My Husband's Lover (22)

After we had eaten, Guowei, Liqin, and the emperor went to Guowei's room to discuss something. I did not know Liqin worked as Guowei's assistant. The author really missed many important points. Why did I not question why Liqin lived in a house where Guowei's wife took residence?

I took that chance to scold Guoliang. I dragged him to the yard and when we got there, I pulled his ear. But he just followed where my hand went so it would not hurt.

I let go and said, "Guoliang, I'm really going to kill you one of these days. I don't plan to become a murderer but your actions might just provoke me into becoming the most notorious one."

"Make sure you do it properly. You always fail every time you try to hurt me."

"Why did you do that? You really have a big mouth. Every time I share something with you, you share it with everyone else."

"It was not your story. It was mine."

"Do you take me for a fool?" I crossed my arms. "You were eyeing me the whole time you spoke about it."

"But you have to admit that you had your share of fun when Liqin said those words about you. When you like someone, that level of closeness is enough to make you imagine all the possibilities in the world - from your wedding day to the number of children you will have."

"No, I didn't. I'm planning to stop my feelings for Liqin."

I lied. While I sang, I imagined I was singing it to one of our grandchildren after Liqin would tell about our story. Lying to the heart was not easy. But it would not harm to imagine for just a little, right? My imagination would remain with me. Liqin would never know about it. At least, let me dream of our happy ever after even if it would only be in my mind.

"No one has ever done that, Yanyu," Guoliang said.

"Then I'll be the first one. Aren't you happy to witness first-hand such a big moment in history?"

"I have witnessed more impressive things. But I think you will be happy seeing the person who is walking towards us."

I turned around and saw Liqin coming to our direction. Guoliang stood beside me and said softly, "Do not be so obvious. Your smile is so big. You are going to tear your face if you do not stop."

"Guoliang, if you tell Liqin about what I told you I'll kill you right away so you won't have a chance to say anything," I said through gritted teeth.

Liqin smiled and said, "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," Guoliang replied. "Yanyu is even very happy to see you. She has been waiting for you ever since we left the dining room."

Did Guoliang not understand what I just told him? I wondered why I still did not kill him at that time.

"She always misses me, but I understand her. I am a great person and everybody wants to build a close relationship with me. It is a blessing that she is my friend."

I rolled my eyes. "Liqin, you should stop being narcissistic. You're going to end up in the hospital one day."

Guoliang came close to me and whispered, "You should not be too close to each other, or else you are going to be stuck with the role of a friend. I heard people saying that men decide whether a woman is a friend or a potential lover right from the start. Once your role is decided, it cannot be changed."

"Shut up," I whispered back. Liqin was looking at us suspiciously. I smiled sheepishly and said, "Guoliang is very shy so I hope you wouldn't mind if he does this. He's asking me if I can trust you with his secret."

"When we had a little misunderstanding, I did not share your secrets with anyone. I think that says enough about me," Liqin said.

I leaned towards Guoliang and whispered, "You're going to get it when Liqin leaves. I'm serious this time." I sat beside Liqin and said, "You shouldn't tell anybody about this, or Guoliang will be really disappointed. It's only between us. So this is the story. Guoliang has a crush."

"This is supposed to be a secret? But Guoliang already said that during dinner."

"I know right. That's why most of the time I think he's stupid. Sometimes, I want to hit his head to bring some sense into him. But it won't be too hard so it won't kill him. But if he dies, that would work too."

"But you told me about this even before lunch."

"So you knew about my secret even before I told you about it thanks to a certain someone who promised not to tell." Guoliang forced me out of my seat and sat down. "I don't need the help of someone who doesn't keep her words. I'm going to talk to Liqin about it."

"Come on, Guoliang. I know you are shy when it comes to talking to Liqin." I tried to pull Guoliang out of the seat but he did not budge.

He pushed me out. "I do not need your help and I am not shy at all."

"Yanyu, just leave. You do not deserve to listen to his secret anymore. You broke that trust yourself," Liqin teased.

I reluctantly left the yard. But obviously, I was not going to leave just like that. I walked the other way and hid behind the tree that was situated just beside them. It was located to the right of Liqin. Guoliang saw me and he smiled. Oh, how I wanted to just come out and strangle him.

"Liqin, I will be serious now. Please promise me not to tell anyone about this."

Wow. Guoliang had the nerve to say that when he himself did not listen to me when I told him not to tell anybody about what I shared with him.

"Do not worry. I am not like Yanyu who cannot control her mouth."

These two people had something similar - the talent of annoying me.

"As you already know, I have someone I like. But she likes someone else. I am planning of stopping my feelings for her because I do not want to get in between them."

"Why should you stop your feelings?"

"Should I pursue her then?" Guoliang asked.

"Let your heart feel what it feels. It is not a sin to love."

"I am not sure of what to do. I want to be by her side but if I cannot make her smile the way he makes her, I would rather be an onlooker."

"Why not tell her? You never know."

I should have not listened to their conversation. Liqin's answers only made me hope. Hope was the first thing of which I needed to let go. But I only became more hopeful. And with that came the idea of ruining the story, of becoming a sinner. Would the world hate me for trying to get in between their favorite couple just like how I hated Yanyu?