Chapter 104 Do you want to be both the one and the one?
"Young Master Li, please have some self-respect."
Lin Wan'er stepped back to a safe distance, her tone becoming firmer: "Although we are engaged, the ceremony has not yet taken place. Such physical contact is against etiquette. I will pretend that today's events never happened. In the future, unless it is important, it is best not to meet."
After saying that, she nodded slightly and turned around gracefully. "It's late, so I can't stay any longer. Farewell."
After saying that, without waiting for Li Mo to speak, Lin Wan'er turned around and walked towards the door without hesitation.
"Wan'er..." Li Mo called out subconsciously, his voice carrying a hint of pleading.
However, Lin Wan'er did not stop in the slightest; her back was straight, and she continued to walk briskly forward.
As she was about to disappear from sight, the resentment and jealousy fueled by alcohol surged up in Li Mo's heart.
He asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time, almost without thinking:
"Are you still thinking about Xiao Jingheng?!"
Lin Wan'er's back suddenly froze, and her hands, which were at her sides, clenched tightly.
Seeing this, Li Mo's heart sank, and the floodgates of suspicion within him opened instantly. His face twisted in disbelief.
"Did I guess right?"
He staggered forward and sneered, "Last time at the Princess's flower-viewing banquet, there were so many talented young men and noblemen present, but you didn't choose any of them. Instead, you specifically called out Xiao Jingheng's name and asked him to recite your poem. The way you looked at him then... Ha, don't think I didn't see it!"
He chuckled twice, the laughter sounding particularly jarring in the quiet night.
"What a pity! What a pity that you, Miss Lin, are so picky and selective, yet Young Master Xiao doesn't even have you in his heart! He'd rather risk his life to save a lowly maid than even glance at you. You're here here, keeping yourself pure and aloof for him, but in his eyes, you're probably not even as good as that gluttonous, stupid girl, Su Xiaoyu..."
"Smack!"
A loud slap suddenly rang out, interrupting Li Mo's next words.
Qingdai and the others, who were not far away, were all startled and dared not breathe.
Inside the painted boat, the candlelight seemed to flicker violently with the sound of the sharp crack.
Li Mo's face was turned to the side by the slap, and he was stunned for a long time. It seemed that the whole world was only left with the aftereffects of that slap.
Lin Wan'er's hand was still suspended in mid-air, her palm burning with pain.
Her chest heaved violently, her breathing became rapid, and her usually calm eyes were now burning with the flames of rage.
But then, Lin Wan'er's heart sank!
Oh no! She lost control in shock and hit Li Mo.
But her pride prevented her from bowing her head and admitting her mistake at this moment.
She forced down her panic, withdrew her hand, and raised her chin slightly.
"Li Mo, how dare you!"
Her voice remained cold, but her anger had subsided considerably: "My affairs are none of your business, and what happens to Prince Xiao is none of your concern. This slap is to teach you to respect your fiancée. If you utter any more arrogant words, don't blame me for disregarding the reputation of both our families!"
Li Mo covered his burning cheeks, the shock in his eyes quickly replaced by a sense of betrayal and humiliation.
He laughed in fury, "Face?"
"Lin Wan'er, after what happened between us, do you still have any face to save?"
"Since you chose to marry me, why are you acting so high and mighty, not even letting me touch you? Do you feel that marrying me is beneath you, and are you secretly hoping that Xiao Jingheng will come to your rescue?"
Li Mo's words became increasingly outrageous, raining down on Lin Wan'er like hailstones.
"Or are you trying to have your cake and eat it too? Using me, Li Mo, as a cover-up, a stepping stone?"
The last sentence, like a dagger, precisely pierced through all of Lin Wan'er's pretense.
Her body swayed, her face instantly drained of color, and even her fingertips became icy cold.
Just as the atmosphere was tense, Qingdai's voice suddenly broke in.
"Young Master Li! Your words are too much!"
Qingdai quickly stepped forward, blocking Lin Wan'er's path, and said accusingly, "You only know about the rumors outside, but have you ever thought about how much harm these words have caused to my young lady?"
"Ever since the incident at Zuixianlou, Miss has locked herself in Zhilan Courtyard, not daring to even step out of the courtyard gate. People outside say all sorts of things, some scolding Miss for being shameless, others saying that Miss is climbing the social ladder. Those filthy words are like needles pricking Miss's heart! She often wakes up crying at night, and can't even eat a few bites of food. In just a few days, she has lost a lot of weight."
Qingdai's voice choked with emotion as she raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye.
"If Miss really sees you as a stepping stone, why did she agree to this marriage? With the Lin family's background, even if their reputation is damaged for a time, they may not be unable to find other ways out."
Since she agreed to marry you, it means she genuinely wants to live a good life with you. It's just that she hasn't gotten over the hurdle in her heart yet and finds it difficult to be close to you right now.
"You are the young lady's future husband; you should be understanding of her difficulties. How could you say such hurtful things?"
After hearing these words, Li Mo's anger dissipated by most.
He looked at Lin Wan'er and asked her for confirmation: "Wan'er... what she said, is it all true?"
Lin Wan'er lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes trembling violently like butterfly wings. When she looked up again, her eyes were filled with tears, carrying a fragile and delicate beauty, and a stubbornness that was trying to suppress her grievances.
She turned her face away, trying her best to hold back her tears and stop Qingdai.
"Qingdai...please stop talking..."
"Young Master Li is not wrong. It's my own fault for being useless and failing to adjust my mindset..."
Upon seeing her pitiful, tearful appearance, Li Mo's anger and suspicion instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.
Instead, a surge of heartache and guilt overwhelmed me.
Li Mo stepped forward awkwardly, wanting to touch but not daring to, her tone urgent:
"Wan'er, I didn't mean to hurt you! I... I was just too anxious. Is what Qingdai said true? Have you really been suffering so much these past few days?"
Lin Wan'er simply shook her head, "Young Master Li, don't listen to Qingdai's nonsense. It's not that serious. I just..."
"Miss! At a time like this, why are you still thinking about covering for others?"
Qingdai seemed unable to bear Lin Wan'er's concealment. She launched into a long tirade against Li Mo.
"Young Master Li, you are unaware of the truth. These past few days, Miss has been unable to eat or drink, because she suspects that someone was behind the incident at Zuixianlou that day, trying to frame the Lin and Li families. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that you and Miss were both drugged? Don't you think this is too suspicious?"
Li Mo was taken aback, his brows furrowed, as if deep in thought.
Qingdai continued, "Miss has always been kind to others and never intentionally makes enemies. After much thought, I believe the only person most likely to frame Miss is..."
Li Mo's heart skipped a beat, and his tone turned icy: "Who is it?"
Qingdai paused for a moment and said, "This servant suspects it must be Su Xiaoyu, the maidservant by Young Master Xiao's side!"
"Su Xiaoyu?" Li Mo was taken aback.
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