“How could you… casually throw around the word ‘proposal’?” She couldn’t help but yell, “Marriage is not a game!”
Was it amusing to see her panicking, tongue-tied, and unable to think clearly?
“I know,” he agreed with this statement.
Marriage was definitely not a game, which was why he had been hesitant to marry. Because he hadn’t yet fallen in love with a woman worth protecting for a lifetime, and he knew that once he said he loved someone, it would be a lifelong commitment.
He knew better than anyone that marriage was not a joke.
“You don’t like me, so don’t mock me!” Such a cruel and low joke – did she think she would be thrilled and overjoyed by his proposal, flying high with happiness?
She was not so foolish as to take such a boring joke seriously!
“I like you. When have you ever heard me say I don’t like you?” He gazed at her seriously and passionately. “From the moment you bumped into me in the elevator, I knew you could only belong to me.
Did you think I made food for you to show off my culinary skills? Did you think I bought this apartment to display my wealth? Did you think I didn’t ask about your and Xueyeno’s activities because I knew nothing?”
He shook his head, “Xingcan, you’re wrong. I’ve been telling you all along that I like you.”
He reached out to hold her hand, “Okay, give me an answer. You can refuse me. If you don’t care about me at all, you can say no, push me away, tell me to give up.”
Was he telling the truth? Did he like her? Care about her? Want to be with her forever?
Really? Was he dreaming? Was all this real?
It was like ten thousand fireworks exploding simultaneously in her head, brilliant fireworks blooming one after another.
She couldn’t describe her shock and… joy.
He liked her?
She was like a stiff stone statue, only able to look at him, unable to make any movement.
“What are you thinking?” Waiting for an answer was so painful and unsettling!
“I…” Her pale face slowly turned red. “I don’t know what to say.”
Could she say she had long been infatuated with him, unable to eat or sleep?
She never believed in love at first sight, but in that instant of first meeting, she had lost her heart.
“Just say you’re willing,” he held her hands tightly, sincerely saying: “Okay?”
She remained silent, only lowering her head further.
“Okay?” He was getting a bit anxious.
Yuan Xingcan still didn’t answer. At this moment, a collision sound suddenly came from Ke Xueyeno’s room, and they looked at each other.
“Xueyeno!”
He pulled her and rushed into the room. Ke Xueyeno, who had jumped through the window and not stood properly, fell to the ground, looking up in panic.
“Brother? Xingcan?” Oh no, how did they end up in her room?
[The rest of the translation continues in the same manner…]
Because I didn’t listen to you, I deserve this,” she wiped her tears, “I used to think this way, but not anymore. I don’t want to deceive myself just because I’m afraid of disappointing you again. Xing Can,” she held her hand, “you’re right. Someone who truly loves me loves my essence. He won’t care if I’m from the Ke family or how much property I have.”
Ke Nanyu listened in disbelief: “What did you say?”
”I’ve fallen in love with someone. An ordinary, poor man who genuinely loves me. I know you’ll definitely oppose, but I won’t back down.”
”Xueyue! You again…” Why does Xueyue always put herself in harm’s way, leaving herself wounded?
”I’ve chosen another person you completely disapprove of, right?” She smiled slightly, “This is my own matter. Why can’t I choose for myself?” She turned to Xing Can, “Xing Can, isn’t it funny? Every man who approaches me, my brother always thinks they have ulterior motives. Because I’m ugly and stupid, who would like me if not for money?”
”Xueyue, don’t say that!” Yuan Xing Can couldn’t help but want to cry. She didn’t like Xueyue speaking about herself so deprecatingly.
”No, it’s true.” She said sarcastically: “Only you, my brother, and grandfather think I’m good. No one has ever noticed me. So when someone said they liked me, went crazy for me, I happily thought I’d found true love and found happiness.”
”Stop talking,” Ke Nanyu said: “That’s all in the past.”
”No, I want to speak. I want Xing Can to know, I want you to know, I’ve already moved on.
Ke Xueyue said softly: “He was the son of the gardener at Ning Jing Yuan. That day his father wasn’t feeling well, so he came to help in the garden, and that’s how I met him.
He was very good to me. I was crazy in love with him, but my brother and grandfather opposed it. Still, I eloped with him regardless. I married him without anyone’s blessing.”
She gave a bitter smile: “He said he wanted to start a business, needed money, and wanted me to get money from grandfather and my brother.
He thought my saying I’d give up everything for him was just talk. He thought I could get money anytime, believing that with how much my brother and grandfather doted on me, they absolutely wouldn’t abandon me.
Yes, my brother and grandfather wouldn’t abandon me, but I didn’t have the face to go back. I abandoned my family for him, but he loved money more than he loved me.
I know I was wrong, but I didn’t have the courage to admit it. He started threatening me, saying if I didn’t give him money, he’d sell our story to gossip magazines. He knew the Ke family couldn’t tolerate scandal. He knew my… nude photos could make my brother pay a huge sum…”
Ke Xueyue broke down crying, burying her head in Yuan Xing Can’s embrace, who was already in tears.
”Xueyue…”
Poor Xueyue, how did she survive such a blow? Why would someone hurt such a kind girl so deeply?
Ke Nanyu said sternly: “Enough, don’t say anymore.” He didn’t want her to revisit past pain!
”Not talking about it means forgetting?” Ke Xueyue looked up, smiling weakly, “Brother, being able to speak about it means I’ve moved past it. I can even face him now.” Facing his madness, she no longer felt guilty. It wasn’t she who destroyed him, but his pursuit of money that harmed him.
”When grandfather learned of my situation, he was furious. He started giving him money, only asking that he divorce me, but he refused. He knew as long as I was by his side, money would never be scarce. But he was like a bottomless pit, no amount of money could fill his greed.” She took a deep breath, “At that time, I did something foolish. I thought death would be my liberation.”
Yuan Xing Can exclaimed: “No!”
Xueyue smiled slightly, tears flowing, “It’s okay. I’m doing well now, right?”
”Xueyue, stop. I’ll finish the rest,” Ke Nanyu looked at his sister with heartache.
”You’ve already done too much for me,” Xueyue shook her head, “Brother knew he was abusing me and didn’t care about my life, so he brought me home, preventing him from finding me. Grandfather also stopped giving him money. So he panicked, started threatening to expose our story, but my brother was very firm. I don’t know what method he used to prevent media from publishing his story.
In the end, he lost everything. After losing everything, he started hating me. One day he broke in and almost strangled me.” She touched her neck, seemingly still traumatized.
”Fortunately, my brother came back in time and knocked him unconscious. When he woke up, he went mad, unable to bear the shock of having nothing.” Ke Xueyue spoke naturally: “Then my brother started taking care of him, built a house for him in the woods behind, and hired special caregivers.”
She never dared to step into the woods, afraid of hearing or seeing him. But she knew she’d eventually have to face him, free herself from the past, and not disappoint her brother and grandfather.
