Upon seeing Duan Lan at this moment, Ji Xinhe felt somewhat constrained for some reason, no longer her usual, carefree self. For some reason, when Li Junyao mentioned her feelings for Duan Lan yesterday, Ji Xinhe had taken it to heart, whether it was true or not.
After a long pause, she stammered, "Brother Duan, what brings you here?"
Duan Lan slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, still a little stiff, "Um, I came... to see you."
In fact, he had come the night before, wandered outside the whole night, all the while wondering how to talk to her. Yet, before he could decide, there she was, suddenly in front of him. Taken by surprise, he did not know what to say.
"Yesterday, yesterday..." Duan Lan moistened his lips, hesitated for a while, and at last mustered the courage to look at her and said, "Don’t take seriously the words Li Junyao said yesterday, she talks nonsense when she’s upset."
Ji Xinhe knew what he was referring to. Yesterday, Li Junyao had accused her of seducing Duan Lan, her fiancé, and cursed her as a seductress. It was only at that moment that Ji Xinhe realized – was she the one engaged to Duan Lan?
Ji Xinhe managed a faint smile: "I wouldn’t take the words of someone like her to heart. Don’t worry, I won’t think too much about it."
"But there is some truth in what she said," Duan Lan said, his gaze burning intensely.
Ji Xinhe perceived the unhidden flame in Duan Lan’s eyes and had a rough idea of what he was about to say. She was somewhat at a loss, and her gaze turned evasive.
In her past life, she’d been confessed to before. Because of her beauty and her sometimes plain life as an assassin, men often approached her, leering or with perhaps less innocent intentions. They would tell her she was beautiful and ask to be her boyfriend.
However, Duan Lan was different. His nature was simple, his thoughts without complexity. He looked at her with pure sincerity and expressed his feelings honestly.
And it was this purity that left her feeling indebted. She couldn’t help feeling that someone like her was undeserving of such pure, innocent affection.
Duan Lan looked at her earnestly: "While much of what she said was nonsense, her declaration of my affection to you was true. I do like you."
Ji Xinhe paused, at a loss for words: "I... "
Duan Lan sighed softly: "I’ve always felt it wasn’t the right time, so I never said anything. Yesterday, I finally convinced my father to allow me to rescind the engagement. I felt relieved, a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. I had even begun considering that once the engagement was annulled, I would seize a more opportune moment to declare my feelings to you. However, I never expected... "
That his confession would ultimately happen at such an inopportune time and in such an unacceptable way.
Standing there, Ji Xinhe awkwardly replied, "It’s okay, I don’t mind what happened yesterday."
"What about me? Do you care about me?" Duan Lan longed for an answer. Although he had a feeling what it would be, he still wanted to hear her say it. As long as it wasn’t expressly stated, it seemed like there was still a chance.
Ji Xinhe pursed her lips and finally said, "I haven’t thought about those things, and I haven’t considered our relationship beyond that of friendship."
"And what about Marquis Mu?"
The name ’Marquis Mu’ resonated in her mind, leaving her feeling somewhat dizzy. He was finally asking. Today was the first time, but soon there would be a second and a third.
Everyone would probably ask the same question - what is your relationship with Marquis Mu?
Ji Xinhe lowered her gaze and shook her head honestly, "I don’t know. It’s not that I’m deliberately keeping things from you, it’s just that I’ve been through so much in the past. I’d planned to forget it all."
Duan Lan’s eyes lit up slightly: "And what about now?"
Ji Xinhe forced a smile: "Now..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Now, Marquis Mu, in his overbearing and dominant way, had barged back into her life. He was an intrusion she couldn’t escape.
"I don’t know either, Brother Duan. I’m sorry, but my life is a mess right now, too many things are standing in my way. I haven’t yet uncovered the secret behind that handkerchief, and those assassins may return. And right now, I’ve just started my business in the capital. Furthermore..."
Furthermore, Marquis Mu was relentlessly intruding into her life.
Ji Xinhe let out a sigh: "I don’t have the time to consider anything else."
Duan Lan looked at her intensely: "I understand your predicament. I also know what you’re thinking. Since you just said that you don’t know what the future will bring, then I’m willing to wait. You once told me how rare it is to meet someone we truly like in this life. I, too, think it’s a rare luxury. Meeting you is a blessing. How could I let such an opportunity slip away?"
"But I..."
Duan Lan laughed lightly: "You don’t have to say anything more. If my feelings have added to your worries, then continue to see me as you always have, as a friend. I don’t want to burden you. I just want to be by your side."
Having finally spoken his mind, Duan Lan felt much lighter. He didn’t regret the past and as long as she gave him a chance for a future, he was willing to dedicate his life to her.
Having come this far for her, how could he give up? How could he bear to give up?
Ji Xinhe didn’t know what to say, opening her mouth to speak, but ultimately saying nothing.
"Okay, it’s getting late. You should go to the shop. There’s bound to be a lot to deal with since you’ve just opened," Duan Lan said with a smile.
"Um."
——
Le Yuanhou Mansion.
Ever since the birthday banquet, the entire mansion has been shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.
Li Junyao spends her days throwing tantrums in her room, breaking objects and lashing out at her servants. She’s so pent up with frustration, she vents her anger on anyone who comes near.
That day, she had planned to humiliate Ji Xinhe in front of all the eligible young ladies of the capital. But it all backfired and she herself became the laughingstock. Whenever she thinks about how others must be gossiping about her embarrassment, Li Junyao is filled with a murderous rage.
With a crash, Li Junyao viciously hurled a cup at the door, sobbing, "Mean person, she’s such a mean person!"
The door opened to reveal the Marquis, his face stormy, "Who taught you to speak so impolitely?"
Li Junyao turned pale. Her father had always emphasized the importance of propriety. She had only dared to speak such words in private, never in her father’s presence.
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