Feng Ran finished speaking but did not wait for Xu Yunqing to say anything before she went off to find the so-called fabrics herself.
In reality, Feng Ran did not know how to face him, which was why she behaved this way.
She wasn't even sure what Xu Yunqing wanted to do. Even less, what he wanted to gain from her.
In truth, there was nothing left on her that could be schemed against.
She even wanted to directly ask Xu Yunqing in a loud voice what he wanted. Could he just say it directly?
Her hand tightly gripped the fabrics. After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke, "I wonder if Young Master Xu has any favorites among these fabrics."
With a heart full of unease, Feng Ran placed the items before Xu Yunqing.
In truth, she knew very well that Xu Yunqing would definitely not be interested in these things.
But she still chose to bring them out. She thought that even if she was humiliated, it wouldn't matter. After all, she was already accustomed to it.
Indeed, once a person gets used to something, it seems to become the most ordinary thing in the world.
She had initially expected to suffer humiliation. However, Xu Yunqing was not only not displeased, nor did he humiliate her. Instead, he had a smile on his face, even looking very happy as he began to select them. He even held up two fabrics and asked her which one she preferred.
This made Feng Ran pause slightly. In all these years, there had truly been no one who treated her like this. Those around her were all mocking her, all kicking her when she was down.
"Young Master Xu, these fabrics are so coarse; they are truly unworthy of your status. You don't need to say such insincere words because of me."
Her eyes were full of gratitude, and her face was full of confusion as she asked, "Young Master Xu, what is your intention?"
Why was he treating her so well? Was she falling for him?
No, this wasn't falling for him. It was that for a long time, no one had helped her. At this moment, someone was helping her, someone was even willing to listen to her speak. It was as if she had received some form of affirmation. This made her heart feel less distressed.
She even felt that in this world, having someone believe in her made her life worthwhile.
If Xu Yunqing said that his appearance had no ulterior motive, no one would believe such a statement.
Perhaps, even he himself would not believe it if he said it.
However, in Xu Yunqing's view, it didn't matter at all whether those people believed him or not.
Xu Yunqing did not care what the people around him said or did.
Xu Yunqing said with a smile, "Some things, I know them myself; others don't need to know."
"When have I ever cared about what those people outside say?"
Looking at Xu Yunqing's arrogant demeanor, as if he disregarded everything, Feng Ran suddenly didn't know what to say.
"What I want to do, I will still do, regardless of any unfavorable comments from outside."
"Young Master Xu, while that may be so, I do not wish for you to be implicated because of me."
"A person like me is only fit to be in the dirt, at the very bottom. If you were to be implicated because of me, then I would be a sinner. I would live my life carrying this guilt."
"Young Master Xu, I already owe you too much; I'm afraid I can never repay it in this lifetime."
Xu Yunqing's eyes were full of light. He was even thinking that Feng Ran was truly more interesting. She constantly wanted to sever any ties with him. However, the more she acted this way, the more he wanted to connect with her.
He increasingly wanted to tease the person before him, because this person was unlike those "flirtatious" types who relentlessly pursued him.
Xu Yunqing looked at Feng Ran's clear sense of right and wrong, his eyes full of smiles. He then stood up, walked towards Feng Ran, and hugged her.
Feng Ran was completely stunned. She didn't even have time to react to what had happened.
"Young Master Xu, please let me go, can you?"
"You... didn't you say you wouldn't touch me? And now you..."
"You broke your promise, is that it?"
"But I just like to break my promises, so what?"
He rested his head on Feng Ran's neck, his warmth reaching her skin. His hand fell on her face, stroking it, treating her as if she were a treasure.
Feng Ran's entire body trembled. She seemed to have not expected Xu Yunqing to act this way suddenly. Her eyes were filled with shock and bewilderment.
"Young Master Xu, I beg you, let me go, alright?" Feng Ran's body trembled, even her voice quivered.
"Heh, Feng Ran, do you know? The more you beg me like this, the more I want to touch you, the more I want to tear you apart, even to the point where I want to destroy you."
"I think the process of destroying you would be very satisfying."
"If it can make Young Master Xu happy, then perhaps that would be my value." She said calmly, but her face was devoid of expression. She appeared so composed, yet her trembling hands betrayed the fear in her heart.
She wasn't truly unafraid, but was enduring. Forcibly making herself face it.
"Young Master Xu, even if you want my life, then this lowly life of mine can be given to you directly."
"Is that so?" Xu Yunqing's face was full of smiles, enough to show how good his mood was at the moment. His eyes held a frivolous smile as he said, "But I don't intend to take your life. It's much better to keep you. Why would I need your life?"
As his words fell, he pulled her entirely into his embrace, holding her tightly. His hand brushed against her ear. Seeing her earlobe turn red, his eyes gleamed with an unusual light.
Feng Ran shivered. After a long while, she spoke, "Thank you, Young Master Xu, for sparing my life."
"So, you're saying you won't take my life, are you?"
Xu Yunqing suddenly burst into laughter, a carefree laugh. He even felt that heaven had treated him well, allowing him to meet such an interesting person.
Xu Yunqing, perhaps afraid of backfiring, said with a smile, "This gentle embrace is truly intoxicating, making one not want to leave. However, my family is urging me to return; there's nothing I can do."
Before Feng Ran could even react, he was already gone.
After a long while, Feng Ran finally came to her senses.
She looked at the fabrics on the table and realized with a start that everything that had happened was indeed real.
She found that her face was slightly warm. She even found herself somewhat strange, wondering why she would have such emotions. She thought these were things that should not have happened to her, but they had now occurred.
She even wondered if she was ill. She placed her hand on her forehead and sighed helplessly, dismissing the thoughts in her heart.
And what was the meaning behind that glance and smile when Xu Yunqing left?