Huo Jiayuan kept her head down and remained silent.
This is the reality she has to face: she and Meng Yan never belonged to the same world.
He was a wild beast in the forest, and she was a delicate flower kept at home.
He has his vast and boundless horizons, and she has her beautiful and dreamlike time together.
Just like a lyric says, the love between a bird and a fish is just an accident.
However, Huo Jiayuan couldn't bear to let go of this accident; she hoped it would become an eternal part of her life.
“Yuan Yuan…”
Xiao Rong mustered his courage and reached out to hold her hand, but as soon as he touched her small hand, she recoiled as if she had been electrocuted.
Huo Jiayuan looked up at him, her eyes seeming to say that his action was presumptuous.
"I'm sorry." Xiao Rong bit her lip.
Huo Jiayuan's heart softened. Remembering all the good he had done for her since childhood, she felt immense guilt towards him. In this world, apart from her blood relatives, there was probably no one else as loyal to her as Xiao Rong.
When they were little, she often teased him, making him look foolish. The most mischievous time, she tricked him into going to the beach and making him search for some mythical pink seashell among the rocks. Xiao Rongzhen went and diligently searched on every rock. However, the tide came in, and he, who couldn't swim, was trapped at sea, his life hanging by a thread.
Huo Jiayuan was severely reprimanded by her parents. She remembered that the punishment was quite severe; she knelt in the ancestral hall without food or water, repenting day and night. She had never been treated like this before. The ancestral hall was cold and gloomy, and it was very far from the Huo family manor. At night, a cold wind would whistle in, and there would be the chirping of wild birds all around.
Huo Jiayuan burst into tears, thinking no one would care. But at that moment, Xiao Rong, who was still running a high fever, stumbled in and fell. However, the osmanthus sugar cake in his arms was intact and still warm.
He also knew that she didn't like the plain tea at home, so he specially prepared a hot Earl Grey milk tea for her.
...
Huo Jiayuan felt a lump in her throat and gently took his hand in hers.
"Miss……"
"I'm so sorry," she said in a low voice. "I've done so many selfish things, and every time I've made you clean up my messes. I..."
"Don't say that." Xiao Rong smiled gently at her. "I'm your housekeeper, it's only right that I do anything for you!"
Huo Jiayuan looked up at him.
His gaze was still the same as when they were children, gentle and focused on her. But for some reason, she always felt she couldn't see through his eyes.
Unlike Meng Yan, even though he was profound, she could see into the depths of his soul.
Huo Jiayuan shook her head, forcing herself to stop thinking about that man.
“By the way,” she asked him, “didn’t you say there was a mole? Did you find him?”
"Found it."
Xiao Rong brought out her favorite cheese sauce and carefully spread it on the bread slices.
"Who is it?" Huo Jiayuan stared at him blankly.
Xiao Rong paused, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
"Speak up!"
“Yes…” He looked up, met her eyes, and softly uttered two words, “Peng Zheng.”
"What?"
Huo Jiayuan's mind went blank.
This person is someone who grew up with them since childhood, but compared to Xiao Rong, Peng Zheng is a bit further away.
In their childhood, Peng Zheng and Xiao Man were the best of friends.
She brought him with her to Biandu this time because of his relationship with Xiaoman. She thought Peng Zheng was just as eager as she was to know Xiaoman's whereabouts.
But unexpectedly, he turned out to be a traitor...
"Why would he do this?" Huo Jiayuan's heart pounded. "Was he unhappy in the Huo family? Had anyone mistreated him? He..."
"Don't get agitated." Xiao Rong patted her shoulder. "A person's choices may have various reasons. It's not that someone has wronged him, but rather that he has a twisted desire in his heart that has not been satisfied."
"What's the meaning?"
“I don’t know either.” Xiao Rong shook his head. “But I do know that he did everything after we arrived here, including when we encountered gang forces on our very first day!”
Huo Jiayuan trembled slightly, a chill creeping up her spine.
It is said that it is hard to guard against a thief within one's own household.
It seems the person who said this is wise; the person most likely to harm you is often hiding right beside you.
“Peng Zheng might have some clues about Xiaoman.” Xiao Rong said in a low voice, interrupting Huo Jiayuan before she could speak, “But we absolutely cannot continue searching here! You’ll bring a lot of trouble to the Huo and Lu families!”
"Xiao Rong..."
"There's serious gang conflict here. Several gangs are each ruling their own territory, and none of them are willing to submit to the others. Moreover, the area is far from the reach of the central government, and the police force is far less powerful. If any gang gets their hands on you, it's equivalent to controlling the Huo and Lu families. Do you understand?!"
Huo Jiayuan looked at him and slowly lowered her head.
"If that's the case, whichever gang controls you will have the leverage to negotiate with the Huo and Lu families, and that gang will win with an overwhelming advantage! If they get this kind of advantage, we'll be in endless trouble!"
Xiao Rong's words were all reasonable, and every single one struck a chord with her.
Her identity brought her glory, but also endless troubles.
This is probably what philosophers mean by the duality of things; it all depends on your choices.
"I understand." Huo Jiayuan pursed her lips. "I won't cause any more trouble for the family. I'll listen to you. Let's go home as soon as possible."
"That's good." Xiao Rong smiled at her. "I'll arrange it right away!"
"As for Xiaoman..." he paused, "Since Peng Zheng has a lead, let's take this opportunity to interrogate him!"
"I want to ask him myself!"
“It’s nothing, Xiao Rong said softly to her. You’re easily swayed by emotions. If you meet him again and he brings up things from the past, you might forgive him.”
"I……"
"Miss, leave this to me!"
Huo Jiayuan was taken aback. Xiao Rong's words were decisive, as if he were not discussing it with her, but giving her an order.
Sometimes she felt he was really strange. He had an aura that made her afraid, timid, and subservient.
Deep down, a voice inside her said she wanted to escape from him.
But in the end, he still managed to catch him and bring him back.
“Miss,” Xiao Rong’s voice softened, “eat more.”
Huo Jiayuan nodded.
"But will we be able to get back safely this time?" she asked him. "Last time, we almost lost our lives!"
"Last time was an accident, but this time I will arrange everything properly."
"And..." Xiao Rong handed her a glass of hot milk and said in a low voice, "I know you still can't let go of that person."
"What are you saying!" Huo Jiayuan's eyes darted away. "Now that I've decided to go home with you, I won't see Meng Yan again."
"Miss," Xiao Rong sighed, "say goodbye to him properly."
"you……"
Xiao Rong smiled wryly, "We're leaving the weekend after next. I've heard that he has a match the day before we leave."
"I think... he would really like to see you there."
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