“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, leaving an unusually 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 he must have struggled internally. Yet, he ultimately decided to intervene. This became a knot in his heart, over time 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 at that moment 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, I thought he still resented me for initially refusing his proposal, and we had been awkwardly tense for over a year.
I was between laughter and tears. Just this misunderstanding made us spend a year walking on eggshells.
He looked at me with a martyr-like expression. “That’s how things are.”
“Mm.” I nodded. “Well said.”
He carefully studied my expression. “That’s it?”
“Uh—” I thought. “I understand.”
“You—understand?” These words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
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 was disappointed. “Didn’t you have any inner 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. Shouldn’t a man passionately hold the woman and say, “You’re mine, and I’ll never let you go to anyone else”?
He continued staring at me, dazed. “You don’t blame me?”
