She was indeed a little dizzy last night, but not to the point of being completely drunk. If it was the strong liquor that was causing the problem, she could still clearly remember the details. She vaguely remembered what he said and what he did.

So last night shouldn't be considered him forcing her; she half-heartedly went along with it, but ultimately couldn't bear to really refuse.

With a soft sigh, Su Yushan's gaze drifted to the tassels hanging from the soft canopy, her voice low and gentle, "I've thought a lot these past few days. Your words, Yu Chan's words, and all those things from the past. I see your kindness towards me, and I remember it in my heart. I'm actually touched, but I keep telling myself not to take it too seriously."

I always think, if I give you my whole heart and one day you change your mind, how will I cope? But feelings are inherently illusory and fickle; no one in this world can control their emotions, neither you nor I. So why should I worry so much?

As you said, relationships require adjustment and compromise. I've thought about it carefully, and after being together for so long, it seems I've never done anything for you. So this time, I choose to compromise for you, change my old ideas, and stop caring where you are. But when you're with me, I want you to belong entirely to me, because I also have possessiveness.

If one day you change your mind, I won't pester you or hold a grudge. I just hope you can tell me clearly, so I won't naively have any expectations of you anymore. This is the least I can do to respect this relationship.

Hongli probably has no idea how much courage Su Yushan mustered to say those words. For a woman with a modern soul, accepting a man's incomplete feelings was undoubtedly torture.

After such a long stalemate, she was the one who finally compromised. As for what will happen in the future, she didn't want to think too much about it. People who overthink things often live a very tiring life.

Hongli thought Yushan still hadn't figured it out, but he didn't expect her to say such a thing. Every word struck him to the core.

He used to think that she had very weak feelings for him, which was why she gave up so easily. But now he realized that she wasn't oblivious; she had also been suffering a lot during this time.

Moved by the thought, Hongli raised his arm and pulled her into his embrace, his voice trembling slightly, "I understand your grievances. I promise you, this is the only time. I will never let you suffer again."

After hesitating for a moment, Su Yushan finally raised her hand to hug him back, the warmth of her fingertips seeping through her thin shirt into his skin.

She, who was always passive, finally took the initiative, which comforted Hongli. He turned his head to gently smell the fragrance of her hair and hugged her even tighter.

Inside the Huatang Pavilion, the two reconciled, but Su Jiafeng, at the east end of the bridge, looked worried.

His sister left after saying a few words, leaving him bewildered and at a loss.

He was thinking that his sister had already made an appointment with He Yuning, and if he didn't come, wouldn't He Yuning be angry again? After thinking it over, he decided to keep the appointment.

However, when he reached the east end of the bridge, he found only willow branches fluttering in the night wind, and no sign of He Yunning. He had no choice but to wait there.

The summer heat of August had subsided, though it was still very hot during the day. At night, a cool breeze would spread, especially by the bridge, where gusts of river wind would blow, and Su Jiafeng couldn't help but sneeze.

Fifteen minutes had passed since the appointed time, and He Yuning still hadn't shown up. It was unclear what her sister had told her; perhaps He Yuning simply had no intention of keeping the appointment.

Thinking this, Su Jiafeng became increasingly frustrated. He decided to wait another fifteen minutes, and if she still didn't come, he would go home.

In fact, He Yuning had already arrived nearby, but she did not go to the agreed location because she was unsure whether Su Jiafeng would come. If he did not come, wouldn't it be awkward for her to wait there?

That's why she stayed nearby, observing secretly.

Seeing that Su Jiafeng had already arrived, she was still hesitant, unsure whether to meet him alone, and what to say if they did meet.

She hesitated for a long time until she saw Su Jiafeng stand up as if she was about to leave. Only then did she steel herself and step forward.

Disappointed, Su Jiafeng had already stood up when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw, besides the blurry lights in the distance, a beautiful figure shrouded in the night.

Su Jiafeng's brows relaxed, and she turned to walk towards her, "I thought you weren't coming."

Seeing him walking this way, He Yunning stopped and said in a muffled voice, "My legs hurt, so I'm walking slowly."

Su Jiafeng then remembered that her leg injury hadn't healed yet. "I'm sorry, it was my oversight." He tried to help her sit down, but she broke free and wouldn't let him touch her.

He Yunning took two steps back, keeping her distance from him, her face cold and indifferent. "What do you want? Speak quickly, I'm in a hurry to get home!"

Awkwardly withdrawing her hand, Su Jiafeng froze on the spot, "Uh... weren't you looking for me?"

As expected! Su Gege wasn't telling the truth; she was just playing matchmaker. "Su Gege said you had something to say to me. Since you have nothing else to say, I'll go home!"

He Yuning stopped asking questions and turned to leave. Su Jiafeng thought to herself that it was a rare opportunity for the two of them to be alone, and they should really clear things up. If they missed tonight, she might never want to see him again. In a moment of urgency, Su Jiafeng grabbed her wrist.

"Hey---My sister is right, it was indeed me who contacted you."

Perhaps because he had been standing in the wind by the river for too long, his hands were a little cold. He Yun Ning had never had a man hold her hand before, and she was very uncomfortable. She immediately pulled away, but did not take another step, and said impatiently:

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Recalling her sister's words, Su Jiafeng no longer hesitated and boldly said to her, "I want to say that you may have misunderstood me. It's not that I don't want to marry you, but I feel that threatening you to marry me in this way is not very gentlemanly."

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