"However, don’t celebrate too soon. I was Long Aotian’s first woman, and all the rules in this household will be set by me."
Hu Yuying was dead serious about this.
"Even though you’ve given yourself to Long Aotian, still—"
Before Hu Yuying could finish, Lin Wanning interjected, "I know. If I don’t obey, you’ll kick me out."
"Not just in this home, but at all times, you’ll always be my dear sister."
As she spoke, she gazed at Hu Yuying with genuine emotion. "Thank you… for being willing to forgive someone as despicable as me." Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒·𝗇𝗲𝘁
"I’m not forgiving you. I’ll still hold you accountable for threatening Long Aotian!"
"What I’m forgiving is Long Aotian’s honesty and his torment."
"You have no idea how much he means to me."
Through the video Lin Wanning had recorded, the whole incident had become clear.
Long Aotian never wanted to hurt anyone. Though he tried to shoulder all the blame himself, he had indirectly hurt Lin Wanning in the process.
His reluctance to let go, his affection, his choices, his helplessness, his suffering, and ultimately his confession—all of it had been laid bare before her.
What was done was done; arguing over right and wrong was pointless. So what she accepted wasn’t Lin Wanning—she accepted all of Long Aotian.
After this, the bond between her and Long Aotian would only grow stronger.
And in his heart, she would occupy an even greater place.
No matter what schemes Lin Wanning might harbor, she would lose in the face of Hu Yuying’s dominance.
As for Lin Wanning, a girl who had lost her innocence—how much scorn and injustice would she face in the future? Though she claimed it was her own choice, Long Aotian still bore some responsibility.
She was willing to give up everything for Long Aotian, even her dignity and reputation, just to remain as his hidden lover. That alone proved how deeply she cared for him—no one would go to such lengths otherwise.
Even so, there had to be order. As the first woman, Hu Yuying had every right to set her own rules.
With that, Hu Yuying turned toward the door. "Aren’t you coming in?"
Hearing this, Long Aotian pushed the door open.
He had returned earlier but stayed outside, not wanting to interrupt Hu Yuying and Lin Wanning’s conversation.
Placing the breakfast on the table, he opened it and set it before Hu Yuying as he always had, his emotions in turmoil.
He had heard every word Hu Yuying said—she had compromised because of him.
"You’ve put everything in front of me. What will Wanning eat?"
Long Aotian glanced at Hu Yuying, then at Lin Wanning, who kept her eyes downcast. "Didn’t you say everything at home should revolve around you?"
Hu Yuying couldn’t help but laugh at his bewildered expression. "And what about outside this home?"
"Everywhere. I’ll always put you first."
Lin Wanning watched the usually domineering Long Aotian act so meek, then met Hu Yuying’s smiling gaze. Softly, she said, "Yuying has accepted me."
"From now on, she’ll be my sister, and I’ll listen to her in everything. If you ever make her angry, I won’t speak to you again either."
Her own family had long since cast her out.
If she could have a home here, she was willing to do anything.
Before, she had been like a creature of the shadows, unseen and unwanted. But now that Hu Yuying had accepted her, she could finally step into the light.
Even if her position remained awkward, in her heart, she too would defer to Hu Yuying.
After breakfast, Lin Wanning received a video call from Li Qingxue.
Not wanting to impose, she excused herself to Hu Yuying and left.
Once Lin Wanning was gone, Long Aotian pulled Hu Yuying into his arms. "You didn’t have to do this."
Hu Yuying tried to break free, but his grip only tightened. After a futile struggle, she gave up. "Do you think I wanted to?"
"Wanning’s family abandoned her, and you took her innocence. What was she supposed to do alone?"
At those words, Hu Yuying’s tears finally spilled over. "You only know how to bully me. You can’t keep doing this to me."
"Do you have any idea how much this hurts me?"
"I know, I know." Long Aotian’s heart ached as he watched her reddened eyes and trembling lips. "If it hurts, hit me, yell at me—just don’t leave me."
"How many times did you sleep with Wanning?"
"Last week, and then this Wednesday and Friday."
Hu Yuying punched his chest twice. "Now you have two women by your side. Are you happy?"
"You don’t know how torn and scared I’ve been," Long Aotian admitted. "I only ever wanted you."
"I don’t believe you. Wanning watches more… videos than I do. She knows more. Did she do things I wouldn’t? If you really only wanted me, why didn’t you tell me sooner?"
"I was afraid—afraid you’d leave me. I couldn’t bring myself to say it. But I couldn’t keep lying either."
"Weren’t you afraid I’d leave you even after you confessed?" Her voice softened.
"Terrified. But the guilt was eating me alive. I couldn’t take it anymore."
"I didn’t know what else to do. The only thing I could think of was telling you everything."
"At that moment, I swore—as long as you didn’t leave me, I’d do anything. Hu Yuying, I can’t live without you."
"I know I’m asking too much, but I can’t let you go. Hate me, resent me—I’ll bear it all. I just can’t lose you..."
The man who once stood before her—domineering, guiding her, helping her earn tuition, always looking out for her—now clung to her waist, declaring he could never live without her.
It all felt like a dream. Even someone like Long Aotian could become this vulnerable when in love.
But then again, wasn’t he her one and only? Her everything?
As Hu Yuying had said, she wasn’t forgiving Lin Wanning. From start to finish, she was forgiving her Long Aotian.
A man who, after doing wrong, chose honesty over deceit.
A man who didn’t shift blame onto Lin Wanning for her advances but took full responsibility himself.
A kind-hearted soul who, had he chosen to lie, would have had her unwavering trust...