Though her face was graced with a smile, her eyes were filled with pain. Yet, when facing Ling Chi Yuan, she feigned happiness.
A smile played on Ling Chi Yuan’s lips as he looked at Feng Ran and said, “What is it? Looking at you, you seem to be in a bad mood? And your complexion isn't very good either?”
“While I was away, did something happen that I don’t know about?”
His tone held a hint of concern.
Ling Chi Yuan seemed to recall something important, his face beaming with smiles, and he said with a touch of appeasement, “That’s right, I rushed back today. What should have been a three-day journey, I traveled without rest to see you.”
“Do you know? This young master here rode three horses to death to get back.”
A glint flashed in Feng Ran’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and said cautiously, “Young Master Xiao, you really didn’t have to do this. With my lowly status, I’m not worthy of you doing anything for me.”
Feng Ran had never expected Ling Chi Yuan to say it so directly, for her.
This was the first time she had heard such words, and she was clearly at a loss.
“No, Feng Ran, you are worthy. You deserve all the best in this world.”
Ling Chi Yuan said with a smile, “Feng Ran, once I’ve handled matters at hand, I’ll be able to convince my father to bring you back to the estate.”
Feng Ran froze.
Bring her back to the estate?
Since when had she and Ling Chi Yuan made such an agreement?
She even looked at Ling Chi Yuan with confusion.
“Do you know? I told my father that I want to bring you back to the estate. My father said that as long as I successfully conclude the business in the frontier, he won’t stop me.”
“Feng Ran, remember, I won’t keep you waiting long.”
Feng Ran was stunned, looking at Ling Chi Yuan, utterly perplexed.
She remembered never having said such a thing, yet why was Ling Chi Yuan saying it?
At this moment, Feng Ran was in a complete turmoil.
Cold sweat broke out on her back, her mind went blank.
After a long while, she calmed down, contemplating Ling Chi Yuan’s words.
“What is it? Too happy?”
Ling Chi Yuan said in excellent spirits. He drew closer to Feng Ran and let out a pleasant laugh by her ear.
Feng Ran’s pupils contracted. She subconsciously retreated, but at this moment, Ling Chi Yuan’s arms reached out and held her captive.
Feng Ran’s hands pushed against the space between them, and she struggled desperately.
Although they were in the outskirts with few people around, there were still scattered individuals. If any ill-intentioned person were to see this, it would be secondary for her. Her reputation was already ruined, with nothing left to tarnish.
But Ling Chi Yuan was different. She didn’t want to drag him into trouble because of her.
Feng Ran said anxiously, “Young Master Ling, please release me.”
“If you have something to say, we can talk it over properly. This is not appropriate.”
Ling Chi Yuan burst into laughter and then released Feng Ran.
As Feng Ran broke free from his embrace, Ling Chi Yuan felt a sense of loss, even thinking how wonderful it would be to hold her in his arms forever.
He knew that such a thought was dangerous.
In fact, when facing others, he had never had such thoughts. But after meeting Feng Ran, these wild ideas had taken root.
He himself didn’t understand why.
Ling Chi Yuan looked at Feng Ran and said with extreme firmness, “Feng Ran, it’s not that you have no feelings for me, is it? In your heart, you still have me, don’t you?”
“Perhaps I haven’t entered your heart yet, but Feng Ran, I know very well that I should be a different kind of presence for you.”
“Feng Ran.” Ling Chi Yuan suddenly became exceptionally serious. His face was full of smiles as he looked at Feng Ran, saying with great conviction, “Feng Ran, if I wanted to marry you and bring you back to the estate, what do you say, would that be acceptable?”
During this period, he had thought and experienced much. In the quiet of the night, he would always recall Feng Ran. He had never experienced anything like this before.
He was accustomed to seeing countless beauties. Yet, the only one he longed for was Feng Ran.
Every time he felt troubled, encountered difficulties, and wanted to give up, the thought of Feng Ran would dispel all his negative emotions.
Just thinking of Feng Ran made his mood exceptionally smooth.
And seeing Feng Ran today, he had only one thought in his heart: he wanted to keep Feng Ran by his side.
Feng Ran, it seemed, could only belong to him.
“Feng Ran, don’t you want to leave Chun Man Yuan?” he said to Feng Ran with determination. “I can do it.”
“Feng Ran, believe me, I will protect you with my life.”
“Feng Ran, when I met you for the first time, I knew clearly that in this life, you are the one I was looking for.”
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan, and suddenly a smile flickered across her lips, a smile of utter desolation.
This scene felt strangely familiar.
She remembered that many years ago, she had said these very words to Xuan Yuan Heng. Indeed, she had done it, even bringing about the downfall of the Feng family for Xuan Yuan Heng.
But now, she regretted it.
Xuan Yuan Heng had married her, and she had believed he married her out of love. But on the day the Feng family was raided, she finally understood the truth.
Even so, she still couldn't believe it and wanted to hear Xuan Yuan Heng tell her himself.
That day, Xuan Yuan Heng dragged her along, forcing her to open her eyes and watch her family be executed, and the grand Feng family be consumed by flames.
Feng Ran laughed, a desolate, tragic laugh.
All the sins, in truth, were her own doing from the very beginning.
…
“Feng Ran? Feng Ran?” Ling Chi Yuan called out with concern, seeing Feng Ran’s pale face and unusual demeanor.
Was she moved?
Then, his thoughts were correct. Feng Ran was, after all, different to him.
“Feng Ran, believe me, I will be devoted to you till the end. And, I am the most helpful person to you right now, am I not?”
“You are constantly searching, looking for someone to help you escape the sea of suffering, aren’t you? And I am the best opportunity.”
Feng Ran listened to these words. Yes, from the very beginning, she had approached Ling Chi Yuan with the intention of him helping her escape Chun Man Yuan. But hearing Ling Chi Yuan’s words now, she hesitated. She raised her eyes, meeting Ling Chi Yuan’s utterly sincere face, and suddenly, she didn't know how to answer.
“Feng Ran, is there something you cannot tell me?”
Ling Chi Yuan reached out, wanting to hold Feng Ran’s hand, not wanting her to evade him. This matter had to be settled now.
Ling Chi Yuan looked at Feng Ran. Seeing her persistent silence, he steeled himself and pulled her into his embrace: “Feng Ran, this matter is not up to you to agree or not. What this young master decides, even the King of Heaven himself cannot change my mind.”
Her body shivered. Meeting Ling Chi Yuan’s determined gaze, she felt a wave of reluctance.
Ling Chi Yuan saw that Feng Ran still hadn't given him a response.
Looking at Feng Ran’s displeased expression, he seemed to have realized something.