Feng Ran’s eyes widened as she looked at Ling Chi Yuan. She had expected him to storm off in a fit of rage upon hearing her words, perhaps even curse her.
But she never imagined Ling Chi Yuan would reply with a teasing smile.
Feng Ran was stunned. Had her words been too weak? Why hadn't Ling Chi Yuan been scared away by her words?
Why hadn't he simply cast her aside?
As Feng Ran hesitated in confusion, Ling Chi Yuan’s smile remained on his face. He tightly grasped Feng Ran’s hand. Feng Ran struggled, trying to pull away, but the more she tried, the tighter Ling Chi Yuan held on.
Meeting Ling Chi Yuan’s flickering gaze, she finally gave up.
Ling Chi Yuan leaned down and whispered into her ear, “Feng Ran, no matter what you say, I will not give up.”
Feng Ran stared at the man before her in disbelief.
She had truly never met anyone as persistent as Ling Chi Yuan.
Feng Ran found herself at a loss for words.
“…” She even wanted to ask why he was reacting this way. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Feng Ran thought Ling Chi Yuan would surely be enraged.
But things always turned out contrary to her expectations.
“Feng Ran, do you know? I was a little hesitant at first. But after hearing what you just said, I am moved.”
He blew a warm breath into her ear, saying intimately, “Feng Ran, this life, you cannot escape my grasp.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Ran instantly panicked.
Why?
Why?
Why had things turned out this way? How could someone as inauspicious as her be worthy of Ling Chi Yuan?
Ling Chi Yuan being close to her could only bring misfortune.
“Ling Chi Yuan, I told you, stay away from me. Don’t you understand?”
Feng Ran became anxious, flustered. “Ling Chi Yuan, just let me go. Isn't it unfortunate?”
“Feng Ran, I genuinely want to treat you well.”
“Feng Ran, don’t you want to try? You can’t just condemn everyone because of Xuan Yuan Heng, can you?”
Feng Ran looked up at the unusually agitated Ling Chi Yuan. She took a deep breath and said calmly, “Ling Chi Yuan.” Her hoarse voice echoed, “Ling Chi Yuan, you are only interested in me out of curiosity. Nothing more.”
“But do you really want to take the risk?”
“To ruin yourself and the Ling family for a woman who isn’t worth it?”
“Ling Chi Yuan, have you ever considered that you would regret it then?”
“But there is no antidote for regret in this world.”
Feng Ran said sadly, “Ling Chi Yuan, I am a living example. I don’t want you to go through that.”
“You are a good person, Ling Chi Yuan.”
Ling Chi Yuan paused slightly. These were things he had never considered.
Ling Chi Yuan looked at Feng Ran. She said he was a good person.
This was the first time he had ever heard anyone call him a good person.
All his life, he had only been cursed. He never thought that in his lifetime, he would hear such words as “you are a good person.”
Looking at the calm Feng Ran, he couldn't fathom what she was thinking when she uttered those self-deprecating words.
“Ling Chi Yuan, I am a person plagued by misfortune.”
“Anyone connected to me will not have a good end.”
“Ling Chi Yuan, I beg you, please stay away from me, alright? I don’t want to become even more deeply sinful.”
Hearing this, Ling Chi Yuan became anxious. “Feng Ran, no, how can you have such terrible thoughts?”
“Ling Chi Yuan, no, these are not my thoughts. These are things I have personally experienced.” Feng Ran said calmly.
“Feng Ran, is what you’re saying true?” Ling Chi Yuan asked disbelievingly.
Feng Ran did not reply but nodded.
“Feng Ran, I pity you.”
“Feng Ran, I deeply regret not meeting you sooner. If I had met you earlier, you wouldn’t be like this.”
“I would have protected you with all my might.”
Seeing Feng Ran’s continued silence, Ling Chi Yuan grew anxious and said urgently, “Feng Ran, you are the best woman in this world. You’ve just encountered the wrong people.”
“I will not believe the slanders of the world. I only believe what I see and hear myself.”
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan in surprise. She had thought her words would have scared him away. But he hadn't been scared off.
Instead, he looked at her with such determination and spoke words of pity.
Feng Ran smiled bitterly.
How long had Ling Chi Yuan known her, yet he trusted her so much? Whereas Xuan Yuan Heng detested her so deeply.
She looked at Ling Chi Yuan, even wanting to throw caution to the wind and agree immediately.
But in the end, she suppressed that impulse.
“Ling Chi Yuan, no, I am not that wonderful.”
“And I am so tarnished, I will never be worthy of you.”
Hearing these words, Ling Chi Yuan felt a deep ache in his heart.
The calmness with which Feng Ran spoke these words suggested that such humiliation was probably a completely normal occurrence for her.
“Feng Ran, no, you are not tarnished. In my eyes, you are the best.”
“Feng Ran, don’t humiliate yourself just to reject me.”
“Really, you don’t have to be like this.”
“Feng Ran, if because of me, it makes things so difficult for you, making it hard for you to make a choice. Then, let’s pretend none of today’s conversation happened, okay?”
“Feng Ran…”
“Feng Ran…”
Feng Ran fell silent.
Feng Ran, you killed Yu Wan, so this prince will destroy everyone around you.
Feng Ran, you are not worthy of anyone protecting or cherishing you in this life.
“Feng Ran, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” Ling Chi Yuan asked worriedly.
He had a sense that something was off with Feng Ran, but he couldn’t pinpoint it.
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan and pushed him away abruptly, saying with disgust, “Get away from me, get away.”
“As long as you stay away from me, I will be fine.”
After speaking, Feng Ran turned and left. All she wanted now was to escape this place.
But Feng Ran couldn't escape, because Ling Chi Yuan quickly caught up.
Ling Chi Yuan grabbed Feng Ran’s hand and held her captive in his embrace.
“Feng Ran, why are you running?”
“Isn’t it better to talk things through clearly?”
“I said I wouldn’t pester you or force you into anything. But I don’t want you to be wary of me because of this matter.”
Feng Ran sighed helplessly and said with world-weariness, “Young Master Ling, it is impossible between us.”
“I know.”
Feng Ran: “…”
He said he knew?
And then, he kept looking at her, with no intention of leaving.
“Then, Young Master Ling, can you stay away from me from now on?”
“I won’t disturb you, nor will I force you to make any decisions. But Feng Ran, regarding staying away from you, I’m afraid it will be difficult for me to agree.” Ling Chi Yuan said helplessly, and these words were the truth.
As the two spoke, they were completely unaware that a bloodthirsty gaze fell upon them, and that person was approaching them in a frenzy.