Her dark, beautiful eyelashes curved slightly, her eyes like a painting. "Seventh Brother, I've never thought that way."
This was the truth. Shen Yue hadn't thought about how Shen Yaojin would be grateful to her; she merely wanted to ease her own conscience.
It was truly laughable, Shen Yue realized now, that she actually possessed a conscience.
Shen Yaojin took a step forward. His leg had improved, but he still limped, likely a permanent injury. His hawk-like eyes gazed at Shen Yue with an inscrutable depth.
Those eyes seemed capable of seeing through her entire being.
"Perhaps you simply feel the need to compensate me."
Shen Yaojin slowly approached. He was tall, and his height gave him an absolute advantage in pressing down on Shen Yue.
He bent slightly, leaning in, their eyes meeting at such close range.
They were so close they could clearly feel each other's breath. Shen Yaojin could also see Shen Yue's fair, delicate skin, free from any blemish.
He felt a moment of daze but quickly regained his composure.
Then, a hint of gloom flickered across his stern features.
"Feigned sincerity, self-consolation."
"Shen Yue, I just find you disgusting."
She froze, her long, dense lashes trembling slightly like butterfly wings.
A strange sense of pleasure welled up in Shen Yaojin's heart. He spoke slowly, "Do you think I don't know what you've done? You gave me a little taste back then, making me trouble the Crown Prince. You knew perfectly well I was beaten bloody by the Crown Prince. Did you ever ask about me? Did you ever show concern?"
Seeing her continued silence, Shen Yaojin paid it no mind. "And all those sordid things you did, do you really believe that's how you can lock someone down?"
"Even if you can lock up their person, can you control their heart?"
Shen Yaojin was adept at striking at the heart of the matter. He knew what Shen Yue valued most and thus, he aimed his words like daggers, piercing her core, determined to inflict pain to feel appeased.
"Perhaps you don't know, but the City Lord of Xuzhou's daughter has arrived in Chang'an, seeking a marriage alliance with the Emperor, and the Emperor has agreed."
"Cheng Qian Gong has also agreed."
"They're keeping it from you. Do you know why?"
Shen Yue listened quietly. The pressure and bitterness in her chest surged like a tidal wave. A gentle breeze brushed her face, and she took a deep, imperceptible breath, trying to alleviate the tightness in her chest.
Her gaze was deep, her face devoid of any smile. After a long pause, she softly asked, "What exactly do you want to say?"
The man's facial features were deep and handsome, his thoughts as complex and unpredictable as ever. He said, "People like you will never win genuine affection."
This wasn't the first time Shen Yaojin had said this, nor was he the only one.
Only sincerity could earn sincerity.
But even if Shen Yue had dug out her own heart, that person wouldn't have wanted it.
Pear blossoms drifted past. Shen Yaojin revealed a smile. This was the first time he had smiled at Shen Yue since regaining his senses.
But it was a smile filled with malice, laced with profound darkness and cynicism.
"Are you truly that demeaning? He doesn't like you, and he doesn't have you in his heart. Why are you doing this?"
"Don't end up driving him mad."
*Slap—*
The man's face was slapped to the side. A muffled laugh escaped his chest; there was no trace of anger. He slowly raised a hand to wipe the blood trickling from his lips, his dark eyes unfathomably deep.
"What? Angered by shame?"
His voice even carried a hint of cheerfulness.
Shen Yue had used considerable force, her palm growing slightly numb. She was truly furious. Her thin eyelids had turned pink, tinged with a beautiful, cool indifference. Her brows were placid, her full lips a vibrant red, and her eyes held a profound calmness.
When facing Cheng Qian Gong, Shen Yue's emotions often spun out of control.
In fact, the moment she delivered the slap, she felt a twinge of regret.
But what Shen Yaojin had said was simply too much. How could his mouth utter such venomous words?
How could Shen Yaojin… speak to her like that?
The bitterness in her throat felt unresolvable. Gritting her teeth, she swallowed all her emotions.
She donned her impenetrable mask once more.
Her rosy lips parted to utter cold words.
"Do you hate me that much?"
Shen Yaojin paid no mind to the slap mark on his face. His eyes, as deep and cold as ice, reflected Shen Yue's beautiful, fair complexion.
"How could I not hate you?"
That bone-chilling, flesh-scraping resentment pressed directly against Shen Yue.
"Don't you know pain until the stick hits you?"
Shen Yue stared at him blankly, unable to refute him.
The man's eyes were now clouded with intense hatred, filled with a surging ferocity and madness.
"Shen Yue, even fools feel pain."
He had said that Shen Yue was no longer his fourth brother.
Therefore, he would no longer call her fourth brother.
His voice was unexpectedly light. He fiercely gripped her shoulders, his eyes reddening, a faint glimmer of tears appearing. "I have a heart too. It's not only you who feels pain."
Shen Yue had a difficult and painful childhood, which made her treat others cruelly as well.
She hadn't been good to Shen Yaojin.
So it was only right that Shen Yaojin hated her.
But seeing Shen Yaojin utter harsh words while his eyes welled up with tears, she truly couldn't help but be moved. Her heart ached immensely.
Just as Shen Yue had slapped him, Shen Yaojin had never once considered retaliating.
Her long, dense eyelashes drooped slightly. A faint weariness appeared on her ink-drawn brows, making her look fragile yet distant.
Shen Yaojin's eyes were red. He slowly released his grip and took a few steps back. "Not everything in this world will go as you wish. You will pay the price for your actions, and I will not be lenient then."
The man limped away, his steps uneven.
Petals fluttered down, carpeting the ground in white. The pure white petals were like a snow devoid of coldness.
In truth, many things weren't as complicated as they seemed.
Shen Yue had never forced Cheng Qian Gong. He had come alone to make a deal for the Crown Prince. If Cheng Qian Gong wished to leave, she would not stop him.
Just as Shen Yaojin had said, one could hold onto a person, but not their heart.
In the past few days, she and Cheng Qian Gong had gotten along harmoniously. She thought Cheng Qian Gong was slowly accepting her.
But Shen Yaojin's words had instantly jolted her awake.
The beautiful dream was shattered, vanishing like bubbles.
Shen Yue raised her hand. A pear blossom blew into her palm.
It was voluntary; she hadn't plucked it.
"Your Highness…"
Fu An, who had been at a distance and hadn't clearly heard their conversation, approached. Seeing Shen Yue's slightly troubled expression, he couldn't help but worry.
The sky had begun to drizzle at some point, a misty, overcast, and oppressive scene.
Fu An quickly sent guards to fetch an umbrella.
Shen Yue walked out as if she hadn't noticed. The cold raindrops slid down her cheeks, and her eyes began to prickle with unshed tears.
Aaaaaaahhhhhh, aaaaaaahhhhhh