing's strength was no match for Zhao Ming's. After a brief struggle, realizing she couldn't escape, she finally gave up.

"No..." Dai Mubai's voice came out, but Zhao Ming silenced him by stepping on his face, muffling his protests to incoherent sounds.

"Let's take a walk. If you want to talk about anything, I'm here," Zhao Ming suggested, not wanting to stay at that place any longer.

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated, then nodded dazedly, lowering her head as she walked alongside Zhao Ming.

As they walked, her eyes reddened again, and fresh tears streamed down her face.

She couldn't take it anymore! She really couldn't take it anymore!

Why had she escaped from her family, after all? Wasn't it to stand by Dai Mubai's side, hoping that he would face the future like a man, instead of running away? Couldn't he see how much he meant to her?

Was one incident enough to make him doubt everything about her?

Was one mistake enough for him to attack her so ruthlessly?

For years, he'd indulged in debauchery and frequented places she disapproved of, but she had never interfered. Even when he fled to Shrek Academy without taking her with him, she never complained.

After arriving at Shrek, she hadn't even voiced her grievances.

Even when she heard about his disgraceful deeds from Xiao Wu, she still forgave him.

She had done so much, yet Dai Mubai never changed his ways. That alone would have been bearable, but now, after one misunderstanding, he was already doubting her and had even resorted to violence.

His narrow-mindedness!

His cowardice!

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His depraved lifestyle!

All of it filled Zhu Zhuqing with immense pain.

Without realizing it, they had walked far from the academy. Zhu Zhuqing sat down on a stone, hugging her legs, silently crying.

A light rain began to fall, the droplets mingling with her tears as they ran down her face.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing so devastated, Zhao Ming felt a deep sense of sympathy. The stronger a girl is, the more fragile her heart often is. What girl wouldn't want to live happily behind the protection of her beloved? It was only fate and Dai Mubai's weakness that forced Zhu Zhuqing to become so strong!

Fearing that she might catch a cold, Zhao Ming took off his outer robe and gently draped it over Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders, then pulled her into his arms.

Zhu Zhuqing's delicate body trembled slightly, but she didn't push Zhao Ming away.

Her small face rested against Zhao Ming's broad chest, and she wept quietly.

The wind howled, the rain poured down, and Zhu Zhuqing cried silently for over an hour before finally stopping.

But the slight tremors in her body revealed the storm still raging in her heart.

"You and Dai Mubai..." Zhao Ming ventured to ask after noticing that Zhu Zhuqing's mood seemed to have lightened slightly.

"He's my fiancé," Zhu Zhuqing replied with a sorrowful smile.

"Fiancé? I had no idea..." Zhao Ming feigned surprise.

"It's fine. You didn't do anything wrong today. The fault is all his," Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, one hand pressed against her forehead, clearly exhausted.

"I can tell you don't love him. Why stay with him? Haven't you ever thought about resisting?" Zhao Ming asked after a moment of contemplation.

"My marriage with Dai Mubai was arranged from the moment I was born. No one can change that," Zhu Zhuqing said after a brief hesitation, shaking her head.

"Have you ever considered resisting your family's influence? What if there's still a chance?" Zhao Ming suggested.

He knew he didn't yet have the strength to challenge such forces, but give him a few years, and he was confident he could stand against even the Star Luo Empire.

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, her head lowered.

After a moment of stillness, she suddenly lifted her head, her slightly swollen eyes locking onto Zhao Ming's. "Zhao Ming, do you...like me?"

"Maybe," Zhao Ming replied, startled, giving her a vague answer. He didn't want her to know about his feelings too early.

"Then you'd better not. We can't be together," Zhu Zhuqing said, shaking her head as she gazed at him.

"How do you know unless we try?" Zhao Ming couldn't resist cupping Zhu Zhuqing's delicate face, staring seriously into her eyes.

A flicker of panic flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's gaze as she quickly swatted his hand away.

"I don't want to take that risk, and I can't afford to. No matter what Dai Mubai has done wrong, he's still my fiancé, and that won't change. And while you're strong, I don't like you. Stop saying such things," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice firm.

Zhao Ming realized that now was not the time to push too hard. With her emotional state so fragile, being too forward could backfire. Sometimes, taking a step back was the wisest strategy.

"Fine, I won't mention it again. I was just unaware of your relationship with Dai Mubai, which led to my inappropriate behavior earlier," Zhao Ming said, his gaze returning to its usual clarity as he looked at her.

Hearing his words, Zhu Zhuqing sighed in relief, though there was a faint feeling of loss in her heart that she couldn't quite explain.

"It looks like the rain is getting heavier. We should head back," Zhao Ming suggested, noticing the increasing rainfall.

"I don't want to go back yet. You should go ahead," Zhu Zhuqing replied, shaking her head.

"Then I'll stay with you," Zhao Ming said firmly. There was no way he would leave her alone.

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