Chapter 150 - Rou Chunhua Can love grow from here?

"Yes, I'll take responsibility."

Chunhua gulped and more tears flowed down her cheeks. 'So something happened between us?'

She immediately covered her eyes and fell to the floor. She was sobbing profoundly that her breathing became labored. 

General Lei understood her actions, but he wanted to teach her a lesson. "That's what happens when you drink excessively with people you don't know very well."

"I hate you! How could you take advantage of me?"

"You hate? I think you enjoyed it well. I forced nothing on you and I'm only a man. You stripping naked in front of me could only invite a moment of pleasure… and no, I did not have a condom with me." He stood up and came in front of her.

She gave no response. A few seconds later the crying stopped, but she remained silent on the floor. 

After sitting next to her, he said, "If you will take me, I will take responsibility as you asked."

As he said this, his voice was calm and impassive. One could tell this is not a confession of love but a mere act of being accountable. 

Chunhua gulped and looked at him pitifully before saying, "You don't even like me."

"Who says I don't?"

This made her blush instantaneously that she avoided meeting his gaze."Well, you like someone else - "

"It doesn't mean I don't like you too." He brushed his fingers through her hair and pushed back a strand behind her ear before adding, "It's true. I have been in love with a woman for a long time, but she never returned the same feeling. She is married now and is happy with her life. There is no point for me to keep loving her."

"Chunhua, I like you but I don't love you just yet. If you will commit yourself to me, I will do the same faithfully. Will you make me fall in love with you?"

She could not believe the General's words. So direct and honest, there was no sugar coating, but she thought, 'It's better than being lied to and become hurt because of failed expectations.'

Instead of a response, she stood up and fixed herself up. When she realized the time she said, "I need to go home."

"I'll take you home, but first have something to eat and drink some coffee. Stay here." 

After getting food into her stomach, General Lei asked about the documents she handed to his lieutenant. The document covered transactions years before and Chunhua noticed they were mostly island properties. She explained that Rou Yanlin was into buying islands and creating an island home. 

This immediately gave the Lei Dong an idea. It could mean that the Commissioner was waiting for a boat to arrive by the ports.  His last trace on Ravoski also showed him staying at a hotel also near the ports of Tianjin. 

General Lei drove Chunhua home after their talk. Instead of asking his men to drive them, he took the wheel himself. She did not say a word the entire ride, and neither did he. The moment they arrived, he locked the doors completely. 

"You have not answered to my proposal yet."

Still, there was no response. She was looking outside the window and her fingers brushed her hair repeatedly.

"Chunhua, something already happened between us. What if you get - "

"Fine! I guess I have nothing to lose."

"I won't hurt you - "

"You should not!"

"I don't like other women nor do I get close to anyone. So, I can promise I will be loyal to you."

He said every word without feeling that it made her wonder if his loyalty and commitment alone would suffice. 'Can love grow from here?'

"Well… I'm already hurt by the fact that you are offering me a relationship without love."

He let out a sigh and replied, "I'm just being honest with you."

She continued to look down on her knees waiting for more words from him, but when nothing followed she turned to him and said, "I'll try to make you fall in love with me. Promise me you'll give the same effort."

"I already said, I will."

"Now that you are my woman, we need to set some rules…"

"No drinking. You can only drink with me."

"No unnecessary spending. Remember, you need to save up for your mother's treatment and care."

"Focus on yourself, your family and me. I don't want you hanging out with your so-called friends who only tried to abuse you."

She glared at him, surprised with the words that came out of his mouth. "What do you mean?"

"They got you drunk and tried to take off your clothes. Do you want me to elaborate further?"

Chunhua's mouth hung open. Almost immediately she turned away covering her face in shame. 

He looked at her seriously and admitted, "I had you followed."

"What? You had me followed? Why?"

"You were ignoring my calls and texts."

"Serves you right for avoiding me and it was just a good thing. If I had not ordered for you to be followed, you would fall to become another victim and go back to therapy when you have already been through enough."

Tears fell down her cheeks. She was utterly ashamed of herself. Her desperation of wanting to belong and wanting to forget her feelings towards the General only brought her trouble. In the end, she found her way back to the man she tried to avoid. 

"I feel so stupid."

"Don't worry. It's the last stupid thing that you will do in this life," said the General as he approached and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her face. 

Their faces were so close that he could not help but feel her ears and face turn red. She studied his handsome face for nearly a second. The moment their eyes met, she looked away, blinking her eyes, moving them to the direction of the window. 

Out of nowhere, she felt his hand on the right side of her nape, hastily pulling her closer to him. His lips found hers instantly giving her a tingling sensation. Part of her wanted to push him away but her inner self wanted him desperately. 

Ever since they shared a kiss, General Lei had not slipped out from her head even for a day. His taste haunted her and savoring it again only ignited her yearning for him. They kissed for almost half an hour before he decided it was time for her to go inside.