"I consider his family like a second set of parents. I visited them often, wanting to repay their kindness. Over time, rumors started circulating."
"Villagers are crude and love gossip. They spun tales of an engagement between me and the village head’s household. I never knew how to refute it. I didn’t expect such rural trifles to reach your ears, Miss Xue."
You Lingxiao spoke earnestly, his handsome face tinged with sorrow - a portrait of hardship that stirred sympathy.
Xue Hanxue’s eyes shimmered with tender emotion: "Brother Lingxiao, you’ve suffered so much. But now your fortunes have turned. Don’t let these petty matters trouble you."
Softly, she added: "Father and I await your return from the examinations."
You Lingxiao bowed his head: "Thank you for your kindness, Master Xue and Sister Hanxue."
Xue Hanxue’s lips curved: "As you said, Father and I wouldn’t have invited you out otherwise. If those village rumors are baseless, then it’s one less concern. But even if they weren’t… I trust Brother Lingxiao knows what’s best."
You Lingxiao stiffened momentarily before nodding: "Naturally."
Hearing this, Ji Taoyu could bear no more.
After all the support our family has given him, he dismisses it as mere village gossip? The agreed-upon engagement, now just idle talk?
His chest swelled with anger. He wanted to step forward and throw the betrothal token in You Lingxiao's face, demanding to know if their families had truly agreed to the marriage.
But as he stepped out, someone yanked him back.
"Why are you stopping me?!"
Ji Taoyu glared up at Huo Shu.
Huo Shu’s voice was low: "Calm down."
"He’s deceiving both sides! Should I let him get away with it?"
Seeing Ji Taoyu’s red-rimmed eyes - quivering with hurt and anger, Huo Shu’s frown deepened.
He gentled his tone: "That’s the daughter of Assistant Prefect Xue. Do you know the Xue family’s standing? Or which official oversees village heads?"
Ji Taoyu's resolve crumbled. His anger deflated.
"An official’s family… wouldn’t tolerate a son-in-law with such character…"
"To those in power, character means little."
Huo Shu’s voice turned icy: "The court has upright officials, but just as many who claw their way up by any means."
Years in the military had shown him countless wolves in human skin.
Ji Taoyu’s courage withered. The Assistant Prefect governed all village heads in the prefecture. To commoners, he was the law.
If Assistant Prefect Xue was fair-minded, he might distance himself from You Lingxiao upon learning of his dishonesty. But if he favored You Lingxiao and Ji Taoyu exposed him, humiliating the Xue family, retribution would follow effortlessly.
The realization suffocated him, not just because of You Lingxiao's duplicity, but also due to the stark contrast with Wu Lianhe and Zhao Changsui's story.
Yet he could only stood frozen, powerless to confront him.
Ji Taoyu clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Normally averse to pain, he barely felt it – his heartache overshadowed everything.
Huo Shu watched the ger's eyes redden further, tears brimming like floodwaters. His gaze darkened.
"Let’s browse the shop. The silks here are splendid."
Xue Hanxue’s cheerful voice rang out.
"Of course. Enjoy yourself, Sister Hanxue."
You Lingxiao and Miss Xue chatted amiably, heading toward them.
Ji Taoyu shrank back. Huo Shu plucked a needle from a nearby shelf and flicked it discreetly.
"Sister Hanxue, watch your step, there are two more stairs here."
You Lingxiao bent to gather the skirt again...
Then yelped.
"Ah—!"
A sharp pain stabbed his calf. His leg buckled, sending him crashing onto Xue Hanxue’s hem.
The sudden weight yanked her off-balance. They nearly toppled together.
In the middle of the bustling shop, You Lingxiao knelt awkwardly at the entrance, drawing every eye.
Flustered by the stares and You Lingxiao’s undignified scrambling—Xue Hanxue hissed: "Get up!"
You Lingxiao tried, but his numb legs refused. The more he struggled, the more tangled he became.
Xue Hanxue's maids rushed to help, creating a spectacle before they finally hurried off.
Huo Shu turned back, only to find the ger beside him already in tears.
Ji Taoyu’s face was drenched, his sleeves futilely dabbing at the flood. The more he wiped, the faster the tears fell, dripping off his chin.
Panic fluttered in his chest. Once he started crying, he couldn’t stop—even after the emotion passed, the tears kept coming. Worse, he might start hiccuping, making him seem even more pitiful.
Mortified, he regretted letting anger trigger this breakdown.
Just as he feared onlookers would shift their attention from You Lingxiao’s farce to his own misery, a familiar cloak settled over his shoulders.
He sniffled, glancing up at Huo Shu.
The man studied his tear-stained face - lashes clumped together like rain-soaked lotus petals - and his frown deepened.
He raised a hand as if to pull him close, but hesitated and withdrew it at the last moment.
Huo Shu exhaled quietly: "Let’s go. We’re leaving."
Huo Shu is right, snakes shed the same type of skin, this Xue girl knows he is engage and doesn't care, she'll get what she wanted, a men who's word means nothing. What a prize /s
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the update!