Chapter 131 [VIP] Lifesaver (18)
After the news of the second daughter of the Li family being broken off her engagement spread, within a few days, another shocking news came from the Li Mansion. It was said that the nephew of the current emperor, Prince Xiao, had come with a matchmaker to propose marriage, and the wife he wanted to marry was Li Nanyan, the eldest daughter of the Li Mansion.
Although the eldest daughter of the Li family had been broken off in an engagement, now those who are well-informed know that she was lucky. Everyone knows that Lord Jin has some problems with offspring, and it is said that the problem is not small, so being broken off in an engagement is actually a good thing. Didn’t you see that the second daughter of the Li family also broke off the engagement herself?
Moreover, this incident made some elderly women and grandmas feel that this girl looked more and more blessed, with natural good luck that others could not even envy. Therefore, many families wanted to wait until the outside rumors died down before asking a matchmaker to come to their house to ask.
After all, they are from the same circle, and the Li family is a veritable family of officials. Marrying Miss Li would be a good thing.
But no one expected that before the people outside could react, Prince Xiao had already brought his men to the door.
How should I put it? Everyone was quite surprised when they heard the news. Although someone had seen that Prince Xiao and the eldest daughter of the Li family talking and laughing in front of the rouge shop before, everyone had always thought that Prince Xiao was just joking. With such a casual personality, how could he really marry the eldest daughter of the Li family?
Besides, who doesn't know that Prince Xiao is also a man who loves romance? He likes to hang out in romantic places, and is especially sympathetic to prostitutes. He often hangs out with them. In the early years, he even made a scene in Yanyun City for a prostitute. Such a person actually brought a matchmaker to the Li Mansion to propose marriage? Could it be that this prince has really changed for the better?
Then someone who was well-informed said that Prince Xiao had really changed for the better. Hey, you may not know that Lord Jin and Lord Zhou from the Dali Temple were the main contributors to the Jile Temple bandit incident that caused a lot of noise in Yanyun City a few days ago.
But in fact, Prince Xiao was also present and made a lot of efforts. It is said that he even saved the life of the eldest daughter of the Li family. The two of them became acquainted because of this, and he naturally pledged his life in return for the life-saving grace. Doesn't this sound like a good thing?
I don’t know what other people think, but what’s important is what the Li family thinks. I don’t know whether Lord Li, who loves to show off his knowledge, will agree to this marriage.
In fact, the emperor had received the news in the palace as early as when Xiao Feihe was preparing to propose marriage. He originally thought that this kid was just joking, so he wanted to give him a good warning and tell him that marriage is not a joke. However, after he summoned him, this kid actually took the opportunity to plunder his private warehouse and said that as an uncle, he should give his future niece-in-law a gift. The emperor didn't know what to say after hearing this, but looking at his attitude, he almost understood. It seems that this kid is sincere.
That's all, as long as it's sincere. As your uncle, it wouldn't be a big deal if he gave you a little gift when meeting you.
However, the emperor thought for a long time, and then thought about the boy's previous mischievous behavior. He was afraid that his nephew would be beaten out with a stick after Li Mingru explained his purpose to others tomorrow. So he did not hesitate and immediately wanted to draft an imperial decree to grant the marriage to the two. In this way, no matter how courageous Li Mingru was, he would not dare to disobey the order.
However, the boy stopped this matter. He said that offering a marriage was too insincere. It sounded like he was forcing the girl. He and the girl were obviously in love with each other. When proposing a marriage, he should show his sincerity and visit her in person. How could he just take the easy way out and let the matter be settled with an order? This was not acceptable!
After hearing this, the emperor gave up. It seemed that this unfilial son was at least somewhat satisfied and finally understood something. It seemed that in order for a man to grow up, he still had to find a good wife to suppress him.
So, early the next morning, Xiao Feihe brought the matchmaker to the door.
At first, before he explained his purpose, Lord Li was polite to him, but his politeness was a bit dull and perfunctory. Xiao Feihe touched his nose and felt a little guilty for some reason. It was probably because he had made too many excuses in the past, which led to his future father-in-law being dissatisfied with him.
After Xiao Feihe exchanged some pleasantries, he directly explained his purpose, lowered his head, and bowed with his hands clasped. This etiquette was particularly thoughtful. "Sir Li, I have offended you before. I hope you can forgive me and not hold it against a young boy like Feihe."
"However, Fei He came here today to propose marriage to you. The Li family has Zhenzhu Mingyue, whom I love. After the trip to Jile Temple, Fei He fell in love with the eldest daughter of the Li family and could not extricate himself. He wanted to marry her as his wife. In the future, he will cherish her and not let her suffer any grievances. I hope that Master Li can help me."
These words were spoken sincerely without any falsehood. When Xiao Feihe said this, his head almost subconsciously lowered even more, and even his ears felt a little hot.
It was really embarrassing to express all his love in such an open and aboveboard manner. Fortunately, he was thick-skinned enough, but he was inevitably embarrassed in front of his sweetheart's father.
There was no other way. If any blind prodigal son dared to covet his precious daughter in the future, he would beat him with a stick.
Lord Li didn't react at first. He sat leisurely in the main seat drinking tea. By the time he realized what the naughty boy opposite him said, the tea went down his throat in an instant.
He didn't know whether to swallow or spit it out. He was so stifled that his face turned red. He finally calmed down and saw the man standing opposite him. He was furious again.
"Xiao, I knew you had bad intentions. You came to the Li residence every few days to talk with me, but you disappeared halfway through. I thought you left early, but this is what you were thinking!"
"You wish! Do you think about my daughter? Don't you care about your own reputation? I heard that you even have an illegitimate child. You let my Yanyan marry you, do you want her to teach your child? How dare you think that?"
The more Lord Li thought about it, the angrier he got. He disliked this man more and more. He felt something was wrong at first, but he didn't think much about it. After all, he was still a prince, so he wouldn't kick him out. But he didn't expect that this man would think this way? But he didn't even look at his own appearance. With his reputation of being a smoky and foul-mouthed man, was he worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as his daughter?
Xiao Feihe knew that something was wrong when he heard this! He should have been more restrained and should not have fooled people like that. Now, he didn't even have a chance to fight for it.
Xiao Feihe hurriedly stepped forward to explain, telling him that the rumors outside should not be believed. He had no illegitimate children and had never been with those prostitutes. It was only because of his second cousin that he had such a reputation as a reckless person. He used to be resentful of his uncle, the emperor, for the death of his mother, so he was so reckless that he ruined his reputation just to embarrass the other party. But in the end, it seemed that he was the only one embarrassed. Now even getting married would be rejected by others. He would never dare to do such a bad thing again.
Xiao Feihe omitted some of the more secretive parts. After this explanation, Lord Li was still doubtful, and the anger in his chest finally subsided. So, this Master Xiao is not as bad as he looks, right?
He looked the man up and down again and said, as for his appearance, this prince is really good-looking and is definitely a perfect match for his daughter.
Back then, the eldest princess was stunningly beautiful, and her husband was also a rare talent with extraordinary appearance. As the descendants of these two, their temperament and appearance are naturally not much different.
In the past, I only thought that Prince Xiao was unruly and uninhibited. Because of his bad reputation, people subconsciously ignored his good looks. But now, seeing him wearing a snow-blue straight-collared robe, embroidered clothes, a wide belt with spider patterns around his waist, and a jade pendant of extremely fine quality, it is true that clothes make the man. In this way, people only think that Prince Xiao has a calm and clear temperament, and his words and deeds are polite and considerate. He looks like a well-educated young man from aristocratic family. There is no trace of the sloppy and cynical look he used to have.
If such a handsome young man walked down the street, I'm afraid there would be brave girls who would not be able to resist throwing handkerchiefs at him.
Lord Li frowned and looked the man up and down. The more he looked, the more he felt that he had made a mistake. He thought to himself that if he looked at it this way, this marriage might not be so difficult to accept.
However, I still have to discuss it with my wife. The marriages of the daughters of the Li family have always been decided by my wife.
So Lord Li invited Madam Li over again. Madam Li almost pinched Lord Li's ears when she first heard this. This old man is so bold, isn't he? What is he thinking? He actually wants to marry his daughter to the playboy that everyone in the city hates. How can this be possible? !
The Li family has not yet fallen to the point of selling their daughter!
Mrs. Li naturally refused to agree, but after hearing the whole story and further questioning and observation, Mrs. Li's impression of this Master Xiao gradually changed a lot. She was originally reluctant, but with Master Xiao's continuous efforts, she was now more than willing.
若這人并非傳聞中的那樣差勁，那倒也不失為一個好夫婿的選擇。
畢竟自己的閨女自己知道，瞧着那日在極樂寺發生的情況，這兩個小兒女之間好像是有那麽點子情意在的。
于是李夫人就松口了，表示只要自家女兒願意，那這門親事也不是不能成的，如此一來，李府上下幾乎都沒有異議了。
這麽多天了，這還是李府傳出的第一個好消息，李夫人今日的心情實在不錯，這一高興，就打賞了全府的丫鬟婆子，所以府中上上下下都是一副喜氣洋洋的模樣。
……
而在另一邊的芙蕖院，李清柔原本還沉浸在被退婚的悲傷情緒中出不來，乍然聽到蕭世子上門來提親的消息後，一時錯手，竟不小心打碎了那博古架上的花瓶。
連身旁的丫鬟說了什麽都聽不清了。
李清柔的思緒越發的混亂，她睫毛輕顫着，眼淚仿佛不受控制地就從眼眶中溢出，她不懂，真的不懂，為什麽一個個的全都喜歡上了李南嫣呢？
她只覺得原本屬于自己的東西全都被李南嫣搶走了，靳厭離是這樣，蕭非鶴也是這樣！明明從前全都說過喜歡她的啊！
明明一開始先遇到他們的也是她啊。
到底為什麽會變成這樣呢？
李南嫣已經什麽都有了啊，她有父親母親的疼愛，有尊貴的嫡女身份，李府上下所有人都疼愛她，就連下人都是捧高踩低的，現在靳厭離也喜歡她，為了和她這麽個未婚妻退婚，寧肯對外宣稱自己這輩子都無法生育都不肯娶她，為什麽所有人都喜歡她呢？
還有蕭非鶴也是，明明從前那麽喜歡她的一個人，為什麽轉個身就能毫不猶豫地迎娶別的女子呢？
難道他從前對她的感情都是假的嗎？
他不是喜歡她的嗎？不是因為她才去接近李南嫣的嗎？為什麽喜歡一個人就不能一直喜歡到底呢？為什麽要變心？
又為什麽要在這種時候變心？
在這種她淪為笑柄、無依無靠的時候，她如今成了這般模樣，而她李南嫣卻能風風光光地嫁進世子府，成為獨一無二的世子妃！
到底是憑什麽啊？
她真的很不甘心，李清柔眼淚滴落着，手指越攥越緊，從小到大，她一直都很要強，她不懂，為什麽她明明樣樣都比李南嫣出色、比她聰明，也比她會看人眼色，更比她會讨人歡心，可是為什麽呢？
從始至終疼愛她的就是要比她多，難道就因為她是庶女嗎？就因為她沒個好出身的娘親，所以才不配得到這些嗎？可是她娘明明也說過的，她不比李南嫣差，同為父親的女兒，她跟李南嫣是一樣的，李南嫣能有的，她當然也能擁有，甚至要比她更好。
可如今她淪為了所有人的笑柄，而她卻馬上要嫁進世子府了，這讓她怎麽可能甘心啊？她真的很不甘心！
李清柔收斂了恍惚的心神，心中隐隐有些怨恨，她将眼淚擦拭幹淨，既然不讓她好過的話，那她也不會讓她好過的。
……
南嫣也沒想到這人效率這麽高，說第二天來提親還真就來了，早食剛過不久，她在假山後頭的那片海棠園裏散步，一邊賞花，一邊逗着那只綠毛鹦鹉時，身後突然就冒出了一雙修長分明的手掌捂住了她的眼睛。
南嫣被吓了一跳，轉過身看到是他時又沒忍住把人按住好一頓捶，這人膽子是愈發大了，這光天化日之下，在李府也敢跟她拉拉扯扯的，也不怕他爹讓下人打死他。
“你怎麽來了？”南嫣是明知故問，睜着眼睛打量這人，今天還換了身格外貴氣的衣裳，瞧着就一副世家公子的模樣。
蕭非鶴眉眼間掩飾不住的笑意，他拉着人的小手在一旁的假山後坐下，然後從袖口掏過來一只七八寸的小紅盒，盒子是花梨木的，做工精致，上頭還刻着雲紋圖飾，蕭非鶴朝她笑了笑，示意她打開瞧瞧。
南嫣便好奇地眨了眨眼，忍不住打開看了一下，那上頭放的是他親自寫的聘書，南嫣将聘書拿起來，還沒仔細觀賞一番他那鳳飛鳳舞的字跡，就瞧見那盒子底下放了十六只整整齊齊、姿态各異的小金蟾，有的肚子圓滾滾的，還有的單腳站立，也不知道他從哪兒弄來的這些鮮活有趣的小玩意兒。
南嫣眼睛頓時亮了一下，愛不釋手地将小金蟾拿在手裏把玩，這禮物果真是送到她心坎裏了，她就喜歡這種看着沉甸甸又金燦燦的寶貝了，尤其還是金子做的。
“都是給我的嗎？”
南嫣瞧見這一盒寶貝，直接将東西圈進懷裏，生怕有人搶了她的小金蟾，瞧這癞□□長得多好看啊，哪裏就不讨人喜歡了呢？
蕭非鶴實在忍不住笑了，仿佛早有預料，擡手就敲了敲她的腦袋，說道，“真是不識貨，本世子的書法一字可抵千金，辛辛苦苦寫的聘書你沒瞧見，倒瞧見那幾只癞□□了，你說你這眼睛留着有何用？”
南嫣哼了兩聲，也忍不住笑了，“癞□□怎麽了，你不是說我口味重嗎？我就喜歡這種金燦燦的癞□□，最好多來點，這些你都是從哪兒找來的啊，全都給我了嗎？可不許反悔的！”
蕭非鶴真是被這人一副財迷似的小模樣打敗了，眼底還放着光，亮閃閃的，對着他的時候都沒這麽歡喜過，早知道這人這麽好哄，他早就把世子府的庫房鑰匙都給她了，哪兒還用得着這麽多波折？
蕭世子按着她的腦袋，“不給你給誰？”
然後眉梢挑了挑，笑得格外得意，“本世子好不容易從宮裏搜刮來的，你那個皇帝舅舅說這是送給他未來侄媳婦的見面禮，你收了可就不許反悔！”
南嫣哼了兩聲，擡眸看着這人，眼睛水汪汪的溢滿笑意，“只要你以後不欺負我，我就不會反悔的。”
蕭非鶴笑着将人摟進懷裏，“我何曾欺負過你了，分明都是你在揍我，你瞧我這瘦胳膊細腿的，胸口還有你掐出來的印子，下手時那叫一個狠啊，本世子每天被你揍的毫無還手之力，你還敢說我欺負你？”
南嫣嘻嘻笑着，“那是你活該，誰讓你動不動就抱我、親我的，我不揍你揍誰？”
“唉……這可真是冤死本世子了，也不知道成日裏動手動腳的到底是誰？動不動就往本世子懷裏撲，你說本世子又不是木頭人，避開吧，要被揍，不避開吧，更要被揍！本世子胸口到現在還疼着呢，而且心上人在懷裏，我摸兩下小腰怎麽了？”
“再說了，本世子憑本事摸的，你不服氣你也可以摸回來嘛。”
蕭世子說着，便捉着她的手往懷裏摸去，然後就摸出一袋還帶着餘溫的點心。
南嫣這下終于忍不住笑出聲了，連眼睛都彎成了兩道月牙。
蕭非鶴瞧着心軟，便也跟着笑了，然後撿起一塊綿軟溫熱的點心就塞進了那只嫣潤的小嘴裏，一邊投喂還一邊問她，“怎麽樣，好不好吃？懷裏還有呢，還要不要再摸摸？”
南嫣眼睛水汪汪地瞧着人，直接按着他的胸口往人臉頰上親了一口，“吧唧”一聲，然後抱着那一盒子的小金蟾站了起來，歡歡喜喜地笑着說道，“我不跟你鬧了，我要去拿給娘看看，讓她瞧瞧我的本事多大，居然坑回了這麽一大盒子的金疙瘩，她瞧見了肯定會高興的。”
蕭非鶴搖着頭無奈笑了，明明最寶貝的金疙瘩都要被他哄走了，伸手摸了摸臉頰，面皮上濕潤潤的，居然還殘留了一絲點心碎屑，嗯，真是不講究，也不知道吃幹淨再親人，留這麽一點難不成還想給他吃嗎？
不過看着她那跑遠的身影，碧綠色的裙擺在金色的陽光下劃出翩跹的弧度。
美得讓人心口軟成了一灘春水。
好吧……
他還就是喜歡她那不講究的樣子。
蕭非鶴看着人跑遠，直到背影徹底消失不見，這才從假山後站起來，撣了撣袖袍上的灰塵，背過手，轉身正準備離開。
卻沒想到，一回頭就瞧見了不遠處站着的那道纖瘦的身影，李清柔就靜靜地站在那兒，也不知道看了多久了，眼眶微微泛着紅意，似乎還含着淚。
蕭非鶴不自覺地就皺了下眉。
心中頓時有種很古怪的感覺湧出。
他倒不是厭煩不喜，而是有些驚訝，李清柔這時候來找他做什麽？
他不否認自己曾經是喜歡過她的，那種喜歡跟對嫣嫣的不同，但那也确确實實是心動過，只是這份心動在遭遇了很多波折之後逐漸消失淡然，到現在的心如止水。
沒有人規定喜歡上一個人以後就必須要喜歡她一輩子，曾經的李清柔救過他，也關心過他，這讓他為此而動心，只是礙于名聲問題兩人始終沒有過多親近。
而這份喜歡則更像是水中月鏡中花，看着美麗夢幻，實則就如水中倒影一般虛幻易碎，而且有些事情也不怪她，畢竟自己那樣烏煙瘴氣的名聲，除了某些腦袋實在不聰明的家夥，只怕是沒有姑娘願意真心待他的。
後來她跟靳厭離定婚之後，他就更沒有接近她的機會了，倘若那時她沒有在他面前無助哭泣，倘若那時他不是一時昏了頭，為了她去接近嫣嫣的話，可能現在的他也不會明白真正喜歡一個人應該是什麽樣的。
真正喜歡一個人會因為對方慢慢成長而變得更好，而不是因為她讓自己變得卑微可笑，為她去做傷害別人的事情。
李清柔的面色有些蒼白，唇色也有些淡薄，她就那麽怔怔地望着他，然後走上前來了，眼裏還帶了些濕潤霧氣，“你來李府向她提親，你是真心喜歡她的嗎？”
這個“她”指的是誰，兩人都心知肚明。
蕭非鶴幾乎沒有猶豫地就點頭了，雖然不知道李清柔過來找他是有什麽事情，但這不妨礙他把話說清楚，聲音平和道，“嗯，我真心喜歡嫣嫣，想娶她也是真心的。”
他說這話時的語氣認真平靜，眼裏甚至溢出了不少笑意。
李清柔下意識地捏緊了手指，她面色更蒼白了，嘴唇抿了抿，興許是因為這幾日休息不好，連神色瞧着都有幾分憂郁了。
她忽然擡眸，淚眼朦胧地望着他，聲音輕飄飄地質問，“那我呢？你對我就半分情意都沒有了嗎？”
蕭非鶴似乎有些意外，表情停頓了一瞬，緩了片刻，身體才逐漸放松下來，然後問她，“你知道我當初喜歡你的事情是嗎？”
李清柔下意識地回答道，“我知道，我還知道你當初是為了我才故意去接近她的。”
“你想讓她喜歡上你，從此以後不會再有精力去糾纏靳厭離，我一直都知道的！你曾經那麽的喜歡我，為了我寧肯去欺騙李南嫣，可是為什麽轉個身就能毫不猶豫地和她成親呢，難道你對我已經一點感情都沒有了嗎？”
她說這話的時候眼眶又有些濕潤了。
眼睫輕顫着望向他，那眼中似乎還含了些難堪和無力，仿佛只是想确定他對她是不是真的已經毫無情意了。
蕭非鶴只覺得有些麻煩，眉頭皺得緊緊的，如果沒有必要的話，他其實不想徹底撕破臉皮，一是她是嫣嫣的親人，以後總要來往，還有就是，李清柔曾經救過他，是他實打實的救命恩人，雖然他不是什麽好人，但至少目前為止都不能太過忘恩負義。
只是他有些不明白為什麽李清柔會對他說出這樣的話來？明明曾經她沒和靳厭離在一起的時候，她也不曾這樣在意過自己，現在過來問他這些事情，這又是何必呢？
除了讓自己的處境變得更加尴尬難堪之外，分明得不到半分好處。
蕭非鶴深呼吸了一口氣，然後看着她，那雙黑白分明的眼眸異常的深沉，眼底顯露的意思也格外的明顯，幾乎沒有任何猶豫地就回複道，“很抱歉，清柔，曾經的事情我不想再提了，我也希望你以後不要再說這些亂七八糟的話了，尤其在嫣嫣面前，我不想讓人誤會，而且我現在已經有了真正喜歡的人。”
李清柔眼淚幾乎瞬間就溢出眼眶了，她有些不甘心地望着他，那眼中隐隐有些期盼，“如果我求你呢？我求你別娶她，好不好？”
“不可能。”
蕭非鶴幾乎是脫口而出。
說完也讓他心中隐隐有些生氣，他揉了揉發脹的眉心，覺得眼前這人變得太奇怪了，他不想再和她糾纏下去了。
聽到這話，李清柔似乎有些愣住了，但她很快也反應過來了，随即便有些不自在地別過臉，從袖口掏出帕子輕輕擦了擦眼淚。
等她擦幹淨臉頰兩邊的淚跡，這才轉過來朝他溫柔笑了下，眼底露出明顯的開心笑意，“這樣就好，蕭世子你是真心的就好。”
她輕輕呼出了一口氣，整個人好似輕松了不少，然後在對方有些莫名其妙的眼神中說出了解釋，“還請蕭世子原諒我此番對你的試探，只因你先前接近嫡姐的舉動太過突兀了，讓我難免有些擔心你會因此而欺負她，如今我算是知道了，你是真心實意的喜歡嫡姐，所以我也就放心了。”
李清柔說着這話，臉上的神情也變得更溫柔了。
聽到這話，蕭非鶴一時間也有些微愣，不過他很快也反應過來了，随後搖了搖頭，表情平淡地說了句，“沒事，既然這樣的話，我就先離開了。”
“哎……你先等等。”
“我還有話要說……”
聽到對方說要走，李清柔幾乎下意識地就抓住了他的袖子，不過很快被對方不着痕跡地避開了。
蕭非鶴轉頭看她，“你還有什麽事情？”
李清柔猶豫地看了他一眼，咬了咬嘴唇，她微微別過臉，臉上的表情似乎有些為難，“其實我方才說的那些話，也不全都是假的，曾經我也對你有過好感，只是物是人非，那些過去的事情不提也罷。”
“不過世子最後再抱我一次可以嗎？就當是還了從前的救命之恩，從此以後，我們之間的事情一筆勾銷，好不好？”
蕭非鶴其實有些為難，他不想擁抱除嫣嫣以外的所有女子，尤其眼前這人還跟他從前有過牽扯，某種直覺告訴他，這樣的事情很不好！可偏偏她又說是還從前的救命之恩，之前的事情也一筆勾銷，這讓蕭非鶴隐隐有些猶豫了。
思量再三，蕭非鶴還是皺眉應了，“好，只此一次，從今往後，你我之間再不相欠，不管你以後求我做什麽，我都不會再幫你。”
他話音剛落，李清柔便不顧這人反應，直接沖過去撲進了他的懷裏。
緊緊擁住的那一刻，李清柔鼻間甚至有些泛酸，她此前從未想過，原來這個不學無術的世子爺的胸膛也是這般的穩重可靠，他甚至比靳厭離更要體貼。
只是為什麽？為什麽他在跟她在一起的時候，從來沒有顯露出那樣在意的狀态呢？
他從來沒有給她親自買過小點心，也不會小心翼翼地藏在胸口替她捂熱，更不會給她送那些什麽小金蟾之類的小玩意兒，為什麽？為什麽和她在一起的從來不會這樣，偏偏對李南嫣的時候就變得完全不一樣了！
倘若他當初對她也是這樣的體貼溫柔，她又怎麽可能會不心動呢？分明就是不夠在意，所以才會不夠細致，那也就怪不了她了。
此刻的李清柔也是怨恨過了頭，她沒有想過感情都是相互的，她從前因為名聲問題對蕭非鶴忽冷忽熱，失落的時候找他安慰傾訴，有心上人的時候就将他放到一邊，即便蕭非鶴再是個舔狗，他也不是個傻子啊！
長久得不到回應的喜歡都是會累的，又不是那種刻骨銘心的愛戀，何況兩人之間，其實說到底也不過是因為一場救命之恩引發的互有好感罷了。
這樣的喜歡又怎麽可能會長久呢？
李清柔看到那從不遠處歡喜走過來的身影，看到她緊緊擁着她的心上人時，表情在一瞬間變得僵硬，她目光直直對上她的。
南嫣眉梢動了動，李清柔這是在做什麽？挑釁她嗎？據她所知，李清柔好像根本不喜歡蕭非鶴吧，就為了一個男人，這樣傷害自家姐妹，也着實是她沒有想到的。
她原本還以為要靠着靳厭離才能戳破這個謊言，倒是沒想到李清柔會提前幫了她這個忙。不過也沒關系，反正誰來結果都一樣。
只是這般完全不顧及姐妹情意的，看來原主落得劇情中那樣的結局，這個庶妹暗中也是做了不少推動的事情吧。
蕭非鶴被對方抱住的那一瞬間就已經想避開了，這種怪異的感覺，讓他渾身上下都充滿了某種前所未有的排斥和不适感，可偏偏這人還是沒完，他剛想伸手将人拽開，就挺到懷裏的李清柔說道，“我知道是我不好，當初你喜歡我時，我暗示你去接近李南嫣，如今我被退婚，淪為笑柄，她反倒成了世子妃，世事無常，這也是我活該。”
“只是我想問一句，蕭非鶴，你當初是真心喜歡我的嗎？”
大概是沒想到她會問出這樣的話，對面沉默了很久，好一會兒才聽到他語氣平靜地回複道，“嗯……我真心喜歡過你，這點我不否認，若不是因為你，我也不會主動去接近嫣嫣，只是……”
話還沒說完，便聽到身後傳來“嘭”的一巨響聲，有什麽東西重重落到地上的聲音。
那個原本被抱在懷裏的小紅盒不小心摔到了地上，蓋子裂開了，裏頭沉甸甸又姿态各異的小金蟾瞬間滾落了一地，還有一顆正好滾落到了他的腳邊，彈跳了一下，然後停了下來。
那一瞬間，空氣仿佛停滞了。
Xiao Feihe stood stiffly where he was, his face twitching slightly. At that moment, a heart-shaking panic and uneasiness suddenly surged from the depths of his heart, and then quickly spread to every part of his body, making his entire body freeze. He didn't even dare to turn around to look.
But he still turned around. He saw Nan Yan standing behind him. She was still holding the letter of appointment tightly in her hand. She was looking at him without blinking, but tears were falling without her knowing when.
She didn't know how long she had been standing there. Her face turned pale from the cold wind and her lips were bloodless.
Those dark eyes just stared at him quietly, indifferently, without any emotion or even a trace of light.
Xiao Feihe was really panicked this time, with an indescribable panic in his heart. His body was trembling, and he subconsciously pushed Li Qingrou away from his arms, then stepped forward to grab her hand.
"Yanyan, listen to me..."
Nan Yan subconsciously took a step back and slapped away his outstretched hand without hesitation.
"Don't touch me!"
She looked up at him, tears falling from her eyes one by one, but her expression was filled with unprecedented disgust and strangeness.
Xiao Feihe's fingers froze.
That look of disdain almost suffocated Xiao Feihe. He felt an inexplicable chill in his heart, making him colder and colder, so cold that his fingers trembled slightly. However, his eyes refused to move away and he just stared at her stubbornly.
"Will you listen to my explanation, Yanyan?"
Xiao Feihe's lips trembled slightly. His lips were extremely pale, so pale that there was almost no trace of blood. At this moment, he had no time to care whether Li Qingrou had done this intentionally. The only thing in his eyes was the person in front of him.
He looked at her with pleading and despair in his eyes.
"You can't... beat me to death with a stick. You have to at least listen to my explanation, please, okay?"
Nan Yan stared at him. As soon as she raised her head, the tears that had been accumulating in her eyes fell uncontrollably. She said in a hoarse voice, "Okay, then let me ask you, did you approach me on purpose from the beginning?"
Xiao Feihe opened his mouth, wanting to refute or explain, but found that he couldn't say a word in rebuttal. He panicked even more, and subconsciously tightened his sleeves with nervousness. After a long while, he replied in a low voice, "...Yes, I approached you on purpose at first, but later..."
Before he could finish the rest of his words, he was decisively interrupted by the person opposite him. She looked at him with red eyes and shouted at him emotionally, "Shut up! I didn't ask you to explain, I just asked you if you were or not!"
Xiao Feihe immediately became flustered when he heard the voice. He looked at her guiltily and nervously, and stretched out his hand, but when he saw her disgusted look, he carefully put it down without daring to make any more unnecessary moves. "Okay, I know, I was wrong. I will answer whatever you ask. Don't cry... don't cry, okay..."
The tone was so flattering as to be almost humble.
Nan Yan's tears fell again. She wiped them away and asked him again, "Okay, let me ask you again, you deliberately approached me, was it because of the person you liked from the beginning? In order to let Li Qingrou and Jin Nili be together well, and in order to make me no longer have the energy to pester Jin Nili, so that I can't disturb them, right?"
The expression on her face was one of despair and disbelief. She stared at him closely, afraid to miss any expression on his face.
When Xiao Feihe heard this, all the color left his face.
At this moment, he suddenly felt an unprecedented fear in his heart, and his eyeballs began to tremble uncontrollably because of fear. He was really scared now, so scared that his whole body was shaking.
He didn't want to answer the question and wanted to evade it, but under Yanyan's compelling gaze, he found that he dared not say anything deceiving. In the end, he could only say with trembling lips,
"……yes."
When Nan Yan heard this affirmative answer, her eyes instantly turned red, and tears flowed down her face uncontrollably. Until this moment, her emotions seemed to have completely collapsed. "Liar, you have been lying to me from the beginning to the end. How could you do this? Do you think I am stupid? Do you think I am easy to deceive? Do you think it is ridiculous to see me walk into your trap step by step? How could you do this to me? How could you use such a thing to lie to me when I was most desperate? Don't you know that I will be desperate after knowing the truth? I can't bear it, I will collapse, how could you do this to me!"
Xiao Feihe burst into tears uncontrollably as he listened to such questions. At this moment, he felt as if his heart was being pulled hard by an invisible thread. A tearing pain kept spreading in his chest, making him feel as if he was about to suffocate. He felt so painful that his whole body was shaking slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't cry... It's my fault, it's all my fault from the beginning to the end, I'm a jerk, I deceived an innocent woman's feelings for my own selfish desires, hit me, scold me, please, don't cry, okay?"
"Your eyes will be damaged from crying, stop crying..."
He reached out his hand distressedly, but his fingers were stiff and he accidentally poked her cheek several times. He rolled up his sleeves in regret and fear and carefully wiped her tears.
"I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. The thing I regret most in my life is approaching you with a deceptive attitude, but my feelings are real. I really like you, Yanyan, you believe me..."
Nan Yan's eyes were red. She raised her hand and slapped away the finger he extended. Her eyes were full of grievance and despair.
"How can I trust you? How can I know if you are lying to me again this time? Your acting is so good, so good that we have been together for such a long time, but I have never found out that you are deceiving me. Xiao Feihe, I don't believe you anymore, I will never believe you again!"
Nan Yan closed her eyes tightly, her thick eyelashes were all wet with tears, and her eyes were even a little red and swollen.
She cried so hard that even her breathing became difficult, and her whole body was shaking slightly. Then she took a deep breath.
When she closed her eyes again, there was no trace of the affection she had for him in the past. Finally, she said, "Our engagement is cancelled. From now on, don't come to me again. I will not marry you again."
After she finished speaking, she threw the best letter of employment that he had spent a lot of time and effort writing over and over again and finally finalized at him. The cold, hard cardboard hit his forehead and instantly cut a small cut, and blood oozed out.
But the pain on my face is nothing compared to the pain in my heart.
Xiao Feihe's tears also overflowed from his eyes at that moment. An unbearable pain quickly spread in his chest. He grabbed Nan Yan's hand tightly and begged desperately,
“No, no, I don’t want to…”
"Yan Yan, will you listen to my explanation? I lied to you at first, and I deliberately approached you for Li Qingrou, but later it was all true, my feelings were all real! I really like you, and I really want to marry you. My love for you is not fake. I beg you, please don't treat me like this, okay?
Xiao Feihe's eyes were red, and tears fell on Nan Yan's cheeks. He rushed forward and hugged her in his arms. The veins on the back of his hands were throbbing from excessive force, and his voice became hoarse from excessive anxiety.
"Don't cancel the engagement, I beg you, I like you, I really like you! Yanyan, please don't leave me, okay? I beg you, no matter how you beat me, scold me or hate me, as long as you don't leave me, I can do anything, can you forgive me this time, okay? I beg you..."
He begged, his eyes becoming redder and redder.
Nan Yan stretched out her hand, pried open his fingers one by one, and then pushed him away forcefully.
Those dark eyes without a trace of light just stared at him quietly, with such a distant and cold look, as if they had never known him before.
Such a strange look pinned Xiao Feihe to the spot. Just one glance suffocated his breathing and made him feel as if he wished he was dying.
"don't want……"
His fingers became stiff from exerting too much force, and he held on to her sleeve tightly, refusing to let go.
Nan Yan pulled it out without hesitation.
"Don't touch me. Whenever I think about how you deliberately approached me and deceived my feelings for another woman, I find the past so disgusting."
After she said this, she didn't even bother to look at him again and turned away in a daze.
Well, this world is probably going to end soon.