A brief silence fell over the living room, broken only by Yu Sangning's short, congested breaths.
The warm yellow light of the floor lamp enveloped the two of them in their embrace, as well as Lu Xiaoxiao, who sat nearby with concern in her eyes. Both women were waiting for Lu Shiyan's response.
In truth, Yu Sangning's question had struck precisely at the most sensitive, vulnerable nerve in their relationship-her insecurity, her unease, and her deep fear that she might hurt Lu Shiyan's career.
And what came next was not something Lu Xiaoxiao, an "outsider" to their relationship, could answer on Lu Shiyan's behalf.
Lu Shiyan did not answer immediately. He merely tightened his arms around Yu Sangning, drawing her deeper into his embrace, as though the gesture could convey the reassurance words alone could not fully express.
He lowered his head and gently rested his forehead against her temple. The intimate gesture made Yu Sangning tremble slightly, but she did not pull away.
Lu Shiyan remained silent for several seconds, as though choosing his words, or using that brief quiet to steady the emotions surging inside him.
When he spoke again, his voice was low and firm, every word seemingly weighed with care:
"Sangning." He called her by her name, her original name, with a solemnity that seemed to reach across time. "Look at me."
Yu Sangning instinctively lifted her tear-blurred eyes to meet his deep gaze.
Those eyes, capable of expressing countless emotions on-screen, held no trace of acting now-only profound sincerity and love.
"First, please stop saying you're sorry to me." Lu Shiyan's tone carried a firmness that allowed no argument, yet held endless tenderness. "I just told you that you have nothing to apologize to me for. The people who should apologize are the ones who