An Yuan'er couldn't understand it, and she was unwilling to accept it.

She couldn't just leave like this without explanation; she needed an explanation.

Could he have some hidden difficulties?

She insisted on meeting him in person to find out everything.

"Move aside, I need to go in."

Seeing that Li Gui was blocking the doorway to the study, An Yuan'er started to pull at him.

“Miss Yuan, the master really said he wouldn’t see you, so please don’t make things difficult for this old servant.”

Such conversations have happened many times over the years, but every time, no matter how much Li Gui tried to stop An Yuan'er from going in, she couldn't.

Every time something like this happened, Yi Chenli, who was inside the room, would give in and let her in.

This time will be the same.

An Yuan'er put her strength into it, and Li Gui didn't dare to really hurt her. In the struggle, An Yuan'er gained the upper hand.

An Yuan'er pushed the door, but she couldn't get it in no matter what she did.

It turned out that there was a lock on the inside of the door.

Yi Chenli was determined not to see her again.

Realizing this, An Yuan'er's mind went blank for a long time before she slid down to sit on the floor by the study door.

“Miss Yuan, it’s cold on the ground. Please don’t sit like this; it’s bad for your health,” Li Gui said with concern.

But An Yuan'er didn't react; she just sat there blankly on the ground.

This place holds her childhood memories; she loved it so much, but now she only feels cold.

The boy she rushed towards without hesitation, the boy she tried with all her might to warm that cold heart, but...

An Yuan'er didn't shout herself hoarse, she just felt very tired, as if all her strength had been drained away.

She leaned against the door and whispered, "Yi Chenli, I'm not afraid of hardship at all, nor am I afraid of the rampant comments. I simply like this place, and I like... you."

"Am I not good enough? Am I too willful and unreasonable? Am I not good enough for you to accept me?"

"Not long ago, I even learned to sew clothes with Guoguo. I hate needlework so much, but I wanted to give you a gift for your birthday. But it seems you don't want it anymore. You don't even want me anymore."

“I still have so many things to do! I was thinking that once your leg got better, I would hold your hand and walk with you every day, accompany you as you get better, and watch you get better. But, there will be no chance now.”

"..."

The girl wept silently: "Every time I ask you if you like me, you always give such a reluctant answer. Yi Chenli, Yuan'er really wants to know, after all these years, is there ever a girl named An Yuan'er in your heart? If so, please just knock gently on the door, okay?"

An Yuan'er was no longer certain about the answer that had been so certain before.

She pressed herself against the door, straining her ears, hoping to hear a knock.

In fact, Yi Chenli was just inside the wall, quietly listening to her murmurs from the doorway.

She cried. His heart ached terribly; even he, who could endure pain so well, felt such intense pain!

I really wanted to wipe away her tears and hold her in my arms to comfort her.

He always said he wouldn't make her cry, but every single time, he broke his promise.

He really was awful. He always bullied her, over and over again.

When she asked him if he liked her, Yi Chenli's instinctive reaction was, "How could I not like her!"

Letting her leave would be a punishment far worse than skinning someone alive, yet it would be far too easy for him.

Yi Chenli placed his hand on the door, wanting to knock, to knock hard, to give her a response.

His hands rubbed against the door, trembling violently, but he forced himself not to knock.