Chapter 140
Yuan Heng said confidently, "Naturally. I just fear the ger, not knowing the situation, will worry needlessly."
"I understand." Uncle Shan answered with a sigh of relief.
Yuan Heng stared at the ger on the bed, whose complexion was much rosier than the previous few days. He leaned down and gently placed a kiss on his forehead. "Help me take good care of him."
Uncle Shan replied, "I will."
Yuan Heng reluctantly rubbed the back of Wang Jin's hand, then stood up and walked out straight and tall.
Wang Jin felt as if he had had a very long dream.
In the dream, there was a person with the same appearance as him, the same delicate body. That person was called Xi Yao.
Xi Yao was timid and cowardly. He grew up in Ning'an City and had an older brother, Xi Ning. When their parents passed away in his childhood, Xi Ning was busy with various official matters and could not accompany him, so he was often alone...
In the dream, Xi Yao's childhood was either spent huddled in a corner playing by himself, or being beaten and scolded by the ger taking care of him.
At that time, he had just lost his parents. His brother Xi Ning was still young himself and under the control of the deputy city lord. Xi Yao was terribly afraid of being a burden to Xi Ning, so he never voiced the grievances or injuries he endured. Those years were a profoundly dark time for Xi Yao, were it not for Uncle Shan's care and protection, he likely would not have lived to see adulthood.
After Xi Yao came of age, Xi Ning fully took control of Ning'an City, firmly grasping the power. Only then did life for Xi Yao and Uncle Shan improve.
But this good fortune did not last long. City Lord Xi Ning built a pavilion... This pavilion was originally built by Xi Ning out of heartfelt concern for Xi Yao's well-being, but it ultimately became the most dreaded and frightening place in Xi Yao's heart.
The gers inside the pavilion bullied him. Having grown up with beatings and scolds, he had long developed a submissive, yielding personality that sought peace at any cost. Added to this, City Lord Xi Ning, having just secured power, was busy all day with official duties and had no time to attend to Xi Yao. Xi Yao had spent little time with Xi Ning since childhood, felt inherently less close to this brother, and was also somewhat fearful of his status. Facing Xi Ning, Xi Yao was always timid and nervous...
Afraid that his own affairs would trouble Xi Ning and incur his annoyance, he kept the bullying a secret from Xi Ning, which only led to it intensifying...
Xi Yao lived his whole life in fear and trembling, timidly withdrawing into corners where others wouldn't notice him, living a humble and insignificant existence.
His only moment of boldness was regarding Cheng Bai.
Regarding Cheng Bai, Xi Yao fell in love at first sight. At a banquet, he sat in an inconspicuous corner and watched as the beastman named Cheng Bai strode in, high-spirited and bold, saluting his brother Xi Ning without arrogance or deference. The confidence and boldness on his face were things Xi Yao immensely admired and yearned for...
From then on, he became a little follower behind Cheng Bai.
Whenever Cheng Bai was in Ning'an City, wherever Cheng Bai was, there was Xi Yao.
Rather than return to the pavilion to be bullied, Xi Yao preferred to follow his Brother Bai step by step...
The more he followed Cheng Bai, the more he was attracted by his excellence.
Xi Yao was someone who hesitated and was indecisive in everything he did, but in his affection for Cheng Bai, and only in this, he was brave and unreserved, to the extent that everyone in Ning'an City knew about it.
Words of liking and love were often on his lips, said for Cheng Bai to hear.
In the dream, Cheng Bai never once admitted to liking him and always acted very impatient with him.
When the marriage was being arranged for Xi Yao, he happened to overhear a conversation between City Lord Xi Ning and Cheng Li. Catching only fragments about a marriage arrangement, Xi Yao mistakenly believed his brother intended to betroth him to Cheng Li.
He didn't dare refuse Xi Ning. Panicked and flustered, he ran to find Cheng Bai. Cheng Bai said he would think of a way for him, but the result was always taking him to see Cheng Li, as if intentionally trying to match him with Cheng Li.
In his heart, Xi Yao understood the situation, yet perhaps believing himself genuinely unlikable, he noticed his fiance Cheng Li would always invent excuses to depart shortly after their meetings, leaving him alone with Cheng Bai.
Cheng Bai was helpless, but Xi Yao was happy.
During that period, although Cheng Bai still never said he liked him, at least that man patiently accompanied him... It was at this time that Xi Yao thought Cheng Bai might have a little bit of liking for him in his heart...
And so, on the eve of the wedding, he proposed eloping to Cheng Bai...
The images in his mind stopped here. Wang Jin opened his eyes, his mind still hazy and confused. For some reason, he felt a sore, stinging sensation in his eyes, and tears began to flow down his cheeks uncontrollably.
His heart felt as uncomfortable as if a giant rock were pressing on it.
Uncle Shan, who had been staying with Wang Jin, saw this and hurried forward to help him sit up, asking, "Young master, what's wrong?"
"..." Wang Jin reached out to wipe his tears, his throat choked and unable to speak.
He shook his head at Uncle Shan, but his head felt as if pierced by needles. His mind could only manage to conjure a few fragmented scenes, each one depicting Cheng Bai impatiently rejecting him.
"Have you gone mad? Elope with you? Abandon the great wealth and property of Ning'an City to wander in the wilderness with you?"
"Look at yourself. You get red and purple bruises from the slightest pinch. If I elope with you like this, how could I possibly protect a little delicate one like you?"
"Stop making trouble. Go back quickly. There's no way I'm taking you with me. I don't like you."
"...Young master, what exactly is wrong?" Seeing that the person wasn't saying anything, just covering his head while tears fell like pouring rain... Uncle Shan's heart tightened, and he hurried out to send someone for the healer.
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