Ling Chi Yuan held her captive in his embrace, allowing her no chance to escape.
Seeing Feng Ran still hesitant to speak, he suddenly seemed to recall something.
However, his hand landed on Feng Ran's slender waist, and he murmured into her ear, "You've become quite thin these past few days."
"Feng Ran, are you worried that this young master can't deal with Xuan Yuan Heng?"
Ling Chi Yuan said with conviction.
Feng Ran trembled, looked up, and stared at Ling Chi Yuan in disbelief.
Did he know everything already?
Facing Feng Ran's bewildered expression, Ling Chi Yuan's mood was exceptionally good, and he chuckled, "Feng Ran, you look so beautiful like this. This young master is actually a little jealous. Who else has seen you like this?"
Recalling the relationship between Feng Ran and Xuan Yuan Heng, Ling Chi Yuan's smile instantly vanished. He looked at Feng Ran, his voice laced with a hint of displeasure, "Feng Ran, no matter what happened between you and Xuan Yuan Heng, that is already in the past."
"You are a completely new you now."
"Feng Ran, will you try to accept being by my side?"
Hearing Ling Chi Yuan's words, it would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. Feng Ran was moved, but she was acutely aware of what she carried.
And what would happen to those who got involved with her.
Feng Ran forced a mournful smile, "I am an unlucky person. Everyone shies away from me."
"Ling Chi Yuan, I don't want you to suffer because of me."
Ling Chi Yuan's grip tightened, holding her close.
He knew that when he said these words, Feng Ran would surely refuse, and he had already prepared himself for rejection.
But Feng Ran rejected him, and he would still persist in his own way.
"Feng Ran, you don't need to reply to me in a hurry."
Ling Chi Yuan wore a smile and said, "Oh, right. Even if you refuse me, I will still do what I believe I should do."
"This should not conflict with you refusing me."
"..." Feng Ran fell silent, looking at the person before her with confusion, even wondering what he truly wanted.
How could she persuade Ling Chi Yuan?
Yes, she admitted, from the beginning, she had wanted Ling Chi Yuan to help her escape this place.
But later, she gave up. She knew clearly that escaping this place, escaping Xuan Yuan Heng's control, was impossible.
All her efforts were in vain.
"Feng Ran, I will not interfere with your thoughts. But you cannot interfere with what I do."
"Also, in my life, whatever this young master wants, he will obtain. I believe this time will be no different."
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan, thinking, why not agree? She was indeed moved.
"Ling Chi Yuan," Feng Ran said firmly, "Do you know? Your decision is very dangerous. You will not only harm yourself but also the Ling family."
"You must understand that if you persist, you will be going against the Regent. Can you withstand the Regent's lethal methods?"
"Feng Ran," Ling Chi Yuan softly called her name, "Are you refusing because you are worried I will be implicated?"
Thinking about it, she was indeed worried, but she was afraid he would be implicated because of her.
She was truly kind.
He didn't believe the rumors from the outside world at all. Now, he was even more convinced that Feng Ran would not do those things.
Ling Chi Yuan simply looked at the person before him, his eyes filled with heartache.
Watching Feng Ran with her head lowered, her mournful and weathered appearance, he felt even more heartache for her.
Ling Chi Yuan suddenly realized that perhaps, despite his investigations these past days, he thought he understood Feng Ran very well, but now he felt that things were not as simple as he imagined.
In fact, he had never truly understood Feng Ran.
The person before him was like a mystery.
He said he knew her.
He said he believed her.
Ha, Feng Ran smiled sadly. Xuan Yuan Heng, listen, someone he had only met a few times believed what I said, but you? You didn't believe me at all. It's truly laughable that you believe me now.
"Feng Ran, no matter what you think of me in your heart, I will still persist in what I desire."
"I think it might displease you, but I still won't give up."
Ling Chi Yuan said these words with determination, looking at Feng Ran very seriously, "Feng Ran, won't you even give me a little chance?"
"In fact, you want to agree, but you are worried in your heart, afraid that you will bring misfortune. But Feng Ran, I am not afraid, not at all."
Upon hearing this, a slight change occurred in Feng Ran's heart. She lowered her head, took a deep breath, and after a long while, spoke again, her voice louder and firmer, "Young Master Ling, thank you for your intentions, but you have never been my goal. What I want is still the position of Xuan Yuan's consort."
"Young Master Ling, you probably don't know, Xuan Yuan Heng has been coming every day these past few days. My plan is about to succeed. Please, Young Master Ling, do not ruin my good deed."
"Indeed, as you said, Young Master Ling, I did think about letting you help me out of Chun Man Yuan before."
"But the Regent has appeared every day recently. And I have been brought back to the manor by the Regent. It seems the Regent still has some affection for me."
"Compared to the Regent, I will naturally choose the one with power."
"Back then, I was helpless and alone, so I had no choice but to hurt Young Master Ling. But now, it's completely different. Therefore, please, Young Master Ling, do not pester me anymore, lest you ruin my good fortune."
Ling Chi Yuan looked at the person before him in disbelief.
He simply could not believe that such cruel words would come from Feng Ran's mouth.
He would rather believe that Feng Ran had some hidden hardship that forced her to say this.
Ling Chi Yuan still didn't believe it, looking at Feng Ran, he said somewhat anxiously, "No, Feng Ran, you are not this kind of person."
"What happened? Do you have any unspeakable difficulties? You can tell me, and we will solve it together."
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan, and said calmly, "No."
"These words are from the bottom of my heart."
"These past few days, I've been thinking about how I would tell you these words if you appeared, Young Master Ling."
"Unexpectedly, you brought it up first, so I will speak my mind directly."
Ling Chi Yuan quietly looked at Feng Ran.
Feng Ran smiled, "Young Master Ling, have you forgotten? I am a lady from Chun Man Yuan. Putting on an act for someone is something I am skilled at. Therefore, Young Master Ling might have some misunderstanding about me."
"It's a good thing to clear up the misunderstanding today."
Ling Chi Yuan's handsome face turned grim. He clenched his fists tightly, just staring at Feng Ran.
After a long while, he spoke again, "Putting on an act, is it?"
"Then, consider everything Feng Ran just said as if it never happened. You can just put on an act for this young master as you always have."
Facing Ling Chi Yuan's flippant demeanor, Feng Ran suddenly didn't know what to say.