Jiang Huairou saw that Lin Xihe stood there stunned and motionless after hearing her call, as if she were a wooden or clay sculpture.
She subconsciously bit her lower lip, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, assuming that Lin Xihe didn't like her.
An awkward feeling overwhelmed her. She forced a smile and said softly to the two of them, "Cousin, you and Sister Lin can continue your conversation. I'll take my leave now."
Gu Qinghuai was completely focused on Lin Xihe and didn't notice Jiang Huairou's forlorn expression at all. He casually replied, "Okay, go ahead."
Lin Xihe finally came to her senses and was about to call out to Jiang Huairou, but then she stopped herself.
She pondered, now that Gu Qinghuai was in love with her, what if Jiang Huairou was always with her and got caught up in some dangerous situation? With that thought, Lin Xihe let Jiang Huairou's figure gradually disappear into the distance.
Gu Qinghuai accompanied Lin Xihe as they strolled slowly. Before long, people began to arrive from the camp.
When everyone saw Gu Qinghuai, they all warmly stepped forward to greet him, and when their eyes fell on Lin Xihe, they couldn't help but ask her questions out of curiosity.
Gu Qinghuai introduced Lin Xihe generously, saying that she was the daughter of the late Lin Bin and also his fiancée.
After the others had left and she was all alone, Lin Xihe frowned slightly and said softly, "How about we stop shopping?"
"Are you tired?" Gu Qinghuai looked at her with concern.
"That's not the case. It was quite comfortable when there was no one around, but now that there are more and more people..." Lin Xihe hesitated slightly as she spoke.
"So what if there are a lot of people?" Gu Qinghuai said dismissively.
"I was thinking that if we keep showing ourselves in public like this, in the future... after we break up, people might gossip and talk behind our backs." Lin Xihe lowered her eyes, her voice growing even softer.
"If you're afraid of that, then we won't separate." Gu Qinghuai said casually, yet his words seemed to conceal a hint of determination.
"ah?"
Shouldn't we just avoid wandering around?
Gu Qinghuai's words startled Lin Xihe.
"Don't worry, if you marry someone else in the future, and there are any rumors, they will only come at me. Just consider it as me being ridiculed for not getting what I wanted." Gu Qinghuai's lips curled up slightly, forming a bittersweet smile. That self-deprecating smile seemed to be an outlet for the helplessness and sorrow deep in his heart, fleeting yet unforgettable.
Lin Xihe thought to herself, Gu Qinghuai is truly unpredictable.
When they parted, he seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace, as if the two had never crossed paths; but now that they were together, the words he spoke were as sweet as honey, making one's heart tremble.
However, Lin Xihe did not know that Gu Qinghuai was acting this way because of the unspeakable guilt in his heart.
Lin Xihe, his childhood sweetheart, is no longer here.
He loved the Lin Xihe of the past, yet he also felt as if the person before him was her, clearly the same person.
After all, Lin Xihe in the present also carries their past memories, and they still have a lingering affection for him in their hearts; it's just that her personality has changed a bit since then.
Therefore, he desperately suppressed his feelings and tried his best to restrain himself. However, every time he saw Lin Xihe, those thoughts of trying to stay away from her were like being roasted on a raging fire, causing him great pain and torment.
Seeing the fleeting self-mockery on Gu Qinghuai's face, Lin Xihe finally couldn't help but speak up: "You will marry someone else in the future, and when you are with your new wife, you can retaliate against me fiercely."
Gu Qinghuai felt as if a large rock was pressing on his chest, making him feel suffocated.
He smiled bitterly to himself. He and she had already agreed that these few days of spring hunting would be a beautiful dream bestowed by heaven.
Once the spring hunt was over, he resolutely let go, so that in the long years to come, he would have these few days to cherish.
Then he would bury his deepest love along with the smiling Lin Xihe of the past, never to be brought up again.
After a long while, Gu Qinghuai finally spoke softly, "If you're tired, go back and rest."
Lin Xihe could tell that Gu Qinghuai was in a bad mood, but she still replied calmly, "Okay."
Lin Xihe turned and walked away. After walking quite a distance, Ling Shuang said, "Miss, General Gu is still standing there. Should we wait for him?"
"Some predicaments, he has to get out of them on his own," Lin Xihe replied calmly.
Ling Shuang glanced at her young lady and saw that although she spoke so lightly, her slightly furrowed brows and the worry hidden in her eyes clearly betrayed her thoughts.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Ling Shuang steeled her courage and asked, "Does Miss prefer Lord Ji?"
Lin Xihe stopped abruptly, turned around to look at Ling Shuang, a complex look flashing in her eyes.
This is a question she has asked herself countless times in her heart.
Who does she like?
Her gaze drifted slowly to Gu Qinghuai, who was still standing there. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke softly, using the words she had silently repeated countless times in her heart: "I am no longer the Lin Xihe I used to be. From the moment I promised A-Zhuo that I would return to the capital, I said I would not let him down. I promised A-Zhuo that I would only treat him with sincerity from now on."
Ling Shuang understood Lin Xihe's choice, but she didn't understand Lin Xihe's answer.
What exactly is love?
Ling Shuang was completely baffled.
Lin Xihe was unwilling to linger any longer, and her pace quickened unconsciously. In a short while, she completely disappeared from Gu Qinghuai's sight. However, not far from her own tent, she encountered a not-so-familiar acquaintance—Sun Ningxiang.
At that moment, Sun Ningxiang had just stepped out of the tent, followed closely by two maids.
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