Chapter 63 I Never Once Thought of Abandoning You

At Chu Mian’s house.

The table in front of the three of them was covered with empty liquor bottles.

Lu Er downed one glass of strong alcohol after another, as if only by doing so could he numb the pain in his heart—pain so intense it felt like it might stop beating at any moment.

“Stop drinking.” Chu Mian couldn’t stand it anymore and reached out to grab the glass.

“Leave me alone!” Lu Er shoved him away, his eyes unfocused, his face streaked with tears. “If I get drunk, I won’t have to think about anything.”

Chu Mian’s heart ached. He moved closer and wrapped an arm around Lu Er’s shoulders. “It’s okay. There are plenty of handsome guys in the world. We don’t need him.”

That only made Lu Er cry harder.

Jiang Sheng spoke up, “How about I go beat him up for you?”

Lu Er clung to Chu Mian, burying his face in his shoulder as he broke down completely, his body trembling violently.

“Chu Mian… my heart hurts so much!”

Watching from the side, Jiang Sheng felt uncomfortable too. It was the first time he had ever seen Lu Er in such a miserable state.

After who knew how long, Lu Er’s cries gradually quieted.

In the end, exhausted and drunk, he fell asleep in Chu Mian’s arms, tear stains still visible on his face.

Chu Mian sighed, struggling to lift the unconscious Lu Er and prepare to carry him upstairs to rest.

Jiang Sheng watched the scene and shook his head.

Then, facing Chu Mian holding Lu Er—and Lu Er’s tear-streaked, flushed sleeping face—he snapped two photos.

A once-in-a-century moment.

With a flick of his finger, he posted them on his social feed with the caption:

[Witnessing history: top celebrity cries himself unconscious in his bro’s arms! 🍿🍿]

Song Jingmo saw Jiang Sheng’s post.

In the photo, Lu Er clung tightly to Chu Mian, tear tracks crisscrossing his face, sleeping without any regard for his image.

Song Jingmo stared at the photo, his gaze growing colder and colder until it froze into an icy wasteland.

Jiang Sheng was replying to comments when he received a video call from Song Jingmo.

“Where is he right now?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you,” Jiang Sheng said awkwardly. “But I can tell you this—he’s not doing well.”

Song Jingmo pressed his fingers against his brow. “Please… tell me where he is.”

Jiang Sheng was stunned.

The great genius Song… actually begging him?

In the past, it was always him and Chu Mian crying and begging Song Jingmo to let them off. How the tables had turned!

Jiang Sheng sent him the location. “Come tomorrow. He just fell asleep.”

“…Okay.”

After seeing the location, Song Jingmo was stunned for a long moment.

Their relationship really was close—close enough to even buy houses in the same place.

9:00 a.m.

Lu Er was woken up by a phone call from Jiang Qingyan.

“Where are you? I’ll have Bai Zhi pick you up for the airport.”

“The airport? What for?”

Still groggy, Lu Er said, “I’m at Chu Mian’s place. Are we flying domestic or international?”

“My dear ancestor, there’s a charity gala in Warsaw in three days. Official representatives will attend too. Don’t tell me you forgot?”

Warsaw, Poland?

It vaguely rang a bell—Bai Zhi had mentioned it a few days ago.

“Have Bai Zhi come over. I’ll take a shower and then head out.”

Half an hour later, Lu Er came out after showering.

Jiang Sheng looked at him and said, “Song Jingmo waited outside all night. You…”

Noticing Lu Er’s expression change, Chu Mian immediately threw a cushion at Jiang Sheng. “Traitor. Get out of my house.”

Jiang Sheng felt wronged and muttered, “Aren’t you scared of him too?”

Chu Mian instantly bristled. “Who’s scared of him?”

“Come on, Brother Lu, I’ll go out with you.”

The moment the door opened, Lu Er saw Song Jingmo leaning wearily against a golden pillar outside.

“B-Brother Lu…”

Chu Mian shivered slightly and glanced cautiously at Lu Er.

Alright, he was scared of Song Jingmo.

“Er’er, I’m sorry. Can you forgive me this once?” Song Jingmo said, then looked at Chu Mian. “This doesn’t concern you anymore.”

Chu Mian immediately turned around in relief and shut the door with a loud bang, not lingering for even a second.

Lu Er cursed “traitor” in his heart, but his expression remained calm. “You didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no need to apologize. I’m not angry either.”

A trace of surprise flashed across Song Jingmo’s face. “But you… didn’t wait for me.”

Lu Er smiled at that. “Last night, I was indeed upset about what you did. But I’ve thought it through.”

“In your heart, Liao Xubai is more important than me. So you chose him and gave me up. That’s the best choice you could make after weighing everything. I don’t blame you.”

“Just like back then—my mom, for the sake of the Lu family, abandoned me without hesitation and handed me over to my dad. And my dad? To keep his lover from suffering, he left me behind and ran far away.”

“I was mischievous and unruly, not as obedient and sensible as my brother—so my mom abandoned me. My dad was forced into a marriage; I was just a burden, whether I lived or died didn’t matter.”

“Liao Xubai saved your life. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring—you choosing him isn’t wrong either.”

“You all did nothing wrong, so I don’t hate any of you. If I were to resent not being firmly chosen, then there would be nothing in this world worth holding onto.”

“I hope to be chosen without hesitation—but I won’t force it. After all, no one is obligated to put me first.”

Song Jingmo felt as though his heart was being cut by knives, his voice hoarse. “I never… thought of abandoning you.”

Even in the darkest period of his life, he had never once thought of giving up on Lu Er.

“That’s your business. It has nothing to do with me.”

“It does.” Song Jingmo was stubborn. “I like you. And you like me too. So it matters.”

Lu Er’s tone turned deliberately flippant, almost careless. “I’ve never clearly said that I like you, have I?”

Song Jingmo froze.

It was true.

Lu Er had never actually said he liked him.