She feared not the judgmental glances of others the most.
Su Xiaocao's greatest fear was what Su Sangong would think of her.
What if Su Sangong deemed her shameless?
Like all girls, Su Xiaocao didn't want to be viewed unfavorably by the person she admired.
Su Sangong himself had only recently come to understand his true feelings for Su Xiaocao.
He had never dared to voice them.
But now, Su Xiaocao seemed to feel the same way.
This instantly made Su Sangong believe he might still have a chance.
He began to think more deeply.
Although Su Xiaocao and he were considered cousins, their relationship was actually quite distant, perhaps tracing back to a common ancestor eight generations prior.
Legally, they were permitted to be together.
Therefore, as long as their families agreed, there would be no problem.
Su Sangong even felt that the family would consent.
When his elder brother had married his sister-in-law, who was frail, the family had agreed without a word.
When his second brother had found a classmate of Xiaotian, the family had also agreed without objection.
Now, it was his turn, and he imagined the family would be just as accepting as before.
"Xiaocao, perhaps we could try. Although we are both Su family members, it's a matter of distant ancestry. Legally, our relationship is permissible," Su Sangong said, his voice filled with excitement and a touch of urgency.
Heaven knew how anxious he had been watching Gu Chengxuan pursue Su Xiaocao.
Every time he saw Gu Chengxuan, he wished he could just drive him away.
But he had no standing to say anything.
Su Xiaocao clearly hadn't expected Su Sangong's response.
She stared at him in disbelief for a long while before finally accepting that Su Sangong was speaking the truth.
Su Sangong actually felt the same way.
"Sangong, what did you say? Can you repeat that?" Su Xiaocao couldn't believe what she was hearing.
She thought she was merely wishing for this outcome so strongly that she was hallucinating.
Su Sangong had always been a steady and proper person; how could he have such a shocking thought?
Su Sangong gently adjusted Su Xiaocao's posture, making sure her eyes were looking at him.
"Xiaocao, I'm saying that we can actually be together. Although we are both Su family members, it's a matter of distant ancestry. Legally, our relationship is permissible. Do you understand? If not, I can say it again, and again, until you do."
Su Sangong had completely let go of his inhibitions by this point.
Since Xiaocao had feelings for him, he couldn't let her down; he had to seize the opportunity to be with her in the future.
"But, will the family agree?"
Su Xiaocao felt her parents wouldn't agree, and the elders of the Su family certainly wouldn't.
After all, they still had to return to their ancestral home, and she feared being gossiped about when they did.
"I'll find a way, Xiaocao. Let's go home. Tonight, I'll talk to Grandpa and Grandma about this."
If the grandparents agreed, discussing it with her parents would be easier.
As for Su Changjiu and his wife, Su Sangong believed he could find a way to handle them.
Seeing Su Sangong's firm resolve, Su Xiaocao found herself believing he could achieve it.
Su Sangong took Su Xiaocao's hand and resolutely walked towards his home.
By the time they reached the Su residence, it was late, but the house was brightly lit.
They exchanged glances, wondering what was going on.
As they were about to open the door, it suddenly opened from the inside.
Then, they saw Chi Ge and others walking out.
Su Xiaojiu, who opened the door, saw the two at the entrance and grinned, saying, "Third Brother, Sister Xiaocao, why are you only back now? Yiyuan Gege and Grandpa Chi are leaving."
Su Xiaojiu was oblivious, clearly not thinking much of it, but everyone else saw it clearly.
Su Sangong and Su Xiaocao were standing at the doorway, holding hands.
What was this situation?
This immediately confused everyone.
They all knew these two had a somewhat close relationship.
But they were cousins, so why were they standing there hand in hand?
"Xiaocao?"
"Sangong?"
The first to react, Grandpa Su and Grandma Liang Xiu, called out the names of the two children.
Su Sangong, having finally mustered his courage, wouldn't hesitate now.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I have something to say."
The two elders of the Su family looked at the pair standing at the door, not understanding why they had returned together in such an intimate manner.
"Whatever it is, let's talk about it inside," Grandpa Su replied, stepping in to speak.
"Third Grandpa, I want to say it here. It's good that everyone is present today, so I can get it all out."
Su Sangong said with great determination.
Grandpa Su clearly sensed that something was amiss.
The behavior of these two children was highly unusual.
He had a feeling that what Su Sangong was about to say might be a family scandal that could put the entire Su family in a difficult position.
He tried to dissuade Su Sangong.
However, Su Sangong glanced at Su Xiaocao and remained resolute.
If he didn't say it now, he didn't know if he would ever have the courage to say it again.
"I've decided to be with Xiaocao. Grandpa, Grandma, please grant us your blessing." Su Sangong said, then knelt on the ground with a thud.
Grandpa Su was taken aback by his grandson's words.
How could this be?
Grandpa Su, usually robust, couldn't stand steady. He stumbled, nearly falling. Su Dan Novel Network.
Fortunately, Chi Yiyuan, standing nearby, quickly caught him.
But Chi Yiyuan himself found it very strange.
Weren't Su Sangong and Su Xiaocao cousins?
Even if they were cousins, they were still siblings, weren't they?
How could these two be together?
However, he could see that Su Sangong was very emotional but firm in his stance.
"Sangong, what nonsense are you talking? You and Xiaocao, how can you?" Grandpa Su spoke first, cutting him off.
Worried that his parents might be angered to death, he quickly gave Su Sangong a meaningful look while speaking.
The outsiders only knew that these two were cousins and didn't quite understand the exact nature of their relationship.
"Third Grandpa, I like Xiaocao. I've liked her for a long time, and I want to be with her. Legally, we are more than three generations removed, with no blood relation, and we can marry."
Su Sangong, usually steady in personality, was uncharacteristically stubborn and insistent on his idea today.
He knew that if he didn't get everything out in one go today, he might never have the chance again.
With the words already spoken and heard by so many, whether this matter was brought up again or not, it would ultimately become a shadow over him.
Since that was the case, he decided to go all the way.
"Sangong, how could you do this? How could you be so... she's your sister!"
"Grandpa, no, Xiaocao and I are very distantly related. We can be together."
Su Sangong argued his case.
Grandma Su sighed, wondering if this was fate.
These two children didn't seem to be joking.
"Xiaocao, are you willing to be with Sangong too?" Grandma Su didn't ask her grandson but chose to ask Su Xiaocao.
If Su Xiaocao agreed, everything would be easier to discuss. If Su Xiaocao disagreed, Grandma Su wouldn't interfere further.
Su Xiaocao felt very awkward being stared at by everyone. Now that Grandma Su had asked her, she felt a little better.