Chapter 287: Enjoying a Life Without Morals

Chapter 287: Embracing a Shameless Life

Wu Yue reached out, trying to put some space between them.

Shen Que didn’t hesitate—his free hand wrapped around her, giving her no chance to pull away.

He lowered his head again, his gaze settling on the frostbite on Wu Yue’s skin, his voice soft,

"Wu Yue, you’re frostbitten. Let me take care of it."

His youthful, clear voice was right by her ear, and she was slow to react.

Treat it? Treat how?

How...

By the time Wu Yue realized what Shen Que meant by "treat," she already felt the warmth of his mouth against the stinging frostbite.

Her eyes widened uncontrollably. She immediately covered her neck and shoved at Shen Que, blustering but weak,

"Get off me right now!"

Shen Que remained still, head lowered. Wu Yue gritted her teeth. "Shen Que!"

He lifted his head, the corner of his mouth smudged with blood from where he’d bitten himself. "What?"

Wu Yue glared at him. Shen Que looked innocent. "I was just treating you."

He blinked. "Wu Yue, don’t get the wrong idea."

Then, suddenly, he smirked.

Wu Yue blinked rapidly in disbelief. You sneaky bastard!!

Wu Xiuli’s assessment of Shen Que flashed through Wu Yue’s mind:

*"Wu Yue, the words ‘easygoing’ have never, ever applied to Shen Que."*

Back then, she was young and naive, still Shen Que’s ride-or-die fan, and she’d firmly rejected that statement.

Now, thinking back, she realized Shen Que had never actually killed anyone in front of her. Because she’d never seen the brutal, bloodthirsty side of a beast in action, she’d mistaken him for a harmless kitten.

Alarms blared in Wu Yue’s mind. She’d pushed Shen Que too far.

Because she’d asked him to cut their bond, he was angry.

And Wu Yue realized—Shen Que might have decided to stop pretending entirely after being exposed.

Shen Que stared deeply at Wu Yue, his gaze brimming with unrestrained wildness and undisguised aggression.

Wu Yue had never seen him look at her like this before. In the past, Shen Que had always seemed soft, almost doting.

Noticing her tension, Shen Que straightened her collar and tightened her jacket. His voice was hoarse.

"I told you—the Arctic magnetic field turbocharges emotions.

I haven’t been to the polar region in a long time. I need to get used to it again too.

So if you feel like you’re losing control, I’m going through it too."

"You said you've been putting up with me for so long, and it's been hard for me too."

Shen Que looked at Wu Yue, his gaze lingering once more on her fair neck, where the veins stood out more prominently due to the cold, tinged with fresh red marks.

Wu Yue covered her neck with both hands, her eyes warning, "Stay away from me."

Shen Que quietly smirked, all the frustration from being rejected so many times disappearing instantly.

He even leaned in expectantly, "Yue Yue, aren't you going to continue talking with me?"

Wu Yue quickly dressed herself, wrapping up tightly. Shen Que watched as she covered every inch of her neck, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

Wu Yue glared at him fiercely, "Don't laugh!"

Shen Que persisted, "We haven't finished talking."

Wu Yue snapped, "We're done talking!"

This wasn't the right place to continue the conversation. With emotions running so high, things would quickly spiral out of control again.

Shen Que wouldn't drop it. If they were going to talk, they might as well clear the air completely.

Without another word, he stepped in front of Wu Yue, "Are you angry with me? Because you saw me shooting in the training room?"

Wu Yue blinked in surprise. What was going on? Why had Shen Que suddenly become so perceptive?

Had this guy just suddenly figured it out?

Shen Que repeated with certainty, "You're angry, that's why you suddenly said all those things to me."

Wu Yue retorted, "I'm not."

Someone like her would never get angry over something like this!

Shen Que continued, "Because I didn’t text or check on you for days, yet went off enjoying myself, with lots of people cheering me on.

Meanwhile, you were alone, 6,800 kilometers away in the polar region, struggling alone to complete a mission, with danger lurking at every turn, all while bearing a heavy responsibility.

Wu Yue, is it really so hard to admit you're angry, to admit you're feeling down, to admit you're not as strong as you seem?"

Wu Yue held Shen Que's gaze, defiantly insisting, "I told you, I'm not."

Shen Que said, "But I am."

Wu Yue was taken aback by the sudden shift, "What?"

Shen Que replied, "Every time I have to venture out alone, I wonder if I wouldn’t feel so lonely and pained if I weren’t by myself.

Every time I have to make a difficult choice, I wonder if I wouldn’t feel so trapped if I had a way out.

Wu Yue, ever since I realized my feelings for you, I’ve been warning myself that this isn’t something I can have, that I shouldn’t let myself fall deeper.

Staying away might temporarily cool my feelings, but the moment I see you again, all my defenses crumble instantly.

When I’m in the darkness, I long endlessly for the light.

I understand this torment and struggle, I understand how despairing and regretful it is to have love you can’t voice, I understand the agony of wanting to hold on yet having to push away.

So I wanted to give you more time to think,"

"But that doesn't mean I've given up, you get that, right?

I won't give up. Never."

Wu Yue lowered her head, avoiding Shen Que's gaze.

"Shen Que, this isn't fair."

This isn't fair.

Shen Que looked down at Wu Yue, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, his eyes gradually widened.

Shen Que, "Wu Yue, are you angry because I didn’t tell you about my identity before?

Because you think I didn’t choose you, right?"

So, as a member of Blaze, Wu Yue unconditionally supported him, found him, saved him, and forgave him as soon as she found out.

But as Wu Yue herself,

she clearly realized she had been pushed away.

No matter his original intention, his purpose, or his ultimate goal.

Being pushed away was final.

Wu Yue raised her head, locked eyes with him, "Yes.

Shen Que, back in the Polar Dungeon, it was you who first gave me that look.

It was you who first gave the signal, you who first wanted a reaction.

And yet, you never once thought of letting me fight by your side."

Shen Que seemed to deflate entirely, his head hanging low, a tight, bitter smile tugging at his lips.

"So, have you sentenced me to death?"

So, he really had no chance at all?

Then he might as well have just died in the Northern District back then.

At least in death, he could barely pass as a white moonlight.

At this moment, the atmosphere was so quiet it was suffocating.

....

"I'll think it over."

Shen Que's head snapped up, his eyes slowly widening, a grin tugging at his lips.

"What did you say?"

Wu Yue looked away, "I said, I'll think it over."

It was the Wangting that hurt Shen Que—why should they keep hurting each other, punishing themselves for someone else’s crimes?

Why should someone like Shen Que—young, good-looking, and strong, and now that he’s figured things out, a total catch—be thrown out there without so much as a discussion, for everyone else’s benefit?

Why must she always be the one with high moral standards, fearing an early demise and thus refraining from indulging with the handsome young man right in front of her?

Why can't she just set aside her conscience and morality with peace of mind, toy with Shen Que's emotions, and enjoy his devotion?

Ditch your principles,

Live that guilt-free life.

When did she ever say she intended to spare Shen Que?

Not once.