She doesn't care, but he has to.
People outside have nothing better to do than speak ill of Xu Zi, just like they used to speak ill of his sister. Shu Zhan felt cold inside, but Xu Zi was still trying his best to make him happy.
He smiled and asked her, "Will you marry me?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Zi was slightly taken aback; she hadn't expected Shu Zhan to ask her that. She felt a surge of joy, but then, recalling the rumors circulating in the capital, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
She shook her head, refused, and got up to leave.
Shu Zhan didn't understand her meaning. Did she not like him? If she didn't like him, why did she keep coming to see him?
When his mother heard about this, she left his father and rushed to find him. She didn't offer any words of comfort, but only asked him one question.
"Do you feel affection or guilt towards Jin Huan?"
Liking...or feeling guilty...?
Shu Zhan was confused. However, when Xu Zi didn't come to see him for many days in a row, he began to panic, as the question his mother had asked him was once again before him.
Love? Or guilt?
Shu Zhan couldn't answer, and Xu Zi never contacted him again. The two people who seemed to be very close became strangers overnight.
After Xu Zi stopped coming, Shu Zhan would sometimes go out for a wandering. As he wandered, he ended up outside the Xu residence. He stared blankly at the large "Xu" character on the plaque, and it took him a while to realize that this was Xu Zi's house.
He suddenly felt a bit irritated, but he was too lazy to leave. Shu Zhan bought two jars of wine nearby and sat down at the entrance of the Xu residence to drink heavily, eventually becoming completely drunk. However, when he opened his eyes, he was in his own bed.
He was initially confused, but after several attempts, he fell silent.
Was it guilt? Would guilt drive him to frequently go to the Xu residence to drink? Would guilt make him restless because he couldn't see Xu Zi?
If it's not guilt, then what is it?
……like?
Shuzhan hesitated.
He suddenly remembered that Xu Zi seemed to be almost seventeen years old. A girl was considered of marriageable age at fifteen. Did that mean she was also to be betrothed and marry someone else?
Shu Zhan suddenly stood up. No, this can't be. She can only look like his daughter, not someone else's daughter!
This was Shu Zhan's only thought before he went to the Xu residence to confess his feelings to Xu Zi.
He finally answered his mother's question; this time, he wouldn't get it wrong.
This was the second most important choice in his life, and also the most correct choice he ever made.
————
The extended side story is complete.
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