Lu Mengjie couldn't tell if he was lying or not, after all, he has always been unreadable.

Han Yizhou straightened his back as he finally pulled away and released her. "Who told you that she was my lover?"

Who told her? She couldn't remember who. When were those words told to her? "I… I can't remember."

The man became silent, his thoughts kept only to himself. "Since you want the truth, then I'll tell you my whole truth beginning from how I became a part of the Yong family."

She gulped slowly as she waited for him to continue. This was going to be the first time that he would fully open up to her. Lu Mengjie was curious to know his past and at the same time, she wanted to know how he turned out this way.

"In a way, others might have seen us as lovers because of how close we were but that was just a simple misunderstanding. I think it was good for me too. I wanted to focus on my business and she's the one blocking all of those flies." He chuckled a bit, but the sad look in his eyes remained. "It all started when I was 9 year old."

…

Gu Rouxi, Han Qinshan's first wife was a known beauty in the Azure Republic. Two men fought for her love, one was Han Qinshan and the other man was Si Enlin. Yes, Si Hongqi's father loved another woman but the man who prevailed was none other than Han Yizhou's father. Han Qinshan was friends with the Lu twins despite being older than them by two decades. He saved them when they got in trouble at some point during their high school days.

After Gu Rouxi married Han Qinshan, she soon became pregnant. Han Yizhou's parents were like any other normal parents, a loving mother and a caring father. They were happy, having the best moment of their life until one day… Han Qinshan fell into temptation. It was just one night of mistake but that one night ruined their perfect family when Gu Rouxi found out about it. With the help of her most trusted right hand, Gu Rouxi was able to leave the Azure republic together with her son. 

While running away from the wolf king, his enemies found out what happened so they made a move and targeted his wife and son.

Han Yizhou was 9 year old when his mother was killed by those people. It wasn't just his mother but even the faithful guards who tried to protect them, including Chen Yuyan's parents. It was a miracle that the child survived in that attack. His mother protected him till the end, covering his mouth to keep him from making noise. She kept on whispering to him, "close your eyes… you saw nothing, Yizhou… nothing… Baby, you have to play dead…" She repeated those words until she breathed her final breath.

The person who found him after the attack ended was none other than the 16 year old Chen Yuyan who just came back from school. It was a horrifying moment for the two of them. Everyone was killed and they were the sole survivors. They had nowhere to go as they both became orphans. Chen Yuyan was forced to drop out of school just so she could find work. Just like her parents, she swore her loyalty to Han Yizhou and his mother. She was willing to do anything just for them to survive until one day, one of the teachers found her. He was none other than Yong Weiqing. He was kind enough to take in the children. Even his wife accepted them.

The married couple, Yong Weiqing and his wife couldn't have children no matter how much they tried so the couples hearts were open towards the kids and treated them as their own.

Two years later, Chen Yuyan left the family and went back to the Azure republic just so she could build forces that could help Han Yizhou in the future. During that time, the boy was enrolled at a military academy.

Thanks to Chen Yuyan, Han Qinshan was able to meet his son again but they never reconciled. Han Yizhou blamed his father for years. What even made him hate his own father more was when he found out that he married the woman that broke their family apart, Han Xukun's mother.

Both Han Yizhou and Chen Yuyan went through a lot of things together. They may not be related by blood but they were each other's family. 

…

"After Yuyan died, I swore to take revenge for her." His head was hung low. "I've been searching for the person behind her death.And behind my mother's death. I have to use the people around me, Mengjie. If I don't, then how will I find them? My mother was innocent. So was sister Yuyan and her parents. They were all good people but… good people die fast." He turned his gaze at her. "I can't die yet, not until I get my vengeance so I have to become bad. Cruel. Wicked."

Good people die fast…

For some reason, those simple words stabbed her not to herself but at the reminder of her papa.

"Yong Weiqing and his wife are good people and yet, their lives were almost put in danger because of me." He reached out and held her hand. "You are a kind girl with a wonderful heart… You, uncle, auntie, Xiao Yao, I don't think I can bear to lose another good person in my life." He brought her hands together and squeezed them lightly. "I need to push you away to save you. At least when he learns that you hate me, he won't try to harm you anymore. Once is enough. I almost lost you."

Tears fell from her eyes and slowly rolled down her cheeks to her jaw. It dripped, one by one. She didn't know how to react. All she could feel was the throbbing pain in her chest. 

"I wanted you to hate me…" He looked at her with a bitter smile, his eyes filled with… regret and misery. "But at the same time… I want to be there, to be within your reach just to make sure that… I will never lose you again."

A dam broke inside her which made her tears fall like a waterfall. She sniffled and sobbed. Yes, he successfully made her hate him to the point where she hoped that karma would hit him hard and ruin his life but who would have thought that this man was already receiving enough damage from the cruelty of life? He was ruining his own life. This man never wanted to drag the people he cherished down to hell so he was trying to protect them by pushing them away.

"I only lied to you about one thing, Mengjie and that is when I said… I don't love you."