Chapter 74: Defense
Xue Minglan's face completely darkened.
My heart seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand and then suddenly thrown into an ice cellar.
Ice cold.
What exactly does she mean by this?
What does "I hear what you want me to hear" mean?
What kind of answer is that?!
Is it comfort? Or a deeper temptation?
Or do you just not care?
He felt a chill running from the soles of his feet straight to his head, making him tremble almost uncontrollably.
At this moment, the waiter came in cautiously, carrying a tray.
A pot of freshly brewed Longjing tea and a plate of exquisite hawthorn cake were gently placed on the table.
The tea is fragrant and the cakes are tempting.
But it couldn't dispel the freezing coldness in this private room.
The waiter bowed tactfully and retreated, closing the door gently.
A soft "creaking" sound blocked out the outside world and deepened the silence here.
Xue Minglan took a deep breath and suppressed the turmoil in his heart.
He picked up the plate of hawthorn cake, his fingertips turning slightly white.
He pushed the plate in front of Shen He, his voice dry.
"Try it, Ah He."
"It's still your favorite flavor."
Chen He's eyes lightly swept over the plate of tempting, red, translucent hawthorn cake.
In the past, this mixture of sweet and sour taste was her favorite, just like those green and sweet dreams in youth, quietly hidden in the girl's heart.
Now, looking at it again, the love I once had inexplicably feels greasy, like the clouds and smoke of the past, beautiful but out of reach.
She didn't stretch out her hand, not even her fingertips trembled. She just shook her head slowly with an almost indifferent calmness, her voice without a trace of emotion: "Thank you, Brother Minglan, for your hard work."
"It's just that I don't have much appetite right now."
Xue Minglan poured her another cup of tea: "Have some tea."
Shen He didn't move, nor did he show any intention of drinking tea.
Xue Minglan's heart sank suddenly!
Was she afraid that there was something unclean in the cake? Was she afraid that he would harm her?
This thought was like a poisonous thorn, piercing Xue Minglan's heart!
The pain was so severe that his vision went dark.
It turned out that she had been so wary of him that she didn't even dare to touch the dessert he personally handed to her, which was once her favorite!
The huge disappointment and indescribable pain instantly overwhelmed his remaining sanity!
He suddenly raised his head and stared at Chen He!
There was surging pain and confusion in his eyes, as well as a hint of madness after being completely hurt!
"Chen He!"
He almost gritted his teeth and called out her name! He didn't even call her "Ah He"!
The voice suddenly rose, carrying with it uncontrollable excitement and coldness!
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Why did it become like this between us?!"
He slammed the table so hard that the water in the teacup spilled out!
"you tell me!"
"Why are you doing this to me?!"
"Why are you distancing yourself from me like this?! You can't even eat a piece of cake?!"
"In your eyes, am I, Xue Minglan, the one who would poison you?!"
The grievances, resentment, and pain that had been pent up in his heart completely erupted at this moment! He could no longer maintain that gentle facade and just wanted to tear open this suffocating barrier and get to the bottom of it!
Shen He was startled by his sudden outburst, but her expression remained calm.
She just looked at him quietly, looking at his red eyes and his shoulders trembling slightly with excitement.
He finally asked.
From his perspective, it is indeed difficult to understand my sudden indifference and alienation.
She had also thought about whether she could just play along and at least not fall out so quickly.
After all, one less enemy is worse than one more.
Xue Minglan might still be of use.
But when she really faced him, the hatred and disgust wrapped around her heart like vines and could not be easily peeled off.
After being reborn, she no longer wants to compromise herself and play a docile and harmless role!
It turns out that people cannot easily change their inner selves.
You can pretend for a while, but not forever.
Shen He sighed softly.
Instead of suspecting and testing each other, it is better to speak openly.
She raised her eyes and met Xue Minglan's painful and angry gaze. Her eyes were clear, but filled with a firm determination.
"Brother Minglan."
She called him again, but her tone was as cold as ice.
"You want to know why?"
Her voice was not loud, but it reached Xue Minglan's ears clearly, and every word was like a needle piercing him.
“It’s very simple.”
Chen He leaned forward slightly, looking directly at him with a sharp gaze that seemed to see through everything.
"From the moment I knew you were the Queen's man,"
Xue Minglan's pupils suddenly shrank!
Shen He's voice continued to come, calm, but with great force.
"Do you think that things between us can still be the same as before?"
"Do you think I can still approach you without any hesitation and eat what you hand over?"
It was time to show her cards. In the end, she chose the most direct approach. Hiding some things was just deceiving oneself. Making it clear was actually more satisfying!
Xue Minglan was like being struck by a thunderbolt, and his whole body froze!
His face instantly turned as pale as paper!
He opened his mouth, wanting to refute or explain, but found that his throat seemed to be blocked and he couldn't say a word!
She knows?!
When did she know?!
How much does she know?!
Countless questions and fears instantly overwhelmed him!
Shen He didn't give him a chance to breathe.
She looked at his distraught appearance, without any pleasure in her heart, only cold indifference.
She continued to speak, her voice carrying a hint of fatigue that she herself was not aware of, and a hint of hidden questioning.
"I've never been able to figure it out."
"Brother Minglan,"
Her gaze fell on the unsightly bruise on his forehead.
"You are loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and your reputation is known far and wide."
"Why..."
Her voice paused slightly, with a heavy, almost sad doubt in it.
"Why do you work for the Queen?"
"What did she do to you? To make you treat yourself like this?"
She met his eyes, which were filled with shock and pain, and asked clearly, word by word:
"Tell me, why?"
This question, like a sharp dagger, pierced directly into the secret that Xue Minglan was most reluctant to touch. It was also like a mirror, reflecting all his embarrassment, unbearableness, and unspeakable difficulties at the moment.
There was deathly silence in the private room.
Only Xue Minglan's heavy and suppressed breathing rose and fell slightly in the air, like a dying trapped beast.
The sunlight outside the window was shining brightly, but it couldn't reach the dark and cold depths of his heart.
The plate of hawthorn cake that once symbolized sweet memories now lay quietly on the table, glaringly red, like a pool of blood that could not be erased.
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