"The biggest mistake I've ever made in my life was back then... I knew someone was plotting against the two of you from the shadows, but I didn't warn you... which led to you hating me to the bone, and I had no way to defend myself."
"For one... you wouldn't have believed my explanation, because I've always been an insidious and cunning guy..."
Zuo Mingyu gave a bitter smile and continued, "And for two... I *couldn't* explain it to you!"
"Who was it?" Yuwen Ji asked, looking at Zuo Mingyu with hazy, drunken eyes. "You can finally tell me now, can't you?"
But Zuo Mingyu just shook his head. "I can't say. There's no way I can. You should be able to figure it out yourself, you just don't want to believe it."
"What am I supposed to figure out?" Yuwen Ji's tone sounded somewhat unnatural.
