Yi Chenli gently patted An Yuan'er's head and said, "The flowers are blooming along the path; Yuan'er may return slowly now."
Some glistening droplets fell into the painting, blurring the ink and brushstrokes.
An Yuan'er dared not look at Yi Chenli. She understood his personality just as well as he understood her.
Given his proud and taciturn nature, it was already quite remarkable that he went to such lengths for her, repeatedly catering to her preferences.
Although he didn't say it explicitly, he was showing weakness and trying to please others.
They gradually came to know each other through An Yuan'er's paintings, and now he has returned a painting to her.
In that year, amidst the vast snowscape, a fearless girl forcefully grabbed the boy's hand in the desolate whiteness and solemnly told him that she would be his eyes and his legs.
But it's only been a few years, An Yuan'er, why are you scared?
Are you going to break your promise?
Is this all the debt of gratitude you owe from your past life?
Today's round trip was faster than yesterday's. When they arrived home, An Yuan'er was still not over it, her eyes red from crying.
"Yi Chenli, I actually..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yi Chenli interrupted her: "Roundball, I'll still wait for you tomorrow night. Think it over before you decide."
"Don't cry. Be good." He wiped away her tears and coaxed, "Anyone who didn't know better would think I was bullying you."
"It's because you bullied me," An Yuan'er muttered softly.
Only after watching An Yuan'er enter the mansion did Yi Chenli turn his wheelchair around and leave.
Inside the room, An Yuan'er looked at the painting, her mind even more chaotic than yesterday.
She would rather Yi Chenli use his tyrannical and ruthless methods to take her back without asking any questions, than let her slowly lose herself in this gradual, insidious process.
The warnings from her father and brother still echoed in her ears: Yi Chenli was no good person. An Yuan'er, you knew he was a wolf, yet you were still willing to offer him as a sacrifice.
*
Inside Chenyang Palace, Yi Chenli returned and didn't sleep a wink all night.
He waited in the high attic for the new day to rise, for the sun to set, and for night to fall... He was excited and couldn't wait to catch the fat rabbit.
He knew she couldn't escape.
"My lord, I don't understand. You clearly have an imperial decree that allows you to summon Miss An back at any time. Why go through all this trouble?"
Yi Chenli's eyes were deep and unfathomable: "What's the point of forcing it? I want her to come to my side willingly. Back then, I retreated and she advanced. Now, she retreats and I advance. In the end, she will come back."
A cool breeze blew in from the attic, causing the paper on the small table to flutter.
Yi Chenli wrote three pieces of paper on the table.
First scenario: Luring the "enemy" deep. The fat rabbit feels sorry for him and won't want him to be cold, so she will definitely get close to him. Using red bean candies to express her longing, she will lead the fat rabbit step by step into the trap.
Second strategy: Retreat to advance. The fat rabbit had already let his guard down, so he appealed to her emotions, reminisced about the past, and softened his sharp edges, making her try to get closer, gradually breaking down her defenses.
The third one is covered up and cannot be seen for the time being.
Yi Chenli is skilled at scheming, and who can escape his grasp in terms of people and emotions?
But usually, his scheming was only for killing and seizing power. This was the first time that his scheme was only for one person's heart.
All the careful probing and scheming was done for the sake of the fat rabbit's willingness, and for the sake of one person's heart.
As darkness fell, Yi Chenli came down from the attic, preparing to go out.
The attic window was not closed properly, and the papers on the table were rolled up. The third piece of paper had the words "draw the firewood from under the cauldron" written on it.
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