Jiang Weiran didn't notice Lin Chen. She was feeling a bit upset, and when she heard Lin Chen say that, she still didn't have a good expression.
"Hmph, how can it not be? Haven't you heard that all crows are black, and men are all like that? I think I should go back and have a good talk with my mother. Don't rush into marriage. If you marry an unreliable man, who knows how miserable you'll be later. Just now, the way Sister Qiuyan was holding back her tears showed me the fate of most women." Jiang Weiran frowned.
Shen Yunxi pursed her lips, also thinking of unhappy things, "Perhaps, but there is also happiness, like my father and mother."
“That’s true.” Jiang Weiran wholeheartedly agreed; what she admired most about him was his composure.
Even though he had a mentally challenged son, who was his only son, he still did not take a concubine to continue his lineage. Such a man was truly devoted.
Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief, as long as Shen Yunxi didn't think that way.
"There are so many men in the world, and many who are devoted to their partners, just like my uncle. If I were to meet someone who truly loves me, I would also treat her with all my heart and give her everything I have," Lin Chen said earnestly.
Jiang Weiran wholeheartedly agreed, after all, she had heard that Lin Chen was always upright and honest, and everyone around him praised him.
"Yunxi, wait for me here for a bit. I need to go buy some lotus flower pastries for my mother; she likes them." Jiang Weiran said, looking at the vendors in the distance. "It just so happens that isn't your brother. I'll have Xiaoyu bring him over to meet you later."
“Okay, take your time. I’ll wait for you in the shade. There’s a pavilion here.” Shen Yunxi nodded.
Lin Chen's heart was racing. If Jiang Weiran left, then only he and Shen Yunxi would be left here, while her two maids would be quite far away.
Jiang Weiran didn't notice Lin Chen's reaction. She turned around and left the spot, heading towards where Chen Anyu was.
The surrounding area was quiet, probably because the sun was getting too strong and many people had left the lotus pond to go home. Now there are fewer and fewer people around.
Shen Yunxi turned her gaze to Lin Chen. She had always regarded Lin Chen as her older brother, and Lin Chen himself had said that he regarded her as his younger sister. Therefore, she had never thought of any other possibility.
Shen Yunxi's doubts were planted in her heart by Shen Siqi's words today. After thinking about it for a long time, she realized that it was very possible that Lin Chen's feelings for her were different.
"Brother Lin, what Seventh Sister said..." Shen Yunxi hesitated before speaking.
It seems inappropriate to directly ask him if he has romantic feelings for her, as it's not subtle enough. However, it would be unfair to him to ask nothing and let him give his all.
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's expression shifted slightly, and then he gave a wry smile.
"Yunxi, I thought I had hidden it well, but I didn't expect that the Seventh Miss would see through it and even say it in front of you. It's true that I have been in love with you for a long time, but you are engaged to the Emperor, and your heart is only for the Emperor. So I thought I would just stay by your side quietly and not disturb you. I just hope you are happy." Lin Chen said.
At that moment, he admitted his feelings for Shen Yunxi and said it to her face.
After speaking out, Lin Chen felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and even breathing felt much easier.
It turns out that revealing your deepest secrets can make you feel so relaxed.
Shen Yunxi felt very complicated. She looked up at Lin Chen. The two were now standing face to face. When Shen Yunxi looked up, their eyes met. She saw Lin Chen's undisguised love.
That look felt familiar; she felt like she'd seen it somewhere before, but she was certain she hadn't seen it in Lin Chen's eyes.
"Brother Lin, I'm so sorry, I never knew you felt this way about me. If I had known sooner..." Shen Yunxi paused, suddenly finding herself unable to speak.
If she had known earlier, she would definitely have kept her distance from Lin Chen. No wonder Lin Chen had no one by her side for so many years in her previous life, and she was still alone before she died. It turned out that it was because of her.
Shen Yunxi could never repay such deep affection; she understood all too well the feeling of loving someone deeply.
Having experienced this feeling herself, Shen Yunxi felt even more sorry for Lin Chen; she didn't deserve it.
No matter what, she was always passive towards Lin Chen. It was always Lin Chen who remembered what she liked and sent it to her. She rarely thought about anything related to Lin Chen.
When I said I would treat him as an elder brother, I truly did treat him as an elder brother, without any personal feelings involved.
Lin Chen understood what Shen Yunxi hadn't finished saying and could comprehend her thoughts, but he didn't care at all. Feelings are not a one-person affair, and no one else could control his feelings, not even Shen Yunxi herself.
"Yunxi, I've also been in pain. What hurt me was that even though I met you first, why did you only see me as an older brother? When you were six, you met the Emperor, who saved you and took root in your heart. At that time, you didn't understand feelings, you didn't know what love was, yet you told your mother that you would marry him. Everyone thought you were joking, but I knew you were serious. At that time, I really wanted to ask you if you could marry me. But I didn't dare to say it. I'm a coward when it comes to feelings, unlike you who are brave."
"The Emperor is the person you hold dear in your heart. You can't bear to hear anyone say a bad word about him. You think about him in everything you do. The palace banquet is what you look forward to the most every time, because you can see him there. Even when the Empress Dowager summons you to the palace, it becomes the happiest thing for you, because you can see him after entering the palace. Even if he is not warm to you, you will still come back happily. If the Emperor sends you off at the Empress Dowager's request, you will be even happier. Later, you even became mortal enemies with Lu Wanqing."
"I'm sorry, the day before your coming-of-age ceremony, I wanted to confess my feelings to you, but I overheard your conversation with your mother. Years ago, your aunt actually saw my feelings for you, so she asked you if you could give up the emperor and like someone else. She also said that I was very good, and if you didn't marry the emperor, would you marry me? But you refused, saying that you had no romantic feelings for me."
"I'm a selfish person too. I want to stay by your side, but I'm afraid that if I tell you my feelings, you'll leave me, so I don't say anything. But Yunxi, when the night is quiet, I feel very resentful. I clearly met you first, but why can't you ever see me? You like the Emperor. Is there really no first come, first served in a relationship? I've had bad thoughts before, and I really wanted to be selfish, especially when I saw that the Emperor had no feelings for you, I was also very happy."
Does this prove that I have a chance?
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