Not knowing how to face Shen Liangchuan, Qiao Lian ran away almost out of reflex .
But she had only taken a few steps when the person behind her caught up . Following that, he gripped her arm tightly . With a strong tug, she spun around and fell straight into his embrace .
With her nose against his muscular chest, she found herself hardly able to breath .
She looked up and saw that Shen Liangchuan’s expression was no longer the same .
It was no longer cold and icy . On the contrary, it had some sort of inexplicable tenderness and longing .
He had come out of Li Rui’s villa, hence he must have been there to clarify the matter .
And judging by his expression, she could guess that Li Rui must have forgiven them .
As she pondered this, she heard Shen Liangchuan whisper hoarsely in her ear, “Qiao Lian, I’m sorry . ”
Sorry?
Qiao Lian lifted her head and looked at him puzzled .
She had come prepared to offer her humble apologies .
And along with this, she had expected a stormy reception . She wasn’t prepared for an apology from Shen Liangchuan .
In her distracted state, she heard Shen Liangchuan continue, “I misunderstood you . That picture… Teacher staged it on purpose . ”
Briefly, he explained to Qiao Lian what had happened back then .
Qiao Lian was stunned by how the story had unfolded .
The past few days she had been guilt-stricken, as she had tried to come to terms with how she had ruined someone’s career . She had thought that she had become an unpardonable sinner .
She would have never imagined that the truth could be such .
She gave a deep sigh of relief, feeling the heavy burden on her chest slip away all of a sudden .
However, apart from the relief that she felt, there was no joy .
That’s right, she was unhappy .
Clenching her jaw, her expression froze and became icy as she glared at Shen Liangchuan . “And so?”
Shen Liangchuan paused, trying to figure out where she was going with this .
Qiao Lian clenched her fists .
When he had interrogated her so aggressively that day, the look in his eyes had made her feel shame like she had never before .
She looked steadily at him as she asked, “Shen Liangchuan, this time is Li Rui . Next time, will there be a Wang Rui, Zhao Rui and whoever else?”
Shen Liangchuan frowned .
Qiao Lian continued, “Shen Liangchuan, I’m laying out my past on the table right here . I’ve done many things that you would consider despicable . Are you going to hold me accountable for each of them?”
This time he had blown his top for no reason and had made her feel so wronged .
Shen Liangchuan panicked a little at this point . “Qiao Lian, I—”
“Loving a person means loving everything about them . I am who I am—in the past, present and future—that won’t change . Are you going to accept the person that I am?”
Every word and every sentence was a question she asked him .
Celebrities and the paparazzi were natural enemies .
She did not want to be despised because of her own past .
She was lowly, but she no longer wanted to be lowly in their relationship .
And certainly, she did not want to repeat what had happened over the last few days .
After asking these questions, she looked steadily into his eyes .
Shen Liangchuan was stunned by her words .
Her in the past, her in the present and her in the future…
He had to admit he had fallen in love with the current Qiao Lian .
But would he be able to accept her eight years ago?
Their internet relationship eight years ago had been burnt into his memory .
But on the internet, everything was unreal, like a dream .
That Xiao Qiao, would he be able to cast aside his burden and accept her?
Seeing doubt and hesitation in his eyes, Qiao Lian laughed bitterly