171: Chapter 171: Sister Xue, in this world, he's all I have left!

"I... I..." She opened her mouth, but her throat felt as if it were blocked by something, and she could only emit a few meaningless syllables.

She wanted to deny it, but the word "no" felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and she couldn't bring herself to say it.

She wanted to admit it, but looking at Wang Donger's tear-filled eyes, the word "yes" felt like the cruelest blade in the World, one that would cut the girl before her—a girl she cared about just as much, and even regarded as a younger sister.

She stammered, her eyes darting away, her hands tightly wrung together, her knuckles turning white.

In that state, where was there any trace of the demeanor of the Ruler of the Far North, the seven-hundred-thousand-year-old fierce beast?

She was even more nervous and flustered than an ignorant young girl who had just discovered love and was being confronted by her crush's friend!

This felt even more difficult and unsettling than when she had faced the seven-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation!

Watching Snow Empress in such a flustered state that she was almost on the verge of tears, and seeing the pure, unmistakable nervousness and shyness in her eyes, Wang Donger's heart felt as if it had been fiercely pinched by something. It was sour and bitter, yet strangely, it felt as if a great weight had been lifted.

So it was... true.

Snow Empress really did have feelings for Lu Jing...

There was no expected rage, no hysterical questioning, not even icy mockery.

Watching Snow Empress's flustered and helpless appearance, Wang Donger's lips actually curled slowly into a faint, yet exceptionally genuine smile.

That smile was not a forced one, nor was it sarcastic; it was one filled with relief, understanding, and even a hint of... a strange pride that she herself hadn't even realized!

"Snow Empress!"

Wang Donger's voice was still very soft, but it no longer trembled; instead, it carried a strange gentleness.

She looked at Snow Empress, her tone carrying a hint of praise, and said with a smile, "You have good taste."

"Hm?"

Hearing this, Snow Empress was stunned. She lifted her watery eyes, still filled with panic, and looked at Wang Donger blankly, not understanding what she meant.

The smile on Wang Donger's face deepened, and the water in her azure eyes seemed to clear, appearing exceptionally bright: "My Lu Jing is so outstanding, handsome, immensely talented, smart, and loyal... Isn't it perfectly normal for you to fancy him? This just shows that our Lu Jing is charming, and it also shows... Snow Empress, you have great taste."

Her words were light, even carrying a hint of teasing, as if she were merely evaluating something unrelated to herself.

But hearing these words, Snow Empress felt even more bewildered, even more at a loss, and even... somewhat afraid.

Wang Donger... why wasn't she angry?

Why didn't she scold her?

Instead, she... praised her for having good taste?

Snow Empress's heart was in even greater turmoil.

She looked at Wang Donger's seemingly calm face, which even held a smile, but the unease in her heart grew stronger.

She would have preferred it if Wang Donger had gotten angry at her or spoken coldly; that way, perhaps she would have known how to respond.

But Wang Donger's reaction left her completely baffled and even more... guilty.

"You... are you not... angry?"

She didn't know how much time had passed before Snow Empress finally found her voice, though it carried a heavy nasal tone and a hint of a sob.

She looked at Wang Donger, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment, and also a hint of cautious probing. She said, "I... I thought you would..."

She thought Wang Donger would be furious, accuse her of being shameless, and regard her as a third party destroying their relationship.

After all, in Snow Empress's limited understanding, human women, especially those with extraordinary backgrounds and pride like Wang Donger, should find it hard to accept sharing their lover.

Even if this World allowed for multiple wives and concubines, how many could truly accept it with equanimity?

Hearing Snow Empress's question, the smile on Wang Donger's face faded slightly, and a flash of extremely complex emotion crossed her azure eyes.

She shook her head gently, her voice still very soft, but it carried a weariness and helplessness that seemed to see through the ways of the World:

"If I were to get angry... who should I be angry at?"

She seemed to be asking Snow Empress, and also asking herself:

"Should I be angry at you, Snow Empress, for falling for Lu Jing? But feelings are not something one can fully control. Just like... just like how I fell for him, inexplicably and unable to extricate myself."

"Or should I be angry at myself? Angry that I didn't keep a close enough eye on him and let him attract you? But Lu Jing is so good, so dazzling, like a pearl in the dark night; naturally, he will attract countless gazes. Can I hide him away forever and never let him come into contact with anyone?"

"Or perhaps..."

Speaking to this point, Wang Donger's tone carried a hint of self-mockery as she murmured, "Should I force him to stay away from you, forbid him from having any thoughts about you, or forbid him from being good to you? But if I did that... would he listen to me? Even if he did, what would he think in his heart? Would things between us still be the same as before?"

Each of her questions was like a key, unlocking the doors in Snow Empress's heart that she had also pondered but could find no answers to.

Snow Empress listened in a daze, the panic in her heart gradually replaced by a deeper emotion.

She realized that Wang Donger had thought much more and much deeper than she had imagined.

"I..." Snow Empress opened her mouth, but found herself speechless. Every word Wang Donger said struck her heart.

Yes, who could she blame?

Blame herself for falling in love?

But this affection was not something she had wished for.

Blame Lu Jing for being too outstanding?

But that was just who he was.

Blame the arrangements of fate?

But when had fate ever given them a choice?

She could only lower her head again, her stunningly beautiful face filled with shame, bewilderment, and a deep sense of powerlessness.

Her silvery-white hair fell down, covering most of her face and hiding the complex tears that were about to spill from her eyes.

Watching Snow Empress in this fragile and helpless state, the last trace of unwillingness and resentment in Wang Donger's heart quietly dissipated, transforming into more pity and a kind of empathy, as if they were in the same boat.

She reached out and gently grasped Snow Empress's small hand, which was resting on her knee, cold and slightly trembling from nervousness.

Snow Empress's hand trembled violently, and she instinctively wanted to pull it back, but Wang Donger held it even more firmly.

Wang Donger's hand was warm and soft, forming a stark contrast with Snow Empress's coldness.

This warmth seemed to carry a certain soothing power, causing Snow Empress's trembling hand to slowly calm down a little.

Wang Donger looked at Snow Empress's lowered profile, her voice becoming even softer and carrying a hint of indescribable fragility and reliance, and she said slowly:

"Snow Empress, do you know? In this World, he is all I have."