Rong Zhaonan's long, dark eyes held a barely suppressed rage: "Ning Yuan, stop right there..."
As a result, when he grabbed her, he saw that the girl's cold face was glistening with moisture.
She cried...
He was stunned for a moment, and the tears on her face stung his eyes.
Ning Yuan wiped away her tears expressionlessly and said coldly—
"Before we divorce at the end of next year, I will no longer attend any social gatherings, will not have any scandals, and will unconditionally cooperate with your work. Now you can let go?"
Rong Zhaonan's eyes darkened, and his breathing became somewhat labored: "I... that's not what I meant."
"I'm sorry for being fickle and interfering with your work. I'll even bow and apologize if you need me to. Now, let me go!!"
Ning Yuan took a deep breath, remained calm, and forcefully pulled her hand back, wanting to leave.
I've always felt that adults should break up with dignity.
She didn't want him to see her still being emotionally affected and undignified because of his words.
But the so-called dignity can crumble in an instant.
Rong Zhaonan felt a stinging pain in his eyes, but he didn't let go. He said in a deep voice, "Ning Yuan... calm down."
"Let go of me, or I'll hit you!!"
Unable to break free from her confinement and restraint, Ning Yuan finally cried out in unbearable pain.
She kicked him hard in the shin, tears streaming down her face, and yelled, "Get out!"
She kicked hard, and Rong Zhaonan felt a suffocating pain in his chest from her tears, a pain even more intense than his leg.
He still didn't let go, but instead stared at her intently, and whispered in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry."
Ning Yuan was taken aback, coldly turned her eyes away, and wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve—
"Chief Instructor, you don't need to apologize. You're not wrong at all. Only selfish people like me deserve to be scolded."
Rong Zhaonan lowered his head and closed his eyes, concealing the surging emotions within them: "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have used my emotions to hurt my comrades and friends."
Ning Yuan turned her face away, not saying a word, nor wanting to look at him, and continued to pry open his hand that was holding her shoulder.
He looked at her, then suddenly sighed self-deprecatingly: "I'm just unwilling to accept that all my affections have been in vain."
Ning Yuan was taken aback, staring at him blankly: "You..."
Rong Zhaonan's long, narrow, and aloof eyes were fixed on her as he slowly and hoarsely said—
"I know the girl I like didn't deceive my feelings or string me along. It's just that my unwillingness to accept it made me say hurtful things to prove that I'm different in her heart."
The blade should have been pointed at the enemy, but he used it to point at the girl who had always stood by his side and helped him.
It was still the girl he liked.
Ning Yuan was completely at a loss for what to do for a moment.
She never imagined that such a proud man would apologize to her.
Even more unexpectedly, the man in front of me said the word "I like you." Last time I asked him, he didn't answer.
She always thought that he only wanted to be with her because of a sense of responsibility unique to this era and a man's possessiveness.
My heart, which had been filled with sadness and emptiness, seemed to be filled with an indescribable emotion at this moment.
Why did he say all that? She would never forgive his harsh words!
Her eyes welled up with tears again, and she lowered her head, tears streaming down her face: "..."
"What will it take for you to stop crying..." His cool voice carried a hint of panic and helplessness as he reached out to wipe away her tears.
Ning Yuan turned her face away expressionlessly and pushed his hand away: "Who's crying! Get out!"
But... she kept wiping the wetness off her face with her sleeve, even forgetting that she had a handkerchief.
Looking at the stubborn girl in front of him, his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes were filled with complex emotions.
Her tears, like the sharpest weapon, could instantly dismantle all his defenses.
It was the first time he had experienced the feeling of helplessness and torment, a feeling completely unlike his usual self.
He suddenly reached out and hugged her tightly, apologizing again in a hoarse voice: "I'm sorry, you don't need to suffer the hurt caused by my emotions. I deserved it. Do you want to kick me again? Then kick me!"
Ning Yuan was held in his arms, the familiar scent of grass from his embrace filling her nostrils. She choked back tears and punched his chest hard.
"Rong Zhaonan, you bastard! What else can you do besides bully me?!"
She was annoyed by the fact that she could feel happy or sad for him because of his few words.
All my emotions seemed to be swayed by him.
Rong Zhaonan gently patted her back, his cool and dark eyes filled with a tenderness he himself was unaware of.
He whispered in her ear, "Let's not fight anymore, okay? Let's be together like before..."
Ning Yuan closed her eyes and didn't speak, nor did she break free from his embrace.
He was filled with trepidation, but stubbornly refused to let go of her, holding her tightly.
After a while, Ning Yuan calmed down a bit, and said softly, her voice choked with sobs—
“Rong Zhaonan…you know it won’t work. We…are too different. Why hurt each other? I can’t afford to hold you back.”
She finished speaking with difficulty, then reached out and placed her hand on his chest, slowly pushing him away.
His mission and life are like a grand program, while she is like a virus of fate, entangled for too long, and it is unknown to what extent she will affect him.
Rong Zhaonan swiftly grabbed her hand and said in a muffled voice—
“I know we are very different. Sometimes, I even feel that you are much older than me. In front of you, who is emotionally stable, my emotions fluctuate like those of a childish kid.”
The girl in his arms, seemingly a young woman who laughs and scolds, actually has a core of principles that are so stable they're almost cold.
Ning Yuan stiffened slightly.
Unaware of her presence, he held her hand tightly, embracing the petite girl in his arms, and said in a hoarse voice—
“At least until the end of next year, give me some time, and give you some time too, Ning Yuan… During this time, let’s get along like we used to in the village…”
He paused, then said softly, "Like companions and family, okay?"
Mingming remembers the times they spent working hard together, cooking, hunting, and celebrating the New Year together at Grandpa Tang and Grandma Xia's houses.
It was the most beautiful time in his suffering, but because he couldn't get what he wanted, it all turned into resentment.
And then go and hurt her... hurt that petite yet resolute and brave girl who stood in front of him time and time again, comforting him.
Ning Yuan listened as the young man holding her put aside his pride, like a big child holding a beloved treasure and refusing to let go, and begged her not to let go either.
Yes, he's still so young, even after going through so much hardship and suffering...
In matters of the heart, however, he remained naive and straightforward; he was not yet the cold and profound figure he would later become.
Ning Yuan closed her eyes, thinking she would refuse, but in the end she heard herself say, "Okay..."
She was ultimately greedy; his scent and aroma never easily faded from her heart.
Rong Zhaonan was stunned for a moment, then a flame flickered in his usually cold eyes. He suddenly reached out and cupped her face in his hands: "You agreed!"
Ning Yuan lowered her long eyelashes, avoiding his eyes, and said in a low, muffled voice, "...Anyway, you've already told everyone that we're cousins."
Rong Zhaonan looked at her intently and said, "I had a special mission to complete because I was secretly married, not because I wanted to hurt you."
Ning Yuan was taken aback, her feelings complicated.
His personality means he disdains and has no need to lie about matters of the heart.
Rong Zhaonan chuckled self-deprecatingly, "After thinking it over... I think cousins are the most suitable. I can look at you openly and honestly. What else can I do?"
He paused, his eyes dark and deep: "If we ultimately choose to go our separate ways by the end of next year, I will truly treat you as a sister. Whatever you want, I will grant you within my power."
Having resorted to this tactic of retreating to advance, if Curly Rabbit doesn't jump into the trap, he'll have to come up with a second plan.
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