Liking Him

"Dai Mubai, slow down."

In the lobby of the Rose Grand Hotel, Dai Mubai was holding two women in his arms and flirting with them.

"I can't slow down."

They were a pair of sisters. Both were tall and slender. Their looks could not be called breathtaking, but they were by no means ordinary.

"Young Master Dai, you haven't come here in a while. I've really missed you."

"Exactly, exactly. You haven't come for so long. What have you been doing?"

Dai Mubai looked at the two women and said with a smile, "Haven't I been fighting at the Suo Tuo Great Spirit Arena lately? I only had time today. I've been holding it in for so long, so I'm definitely going to let it all out tonight."

"You two had better serve me well tonight. Don't worry, this young master won't treat you badly."

At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing and Bai Ying walked straight down.

Bai Ying patted Zhu Zhuqing meaningfully on the shoulder, then said softly, "Then I'll be watching your performance. You won't disappoint me, will you?"

With that, he left directly.

When Dai Mubai saw that familiar figure, his relaxed expression changed several times in an instant.

"Zhu Zhuqing, why are you here?"

Dai Mubai immediately pushed away the two women beside him and looked at Zhu Zhuqing.

He had imagined countless scenes of the two of them reuniting, but he had never expected it to happen here.

"If you can come here, why can't I?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him coldly. She had indeed been a little afraid when facing Dai Mubai just now, but now she was completely fearless.

Before seeing him and speaking with him, she had still felt a trace of guilt in her heart. But now, that guilt had completely vanished.

What could a prince who indulged in wine and women all day give her?

If she relied on him, she would not even know how she died.

For Zhu Zhuqing, the most important thing now was to survive. Only by staying alive could she think about anything else.

The current Dai Mubai clearly could not even do that. He could barely protect himself.

"Dai Mubai, I want to talk to you."

"Oho, Young Master Dai, this is the little sister you provoked first?"

"She looks about the same age as you. I never thought you would be into this type."

Faced with the sisters' teasing, Dai Mubai had completely lost his former interest. Toward Zhu Zhuqing, he felt only guilt.

As a prince of the Star Luo Empire, how could he not know the rules of the Star Luo Empire's imperial family? Every generation's heirs had to kill one another. In the end, the victor would be chosen, while those who lost would have their Martial Souls crippled or be killed. Either way, they would live a life worse than death.

Dai Mubai could imagine how much Zhu Zhuqing had endured to come find him, so he did not dare face her now.

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent for a moment, then said calmly, "At first, I thought you were only running away for a while. I never expected you to sink this low. As a prince of the Star Luo Empire, you clearly know the rules, so why did you run away? Do you know how much this has affected me?"

Dai Mubai could not find a single word to refute her. He knew what kind of person he was.

Ever since his second brother died, he had lived in fear. He did not dare compete with his elder brother and had been under Dai Weisi's shadow since childhood. Thus, he could only numb his pain through indulgence, hoping to forget all of it.

"Zhuqing, I'm sorry. Listen to me, let me explain. It really isn't what you think."

Dai Mubai quickly grabbed Zhu Zhuqing by the wrist, but she flung his hand away.

"I don't want to say anything more to you, because talking to you is simply a waste of my time. Ever since I was born into the Zhu Family, my entire life has been bound to yours. I never had any choice at all."

"I'm tired. I'm truly tired."

"All these years, I never asked for anything. I only wanted to survive. Unfortunately, even such a small, insignificant request couldn't be fulfilled."

The manager had already cleared everyone out of the Rose Grand Hotel's lobby.

"Zhuqing, listen to me. It isn't what you think."

"I tried too, but everything failed. Still, I believe that as long as I work hard enough, I'll surpass my elder brother one day."

"Work hard enough to surpass your elder brother? What can you use to guarantee that?"

"Just look at yourself now. Do you really think a good-for-nothing who spends all day drinking and chasing women can give me anything?"

"Dai Mubai, please, let me go, all right? I tried to resist for your sake, but now I understand. You're nothing more than a wealthy young master with some talent who knows how to indulge in pleasure. You have no idea how cruel the imperial struggle is. Please don't pester me anymore. I won't pester you either. Can't we just leave each other alone?"

Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai immediately said, "No. You're my fiancée. How could I let you face this alone? Believe me, believe me. One day, I'll make them regret it and ascend that throne. When that happens, you'll be the lofty crown princess."

Zhu Zhuqing laughed. "Dai Mubai, Dai Mubai. After all these years, I never thought you'd still be this childish."

"Do you think I'll believe your nonsense? I'm telling you, that's impossible."

She had now completely given up on Dai Mubai. Between a prince who only knew how to indulge in wine and women and Bai Ying, who had the backing of the Spirit Hall and possessed extraordinary talent at such a young age, even a fool would know which one to choose.

"Enough. I already have a boyfriend. From now on, we won't contact each other anymore. I don't want my boyfriend to misunderstand."

"A boyfriend? How is that possible? Which bastard dares to steal my woman?"

"Zhu Zhuqing, are you lying to me because you want me to change my mind about you? You must be lying to me."

"I'm not lying to you. It's true. I don't want to keep pretending with you anymore. I want to live for myself for once."

"The man just now is my boyfriend. He's also the person I truly like now. So, Dai Mubai, this is really over between us."

"Impossible! I refuse to accept this. You're mine. This must be fake. That man bewitched you, didn't he?"

"Think whatever you want. In any case, don't appear in front of me again."

After Zhu Zhuqing finished speaking, she felt as if a huge stone had been lifted from her heart. Her entire body felt light and refreshed.

Dai Mubai, meanwhile, was completely stunned. It seemed he still had not recovered from the shock.

Am I really this useless?

Zhu Zhuqing had grown up with him since childhood, yet now she had fallen out with him to defend some wild man from outside. How could someone with his explosive temper endure that?

"I'm going to see what kind of man he is. What kind of person could make Zhu Zhuqing quarrel with me like this? I'll prove that I'm the best one."

As he walked out of the lobby, Bai Ying pulled Zhu Zhuqing into his arms.

"Is it settled?"