Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

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.