Chapter 109 No Matter How Good, It’s Useless Now

Chapter 109: Too Late for Regrets

Xie Qinghe seemed genuinely afraid she might leave, his expression growing tense. After a long pause, he finally spoke: "The venture capital project... Yunyin knows some things..."

Lu Jingtang was slightly surprised. She hadn’t expected Xie Qinghe to tell her this. Wasn’t he afraid that, once she found out Ji Yunyin was reborn, she would harm her? Puzzled, she asked, "What things?"

Seeing her confusion, Xie Qinghe was also taken aback. That day, Ji Yunyin had rushed to him in a panic, saying that Fu Nanyu already knew about her rebirth and had even hypnotized her to extract information. In her fear, she had confessed everything—including her dream that she was the one destined to be with Fu Nanyu in the future.

Given Fu Nanyu and Lu Jingtang’s current relationship, Lu Jingtang shouldn’t be unaware of these things. Yet she seemed genuinely clueless. A faint, subtle hope flickered in Xie Qinghe’s heart—perhaps their relationship wasn't as intimate as he had imagined.

Xie Qinghe said, "You should ask Fu Nanyu why he’s hiding this from you!"

Lu Jingtang thought to herself that she already knew Ji Yunyin was the female lead and Fu Nanyu the male lead. But there was a difference between knowing it herself and Fu Nanyu voluntarily telling her. Frowning, she replied, "Alright, I’ll ask him. Is there anything else?"

Seeing that she didn’t seem angry, Xie Qinghe was taken aback for a moment. His tone grew heavier as he reminded her, "He’s hiding things from you. If what Yunyin said is true—that the two of them are meant to be together—then he’s just wasting your time... Perhaps... perhaps..."

Xie Qinghe knew that if he didn’t speak today, he would never have another chance. Steeling himself, he voiced the hidden thoughts in his heart: "Whatever the Fu family can give you, I can give you too... Perhaps you have another path you can choose."

Lu Jingtang looked at him blankly. "Are you saying you have feelings for me?"

The directness of the question made Xie Qinghe’s face burn. "I do have feelings for you. Perhaps I would be more suitable for you than Fu Nanyu."

After hearing this, Lu Jingtang showed no shyness or hesitation. She smiled faintly and said, "But I don’t like you. Let me be honest with you—even if I weren’t with him, I probably wouldn't choose you. Even if your feelings for me are genuine, they’re only because I helped you once. You think you have feelings for me, but you’ve never tried to understand what kind of person I am. I could tell you disdained me before. You thought I relied on the Fu family to live a comfortable life—that I was weak, incompetent, unambitious, vulgar, not strong and independent like others, not disdainful of power..."

"Do people have to choose hardship over comfort to be considered independent and ambitious? Just because you’re a man, relying on your family is seen as noble, but because I’m a woman, depending on my family means I’m not independent enough and choosing to degrade myself? You dared to spread the rumor about an arranged marriage because, deep down, you also believed I was just a tool for the Fu family—someone who could be discarded at any time."

Her words fell like sledgehammers on Xie Qinghe’s shoulders, pounding him down until he couldn't raise his head. He didn’t dare recall his past self, because everything Lu Jingtang said was true. Before he was recognized by the Xie family, knowing he was more talented than others, he had indeed been arrogant and conceited.

Lu Jingtang stood up, not forgetting to take her unfinished Oden with her. She tilted her head, her expression both innocent and resolute, and said very seriously, "I have this stubborn streak when it comes to people. I judge them by their lowest points. Once someone treats me poorly, I remember it forever. No matter how good or outstanding they become later, it means nothing to me... So, I’ve already forgotten everything you said today, Mr. Xie. You should forget it too. I hope you find someone you truly love in the future."

With that, she turned and left, leaving Xie Qinghe sitting there stunned in the coffee shop.

Xie Qinghe felt as if his throat was choked, suffocating him until he couldn’t breathe. He desperately wanted to scream, even to have a good cry.

So this is what it feels like to miss out on a really good person.

In the end, he did nothing. Under the curious gaze of the coffee shop staff, he sat quietly for a few minutes, then paid his bill and left with normal composure.

Lu Jingtang carried her leftover Oden straight to the top floor. As soon as she entered Fu Nanyu’s office, she saw him looking over papers.

Lu Jingtang didn’t speak, and neither did he. Clearly, he was playing busy, keeping his head down and acting occupied.

Pouting, Lu Jingtang circled him a few times, then got right in his face to study him. Just her gaze alone made his hand tremble slightly. His eyes flickered to her face for a moment before quickly looking away, and he continued to focus on the documents. "What?" he asked.

"Don’t you have anything to say to me?" Lu Jingtang asked quietly.