I wonder if Miss Su has been promised to someone?

Fu Xuechen's pupils suddenly shrank, and his usually calm face instantly cracked. A barely perceptible shock flashed in his eyes, as if a huge rock was suddenly thrown into a calm deep pool.

He didn't need to think about it at all and wanted to agree to her immediately, but...

When she thought that the Tan Xi she liked was just herself in disguise, if she knew her real identity was Fu Xuechen, she would probably hate him to death.

Then he wouldn't even be qualified to be with her as Tan Xi.

Looking at Su Qingli's shy appearance, his heart and eyes full of anticipation, Fu Xuechen's back stiffened slightly, and he couldn't say no for a long time.

Su Qingli lowered her head nervously. "Mr. Tan, if you have something to say, just say it directly. I will accept any outcome."

A sharp light like a knife flashed in his eyes, and Fu Xuechen's knuckles, clenched until they turned white, kept tightening. "I... I think Miss Su has misunderstood. I don't have any romantic feelings for Miss Su. I have always regarded Miss Su as my best friend."

After saying this with difficulty, Fu Xuechen turned his head away abruptly, not daring to look at Su Qingli's reaction. His heart felt as if its flesh and blood were being torn off alive.

Su Qingli's eyes froze for a moment, and then she twitched the corners of her mouth, "I'm sorry, Mr. Tan, for causing you trouble."

Looking at Tan Xi's cold and distant profile, Su Qingli bit her lips, trying to suppress the sour feeling in her heart.

"It's getting late, Mr. Tan, let's go back."

Fu Xuechen didn't dare look at her, fearing that he would soften his heart. "Okay."

In the next few days, Su Qingli was busy with the moving, and in order to avoid suspicion, Fu Xuechen kept a distance from her and never appeared in front of her again.

When he returned home, Su Qingli had already moved out.

Fu Xuechen called Qian Jue, "Did she say anything when she left?"

Qian Jue didn't understand either. When people were around, he didn't come back, and after they left, he started thinking about them again.

"Miss Su said thank you for taking care of her during this time." Qian Jue thought of Su Qingli's reluctant look before she left, and felt a little sorry for the two of them.

He boldly asked, "Why don't you keep Miss Su? I think Miss Su has feelings for you."

Fu Xuechen sat on the golden nanmu chair with a bloody smell rushing to his throat. "Oh, she just has feelings for Tan Xi. If she knew it was me..."

"Forget it, send someone to secretly protect their family and don't let Qi Jinqian hurt them."

Qian Jue felt more and more regretful. It was obvious that the Prime Minister only had Miss Su in his heart and eyes, so why couldn't the two of them be together?

Love affairs between men and women are really complicated.

It’s best to be single.

…

Su Qingli took her mother and Su Zhaoming to a thatched hut in the suburbs.

Mrs. Su saw the dilapidated house and stood at the door, refusing to go in. "Why did you bring us to this damn place?"

"Mother, this is the best house I can rent. You'll just have to stay here for a while." Su Qingli persuaded her as she carried her luggage. "If you don't want to live here anymore, then go back to the Su residence, but I can't guarantee your safety."

Madam Su acted like a child, "I want to go back to Tan Xi's house."

Su Zhaoming stepped forward to comfort his mother, "Okay, mother, it's not easy for my sister, don't make her worry anymore, this house is also very good."

"You two siblings are of the same mind, you just want to piss me off!" Mrs. Su said, then went into the house angrily.

Lin Pianran looked at the dilapidated house. She had thought that Su Zhaoming's family must have lived a poor life after falling into poverty, but she never expected it to be so bad.

Is it really possible to live in a house like this?

Su Qingli packed her luggage and looked at Lin Pianran's bag. "Miss Lin, we don't have enough rooms here. I'm afraid..."

"It's okay, sister. Pianran can live with me." Su Zhaoming took Lin Pianran's hand, as if declaring his sovereignty.

Such a Su Zhaoming undoubtedly made Su Qingli feel unfamiliar.

"Zhao Ming, women value their reputation the most. How can Miss Liu, who is still unmarried, live with you?" Su Qingli said earnestly.

Lin Pianran knew that Su Qingli was doing this for her own good, so she pulled Su Zhaoming's hand.

Su Zhaoming hesitated for a moment and then said, "Sister, I won't hide it from you. Pianran is actually the daughter of the Minister of Rites. I've already met her family, but they didn't agree with us being together, so I eloped with Pianran."

Su Qingli's eyes darkened. She never expected that her brother was so capable that he could elope with a woman and come home.

"Zhao Ming, you really disappoint me."

How did her sensible, well-behaved and reasonable brother become like this?

Su Zhaoming also knew that this was wrong, but he thought that apart from his family background, he was not inferior in any other way.

If their family hadn't fallen on hard times, the Minister of Rites would have been eager to marry into their family. How could he look down on him?

He glanced at Lin Pianran, but his voice was as firm as iron, "Sister, I will continue to take the imperial examinations and strive to win the top spot, so that Pianran's family will agree to our marriage."

"In that case, you should send Miss Liu back home and wait until you pass the imperial examination before marrying her legally, instead of letting Miss Liu follow you without any status." Su Qingli was helpless.

Lin Pianran then spoke softly, "Sister Su, you may not know that my father has been arranging my marriage. If I hadn't left with A Ming, I'm afraid I would have been married to someone else by now."

While they were talking, the wooden house was kicked open.

A young man dressed in brocade clothes and a jade belt rushed in with several strong men, "Sister, go back with your brother!"

"Brother, why are you here?" Lin Pianran exclaimed.

Several strong men stepped forward and immediately pulled Su Zhaoming and Lin Pianran apart.

The young master took the opportunity to pull Lin Pianran over and ordered his men to beat Su Zhaoming severely. "You are so good, Su Zhaoming. I was kind enough to let you take the carriage, but you actually kidnapped my sister and eloped with her. Beat him hard and make him leave claws all over the ground!"

Seeing his brother's face bruised and swollen from the beating, Su Qingli slowly stepped forward and said, "Sir, now that you've vented your anger, could you please stop and listen to what I have to say?"

The young man then turned his gaze to Su Qingli.

The hostility and ferocity on his face disappeared in an instant, and his eyes widened, stunned by the beauty.

“Stop, stop!”

After he finished giving the order, he turned around and smiled at Su Qingli, "Who are you?"

Su Qingli bowed, looking apologetic. "My name is Su Qingli, and I'm Zhaoming's sister. It was my fault for not disciplining him that led him to do such a rebellious act. I hope you can calm down first."

The young man wiped his hands quickly before extending his hand to Su Qingli, "Hello, Miss Su. I'm Pianran's brother, Lin Zui. I'm sorry for being rude."

Su Qingli reached out and shook hands with him.

Lin Zui reluctantly let go of her hand, "I didn't expect Zhaoming to have such a beautiful sister. I wonder if Miss Su is engaged to someone?"