104 Launching the Resistance

The breeze brushed against the branches outside the window, causing the dense leaves to rustle in a soft, continuous friction. Moonlight cast a frigid glow, filtering through the panes to paint the floor with vast, mottled shadows.

The shifting, dim silhouettes unsettled Yun Xueyan, throwing her thoughts into disarray. The wick of the candle dissolved into a pool of wax, flickering weakly.

Yun Xueyan sat curled up, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs, her entire form huddled into a tiny ball. Her ink-black hair cascaded down, veiling her face.

With a sudden crash, the door was flung open. A heavy, stifling scent of alcohol swept in on the wind, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps and the sharp click of the door closing behind them.

Yun Xueyan hurriedly lifted her head from between her knees, staring warily at Duan Nanyu, who stood not far away.

"What are you doing here!" She instinctively recoiled toward the back of the bed, her wide eyes flashing with sharp intensity. The sight of the man reeking of alcohol filled her with unease.

"Xue'er..." A voice heavy with grief and intoxication drifted toward her, making Yun Xueyan’s head throb.

"Get out. I need to rest." Lowering her voice into a fierce snarl, she stood up, bit her lip, and marched toward him. Standing before his towering frame, a surge of anger and resentment overwhelmed her.

She knew... nothing would ever change.

She had spent the entire afternoon thinking. Could she still love a man who had hurt her time and time again? Could she still endure the torment fate had dealt her?

She could not. She lacked the strength to face it; she was utterly exhausted, using the last of her energy just to shield herself.

"Get out!" The look of resentment in her eyes shot straight into Duan Nanyu’s chest, causing him to gasp in pain.

He had drunk too much—he had been intoxicated enough to summon the courage to find her. He was weak and pathetic, yet he still wanted to see her. He knew he had committed an error, and he knew that some mistakes, once made, were beyond repair.

But he could not let go. He did not even know when he had begun to care for her so deeply.

Seeing the intensity in her eyes and the hatred radiating from her, he felt a sudden, cold panic.

His sobriety returned in an instant. He could no longer hide behind the liquor, nor could he continue to lie to himself that she would forgive him.

No one was incapable of making mistakes, and no one was incapable of hurting others—be it intentional or otherwise. He had simply chosen the worst possible time to commit the most grievous of wrongs.

He had been terrified of falling for her, terrified of caring for her, for fear of becoming just like his father. So, he had hurt her repeatedly, hurting her until he felt the pain himself, yet he found no way to stop.

She pushed against him, struggling to force him toward the door. She did not need to see his hypocritical face, nor did she want to receive his pitying gaze.

Who was he to pity her? Even if she were wretched and destitute, she did not need his sympathy.

"Duan Nanyu, get out!" She would never allow him the slightest chance to touch her.

Her furious voice struck a chord in Duan Nanyu’s heart, causing him to lose control. He lunged, gripping her slender wrists with a force that threatened to crush the bone.

"Yun Xueyan." His voice, gritted through clenched teeth, came close to her ear like a bitter wind, slicing through every nerve and threatening to break her.

"Have you fallen for Feng Xilou!" The voice of jealousy hammered wildly in his heart, driving him toward madness. He had not forgotten the way Feng Xilou had looked at her today.

He could not forget it!

He had avoided investigating how she spent her time at the Prime Minister’s estate with Feng Xilou, fearing that more misunderstandings would only lead him to hurt her further.

But today, seeing the way Feng Xilou looked at her—and the way she had deliberately tried to avoid his gaze—had torn his heart to shreds.