Song Ning had barely opened her mouth when Gu Zheng spoke, his voice strained with suppressed pain:
"Song Ning! I like you! I've liked you for a long time!"
"I know... it's presumptuous to tell you this now! And disrespectful to you!"
"I know... Zhou Yuanhang and Jiang Chengshi are both outstanding! Either of them would be a good choice!"
"But I tried to wish you well as a friend! It didn't work! I couldn't do it! I'm so jealous of them it's killing me! I can't pretend to be calm and composed around you!"
"Song Ning! It feels like I've missed one chance after another! I know I'm not as likable as they are! But I still want you to know how I feel!"
"Song Ning..."
Gu Zheng's voice softened. His handsome eyes gazed at her with such affection, glistening faintly with tears, their depths filled with anguish and an inner struggle he couldn't resolve...
"I'm sorry... for telling you all this! I mean no harm! And I completely respect your choice! I just wondered whether... it might still be in time for me... to ask you for a fair chance!"
"Song Ning!"
Gu Zheng looked deeply into her eyes. "Have you chosen between them? Do I... still have a chance?"
His sudden confession caught Song Ning completely off guard.
She had spent quite a while with Gu Zheng.
She had never seen him look so loving and so anguished.
Nor had she ever known he harbored such feelings.
To her, Gu Zheng had always been her closest friend.
And the comrade who understood her best.
When he had told her he was under orders to protect her, she had felt reassured.
She had always been grateful to him.
Later, she had discovered that he was also under orders