"Li Yuan, will you leave me?"

At Xia Zhijin’s question, not only was Li Yuan stunned, but Zhong Tingyue and Bai Weixi were also agape with surprise, finding the situation unbelievable. To ask Li Yuan such a question under these circumstances...

Perhaps she really is the one who loves me the most.

Li Yuan looked at Xia Zhijin with a gentle gaze. This endearingly naive, precious girl is as pure as a blank sheet when it comes to love. She may not have Zhong Tingyue’s seductive allure or Bai Weixi’s playful charm. She doesn’t know how to express her affection, act coy, or even how to really get angry... but she’s the gentlest of them all and most likely the one who loves me the most.

After finding out I was cheating on them, Bai Weixi, Zhong Tingyue, and even the love-struck Jiang Zhiyu would all vent their anger and dissatisfaction. They would cry their hearts out or even go on a hunger strike... Only this sweet, foolish girl, Xia Zhijin, would naively ask if I would leave her because of it... This is the second time she’s asked me this.

Li Yuan’s gaze fixed on Xia Zhijin as he said seriously, "No matter what, I will never be the one to leave you."

Hearing Li Yuan’s answer, Xia Zhijin smiled and nodded, murmuring shyly to herself, "Li Yuan, I’ll never be the one to leave you, either."

Listening to Xia Zhijin’s question and Li Yuan’s answer, Bai Weixi looked startled. She seemed to finally understand the difference between herself and this seemingly innocent, simple girl.

This girl in front of me loves Li Yuan without any reservations. But me... can I truly do the same?

Her eyes clouded with confusion as she recalled her true feelings since first meeting Li Yuan.

I finally understand where I lost...

Now that Bai Weixi and Xia Zhijin had asked their questions, it was her turn.

Zhong Tingyue stared intently at Li Yuan, biting her lip as she spoke with clear insinuation, "Senior, you should know what I want to ask, right?"

Hearing Zhong Tingyue’s words, Li Yuan’s heart stirred. He knew exactly what she was going to ask about.

Our relationship was born from a story I made up on a whim at the start of the semester. Back then, I was incredibly selfish, with the mindset of a scumbag who only wanted to be a playboy. It was an emotional outburst following my rebirth and sudden wealth—a release of my primal desires, the "evil side" of my heart. At the time, I felt no guilt at all, only pride and elation at getting close to and winning over Zhong Tingyue, the aloof Goddess from my past life. But as we spent more time together, "affection grew over time" is an apt description. When I went to Sucheng and saw her so devastated that she was refusing to eat, I finally felt a sense of guilt and began to re-examine myself. I’m a scumbag, but I suppose I still have a sliver of conscience left. I’m not completely heartless...

Bai Weixi listened to Zhong Tingyue, glancing at her from the corner of her eye. They had gotten along well when they first met, but after the truth came out, everything changed. They were like strangers sharing a bedroom, a wall now standing between them.

And she didn’t understand the relationship between Li Yuan and Zhong Tingyue. They had only known each other for a little over a month!

Why? How could they come from behind and get so far ahead? Was it just because of that "past life" story Li Yuan told? If that were true, then it would explain everything!

Bai Weixi watched Li Yuan and Zhong Tingyue with a complex expression, quietly waiting for his answer.

Li Yuan met Zhong Tingyue’s scrutinizing gaze. He felt a pang of guilt but could only feign composure on the surface.

Since it’s already come to this, I’ll just have to turn this lie into the truth! As long as my love for her is real, that’s all that matters!

Li Yuan nodded solemnly and met Zhong Tingyue’s gaze, a faint smile on his lips. "Little Moon, as I’ve said before, for three lives and three worlds, through ten miles of peach blossoms, I will always be by your side."

Hearing Li Yuan’s answer, Zhong Tingyue’s bright eyes curved into crescents. She didn’t press him further on whether the dream about a past life was real or a lie he had fabricated.

Some things are better left ambiguous than investigated to the bitter end. At the very least, he gave a direct answer, and that’s enough!

"Alright, you’ve bluffed your way through the first round," Zhong Tingyue said, pressing her lips together. She then glanced at Bai Weixi and Xia Zhijin and asked, "Ladies, do you want another go at interrogating Li the Big Scumbag? It’s a rare opportunity!"

The suggestion of another round of this "three-court trial" made Li Yuan’s scalp tingle. He asked weakly, "Um, are we continuing the ’interrogation’? Can I sit down and rest for a bit?"

Zhong Tingyue snickered but replied in a mock-serious tone, "Li the Big Scumbag, if you want a break, you’ll have to ask Weixi and Xia if they want a second round. Hmph! It’s what you deserve for hurting us!"

Li Yuan gave an awkward laugh and put on a pitiful expression. He looked first toward Xia Zhijin, blinking and silently pleading for help.