He waited for her response, but she remained silent, only asking, "So?"
"So..." Su Jiafeng coughed lightly, feigning calm as she gazed at the distant water, stammering, "I wanted to ask you, would you... marry me?"
Glancing at him, He Yuning paced back and forth, pondering, "What are the benefits of marrying you?"
Su Jiafeng's eyes dimmed, and she laughed self-deprecatingly, "I'm not some rich young master, I don't have much money, so I really can't give you a life of luxury. I was presumptuous, I shouldn't have thought so much."
Seeing his dejected expression, as if he had misunderstood something, He Yuning had no choice but to patiently explain, "The benefit I was referring to is not money. I don't lack money and I never care about these things."
Su Jiafeng looked up in confusion, "Then what are you referring to?"
"How can you be so stupid?" He Yun Ning rolled her eyes at him and said angrily, "What do girls care about? Naturally, it's feelings and a sense of security. There are plenty of matchmakers who have proposed to my family, but I have always refused to meet them because I want to find someone I like who is devoted to me."
I don't want my future husband to have someone else in his heart, but you still have someone else in yours. If I were to force myself to marry you because of this, I would have no sense of security at all.
“I didn’t hide anyone!” Su Jiafeng looked bewildered, but after a moment’s thought, she suddenly realized, “You mean Xin’er? She has already left the capital.”
Gently pinching her knuckles, He Yunning lowered her eyes and said in a muffled voice, "She may not be by your side, but she is in your heart."
He didn't want to bring up the past, but Yun Ning had some misunderstandings, so Su Jiafeng wanted to make things clear to her. "I admit that I did have feelings for Xin'er. Back then, to save her life, I broke my sister's heart, but she still left."
Everyone has their own choices, and I respect hers. I'm someone who can let go easily, so you can rest assured I won't dwell on the past and cause you anxiety.
Does he really not feel any attachment to the past? He Yun Ning gave a soft "Oh" and ultimately didn't press the matter further.
With just this one word, Su Jiafeng still couldn't be sure of her attitude. "Then... are you willing to marry me? If you really don't want to, I can talk to Manager He and not make things difficult for you."
She hasn't even said a word yet! Is he already in such a hurry to make a decision for her? Can't he even say something nice to comfort her?
He Yuning grew increasingly angry, and retorted sarcastically, "When you hugged me back then, didn't you even think about whether it was appropriate? So many people saw it, who would dare to marry me in the future?"
"I was so anxious to save you that I didn't think about anything else. You're so heavy, and I gritted my teeth and held on for so long. Instead of being grateful, you scolded me?"
He Yun Ning became increasingly agitated as she listened, and turned to question him, "Who are you saying is heavier?"
"..." Receiving her warning look, Su Jiafeng subtly changed her approach, "You're not heavy, so it's because I'm not strong enough, right?"
With a soft snort, He Yuning turned to leave. Su Jiafeng, sensing something was wrong, immediately followed, "You haven't answered me yet! Are you willing to marry me or not?"
With a slight turn of her almond-shaped eyes, He Yun Ning's cheeks flushed red as she stammered, "Marriage is a major event, and my father should make the decision."
Upon hearing this, Su Jiafeng immediately felt reassured. "Manager He naturally agrees to this marriage, which means you have no objections?"
Embarrassed, He Yuning didn't want to answer directly, so she laughed it off, saying, "I don't know, and I can't be bothered with you!"
Since she didn't refuse, it could be considered tacit consent, right? Understanding this, Su Jiafeng was overjoyed and felt no pressure anymore, but seeing how slowly she was walking, he couldn't help but ask, "Does your leg still hurt? Should I carry you?"
Despite the discomfort, she persisted in walking forward, giving a self-deprecating smile, "I'm so heavy, I wouldn't dare trouble you."
Su Jiafeng said very frankly, "Then why don't you just carry it on your back? That might be easier."
Meeting her angry gaze, he realized his slip of the tongue and immediately corrected himself, "Just kidding, actually you're very light, I can carry you."
With a huff, He Yuning pouted her red lips slightly, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other, I won't let you hug me."
"We're about to discuss marriage, what are you afraid of? Anyone who dares to gossip will be punished!"
Her legs were indeed a bit sore from walking all that way, but carrying her was too intimate and He Yuning wasn't used to it, so she ultimately chose to let him carry her for a while.
The cool moonlight slanted across the long bridge and reflected in the middle of the river. Su Jiafeng carried her on her back and walked slowly forward, stepping on the swaying moonlight.
As they walked and talked, she would retort to him after only a few words. Su Jiafeng sighed, wondering why she couldn't win an argument with her, even though she was not bad at talking.
With He Yuning having no objections, the marriage proposal became much easier to discuss. Su Mingfeng asked Master Zheng to find a matchmaker to discuss the marriage between her younger brother and Miss He. Su Yushan was also pleased to hear this, secretly praising her muddle-headed brother for finally being clever and knowing how to seize the happiness before him.
Their matter was resolved, but trouble arose on Hongli's side.
On this day, after finishing his official duties, Hongli went to pay his respects to his mother as usual.
The mother and son rarely met, and every time Consort Xi saw him, she would greet him with a smile. However, today she had a somber expression.
"Have you heard that Hongchang was beaten up?"
His mother's sudden question likely stemmed from something she had heard. Hongli did not conceal anything and truthfully replied, "It was I who did it."
Consort Xi was still wondering if there was something fishy about the matter, so she specifically asked about it. Unexpectedly, her son admitted it so readily.
"He's your cousin, how could you lay a hand on him?"
Hongli replied righteously, "He harassed my woman; how could I tolerate him?"
In Consort Xi's memory, Hongli had always been prudent and measured in his actions, so it was truly incomprehensible that he would fight with his own brother for a woman.
"He didn't know the woman's identity. You could have just said a few words, why did you have to hit him? He is, after all, the eldest son of Prince Yi. When you slapped him, did you consider your uncle's reputation? And what would your father think?"
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