“I knew I couldn’t wait any longer, so even though I knew you had someone else in your heart, I still proposed to the Xiao family.” He pursed his lips, the previous blush fading to a pale complexion. “On our wedding night… I knew you were unwilling, but I still—”
His voice was somewhat obscure.
I had never tried to understand everything from his perspective like I did now. He believed I truly loved Yan Huo and must have struggled internally. Yet, he ultimately decided to intervene. On our wedding night, he thought my heart belonged to another but still went through with the marriage. This became a knot in his heart, brewing into a strong, aged vinegar.
No wonder his expression was strange that wedding night, looking at the bed’s red traces. The emotions swirling in his heart were hard to distinguish—more guilt or more joy.
“You’ll understand eventually,” he lowered his eyelids, his upturned eye corners about to take flight. “Blame me if you want, but I don’t regret doing this.”
After the wedding, he didn’t know how to face me.
He thought I hated him for forcing me to marry, while I believed he resented me for refusing his proposal. Our relationship had been awkwardly tense for over a year.
Just this misunderstanding made us walk on eggshells. What was the point?
He looked at me with a martyr-like expression. “That’s how things are.”
“Mm.” I nodded. “Well said.”
He studied my expression. “That’s it?”
“Uh— I understand.”
“You—understand?” His words seemed forced.
Now should come the sweet talk, right? I looked at him expectantly.
He seemed uncomfortable. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What else?”
He was stunned. “I’m done.”
“Just like that?” I felt disappointed. “When you did these things, didn’t you have any thoughts? Like, how did you feel when you saw me with Yan Huo?”
An Jin was dumbfounded, mumbling, “Inner… thoughts?”
How could he be so slow? I was frustrated. Wouldn’t a man passionately assure the woman he loves, “You’re mine, and I’ll never let you go to anyone else”?
He continued staring at me, dazed. “You don’t blame me?”
“I do. Of course I do.” I linked my arm with his. “I blame you for keeping all this bottled up.”
“A Yao…” His expression gradually turned joyful. “You—”
I sat on his lap, nestling into his embrace.
“Indeed, at that time, I did like him a bit—” his body immediately stiffened. I continued, “But all of that is long past. I’ve always known who I truly want to spend my life with.”
His chest trembled intensely. “A Yao…”
“I only regret not accepting your proposal when I was fifteen.” I closed my eyes and rubbed against him. “I wish I had married you earlier and understood my heart sooner.”
To unravel the knot he’d been carrying for three years, I had to use some cheesiness. I felt the challenges of being a wife.
He suddenly pulled back slightly, staring intently at my face, his eyes burning as if wanting to bore holes through me. “Little demon, are you really my little demon?”
I rolled my eyes. “I suppose so.”
He curled his lips, smiling contentedly. “I’m happy, truly—”
Now surely would come the sweet talk, right? I rekindled my hope.
Who knew he wouldn’t continue speaking but instead tightened his grip on my waist, his lips landing heavily, his fingers forcefully tearing open my clothes.
…
Biting the corner of the blanket, trapped in his arms, I felt confused about this creature called man. Why was I “handled” when I made him angry and also when I made him happy?!
Could this be the only way men express their feelings…
That night, I was exhausted, and the next day was my brother’s competition, forcing me to wake up early, bearing dark circles from lack of sleep, accompanying the refreshed An Jin to the machine arts competition at Baiheyuan.
On White Crane Plain, twelve wooden houses were arranged in a row for the competition, identifiable only by participants’ badges. Across from the houses, a three-tiered marble platform was constructed for nobles and officials, while guards with spears surrounded the area.
My parents arrived earlier, and my brother had already entered the competition area. Just before the competition began, my younger sister, delayed by dressing, rushed in, lifting her skirt. She turned pale upon seeing me and exclaimed, “Sister, brother-in-law! I encountered a lewd man!”
The author has something to say: This is how things happened. The two were deadlocked for a year due to the knot in An Jin’s heart…
As for the lewd man my younger sister encountered, An Jin’s identity will be revealed in two to three chapters.
I’ll take a day off tomorrow to gather inspiration. Take care, everyone, and wait for me to return. Updates will resume the day after tomorrow (Sunday)!
Chapter Thirty-Five: The Lewd Strange Man
My younger sister’s face was filled with grief; her hair was slightly askew. “I was so scared… It was hard to shake him off!”
She had hired a sedan chair near White Crane Plain but noticed a tall man following her. In panic, she quickened her pace and took several detours, but the man remained behind her at a constant distance. Finally, she ran into White Crane Plain and found her group.
I asked, “Besides following you, did he do anything else unusual?”
My sister thought for a moment. “Not that I remember.”
I gently asked, “How do you know he’s definitely a lewd man?”
She raised her head confidently, putting her hands on her hips. For a moment, I saw a younger version of our mother. “Sneaking behind a young, beautiful lady like me, he must have bad intentions!”
I took a difficult breath. An Jin turned away, his mouth twitching, clearly trying hard not to laugh.
I said awkwardly, “Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding.”
“He looks like a bad person!”
There’s a strange bird perched on his shoulder, just like the rumored creepy uncle!” My sister was certain.
An Jin coughed several times. I was speechless. “A bird on the shoulder doesn’t mean anything.”
I startled, instinctively looking at An Jin. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his chin towards my sister’s back, whispering, “Xiao Ya, could the strange man you’re talking about be—him?”
Princess Jiang Yunqiao of Southern Rui approached us with a smile, followed by General Shen, tall and imposing, with a parrot on his shoulder.
My sister glanced back and jumped behind me, shrieking, “It’s him! I can’t believe he followed me here…”
Jiang Yunqiao looked confused. I was about to explain when my sister, feeling safe, jumped from behind me and glared at General Shen. “What are you trying to do by following me?”
General Shen’s eyebrows moved, a rare occurrence. The parrot spread its wings and called out, “What? What?”
My sister was aggressive, but General Shen remained expressionless.
She took a big step forward. “What, dare to do but not dare to speak?”
General Shen coldly replied, “Self-flattering.”
The yellow parrot enthusiastically nodded. “Self-flattering! Self-flattering!” Its sharp voice drew everyone’s attention.
My sister’s face turned red; she wanted to teach him a lesson, but I hastily pulled her back.
Jiang Yunqiao was stunned. “Who is this…”
“My sister,” I sighed, knowing we’d lost face. “I’m truly sorry, Your Highness, General Shen.”
My sister looked at me in disbelief. I nodded solemnly. She lost her confidence but muttered, “Can’t a general be a lewd man…”
An Jin and I mourned our lost dignity for a while. Jiang Yunqiao suddenly turned to General Shen: “No wonder you were late… were you following a young lady?”
General Shen maintained his statue-like expression and moved his lips. “Didn’t know the way.”
“Lost again?” Jiang Yunqiao shook her head. “Danding, when will you fix this habit?”
