Chapter 130: Are You Being Too Heartless?

"Ha! What is that? Is she your pet, your servant? Or do you actually dare to marry her as your princess?"

Fu Yan, blinded by rage and having lost all sense of decorum and reason, fired these disdainful questions at Li Rui, one after another. Seeing him so anxious to protect Zhang Xiaolan, she couldn't help but wonder if Li Rui truly intended to marry her.

"That is none of your concern. I suggest you return home, Miss Fu. Prepare yourself well for the imperial selection; I am certain you will come out on top."

Li Rui had no patience left to explain further, for it was entirely unnecessary. Though he had no desire to hurt Fu Yan, this was the only way. If he did not make his stance explicitly clear, Fu Yan might continue to entangle herself with him. Even though these words would surely make her loathe him, it was better than leaving her with false hope. Such delusions would only harm everyone; it was best to sever her feelings once and for all.

"Brother Rui, how can you be so heartless? Are you pushing me toward someone else just like that?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Yan’s face was streamed with tears. These words tore at her heart, and she wept, accusing Li Rui of heartlessness.

"Miss Fu, your beauty and talent make you a perfect candidate for the imperial harem. Serving His Majesty and receiving his favor will surely lead to greatness, making you a person of prestige and distinction."

Li Rui could not bear the sight of a woman’s tears, and his heart softened slightly. His tone became noticeably gentler as he offered this advice, which was, in truth, his sincere consolation.

"Enough! I do not want to hear these hollow, flattering words. I only want one answer from you. I ask you for the last time, Brother Rui: have you ever loved me?"

Fu Yan felt a deep repulsion toward his words. To her, everything Li Rui said was merely perfunctory; talk of prestige and distinction was nothing but empty noise. What she desperately needed to know and confirm was whether she still held even a sliver of hope, or whether, in Li Rui’s heart, he had ever felt anything for her. Was it truly just her own one-sided devotion?

"Li Rui has always regarded you only as a younger sister."

Under Fu Yan’s hopeful gaze, Li Rui answered without hesitation. Calling her a sister was already the greatest mercy he could grant.

"A sister? After all these years, I have ended up with nothing but the empty title of a sister. Hahaha!"

Fu Yan’s heart shattered completely; her final illusions were extinguished. She repeated the word with a mocking, tearful laugh—a laugh directed at herself, at the feelings she felt had been trampled upon.

"Miss Fu, those were my honest words."

Seeing her like this, Li Rui furrowed his brows, unsure of what her manic laughter and crying signified. Did she still not believe that he spoke from the heart?

"They were honest, but they have wounded me deeply. I tell you this, Li Rui: you will surely regret this decision today."

Fu Yan’s expression turned cold. Though tear stains remained on her face and her agitated heart had yet to calm, she spoke these words as a warning to Li Rui.

After delivering the harsh remark, she did not hesitate, turning on her heel and walking away. As she walked, she wiped the tears from her face, her demeanor looking strangely resolute.

She no longer held any expectations for Li Rui. Perhaps, from this moment on, love would turn into hatred—a hatred, resentment, sorrow, and pain directed at the man she once loved and the woman he cherished.

Li Rui could not bear to see Fu Yan in such a state; in truth, he felt a sting of pity. He was not a cruel man, but he knew he could not let her continue like this. It was better to cut the knot cleanly.

"Were you not a bit too heartless? You can see that Miss Fu is truly heartbroken."

As Li Rui grappled with a sense of guilt, Zhang Xiaolan’s voice drifted toward him.