Metamorphosis of an Ugly Girl – Part One

Qingqing didn’t catch his words at first, looking at him in bewilderment and panic, not knowing how to react. “I only pity your background, similar to mine, hoping to have someone to talk to in the palace. But now that you’re leaving, there’s no need for pretense. But I don’t want you to feel indebted to me, thinking you owe me and develop other feelings.” He paused, a hint of disdain in his eyes, toying with his fan in the cold weather, and continued, “All my past kindnesses to you need not be considered as such.” Qingqing went from surprise to confusion, and then her eyes became blurry with tears. She only liked someone who was kind to her, though perhaps it was a bit premature. But he had clearly and explicitly rejected her. Suddenly, her fingers turned unusually cold, and a bitter smile spread across her lips: “Then why did you ask me to marry you?” The Fourth Prince looked at her with a playful expression, as if a rogue from the marketplace was seeing a fairy: “You didn’t take my words seriously, did you?” Qingqing said, “I know you didn’t mean it.” The Fourth Prince suddenly turned sincere and serious: “I meant it.” Seeing the surprise and confusion on Qingqing’s face, he burst into laughter, seemingly delighted, “But think about it, if I really married someone even more pitiful than myself, wouldn’t it make me seem less pitiful?”