His expression immediately became strange. After hesitating, he revealed the truth.
It turned out he wasn’t actually a cut-sleeve. That day at Linglong House, he had been dragged in while drunk and only stayed for a moment before leaving, coincidentally being seen by me. Later, he wanted to explain but saw that I wasn’t heartbroken, instead seeming somewhat relieved. He realized I didn’t truly care for him and left disappointedly.
I was very surprised.
After Duan Chang left with his wife and child, I remained in shock for a long time. I had thought he had betrayed me, but it turned out I had dissolved our own marriage fate. While I couldn’t say I felt regret, I gained some insight. Sometimes men need a sense of being loved more than women, and if they lose this feeling, they might choose to leave. Would An Jin be the same?
I lowered my head, completely unaware that An Jin was standing not far in front of me, his brow increasingly furrowed.
Chapter Eight: No Way to Take a Concubine
An Jin placed the noodles in front of me. Having stood in the wind for a long time, his lips were slightly pale, and his usually impeccable hair was somewhat disheveled. I came to my senses and, seeing his poor complexion, hurriedly pulled him to sit down. When I touched his skin, the coolness made me instinctively withdraw.
“Are you very cold?” I cupped his hands in mine, breathing warmth onto them. He had queued to buy cold dish for me, so I warmed his hands – a fair exchange that made me feel at ease. “This spring seems especially cold. It looks like we’ll have a cool summer.”
His expression softened slightly. He took chopsticks from the holder and handed them to me, seemingly casually asking, “That person just now—”
“Duan Gongzi,” I glanced at him, seeing his normal expression, and continued, “My father’s supervisor’s son.”
“I know.”
Hanlin Academy’s Duan Xiushen’s second son, Duan Chang, currently a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Justice, twenty-five years old, married.
I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination, but he seemed to emphasize the last two words particularly strongly.
