Chapter 88 Confession
Su Xiaoyu's plea went unanswered, and her little face scrunched up in a bitter expression.
A sudden feeling of powerlessness swept over her.
If the crown prince won't allow it, then we'll have to find another way.
But... who can take her on this autumn hunt?
Su Xiaoyu rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
——
Since Su Xiaoyu learned about Lu's parents' plans, she has gradually reduced her contact with Lu Xinghe.
They used to go out together every day, but now Lu Xinghe hasn't seen Su Xiaoyu for days on end. When he went to the back gate of the Marquis's mansion to invite her, the replies were either "Miss Xiaoyu is unwell" or "She was called away by the Second Miss to do errands."
Since they finally managed to get together, Su Xiaoyu would always suggest, "Let's invite Sister Yuejiao too, it'll be more fun with more people!"
They turned their date into a threesome.
Furthermore, Su Xiaoyu would often use various excuses to create 'alone' space for Lu Xinghe and Shen Yuejiao.
One or two times could be considered a coincidence, but after it happened many times, even the slow-witted Lu Xinghe noticed that something was wrong.
His cousin seemed to be deliberately avoiding him and pushing him toward Shen Yuejiao. This realization made Lu Xinghe feel suffocated and very unhappy.
Finally, on his way to Huaihua Lane, Lu Xinghe mustered up the courage to confess his feelings to Xiaoyu.
The weather was sunny and clear that day.
Lu Xinghe went to the jewelry store and bought a hairpin carved with apricot blossoms. The design was exquisite, and it was the one that Xiaoyu had her eye on last time but couldn't bring herself to buy.
The two agreed to pick up Shen Yuejiao at Huaihua Lane later, and then go to the temple fair together.
From afar, Su Xiaoyu could be seen emerging from the back gate of the Marquis's residence, carrying a food box in her hand.
"Little fish."
Lu Xinghe hurried forward, somewhat nervous.
"cousin?"
Su Xiaoyu was a little surprised, "Didn't you say you were coming to Huaihua Lane on your own? Why are you here?"
“I…” Lu Xinghe tends to stutter when he’s nervous.
Meeting Xiaoyu's questioning eyes, Lu Xinghe steeled himself, took a deep breath, and handed over the hairpin hidden behind his back. His cheeks flushed, but his eyes were unusually serious.
"This... is for you. Little Fish, I have something to tell you."
Su Xiaoyu's gaze swept over the exquisitely crafted hairpin, and her heart skipped a beat, as if she had guessed something.
"Cousin, what's wrong with you...?"
"Little Fish Sister," Lu Xinghe mustered his courage, "we've known each other since childhood and are engaged. In my heart, you've never been my cousin. I... I've loved you since I was little. When we get back, I'll have my parents come to propose marriage, and we..."
"Cousin!" Su Xiaoyu interrupted him, not taking the hairpin, but taking two steps back.
"Thank you for your kindness, cousin, but I cannot accept this hairpin."
Her gaze was firm, and her voice carried a hint of apology.
“In my heart, you have always been my brother, my family. I only have brotherly and sisterly feelings for you, not romantic feelings. I’m sorry, my behavior recently may have caused you to misunderstand.”
These words were like a bucket of cold water, poured directly over Lu Xinghe's head.
The color drained from his face instantly, and he stared at Su Xiaoyu in disbelief; "Brother...sister? Xiaoyu, you..."
Seeing this, Su Xiaoyu felt a pang of pity, but she still continued to explain, "I'm so sorry, cousin, but I actually think Yuejiao is the one who truly loves you, she..."
"Don't mention her!"
Lu Xinghe couldn't hear anyone else's name at that moment. He excitedly interrupted and stepped forward, putting his hands on Xiaoyu's shoulders: "Xiaoyu, have you misunderstood me and her?"
"I...I have nothing to do with her. I only see Shen Yuejiao as a younger sister. My feelings for you are the only true feelings I have..."
Lu Xinghe was eager to explain, fearing that Su Xiaoyu would distance herself from him due to a misunderstanding.
Little did they know that this scene between the two under the osmanthus tree was witnessed by a pair of cool, clear eyes not far away.
Xiao Jingheng casually said something to the servant, and then the servant rushed towards the backyard.
...
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoyu realized that she might have unintentionally hurt Lu Xinghe's feelings and felt extremely guilty.
She could sense the sincerity in Lu Xinghe's tone; he was truly sincere towards her.
Can……
"Cousin!" She forcefully pulled her hand away from his and explained, "It's not because of Sister Yuejiao, it really isn't."
She took a deep breath and tried to speak in a tone the other person could understand: "Because we are cousins, blood relatives, within the fifth degree of kinship, such close relatives... cannot get married."
Lu Xinghe was stunned, his brows furrowed.
"Cousins marrying is a beautiful thing that has always been considered to strengthen family ties. What's wrong with it? Our laws don't explicitly prohibit it either. Little Fish, what kind of strange idea is this?"
"Even if you want to reject me, you don't need to use this kind of excuse to fob me off..."
A deep sense of powerlessness welled up inside Su Xiaoyu.
These modern scientific concepts are truly inexplicable in this era; to say them would only be considered madness.
She opened her mouth, about to say something—
"Xinghe, Xiaoyu, what are you doing here, pulling and tugging at each other? What kind of behavior is this!"
Zhao Yueru arrived in a hurry, her face looking rather pale.
She first gave Lu Xinghe a reproachful look, then stepped forward, cleverly shielding Xiaoyu behind her, her tone becoming more authoritative:
"This is the back gate of the Marquis's residence. Can't you find somewhere else to talk things out? Why make a spectacle of yourself here?"
Lu Xinghe realized he had acted too impulsively and lowered his head to explain, "Aunt, I... I just wanted to say a few words to Xiaoyu, I acted rashly... I'm sorry."
Zhao Yueru sighed, having guessed what was going on.
She first instructed Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, you go back first. I have something to say to your cousin."
Su Xiaoyu glanced at Lu Xinghe with concern, then at her mother, before turning and leaving.
After Su Xiaoyu walked away, Zhao Yueru stepped forward, helped up the distraught Lu Xinghe, and softened her tone.
"Xinghe, your aunt knows you're a good boy and that you're sincere towards Xiaoyu."
Lu Xinghe looked up upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope just appearing in his eyes, when Zhao Yueru changed the subject, speaking earnestly:
"It's just that you and Xiaoyu are destined to be apart and can't be together. Forget about your cousin."
These words struck Lu Xinghe like a bolt from the blue, crashing down on him with a resounding 'crack'.
"Why? Aunt, is there something I didn't do well enough? Or... is it because of those rumors? I can explain, and I can wait!"
Seeing him like this, Zhao Yueru felt very sorry for him.
But the thought that a short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one forced me to harden my heart.
She gently patted Lu Xinghe's arm: "Good child, don't ask anymore. Auntie can't say more about the specific reasons. You just need to know that your parents... they are all doing this for your own good, for the good of the Lu family."
Some things cannot be forced.
After saying that, she stopped looking at Lu Xinghe's devastated expression, hardened her heart, and turned to leave.
Lu Xinghe stood there alone, his eyes glazed over, utterly lost. He felt his heart sink, cold and empty.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com