"Me?" What should he say?

Long Yuan's expression was complex.

He had previously rejected Ning Hongze's proposal decisively, but now he wants to accept it. I guess the Ning family won't be happy about that.

He wasn't entirely sure how much Ning Qiao'er meant to him, but he knew for sure that he didn't want her to marry someone else.

Especially those scholars with ill intentions.

"Are you worried that my sister will become clingy to you?" Ning Hong pretended to realize something and said, "Don't worry, that will never happen. I know my sister's personality very well. If Su Xiao hadn't come to propose to her, my sister wouldn't have forced him no matter how much she liked him."

"Your sister likes Su Xiao?"

"Of course he likes her. If he didn't, why would he marry her? Just because he's a rare commodity? He's not the only scholar in Hu County." Although Su Xiao was talented, there were many other talented students in his class next door. Their talents were no less than Su Xiao's.

There are even those who are more talented.

Ning Qiao'er does indeed like gentle, scholarly types. Since this one doesn't work out, she'll just have to find another one.

Unexpectedly, Su Xiao took the initiative to come to their door.

That ingrate! If it weren't for the Ning family, Su's mother would have been dead long ago. Su Xiao would have been lucky to even pass the imperial examination and become a scholar. She wouldn't be enjoying her current success. But this guy, at the height of his fame and fortune, not only abandoned his sister but also dared to spread rumors and slander her.

It couldn't be more hateful.

Hmph, he'd like to know what benefits he'd gain by leaving the Ning family.

"What's so good about those pale-faced scholars? They're all weak and helpless, unable to protect their women in times of danger."

Long Yuan grumbled in dissatisfaction.

There was also a hint of malice deep in his eyes.

Or, we might as well just kill him.

Ning Hong trembled as she sensed Long Yuan's intense killing intent.

Seriously? Did he provoke this guy?

"Speaking of which, what exactly do you want with me?"

"Brother, I want to propose marriage to you."

“Big brother?” Ning Hong paused for a moment before speaking again, “Young master, I feel that I am younger than you, so it’s not appropriate for you to call me big brother!”

"It doesn't matter, it's not a big deal. As long as I can marry Qiao'er, you will always be my elder brother." Long Yuan sheathed his longsword.

Ning Hongze: "No, didn't you refuse before? You even said we were deliberately pushing unwanted women onto you."

"this……"

"So don't worry, I will never marry my sister to you," Ning Hong said firmly. "I won't let you suffer, nor will I let my sister suffer."

"No, brother, it's all a misunderstanding. It was just a slip of the tongue. I spoke too quickly. Qiao'er is so cute. I want to marry her."

If he had known he would like Qiao'er, he would never have said that.

Longyuan wanted to cry but had no tears.

"Brother, I am sincerely asking for your hand in marriage."

“Su Xiao was sincere when he proposed. People’s hearts have changed.” Ning Hong raised her eyes, a hint of wariness in them.

“I can’t handle Su Xiao alone, let alone others, especially you. I don’t think you’re an ordinary person.”

Long Yuan exudes an extraordinary aura, suggesting he comes from a good family. It's not just Ning Hong who finds it surprising that such a person would marry his divorced sister; even Long Yuan's family would likely object.

However, what puzzled Ning Hong the most was Long Yuan's attitude.

Why did you suddenly change your attitude?

"Of course, it's because I genuinely like Qiao'er that I would do this. There's nowhere else in your house that I could covet."

Long Yuan's family is wealthy and powerful, so naturally he wouldn't covet the Ning family's fortune. "Don't be fooled by my loneliness and lack of servants. I am actually very rich. I will absolutely not let Qiao'er suffer."

"You should save those words for Qiao'er. If she is willing to marry you, I will naturally not stop her."

"really?"

"Of course it's true." But he thought that Qiao'er wouldn't agree to marry Long Yuan so easily.

Just as he expected, Ning Qiao'er rejected Long Yuan's marriage proposal.

"Why won't you marry me?" Long Yuan asked, puzzled. Ning Qiao'er was willing to marry those scheming, seemingly weak scholars, but not him?

Of course, he didn't think Qiao'er looked down on him. With his outstanding qualities, Long Yuan, most women wouldn't refuse him.

Long Yuan was quite confident in himself.

"I know you're outstanding, but you're too outstanding. I'm not good enough for you." Even a man like Su Xiao wouldn't be interested in her, let alone Long Yuan.

Long Yuan is even more handsome than Su Xiao.

"Whether you're good enough or not is up to me. If I say you're good enough, then you are," Long Yuan said earnestly. "Besides, don't worry, if I don't like you anymore, I'll give you a large sum of money so you can go back to your parents' home with the money. I definitely won't make things difficult for you."

Ning Qiao'er: "..."

She took a deep breath, abruptly covered her mouth, and ran backward.

She hasn't even married him yet, and he's already thinking about divorcing her.

Is it still possible to marry someone like that?

Long Yuan looked puzzled. "What did I say wrong?"

"No, actually I think you're quite right. It's just that saying something like that when proposing marriage is a bit inappropriate."

No one would marry into such a family unless they were mentally unstable.

“I think I’m right!” In his father’s backyard, there were many women like this, who were clearly not favored, or would never receive his father’s favor in their entire lives, yet they still wasted their time there, squandering their prime years.

Although many of the women were given to his father by others.

Hearing Long Yuan's explanation, Ning Hong felt even more overwhelmed.

This family doesn't sound like an ordinary family. They must be royalty or a powerful clan. How could such a family accept a girl like Qiao'er?

"Are you sure your parents will accept Qiao'er? I'm not saying anything bad about my sister, but Qiao'er really isn't suited to marry into a family like yours."

“Brother, you don’t need to worry about that.” Long Yuan waved his hand. “I’m the youngest child in my family, and I don’t have much responsibility to bear. My parents have already said that I can marry the girl I want.”

"Did your parents say they would allow you to marry a divorced woman from a small landlord's family?"

"They never said that, but they didn't say it was forbidden either." Long Yuan felt that getting married was his own business, what did it have to do with his parents? He had always preferred to be alone, and even if he really got married and had children, he probably wouldn't live with his parents.

If he gets too involved, his older brothers might hold a grudge.

So this is the best way. "As long as Qiao'er is willing to marry me, I'm willing to stay here."