Ye Zhen was happy to see her parents doing well, and now that her mother was expressing her feelings so frankly, she was very happy.
Yin Jiuniang smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, there are people here, but no outsiders."
The word "brother-in-law" made Shi Yan's face turn even redder.
He awkwardly pushed Ye Jinghong away, then took his hand and said, "Come on, let's go home. We can talk about it when we get home."
With her other hand, she held Ye Zhen's hand.
Ye Zhen knew her father was embarrassed, so she smiled and reached out to her master. The four of them walked hand in hand to the carriage.
Ye Jinghong instinctively wanted to follow her daughter. Before she could get close to her daughter enough, she heard her daughter say to Yin Jiuniang, "Master, I haven't grasped the technique you just taught me. Please give me some more pointers."
As they spoke, he released Ye Jinghong's hand and pulled Yin Jiuniang into the carriage.
Yin Jiuniang, "..."
How come I don't remember just teaching you the techniques?
Ye Jinghong looked at her daughter with pleading eyes. Shi Yan pulled her towards his carriage and said irritably, "Now you know you can't bear to part with your daughter. You abandoned her when she was just born."
Since he reunited with his daughter, he has been personally instructing her in martial arts. What she just said was to give them a chance to be alone together.
This foolish woman doesn't think she can refuse her daughter's good intentions.
Ye Jinghong lowered her eyes, followed him into the carriage, and as soon as she sat down, she said, "I'm sorry."
She felt sorry for her daughter and for Shi Yan.
Shi Yan admitted that he was angry, which is why he said those hurtful things to her, but he also didn't like Ye Jinghong apologizing all the time.
He scoffed, "Where has your former domineering self gone? After all these years, you've become nothing but a spineless coward who only knows how to apologize?"
They used to be so arrogant, practically crawling all over him, acting like they were the most important person in the world.
Now that he's turned into this horrible state, I wonder how much suffering he's endured.
Ye Jinghong stammered, "I'm in the wrong, so I can't be arrogant."
Shi Yan choked.
He immediately scoffed, "You still know you're in the wrong."
"I've always known."
Ye Jinghong looked at him and said solemnly, "Shi Yan, I know I've let you down..."
"I don't want to hear this."
Shi Yan interrupted her.
Ye Jinghong blinked. "Then what do you want to hear?"
Shi Yan, “…”
He didn't know.
Anyway, while he was happy that she was back, he was also angry and resentful. Why did she abandon him for more than 20 years? Why didn't she tell him that she had a daughter?
"When I left back then, I wasn't sure I could pacify the Canglang Kingdom. I originally thought that I would come back to find you after I destroyed Canglang. If I sacrificed myself, it's better if you don't know."
Later, I managed to succeed by chance, but before I could even resign, Dongwu invaded the border. As a first-rank general, I was supported by the people; when the country was in trouble, I had to fight.
Ye Jinghong sat down next to him. "I've thought about telling you about your daughter, but I'm afraid you'll come looking for me. I'm afraid that if you show up, the decision I've finally made will collapse."
Shi Yan, protecting the peace of the world has become my obsession. It was my selfishness that led me to abandon you for my own beliefs.
But when I returned to the future and looked at the lights of thousands of homes in this peaceful and prosperous world, I wondered if I was wrong. Even without me, my country would still have won and developed into the powerful nation it is today.
"So, if I hadn't been there in Dayuan back then, would someone else have? If I hadn't left, my daughter wouldn't have suffered so much, and you wouldn't have been hurt by me."
Her voice grew softer and softer, filled with sorrow.
A hint of reluctance flashed in Shi Yan's eyes. He wanted to comfort her, but the resentment and grievances of more than ten years could not be dispelled in a short time.
He pursed his lips and remained silent.
Ye Jinghong grasped his hand, "Shi Yan, I want to make it up to you, can you give me a chance?"
Since leaving you, I've never loved anyone else. I want to marry you, to be your wife. I dream of it all. Will you marry me?
What if I don't want to?
Shi Yan suppressed his emotions and asked coldly, "Are you going to leave again?"
"Then I'll pester you relentlessly, just like I pestered you to take me as your bodyguard back then, until you agree."
Ye Jinghong leaned closer to him, "Shi Yan, the world is at peace, and new talents emerge in every generation. I will give the rest of my life to you and our daughter."
When she traveled back to the modern era, her appearance did not age; instead, she gained a more mature charm.
In addition, she has always been a pure-hearted person. Back then, she only had the desire to serve her country, and now she only wants to make amends to Shi Yan and her child, which is why her eyes are clear and bright.
Meeting those eyes and hearing her warm breath, Shi Yan found it hard to remain calm.
He pulled the man into his arms and said fiercely, "If our daughter returns to Dayuan in the future, how will you choose between us?"
He wanted to see if this woman would abandon him again in the future.
Looking at his blustering facade, Ye Jinghong felt somewhat dazed. Back then, they had become friends through a fight, and had been at odds for a long time. Later, they developed feelings for each other, and when he refused to admit it, he was just like this paper tiger.
He looks fierce, but he has actually done a lot for her in silence.
"Are you willing to leave your daughter?"
Ye Jinghong countered with a question.
Shi Yan remained silent. How could he possibly bear to part with it? Besides, his grandmother had already given it to him as part of her daughter's dowry.
Ye Jinghong didn't have time to understand his daughter's current situation, but he knew Shi Yan well. Judging from his appearance, he knew whether he would separate from his daughter.
Then why should she need to choose? She could simply follow them.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Shi Yan, we've been apart for so long, don't you want to kiss me?"
Shi Yan, “…”
Here we go again, here we go again.
This man is a womanizer. Not only did he bewitch Yin Jiuniang, making her devoted to him, but he also always liked to flirt with her.
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