Chapter 29: One Mistake Cannot Be Followed by Another

What was meant to happen, and what was not, had all come to pass. Once the storm of passion subsided, Lu Youyou felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. She lay against Sima’s chest, unable to lift her head. As an adult woman, seducing her cousin’s boyfriend—who was also an athlete under her direct coaching—was nothing short of a crime. With the fire of passion spent, morality reclaimed its throne, pressing down on her until she could barely breathe.

Sima stroked her bare back and asked thoughtfully, "Did you know there was a stimulant in the wine?"

Lu Youyou hesitated before replying, "I did. Zhang Ke mentioned it at the time, but I wasn't sure if he was joking."

Sima let out a hum and said, "It wasn't a joke, and it worked quite well with no side effects. Was there any more?"

"No," Lu Youyou said. "There were only two bottles."

Sima asked again, "Who is the childhood friend who gave him the wine?"

Lu Youyou thought for a moment. "I think his name is Xue Dong. They grew up in the same compound and have been close since they were kids. My training schedule was so heavy back then, I was exhausted and rarely had the time to go out, so I wasn't in their circle." She propped herself up and reached out to grab her clothes.

Sensing she didn't want to talk about Zhang Ke, Sima changed the subject: "So, how long have you been coveting my body?"

"You, you, you... what coveting?" Lu Youyou felt as if she had been struck by lightning, leaving her stuttering and stunned.

Sima pinched her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "What is your plan? A one-night stand, or a stable relationship? Are you going to hide this from Lu Yuan and share me, or are you going to come clean and let her decide?"

Lu Youyou stared at him, dazed. With their eyes locked at such close range, she realized Sima was no "innocent youth." At his core, he was a player, so shamelessly frank that it was baffling. How could Lu Yuan have been so bewitched by him? Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she felt completely helpless, not knowing what to say.

Sima couldn't help but laugh. "It seems you haven't decided yet. Is there a problem with Lu Yuan? Did her father object to our relationship and beg you to 'break up the lovebirds'?"

Lu Youyou swatted his hand away. After a moment of stiffness, she slumped back onto his chest and sighed gloomily, "You're truly sharp. My uncle wanted me to tear you two apart. He doesn't think you’re a good match for Lu Yuan."

Sima wrapped his arms around her supple body. "I’m certainly not the match he has in mind, but you went a bit too far, didn't you? Was 'offering your body' really necessary?"

Lu Youyou finally snapped. Letting go of all pretense, she said in a fit of exasperated anger, "I coveted your body, there, are you happy now!"

Both fell into an involuntary silence. After a long while, Lu Youyou said with difficulty, "You should still break up with Lu Yuan. You two... you aren't right for each other. She isn't me; she’s a good girl. The longer she stays with you, the more she’ll be hurt in the end. You won't marry her, will you?"

Sima said calmly, "Who knows what the future holds?"

Lu Youyou was filled with bitter resentment. She complained helplessly, "A man's words are a deceitful ghost... You say you'll take responsibility for her, but how exactly?"

Sima replied, "It's nothing complex. If she’s willing to accept it, I’ll provide for her."

Lu Youyou felt deeply insulted. She scoffed, "You might as well just say you’re keeping her as a mistress!"

Sima did not deny it. His silence wounded Lu Youyou deeply; she felt that Lu Yuan had misjudged him, and she had misjudged him as well. She wrapped herself in a blanket, stood up, and gathered her clothes from the floor. "I hope you stop deceiving Lu Yuan," she said. "Tell her the truth and set her free."

Lu Youyou did not wait for his reply. By the time she was dressed and headed out, Sima had already left. Suddenly drained of all strength, she collapsed onto the sofa, consumed by regret. How could she have been so impulsive, so possessed, as to commit such a shameful act? She felt she had ruined everything. One mistake after another—she had to confess to Lu Yuan and beg for her forgiveness.

Grabbing her phone and wallet, Lu Youyou rushed out. She went straight to the train station and bought the earliest ticket to Changzhou City. Deep in the night on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, she sat alone in the waiting hall, heartbroken and filled with irreparable remorse.

Lu Yuan had spent the holiday in a state of unease. She missed Sima but didn't want to disturb him too often, and by suppressing her longing, she had grown quite melancholic. That afternoon, she received a sudden call from her cousin, asking to meet. Her voice sounded thick with exhaustion. Worried that something had happened, Lu Yuan confirmed the location and rushed over. Seeing her cousin disheveled and haggard, as if she hadn't slept for days, her heart sank.

The two sat in a quiet corner of a café. Lu Youyou ordered a double espresso, and Lu Yuan ordered a hot cocoa. When the drinks arrived, Lu Youyou downed her coffee in one gulp, her hands trembling slightly, betraying her inner turmoil. Lu Yuan had never seen her cousin in such a state. When she asked what was wrong, Lu Youyou hesitated for a long time before finally pouring out the details of her grave mistake. Her words were disjointed and incoherent, but she hid nothing. Lu Yuan listened quietly, saying nothing—silence, only silence. One either erupts in silence or perishes in it.

Lu Youyou’s throat went dry and her mouth tasted bitter. She dared not look up at her cousin, fearing the expression of despair she might see. After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yuan pulled out her phone and made a call. A moment later, she heard Sima’s familiar voice. She told him her cousin was with her and asked if what her cousin had said about their encounter was true. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Lu Yuan said a flat goodbye and hung up. Lu Youyou saw her hand grip the phone so tightly that the veins on the back of her hand bulged. She wanted to offer some comfort, but the words died on her lips; she felt she had no standing or qualification to console her.

Lu Yuan took a deep breath, stood up shakily, and gritted her teeth. "You should go back," she said. "Don't come to Changzhou City again. I don't want to see you anymore."

Lu Youyou felt as if her heart were being cut to ribbons. She looked up with difficulty at Lu Yuan’s retreating back, her inner world collapsing. She realized she had made yet another terrible mistake, one even more foolish than the first. She had become Sima’s accomplice, cruelly hurting Lu Yuan and pushing her into the abyss.

This had not been her intention, but adults only look at the results, not the initial motives. From the result, she had fulfilled her uncle's request and successfully torn Sima and Lu Yuan apart. Both had paid a heavy price, and a rift would grow between Lu Ping'an and his daughter that could never be healed. There were no winners in this; everyone was a loser. Carrying the cross of her repentance, Lu Youyou dragged her heavy body back to Beizhi City like a walking corpse.