Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 499: Zi Mixen’s confession

As the flames hungrily devoured the remnants of the letter, Luo Muchen watched intently, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and determination. The crackling sound of the burning paper echoed in the room, drowning out his racing thoughts.

Thoughts of where he could take Qie Xieling filled his head. It had to be somewhere his father had no reach. Luo Muchen knew he had to get Qie Xieling as far away as possible immediately before word got to his father that he had Qie Xieling with him.

As the last remnants of the letter turned to ash, he took a deep breath and left the room. "Let’s go," he said and Bo Ailun followed after him. He was curious to know what Master Lee said but judging from Luo Muchen’s expression it wasn’t anything good.

When they reentered the reception area they were met with a commotion. Zi Mixen was sitting down her face looking ashen and her maidservants were yelling at the woman their voices raised but the woman kept a smile on his face despite everything.

Again she emphasized, "I am truly sorry but there is really no room. I can refer you to other inns if you would like?"

She even took out a list of inns for them to stay but they didn’t listen to her. When Zi Mixen spotted Luo Muchen, with a quick motion, she stood up, smoothing her elegant dress and adjusting her hair. The bored expression she had on wiped off her face her eyes sparkling. She instantly looked wronged. Like a chameleon, she changed her colour so fast to suit her needs.

Seeing the chance to finally be near Luo Muchen, Zi Mixen hurriedly made her way towards him. "Chen-ge" she called out, her voice coquettish and soft. "I wanted to stay in the same inn as you but they told me that there is no room."

Luo Muchen’s mood was already at its lowest and he had no patience to deal with her. "This place is not suitable for your condition. I am pretty sure there are more accommodating places on that list she gave you," he said his voice firm.

Zi Mixen’s excitement waned slightly, replaced by a tinge of disappointment. The very illness she used to her advantage had become an excuse Luo Muchen could use against her but she didn’t let it dampen her spirits completely.

"Well, now that we’re both here, can we talk?" she asked, her eyes brimming with hope. Just as Zi Mixen began to imagine the prospect of being alone with Luo Muchen, her heart racing with anticipation, he dropped an unexpected request. "Sure, let’s talk. But bring your maidservants with you," he said, his tone unwavering.

Zi Mixen’s face fell, her heart sinking with disappointment. She had hoped for a moment of intimacy, a chance to have Luo Muchen’s undivided attention. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him. With a sigh, she mustered a faint smile and nodded, accepting his condition.

As she followed after him she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of dejection. However, she understood that Luo Muchen was afraid of tarnishing her reputation but at this point, she would rather her reputation be smeared in mud as long as their names were attached together. In the end, he would be even more compelled to take responsibility for her.

***

A warm, golden glow spilt into the room through a small window, bathing the stern yet handsome Luo Muchen in its ethereal embrace. As he sat in his chair, his gaze burnt with an intensity that mirrored the sun’s intense luminosity, swirling around the edges like fiery tendrils reaching out to consume the world around him including Zi Mixen’s heart.

His expression was dark as a stormy night with something weighing heavy on his mind. Across from him, Zi Mixen had read the situation. Like any other time she was in trouble she pretended to be weak. She trembled slightly, her maidservants standing behind her, their faces filled with anxiety.

Luo Muchen’s aura was terrifying, a reflection of the anger boiling within him. He couldn’t fathom why Zi Mixen would resort to such a method just to frame Qie Xieling who had never done anything to her. With a heavy sigh, he rubbed his upper lip with his thumb, his eyes fixed on her.

"Young Miss Zi," he began his voice low and tinged with disappointment. The way he addressed her was distant and unfamiliar. It was different from before when she was cold. It showed that he at least cared for her but now things were different. "I am not pleased with what you did today. Hitting yourself and falsely accusing my wife... It was unnecessary and unfair."

"But I didn’t blame him. I didn’t say anything," she said her voice brittle as she placed her hand on her cheek. Tears welled up in her eyes as panic gripped her heart. She knew she had crossed a line, driven by her desperate desire to be the only one in his heart.

"You didn’t have to say anything. You two were alone in that carriage so who else would be blamed for it?" he said struggling to restrain himself.

With a thud, she knelt on the cold floor as she pleaded, "Chen-ge, please forgive me. I was foolish and blinded by my own emotions. He was ignoring me and I just wanted him to speak to me. Once we are married we would have to get along but he was ignoring me. I... I couldn’t stand it. I promise I will never do it again... please forgive me Chen-ge."

Luo Muchen’s gaze hardened as he motioned for her to get up. What was the use of kneeling before him? It didn’t appease him in the slightest. In fact, it upset him even further. She knew her health wasn’t good but she still knelt on the cold floor in an attempt to gain his sympathy.

With the help of her maidservants, Zi Mixen stood up, her hands trembling as she continued to apologise. "I am deeply sorry for my behaviour. I understand that I was wrong, and I’ve learned my lesson. I will make amends, I swear."

Luo Muchen’s voice remained firm, his words a painful truth. " Young Miss Zi, if we were to marry, you must know that I can never love you. This union will not bring you happiness or any true benefits. All you seek is the title of being my wife, but that alone cannot sustain a marriage."

Her heart sunk, but determination filled her eyes. She shook her head, emphasising her devotion. "Chen-ge, I have no illusions about love. The title of being your wife is enough for me. I am willing to support you, to stand by your side, even if your heart belongs to another."