Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 182: Break up!

"This is sho good mmmm, it tastes like... like sweet pumpkin porridge," he said with his mouth stuffed like a hamster.

King Luo felt his fingers itch. He had the sudden urge to poke Qie Xieling’s cheek but he restrained himself. Clenching his fist he asked, "Does it taste good." He didn’t even care that he was talking with his mouth stuffed. He realised that he found him rather cute.

King Luo couldn’t help but notice the way Qie Xieling’s lips formed into a sweet, captivating smile, making his heart skip a beat. The way Qie Xeiling’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled sent a flutter of warmth through King Luo’s chest. For a moment, he could only gaze into Qie Xieling’s captivating eyes, seemingly locked in a trance.

Realising that his urge to touch Qie Xieling was growing more intense with each passing second, King Luo’s heart raced faster. He stole a glance around the tent, feeling a mixture of vulnerability and awkwardness welling up inside him.

Feeling the pressure building up, King Luo hastily pushed the stool back his fists clenched and stammered, "I...I will give you one more day to get better."

Without waiting for a response, he hurriedly walked out, leaving a confused Qie Xieling behind.

Outside the tent, King Luo’s steps paused, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps. His mind was racing, trying to process the enormity of his feelings. He felt a whirlpool of emotions, from excitement and exhilaration to fear and uncertainty.

When he raised his head he met Yunning’s gaze. She was staring at him with a sparkle in her eyes. Today she was dressed flatteringly with no cloak despite the windy weather.

She wore a delicate dress, its sheer material exposing her slender collarbone and elongated neck. The gentle sway of the fabric revealed a hint of vulnerability, a reflection of the emotions she carried within. Her cherry-red lips were bitten slightly, a nervous habit as she walked over.

"How is he?" she asked with a genuine smile like she was really concerned for him but her eyes said something different.

She reached over to touch his hand but King Luo subconsciously took a step back and her heart sank a little at the distant look in his eyes, which failed to acknowledge her presence.

Biting her lip, Yunning approached King Luo once more, her steps hesitant and filled with longing. She tried to bridge the gap between them, talking about this and that, but her confidence wavered as she saw King Luo’s distant expression.

With a heavy heart, Yunning mustered a smile and uttered a few polite words to King Luo, hiding her disappointment behind a veil of grace.

King Luo already knew that marrying her would only be unfair to her because he would never be the devoid loving husband she desperately wanted. He had an obligation to fulfil but he would rather compensate her instead of making her a wife that he would never love.

The funny thing to him was that before he was betrayed he was resolute in his decision to marry her. He was willing to fulfil his obligation and give her what she wanted. He was never going to find interest in anyone else anyway so he decided to just go with it.

But afterwards, he seemed to doubt himself. His reluctance had grown so strong that he couldn’t help but want to end it.

"We need to talk," he said and the smile on Yunning’s face froze but she tried to mask her true feelings. Her scalp went numb and her fingertips were cold. She had a very bad premonition.

"Okay," she said and the two of them walked away together seeming so harmonious like a loving couple.

Jolie who had just walked back from the small stream saw them walk away together and like a mama bear protecting her cub, she crushed the water skin in her hand bursting it. As the water dripped in between her fingers, Boran pointed at the leaking waterskin dripping water to the ground while complimenting. "Wow, you are stronger than you look."

Jolie turned her sharp gaze at him making his heart jolt in fright. "You!... Damn, so scary."

Jolie walked into the tent and found something strange about the bowl that was already two-thirds empty. "What is that? That’s not what I gave you," she said trying to take it away.

"Eat eat eat that’s all you know to do. Don’t you know that you win a man’s heart through his stomach? Like an idiot you keep falling in deep," she said and Qie Xieling dodged her grabby hands hugging the bowl like holding on for dear life.

"You are spouting nonsense. He was just being nice," replied Qie Xieling and Jolie felt helpless.

"Don’t come crying to me later," she said but she didn’t know someone else was already crying.

***

King Luo stood underneath the shade of the tall trees. With a deep breath, he forced himself to speak, his voice tinged with regret and sorrow. "Yunning, I... I cannot go through with this marriage. I can never be the loving and caring husband that you deserve."

Yunning tried to deceive herself that he was joking but she knew his true personality. He was not one to joke ever.

Her eyes widened, hurt and confusion etched across her face. "But... but why, your majesty? Why are you saying this now? I thought... I thought we could be happy together. Before he betrayed you you were more than willing. What changed now?"

Tears welled up in her eyes and King Luo felt a slight sense of guilt. He wasn’t one to go back on his word but this he couldn’t compromise on even when they were tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yunning, please understand. This was an arrangement made by our mothers who are both deceased. I cannot fulfil the role you desire as a husband. It is not within me to offer the love that you want."

Yunning’s voice trembled with a mix of defiance and despair. "I promise, I do not want anything else apart from being your wife. I do not need grand gestures or extravagant displays, only your presence. I promise I won’t ask for any more than that. Please, your majesty, give me a chance."

Her heartbreaking cries would stir the hearts of men and women alike but they did nothing for King Luo. One might call him heartless and others a stone-cold tyrant but he didn’t care. He stuck to his truth.