After angrily finishing his statement, Zheng Lin, too lazy to continue the conversation, got up and left.
Zheng's mother hurriedly chased after him, scolding her son for being insensible. "Your great-aunt is that kind of person. It's one thing for her to complain a few times, but you shouldn't have humiliated her in public and made her lose face. Your brother is engaged to her granddaughter, so you can't ruin the marriage because of this."
"Let them ruin it, it's not like our Zheng family can't find someone to marry. What are we afraid of?" Zheng Lin said dismissively, while Madam Zheng patiently advised him:
"That's because her eldest grandson passed the imperial examination. Our whole family is in business, and it's not easy for one of us to enter officialdom. We naturally have to build a good relationship with him. Lin'er, you must remember not to act impulsively and to consider the big picture in everything you do."
Zheng Linlan ignored his mother's nagging and said, "I know, you go and greet the guests! I need to go back to my room to check on Yu Chan and the child."
Feeling guilty for the mishap, Zheng Lin immediately ordered the kitchen to prepare rice wine and egg drop soup with glutinous rice balls, which he then personally delivered to Yu Chan.
After entering the room, Zheng Lin put down the food box and served her a bowl. Yu Chan asked curiously, "We just finished lunch, why are you serving soup again?"
“I heard about what happened at the luncheon. After your great-aunt’s disruption, I reckon you didn’t have much of an appetite and didn’t eat much. You just had some sweet soup to warm your stomach. I’ve already scolded your great-aunt for you, so don’t be angry.”
In Yu Chan's memory, Zheng Lin had always been polite and well-behaved. Apart from his own marriage, which caused a stir for several years, he had never disobeyed his elders. "But you are the junior. Do you dare to reprimand her?"
"How can I tolerate her bullying my wife?" He could tolerate other things, but he couldn't stand his great-aunt's repeated accusations against Yu Chan.
Whenever Zheng Lin showed concern for her, she was speechless and didn't know how to respond, so she simply remained silent.
Zheng Lin didn't expect her to respond, so he silently served the soup and brought it to her.
Yu Chan hadn't eaten well at noon, and was quite hungry now, so she didn't refuse anymore. She picked up a soup spoon, scooped up a sesame dumpling, blew on it gently, and then put it in her mouth.
Zheng Lin sat down beside her, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Why did your sister come here today?"
No wonder Zheng Lin was so attentive, coming over to bring her glutinous rice balls; he wanted to ask about her sister.
With a wry smile, Yu Chan put down her spoon and replied calmly, "I've come to visit her little niece."
Such a reason seems unconvincing. "In previous banquets, the Fourth Prince never brought her along. Why did she come today?"
"How could I possibly know what the Fourth Master is thinking? Why you came is not important; what matters is that you can see the person you want to see."
Yu Chan's words were loaded with meaning, and Zheng Lin knew exactly what she was concerned about. It seemed it was time for him to make some things clear.
"Undeniably, I had very deep feelings for Yushan, but unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to be together. For a long time afterward, I couldn't forget her, and even closed my heart, unwilling to accept anyone else."
I thought I would never be able to let go of that past, but seeing her today, I was only surprised for a moment, and then I returned to calm. When I saw her chatting and laughing with the Fourth Prince, I no longer felt the jealousy or resentment I once did; only blessings remained in my heart. It was only at that moment that I realized I had actually let go of Yu Shan long ago.
Zheng Lin's words today were unexpected for Yu Chan. She felt that all of this was unreal. He liked her sister so much, how could he forget her so easily?
Can you just let go of someone who is deeply etched in your heart?
"Of course, it wasn't something I let go of in an instant. It's because someone unknowingly walked into my heart." As he spoke, Zheng Lin gazed at her, his dark eyes deep and full of affection.
“In the past, I felt that I hadn’t let go of Yushan, so I refused to accept you because I didn’t want two people to occupy my heart at the same time. I felt that this was very unfair to you.”
It wasn't until a misunderstanding arose between us because of my mother, and I wronged you, causing you great disappointment and leading you to close your heart, that I realized I had long since grown accustomed to having you by my side. You weren't dispensable to me; in fact, you had already entered my heart without my knowledge.
When they got married, it was all her wishful thinking. She knew very well that Zheng Lin was only forced to marry her, so she never dared to hope that Zheng Lin could love her much. She just wanted to be with him, even if he couldn't forget his sister, as long as he was gentle with her and willing to care for her.
What she wanted was simple. She thought she hadn't chosen the wrong person, until after the incident she realized that Zheng Lin loathed her, showing no affection whatsoever, let alone love. Yet now, Zheng Lin said he still cared for her. She couldn't believe it; it just didn't seem right.
"But when you found out that we had consummated our marriage, your reaction was very strong. If you truly loved me, how could you have been so resistant?"
"I thought you drugged me, that's why I said those outrageous things. I just don't like being schemed against, I didn't mean to target you." Recalling the past, Zheng Lin only regretted his foolishness; he had become suspicious before asking clearly.
“You were so good to me, but I was ungrateful and always cold to you, which made you completely disappointed in me and no longer want to talk to me. Yu Chan, I know I was very wrong. I really want to make up for what I owed you, but I never had the courage to tell you my true feelings.”
Only now do I understand that the past is gone, and the person before me is the real one. Time flies, and I shouldn't waste it. Yu Chan, can you forgive me, let go of those grudges, and start anew with me?
Her heart was already scarred; how could she possibly have the courage to start over with him? She thought their lives would stay this way forever, but unexpectedly, Zheng Lin broke the deadlock first. His attitude seemed very sincere, but she dared not easily believe him, always feeling that something was amiss.
"Do you think that because I have a child with you, I'm choosing to put aside the past and just stay with me?"
"If I were willing to compromise, why would I have persisted for so long?" With a soft sigh, Zheng Lin reiterated his stance to her.
"Yu Chan, we've been married for three years now. You should know very well what kind of person I am. I'm especially cautious when it comes to relationships. If I weren't sure, I would never have said these words to you. The reason I've mustered the courage to say these things is because I'm absolutely certain of my feelings."
If I said I'd forgotten Yu Shan, you might not believe me, but I can honestly tell you that she's been sealed away in a corner of my heart, along with that past. From now on, you're the only one in my heart. I will treat you wholeheartedly and will never let you down again. Yu Chan, please trust me one more time, give me a chance to change, okay?
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