Chapter 118: Chapter 118: King Qing Doesn’t Like Me Getting Too Close to Other Men

Zhou Junlin stared at her as if she were a stranger, his voice a mixture of anger and embarrassment. “Song Lianhe, is that something a lady should say?”

Although his tone still suggested he wanted to avoid her like the plague, Song Lianhe noticed that he hadn’t denied it immediately. That truly surprised her.

Zhou Junlin had always been blunt and decisive with her original self, never giving her an ounce of hope when it came to his feelings. A simple “You think you’re worthy?” would have been enough to put her back in her place.

Unlike now, when his first thought was whether she “should” say such a thing, not whether she was “worthy.”

It was obvious she wasn’t the only one who’d noticed; even Zhou Xilan, just on the other side of the wall, had sensed it.

She stood frozen at the base of the wall, her mind going blank for a moment.

After asking her question, Song Lianhe looked at Zhou Junlin with an expression of disbelief.

’Has he been possessed? Or is this some other kind of scheme?’

’But what then?’

’He said it’s not something a lady should say… and then what?’

’Is that it?’

Apparently, that was it.

There was no follow-up.

Song Lianhe was so exasperated she almost laughed. She gave him a thumbs-up—

’You’re really one of a kind.’

Zhou Junlin seemed not to understand her meaning. He lowered his hands and his expression darkened. His fiery gaze held a hint of barely perceptible turmoil, and after a single glance at her, he averted his eyes.

“My aunt suddenly mentioned you today.”

’Consort Qi?’

Song Lianhe had a very good impression of the Consort, who was as serene and noble as a pine in a secluded valley. It was rare to find someone in the imperial harem, like her and Empress Chun De, who was so unambitious. She had even heard that back then, in order to care for the young child her sister had left behind, Consort Qi had resolutely drunk a sterility soup.

This spirit had deeply moved Emperor Cheng Xiao, and it had also earned her a sanctuary of peace within the imperial harem.

So, to be mentioned by such a person was something Song Lianhe considered quite an honor.

“My aunt would like to invite you to the palace for a chat.”

“Is that all? You could have just sent a messenger. Why bother coming all this way yourself?”

Song Lianhe turned to go back inside, but unexpectedly, he blocked her path again.

“What else is there? Can’t you just say it all at once?”

’Back when I was reading the book, I don’t remember the male lead being so wishy-washy.’

Zhou Junlin’s gaze was scorching as he stared intently at her. “Your refusal of our marriage—is it because of my uncle?”

A man like Zhou Cangyan, coming to this little Medical Clinic in person… who else could it be for?

Besides, his uncle and she already had a history. For him to ignore the gossip and take her back to his own residence meant Zhou Junlin had probably already been branded a cuckold back then.

Zhou Junlin’s face darkened, truly making him look like a man staring at his unfaithful wife.

Song Lianhe had been about to deny it, but seeing his expression, she immediately changed her mind. “That’s right.”

She nodded magnanimously. “I did it for him.”

’He’s a powerful patron. It’d be a waste not to take advantage of it!’

’Besides, didn’t Zhou Cangyan say it himself? That if I were to transfer my affections to someone, I should choose him over Su Huaqing.’

Earlier, because the Holy Emperor had made his decree, the marriage was called off, so she hadn’t planned on making things so complicated.

But now, seeing as Zhou Junlin seemed so resistant to her breaking off the engagement, she might as well just toss the trouble over to Zhou Cangyan.

’Anyway, those two are the protagonist and the villain. With or without me, most of the main plot is driven by their love-hate dynamic. I’m just getting back on the story’s track.’

She admitted it so brazenly, without a hint of shame, let alone guilt or unease.

Zhou Junlin clenched his fists, his entire being radiating hostility. “So, you betrayed me long ago!”

“Hold it!” Song Lianhe tilted her head, completely unfazed by his hostile aura. She spoke unhurriedly, “Me liking another man is ’betrayal,’ but you and Song Xilan are just ’in love’? Prince Ling, you’re supposed to be well-versed in the classics. Does that kind of hypocritical logic make any sense to you? If you never took our engagement seriously in the first place, then there’s no need for me to take it seriously now. And besides, I just happen to like King Qing. I just think he’s better than you!”

Staring at Zhou Junlin’s shifting expression and the slight rise and fall of his chest, she gave a bewitching smile. “Never been dumped by a woman before, have you? It’s alright. There’s a first time for everything. It’ll get better, and you’ll get used to it eventually.”

With that, she took a demure step back and said in a delicate voice, “King Qing doesn’t like it when I get too close to other men. Farewell, Prince Ling.”

Zhou Junlin’s dark eyes followed her as she swayed her slender waist, walking away with an aura that could topple kingdoms.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep