Just as Ling Chi Yuan was about to say something, the servant re-entered.
He whispered something into Ling Chi Yuan's ear, and Ling Chi Yuan's face turned extremely grim.
Ling Chi Yuan glanced at Feng Ran, shedding the previous dark aura, and said with a smile, "Right, I'm taking you somewhere today. I've been wanting to take you there for a while."
"Do you know? I've been preparing for these past few days."
Feng Ran hadn't yet grasped what had happened. She wanted to ask what the servant had said to him. She had a feeling something had occurred with Ling Chi Yuan, but he seemed unwilling to disclose it.
It was as if the words on the tip of her tongue were forcibly swallowed back.
In the carriage, Ling Chi Yuan had regained his composure. He looked at Feng Ran and inquired, "Right, did you have something to say to me earlier? Because I suddenly pulled you away, interrupting what you were going to say, is that it?"
"Now that I have some time, you can speak."
"I..." Feng Ran originally wanted to say that she didn't want to go when he mentioned taking her somewhere. However, seeing Ling Chi Yuan's displeased expression, she felt it would be too heartless to say it.
After a long pause, Feng Ran seemed to realize something and calmly said, "The servant who came to find you earlier seemed to have something important. Can you not attend to it?"
"Actually, my matters are not that important. I don't want you to delay what you need to do because of me."
Upon hearing this, Ling Chi Yuan's face instantly lit up with a smile, as if all his efforts were worthwhile.
He thought that even if Xuan Yuan Heng stood in his way, he would not back down. He would not give up on Feng Ran.
If Feng Ran knew that her words today would make Ling Chi Yuan so devoted, she would never have uttered them.
In fact, what she wanted was for Ling Chi Yuan to stay away from her. After all, she was a burden to him.
Without her, Ling Chi Yuan's life would be better.
"Feng Ran, I might not have much free time to see you in the coming days. Therefore, you must protect yourself, understand?"
"I will have people secretly protect you. If you truly encounter something you cannot handle, do not confront it head-on. Yield appropriately, and you can secretly send someone to find me. I will always be there."
"Even if I cannot come myself, I will send someone."
"Feng Ran, during this period, there are some things I must personally handle."
As Ling Chi Yuan spoke, he tightly embraced Feng Ran. Feng Ran was genuinely startled and instinctively tried to push him away, but ultimately, she couldn't. She instantly gave up.
"Feng Ran, I'm truly tired. Just let me hold you like this quietly, okay?"
"This way, I feel very at ease."
Feng Ran's attempt to push Ling Chi Yuan away ceased.
She could not utter a single word of refusal.
At this moment, saying those words would make her seem exceptionally heartless.
Feng Ran fell into a memory. She recalled that when Xuan Yuan Heng used her, he had also spoken agreeably. At that time, she knew Xuan Yuan Heng's words were lies, yet she still plunged in headlong.
No matter who advised her, she wouldn't listen.
Only later, after paying a bloody price, did she finally wake up.
Feng Ran looked up, gazing at Ling Chi Yuan with a somewhat dazed expression. She seemed to be contemplating. The person before her was saying similar words to her. What should she do? Should she believe him?
However, his words were so sincere. And he had been taking care of her all these days. If it weren't for Ling Chi Yuan, she probably would have ended up like those people by now.
At this moment, she desperately wanted to nod, to tell Ling Chi Yuan: Young Master Ling, I can give you a chance. Or, Young Master Ling, I see everything you've done, and I'm deeply touched. Yet, these words, at the tip of her tongue, were swallowed back down.
"Young Master Ling, the eldest daughter of the Feng family back then, Feng Ran, was an object of everyone's envy. But later, she offended Xuan Yuan Heng and suffered the fate of ruin, destroying not only herself but also the Feng family."
"I am Feng Ran, the unlucky person spoken of by everyone."
"I am that wicked person, the one everyone wants to beat."
As Feng Ran spoke these words, she felt no sadness or grief. Instead, she smiled, a remarkably bright smile as she uttered them.
"Do you know? This life of mine is no longer my own. Someone used her life to protect mine."
"In this life, I owe that woman a life, and she had a dying wish. I will definitely fulfill it."
Ling Chi Yuan listened, his eyes wide with astonishment and shock. He truly hadn't expected Feng Ran to choose this moment to reveal these things to him.
In fact, he already knew about these matters. He hadn't spoken of them to protect Feng Ran's dignity and to prevent her from living in the past.
Ling Chi Yuan embraced Feng Ran tightly and whispered comfortingly in her ear, "Feng Ran, I know all of this, but Feng Ran, this is just the one-sided account of those people. To me, you are the kindest."
Feng Ran looked up, staring at Ling Chi Yuan in shock. Faced with such a gentle Ling Chi Yuan, she even considered surrendering herself to him forever, never waking up.
She softly murmured, "Young Master Ling..."
"Feng Ran, don't rush to refuse. I won't pressure you. I will give you time."
"Feng Ran, in a few days, I will reappear before you. At that time, you can make your decision."
...
Ling Residence.
When Ling Chi Yuan returned to the manor, he saw Xuan Yuan Heng was also present.
Ha, this person, actually showing up here. He truly was a persistent shadow.
He scoffed coldly and said, "Regent, you couldn't deal with me, so you've come to my manor?"
Old Master Ling was inwardly delighted by Ling Chi Yuan's words but feigned displeasure and reprimanded, "Chi Yuan, such treasonous words cannot be spoken again."
After scolding Ling Chi Yuan, Old Master Ling looked apologetically at Xuan Yuan Heng. "Regent, I am truly sorry. This child was spoiled by us since he was young, which is why he spoke such disrespectful words. The Regent should not take offense, right?"
Ling Chi Yuan scoffed, wanting to retort, but the old man's light cough made him swallow his words.
Xuan Yuan Heng looked at Ling Chi Yuan and said coldly, "Ling Chi Yuan, stay away from Feng Ran. This is the final warning."
"If there is a next time, I will not show any respect, even to Old Master Ling."
"Oh really?"
"Ling Chi Yuan, do you think I will be afraid just because you say that?"
"No, I tell you, the more you are like this, the more determined I will be."
Ling Chi Yuan took something from his embrace and placed it before Xuan Yuan Heng, saying triumphantly, "Do you recognize this, Regent?"
Seeing Xuan Yuan Heng's face suddenly turn extremely grim, Ling Chi Yuan felt immensely pleased.