Chapter 791 - Sometimes, Guilt is more Difficult to Bear than Love
There he was, sitting alone on the sofa like a man exiled by the rest of the world. It was heartbreaking to see him like that.
Her vision turned cloudy. Fearing that she would sob then and there, so she dragged Huo Yunting with her and left immediately.
In the car, Lu Zhaoyang looked vexed.
“Huo Yunting.”
“Yes?”
She recalled the way Huo Chen looked earlier and asked sadly, “Why is it that people only ever appreciate someone after losing them?”
“Do you think that Huo Chen has fallen for Wen He?” Huo Yunting did not reply and asked a question of his own.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Lu Zhaoyang asked rhetorically. She had known Huo Chen for years, but this was the first time she had ever seen him so devastated and saddened.
Even if he did not show it, she knew that he was not as shaken and distressed back when she decided to choose Huo Yunting instead of him.
If this was not love, then what else could it be?
“Dummy,” Huo Yunting commented with a snort.
Lu Zhaoyang glared at him, but the man ignored her and continued driving steadily. His casual tone belied the mixed emotions he was feeling then.
“For Huo Chen, letting go off a lover is easier than carrying the burden of another life.”
The fact that Huo Chen gave up on Lu Zhaoyang did not mean that he did not love her, but that he chose to keep his feelings to himself.
Instead of a lover, he would stay by her side as someone else.
Like a relative, a brother or even a friend.
On the other hand, Wen He’s death was a huge weight on his chest, and he had no idea how to alleviate the pressure.
“Sometimes, guilt is more difficult to bear than love.”
“...”
Lu Zhaoyang nodded in vague understanding.
She still had a feeling that Huo Chen felt something more than just guilt for Wen He.
She was at first relieved that Huo Chen made it back safe, but now he had to deal with this incident.
Having spent some time to think about ways to help him and failed, she decided to call Huo Chen now and continue to stay in touch.
While he sounded fine every time she called, she could not stop worrying.
Then one day, she received a call.
It was Song Shou.
“Ms Lu, I am Major General Huo’s second in command. Could you come visit? The major general has been drinking heavily. If he continues, his body will not be able to take it.”
“What?!”
Lu Zhaoyang panicked and said, “I’ll be right there.”
By sheer coincidence, Huo Yunting had a meeting that night and would return late. Hence, Lu Zhaoyang asked the family driver to prepare the car and drive her to Huo Chen’s place. There, she met with Song Shou, who brought her to the main door of the house.
“I’m so glad you are here, please talk to him.”
“I will.”
Song Shou stood guard outside as Lu Zhaoyang made her way to the living room and sensed a strong alcohol smell in the air.
She wrinkled her nose and soon noticed Huo Chen, who was half lying on the sofa with a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
He took another swig from the bottle and quickly finished the remaining half of the whiskey. There were a few other empty bottles scattered around the sofa.
He seemed oblivious to the consequences of drinking so heavily!
Lu Zhaoyang watched him ruin himself and grew furious. She strode toward him and snatched the bottle out of his grasp.
“Stop drinking!”
Huo Chen looked up at her with drunken eyes and smiled awkwardly.
“Why are you here?”
Lu Zhaoyang sat down beside him and said with gravity, “Huo Chen, listen to me!”
She spoke with an air of solemnity, “You are still alive because Wen He sacrificed herself for you. She chose to die so that you may continue living. Are you going to waste her efforts just like this? Do not make me look down on you, and do not let Wen He’s death be in vain!”