Chapter 138 Only Her (The End)

Zhao Zonglan hadn't expected her to be so angry this time.

I tried to coax him for a long time, but it didn't work.

She didn't even want to sleep in the same room as him.

Mr. Zhao certainly could not allow such a thing to happen.

"I was wrong, I was really wrong."

Zhao Zonglan half-squatted in front of Shen Jingni, his originally cold and stern face even showing a gentle smile.

Shen Jingni gave him a cold look, crossed her arms, and glared at him expressionlessly, "What did I do wrong?"

This was the first time she had asked such a question.

In the past, he could usually appease people by bowing his head and apologizing.

But Zhao Zonglan knew that this time it wouldn't be so easy, so he could only go along with her and answer, "I was wrong to make you worry."

Shen Jingni pouted, persisting, "Anything else?"

besides?

what else?

Even someone as intelligent as Zhao Zonglan couldn't figure out where he had gone wrong.

He took her hand, his deep eyes fixed on her, and said in a low voice, "Give me a hint, baby."

At this moment, Shen Jingni's arrogant attitude resurfaced.

With her chin held high, she arrogantly said, "Then beg me."

"Beg me and I'll tell you."

Zhao Zonglan never asked anyone for help in his entire life.

She used to make similar demands when she was being capricious, but he didn't indulge her or give in to her.

After all, the word "seek" was not in Zhao Zonglan's dictionary.

But tonight... this little rascal is really hard to appease.

Zhao Zonglan was silent for a few seconds, then sighed silently and looked at her, "Please."

"Please tell me, Miaomiao."

Upon hearing these two sentences, Shen Jingni suddenly felt very pleased.

All the anger and pettiness have disappeared.

She could barely suppress her laughter. She loosely clenched her fist, coughed twice to her lips, and cleared her throat. "Then I'll mercifully tell you."

Zhao Zonglan cooperated, "Yes, please speak, fairy."

Shen Jingni was amused by him.

But despite the laughter, the important matter still needed to be addressed: "Zhao Zonglan, why didn't you tell me when you risked your life to come to the sea to find me and were punished by Grandmother to kneel in the ancestral hall?"

Zhao Zonglan's eyes darkened slightly, and he asked her in a calm voice, "Who told you that?"

Shen Jingni, of course, would not implicate Zhong Wei, and said righteously, "Never mind that, I'm asking you now, please answer honestly."

"It was just kneeling in the ancestral hall for two hours, that's all in the past, there's no need to tell you again."

These are Zhao Zonglan's true feelings.

Telling her will only make her feel guilty and remorseful.

Zhao Zonglan would never do anything to make her cry.

Of course, except when in bed.

Hearing his answer, Shen Jingni's expression became even more serious. "Actually, my thoughts are the same as my grandmother's."

"Zhao Zonglan, in the future, don't put yourself in danger so easily."

"For those who depend on you for their livelihood."

"Also for me."

She spoke the last four words very softly, but her tone was very serious.

Zhao Zonglan pulled her into his arms, pressed his cheek against hers, and said in a deep voice, "Okay, for you, I will take good care of myself."

This was the promise he made to her.

It's not for anyone else.

He wouldn't do it for anyone else.

Only for Shen Jingni.

“And another thing,” Shen Jingni suddenly pushed him away fiercely, “you’re not allowed to hide anything from me anymore, and you’re not allowed to have any secrets.”

Zhao Zonglan fell silent.

What does it mean when a man remains silent at this moment?

This means he has something to hide.

The little flame in Shen Jingni's heart flared up again, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you feeling guilty? You don't have some other woman outside..."

"Don't talk nonsense."

Zhao Zonglan interrupted her sharply.

Okay, she was definitely talking nonsense.

Given Mr. Zhao's character and status, it's highly unlikely he would secretly seek out women outside the marriage.

"You're being mean to me again."

Shen Jingni pouted and glared at him: "You're just feeling guilty."

Zhao Zonglan wasn't feeling guilty, but there was indeed something he was hiding from her.

"I'll take you to Puji Temple tomorrow."

Shen Jingni asked, puzzled, "Where are you going?"

"Let me tell you a secret."

Puji Temple is the largest temple on Mount Putuo and a national key cultural relics protection unit.

As a Guanyin temple, the Yuantong Hall houses the only male Guanyin statue in China, and it is a very popular place of worship.

The next morning, Zhao Zonglan brought Shen Jingni to the temple.

Although he did not believe in gods or Buddhas, he still entered the main hall, lit three incense sticks, knelt on the prayer mat, and worshipped devoutly.

Shen Jingni found it strange.

She knew Zhao Zonglan never believed in these things, so why was he acting so strangely today?

As we emerged from the main hall, the sun was high in the sky, and above the Pagoda of Many Treasures, a rare seven-colored auspicious cloud appeared.

Shen Jingni, holding Zhao Zonglan's hand, stood under the huge camphor tree and excitedly pointed to the sky: "Zhao Zonglan, look, it's auspicious seven-colored clouds!"

Zhao Zonglan followed her gaze.

Blessings from heaven, good fortune and auspiciousness.

It's very familiar.

He smiled faintly, his fingers intertwined with hers, "It was here when I met you that day."

Shen Jingni's eyes were full of surprise as she turned to look at him: "What did you say?"

Zhao Zonglan lowered his eyes, his expression gentle. "My darling, I saw you three years ago, right under this tree."

He accompanied his grandmother to worship Guanyin. It was a holiday, and there were many people.

Pilgrims flocked to the temple in an endless stream.

At that time, after accompanying the old lady to worship the Bodhisattva, Zhao Zonglan noticed Shen Jingni at a glance in the vast crowd.

She wore a light green floral dress, her chestnut hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders, with a few strands partially obscuring her face. Her features were delicate, and she smiled brightly and freely.

Especially those eyes; when they look back, they seem to be filled with all the beauty in the world, making one's heart throb.

For the first time in his life, Zhao Zonglan had a despicable and shameful thought.

He wanted to possess her.

Just one glance.

He wanted her.

However, there were too many people at the time, and in the blink of an eye, the fairy who had descended to the mortal world disappeared.

Zhao Zonglan didn't pay much attention to the unusual stirring in his heart.

So I didn't go looking for it.

About two years later, he met her again at Wangjing Tower.

Shen Jingni suddenly realized, "Oh~ so that day at Wangjing Tower, you pulled out my hairpin to confirm that I was the person you met at Puji Temple."

She initially thought he was reminiscing about his "white moonlight" (a term of endearment for someone special).

“Hmm,” Zhao Zonglan responded, raising his hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “After all, our Miaomiao is even more beautiful now than she was back then.”

Mr. Zhao suddenly became very sweet-talking.

Shen Jingni was a little unaccustomed to being praised in such a serious manner.

But she was very happy to be praised.

But then she thought about it again and became unhappy. "So you were only after my beauty before, Zhao Zonglan, you shallow man."

Zhao Zonglan chuckled helplessly and pinched her cheek. "My darling, there's one thing you need to understand."

"If I hadn't met you before and had a good impression of you, you wouldn't have been able to leave my lounge so easily and unharmed when you barged in."

If it were someone else, offending him like that would probably mean they'd never be able to show their face in Beijing again.

Mentioning the Wangjing Tower incident, Shen Jingni suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

It's her fault for being too hasty and making such a big blunder.

With her eyelashes lowered, she muttered, "That's all your fault. Who told you not to lock the door?"

Zhao Zonglan led her by the hand, walking slowly past the passing pilgrims towards the exit.

“Rong Heng specially reserved that floor for me to use, and no one dares to come up easily.”

This means that he didn't need to lock the door at all.

He squeezed her wrist bone, "Only you are bold enough to venture anywhere."

Shen Jingni couldn't help but smile, her voice sweet and coquettish, with a hint of smugness, "Of course, this young lady has even bolder ideas."

"What?"

“The hairpin,” Shen Jingni stopped, her beautiful peach blossom eyes filled with laughter, her tone firm: “Zhao Zonglan, I’ll give you that white jade hairpin.”

Zhao Zonglan was slightly taken aback.

He looked at her in disbelief, his eyes filled with a turbulent mix of emotions, and the corners of his eyes reddened.

She said that the hairpin was part of her dowry.

Zhao Zonglan turned his face away and smiled.

That heart, which had been chilled for years, was completely warmed by her, and would belong to her for life.

When Zhao Zonglan was ten years old, he was sent to New York by Zhao Yanhe.

From then on, his family ties were severed, and he never felt love again.

And in that same year, Shen Jingni was born.

She came into his world with love.

Zhao Zonglan never asked for anything in his life.

Only her.

Fortunately, the Bodhisattva was compassionate and finally allowed him to indulge in his greed, anger, and delusions.

(End of text)