"If you dare to betray Tang Lei's good intentions, I will not let you off easily!"

Li Youran had never seen Hua Ruyu cry before. Usually, she was as tough as a block of iron, stronger than a man, but today she was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ruyu, you like Tang Lei, why don't you tell him?"

Li Yiran would make Hua Ruyu feel heartbroken. Just how deep must her love be to make her cry and say those words?

“Tang Lei and I are indeed quite close, but it’s not what you’re imagining,” Li Youran continued. “If you like someone, you should try your best to win them over. If you miss out, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Even after Li Youran left, Hua Ruyu stood there muttering to herself, repeating the words Li Youran had said.

"It's a regret for the rest of my life..."

"Father, didn't you say Mother had already agreed?"

Liu Zhiyuan and Li Youran had arranged to go to the temple to pray for blessings together today, but the door was locked from the outside.

"That's because Mother didn't know Li Youran had been married before!"

"Let me tell you, as long as I'm alive, you can forget about marrying a married woman and entering the Liu family!"

As she spoke, Madam Liu instructed the servants to stand guard outside the door and not to open it for Liu Zhiyuan no matter how much he shouted.

Originally, Madam Liu thought that even if she offended the Zhao family, it would be worth it as long as her son could live a happy life.

But I never expected that Li Youran had been married before. Putting aside the difference in social status between the two, just look at her son. He is young, promising and handsome. What kind of young woman couldn't he find?

"Dad, you should say something for me! I've always been filial to you, and I've even helped you hide some money from others!"

"Son, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's that I really can't help you."

Master Liu shouted loudly at Liu Zhiyuan inside the room.

"Don't even mention your mother, even your father can't accept it. Son, you should find another girl you like!"

With the appointed time fast approaching, Liu Zhiyuan was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan inside the room.

"Miss Li, may I have a word with you in private?"

Li Youran was waiting for Liu Zhiyuan at the fork in the road leading up the mountain when a carriage stopped.

"There's not much people around here, Miss Zhao, please speak your mind."

Upon seeing that it was Zhao Lanshan, Li Youran refused without hesitation, since she had nothing to talk about with Zhao Lanshan.

"Since that's the case, then I'll just say it directly."

Zhao Lanshan was unsurprised, as if she had already anticipated that Li Youran would reject her.

"Are you satisfied now that Liu Zhiyuan has turned against his family for your sake?"

"What do you mean?" Li Youran frowned slightly and asked in return.

“You don’t need to pretend you don’t know.” Zhao Lanshan chuckled and said, “He was engaged to me, but in order to be with you, he went on a hunger strike at home and even ran away from home.”

“If this continues, it may affect his career. I advise you to let it go.”

After Zhao Lanshan finished speaking, she lowered the curtain, and the carriage sped away.

Li Youran never imagined that Liu Zhiyuan's rejection of the marriage was because of her, nor did she ever imagine that Liu Zhiyuan's departure from home was also because of her. Li Youran was completely petrified on the spot.

"A son is no longer under his mother's control once he grows up!"

Lady Liu looked at the empty room and burst into tears, no matter how much her husband tried to comfort her, it was no use.

Liu Zhiyuan eventually went out, and no one expected that he would actually climb onto the main beam, tear a small hole in the roof, and crawl out through it.

“My wife, some things cannot be forced. The more you try to stop him, the more determined he will be to be with Li Youran. You might as well let him go.”

From this incident, Master Liu could see that his son was determined to be with Li Youran.

“Don’t care? Can we just ignore it? Do we really want our son to marry a woman who has been married before and enter the Liu family? How will I face our ancestors after that?”

"I can't help but choke up as I say this," Liu Niangzi said, her voice trembling with emotion.

"As the ancients said, one should marry a virtuous wife. Li Youran hasn't even married into the family yet, and our son has already done such a rebellious thing, defying our decision and showing no respect for us at all. If Li Youran really does enter the Liu family in the future, will we still have any place in their lives?"

Master Liu was in a dilemma. He felt that his wife's words made sense, but he also did not approve of his daughter-in-law who had been married before.

But putting everything else aside, just for his son's feelings for Li Youran, Mr. Liu still wanted to grant his son's wish. After all, only by marrying a woman he loved could he live a happy and fulfilling life.

His family had pressured him to marry a woman from a wealthy family, but he ultimately chose Liu Niangzi, who was his equal, and that led to their happy life together.

"No, I'm going to the Zhao family to get engaged today!"

Before Master Liu could stop her, Madam Liu and her maids set off for the Zhao family.

At this moment, Liu Zhiyuan was directing Liu Er to drive the carriage frantically towards the agreed location.

"Faster, faster!"

Liu Er frantically steered the carriage, and at Liu Zhiyuan's command, lashed the horse with his whip again.

Liu Er, weeping in the wind, felt that his good days were probably over and he didn't know how many lashes he would receive when he returned home.

"That's great! I thought you had already left." Liu Zhiyuan hurriedly jumped down from the carriage and said to Li Youran through the window, "It's all my fault for keeping you waiting."

Li Youran looked at Liu Zhiyuan and saw his nonchalant expression. She thought to herself that if Zhao Lanshan hadn't told her these things, she would never have known how much Liu Zhiyuan had sacrificed behind the scenes just to see her...

"Zhao Lanshan just arrived."

Upon hearing Li Youran mention Zhao Lanshan, Liu Zhiyuan finally realized why his parents knew he was going out today; it must have been Zhao Lanshan who caused this trouble.

"What did she say to you?" Liu Zhiyuan looked at Li Youran with a nervous expression and said, "If she said anything unpleasant, you must not believe it."

Liu Zhiyuan was afraid that the plot of the play would happen to him. Li Youran believed Zhao Lanshan's words and misunderstood him, and the two missed each other because of this.

"Young Master Liu, I..."

"You Ran, listen to me first."

Liu Zhiyuan became increasingly frightened as he thought about it, so he blurted out his thoughts.

"You Ran, I know this is a bit abrupt, but please believe me, every word I've said comes from the bottom of my heart."

Li Youran originally wanted to politely refuse Liu Zhiyuan to avoid such an awkward situation, but it still happened anyway.

“Young Master Liu, I am very touched by your kindness, but…”

"You Ran, you don't need to reply to me so hastily. Please give me a chance to see if I am worthy of your lifelong commitment."

Before Li Youran could finish speaking, Liu Zhiyuan interrupted her.

"Trust me, okay?"