Let me explain, it's not what you think.

Zhuang Jingbai wiped away her tears, stood up, and walked to Lu Chen.

This time, she didn't hide or sit far away; instead, she stood directly in front of him, so close that the hem of her skirt almost touched his knees.

"What are you doing?"

Zhuang Jingbai didn't say anything, but simply bent down, placed her hands on the armrests of the chair, and encircled him in the middle.

Her face was very close, so close that Lu Chen could smell the faint fragrance of moonlight emanating from her.

"You..." Lu Chen leaned back.

"Jiang Huaiyu isn't here today... I'm all alone."

"So what?"

"I miss you."

As she said those four words, her cheeks slowly flushed, the blush spreading from her cheekbones to her ears.

"I haven't seen you for so many days, and you haven't replied to a single message. I can't sleep at night..."

"Now that you're willing to take me, I... I want to do my best."

Looking at her like this, Lu Chen's anger was replaced by an indescribable emotion.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but Zhuang Jingbai had already leaned down and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"Just for a little while, my husband~"

Lu Chen froze for a moment, but ultimately did not push her away.

His hand hovered in mid-air. After a moment's hesitation, he gently patted her back.

Zhuang Jingbai's body trembled, then went limp, like a piece of candy melted by the sun, sticking to him and refusing to get up.

"Lu Chen".

"Um."

"You smell like someone else."

"..."

"I don't mind," she quickly said, her voice tinged with a hint of ingratiation.

"You can change them gradually later."

Lu Chen was amused by her: "Change what?"

"Take mine instead."

……

Lu Chen's communication token suddenly lit up.

Both of them lowered their heads at the same time.

A line of text appeared on the token; it was sent by Lin Tian.

"Junior brother, come to my cave for a drink tomorrow night. I have something to tell you."

Lu Chen stared at the words, his pupils contracting slightly. His hand tightened involuntarily, and the grip on Zhuang Jingbai's wrist suddenly increased.

Zhuang Jingbai winced in pain and cried out softly, "Husband, it hurts..."

But Lu Chen didn't let go, because at that moment his good friend sent him a message, while he was...

He stared at the line of text, reading it word by word.

Then he slammed the token down on the table with a dull thud.

"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly like this...?" Zhuang Jingbai was startled by his sudden change, and her voice changed.

Lu Chen did not answer.

His breathing became heavy and rapid, and his chest heaved violently.

He suddenly stood up, causing the chair to tip backward and crash to the ground with a thud.

Zhuang Jingbai was slammed against the edge of the table, the blows heavy and violent, like someone pounding on her chest.

"Lu Lang..."

……

The next evening, Lu Chen stood at the entrance of Lin Tian's cave and took a deep breath.

He stepped inside. The table was laden with food and wine. Lin Tian sat in the main seat, Wang Feng on his left, and Zhang Fan on his right. The three of them were talking when they saw him enter and looked up.

"Junior brother is here! Please have a seat!"

Lu Chen walked over and sat down, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan tidied up very well today, much better than a few days ago. There was a light in his eyes, a light that had been rekindled.

"Everyone's here. Come on, let's have a drink first."

The four men clinked glasses and each drank their cups.

"The reason I called you all here today is because I have something to say to you," Zhang Fan said first.

He put down his wine glass and looked at the three of them.

"I've made up my mind. I'm going to win Yu Ning back."

Lu Chen paused for a moment, his hand holding the wine glass still.

"These past few days I've been thinking about... about us..."

"She did wrong me, she made a mistake, but she didn't betray me! And I wasn't without fault either. I've been busy with my spiritual practice and social engagements these past few years, and I haven't been able to take care of her feelings."

Wang Feng patted him on the shoulder without saying anything.

"And what I said that day was too harsh. I called her a bitch... but that's not true. I was just too angry, angry that she kept it from me, angry that she lied to me, angry at myself for being useless."

"I've been angry, I've thought about it, but I still can't let her go."

Lu Chen sat beside Zhang Fan, listening to every word he said, feeling as if a stone was being stuffed into his chest, growing heavier and heavier.

He recalled Yu Ning's forced, aggrieved expression back then.

Zhang Fan now says he wants to get it back.

But Yu Ning can never go back.

"Senior brother, what do you think?" Zhang Fan suddenly turned to look at him.

"What?"

"Do you think I still have a chance? You used to visit me often, and you're quite familiar with Yu Ning. Do you think she still has feelings for me?"

"Yes, definitely!"

Zhang Fan smiled upon hearing this.

"That's good. I was just afraid she wouldn't forgive me."

He picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Tomorrow, I'll go find her. I'll apologize and admit my mistake. She can hit me or yell at me, as long as she comes back."

Wang Feng: "Don't make the same mistake again this time."

"No more! I won't do it again!" Zhang Fan shook his head firmly.

Lin Tian: "Come on, come on, I wish Junior Brother Zhang every success!"

The three raised their glasses, and Lu Chen also raised his.

The wine glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Lu Chen tilted his head back and downed the wine.

The spirit wine wasn't strong, but as Lu Chen drank it, he felt it burn from his throat to his stomach, making his eyes sting.

He saw Zhang Fan smiling and talking to Wang Feng, his eyes shining brightly.

It was a hope of something lost and then regained.

But Lu Chen knew that this hope was shattered.

He broke it himself.

Every form of Yu Ning has been unlocked.

He hated Yu Ning.

He hated her for forcing him, hated her for not giving Zhang Fan even a little time. Even a few days would have made all the difference.

But she didn't give it to her.

Holding the communication token, she used his secret, Zhang Fan's trust, and all his brotherhood to force him to comply.

She won.

He compromised.

Therefore, Zhang Fan's hopes were completely shattered.

Lu Chen poured himself another glass of wine, tilted his head back and gulped it down, then drank one glass after another.

"Junior brother, you drank a bit too much today," Lin Tian asked with a smile.

"I'm happy, I'm happy for Junior Brother Zhang."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan laughed even harder and raised his glass to clink with his.

"Thank you, senior brother!"

Another crisp sound rang out.

……

When Lu Chen returned to his cave, drunk, it was already late at night.

Seeing that the cave was empty, he was too lazy to enter the magic rune space and just wanted to go to sleep in his room.

Unfortunately, Yu Ning's figure slowly appeared.

Her cultivation level was much higher than his, so she could come out of the magic rune space at any time. Furthermore, Lu Chen used a secret technique to allow the two women to observe the outside world from the magic rune space.

Therefore, Yu Ning knew everything that happened outside.

She understood Lu Chen's feelings at that moment.

He must have realized he was wrong again. After all, if he had known Zhang Fan would regret it so soon, he would never have touched him!