Back Then, I Adored You

He sat silently in the car for a moment before he stepped on the accelerator, turned the steering wheel, and sped toward his office.

While waiting at a red light, the scene of Xu Wennuan squatting and crying by the road helplessly from the previous night floated before his eyes. His heart wrenched in pain, and he went into a daze once more. When the light turned green, the car in front of him had driven off, but his car didn’t move. Behind him, the sound of car horns started blaring in symphony, yet he was completely oblivious to them. He stopped contemplating only when an ill-tempered driver had gotten out of his car and walked up to Lu Bancheng’s car and knocked twice on his window.

The man outside was moving his mouth continuously and furiously. Lu Bancheng ignored his cursing and gradually retracted his gaze. Reacting half a beat slower, he steadily pressed the accelerator and sped off, reaching the office just past 8:00 a.m., giving him half an hour before his first meeting.

Lu Bancheng had not eaten breakfast, but he didn’t feel hungry at all. With his mind slightly unhinged, he sat before his office desk and went into a daze. He finally snapped back on the 10th time his secretary called out his name for his meeting. After finally acknowledging her with an elusive expression on his face, he bent down and began to fumble for his meeting materials. Although they were right beside him, he created a mess on his desk looking for them. Unable to continue watching him, she picked up the stack of materials and held them out to him, softly saying, “Master Lu, the meeting materials are here.”

Lu Bancheng stopped searching, stared at a random spot, and muttered a word of acknowledgment. After an awkward silence, he then accepted the materials from his secretary and absentmindedly made his way to the meeting room.

Everyone in the meeting was sharp, eloquently voicing their opinions but, as Lu Bancheng listened, their words gradually transformed into the sound of Xu Wennuan’s sobs. The volume of the sobs increased until, eventually, he lost control of himself and sprang from his seat.

In an instant, the entire meeting room went into complete silence, and everyone focused their attention on Lu Bancheng. He remained oblivious, however, to his own impulsive behavior and froze on the spot, staring straight at the huge screen with his lips pursed tightly.

Under the others’ nudging, Lu Bancheng’s secretary, who was seated next to him, called out to him. When Lu Bancheng heard her, his gaze drifted over to her for a moment but he said nothing. Leaving a room full of dumbfounded people, he walked out of the meeting and dashed into the restroom. After locking the door, he stood before the basin and turn on the faucet. Cupping his hands and filling them with cold water, he washed his face until he finally recovered from his confused state of mind. He then lifted his head slowly and stared at his own reflection in the mirror.

Through the expression in his eyes, he could clearly see his innermost feelings.

Regardless of how deeply she’s hurt me through her merciless act of aborting our child…

And regardless of how much that poor, innocent child suffered…

When I saw her squatting alone by the side of the road and crying out in desperation, my hatred was completely washed away by my indescribable heartache.

My heart ached for her.

Just like when I couldn’t help but foil her collaboration with that perverted Director Li when I saw how he had forced her to drink alcohol at Jin Yuan…

Just like when she had voluntarily initiated our intimacy yesterday, but I still could not bear to touch her when I knew that her heart was resisting me…

Just like when my entire world was disrupted today after seeing her cry last night…