Li Shiyan's honesty actually made Zhu Yao feel less hurt. Everything was within her expectations, so she wasn't surprised by his answer. However, the instant she heard it from Li Shiyan's mouth, there were more or less a few thorns in her heart. She didn't dare to move, didn't dare to breathe too loudly. It was as if if she moved, if she breathed, those thorns would firmly pierce into her heart.
She knew that it would be very painful!
It would be so painful that she would rather die than live.
Li Shiyan didn't want to deceive her, so he told her everything in his heart, hoping that she would understand and even understand.
"Miss Zhu, I can't deceive you. I said that as long as you ask, I will tell you everything I know. I know that Miss Ji doesn't have me in her heart, but I don't know what's wrong with me. I just can't let go of her. Perhaps I feel the same way, but I won't disturb her, and I won't force her. I just want to see her once, just once. I don't care about anything else. As long as she's happy, I will silently wish her well. So … I hope you will be the same."
He was using a different method to tell Zhu Yao that loving someone wasn't to force them, but to silently wish them well.
Zhu Yao naturally understood this point.
She said, "Yes, you're right. What's so good about something that's forced upon others? If both parties are unwilling, then both parties will be in pain. "
"It's good that you understand."
"Then let me ask you a second question." Zhu Yao looked at him and took a deep breath. "Can we still be friends?"
Huh?
Li Shiyan was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that Zhu Yao would ask such a question. For a long time, he didn't come back to his senses. He just stared blankly at Zhu Yao's sincere eyes.
Zhu Yao smiled gently. "Actually, I already thought it through before coming here, but I didn't want to give up. I wanted to hear it from your own mouth before I gave up. Now that I know, I can understand. I promise I won't bother you anymore. When I return, I will tell my father to cancel our engagement. From now on, we don't owe each other anything."
When she said the words "don't owe each other anything", she didn't sound angry at all. Instead, she was truly relieved. The smile on her face was no longer as sad.
Li Shiyan felt that the girl in front of him had really grown up.
"Miss Zhu, thank you very much."
"Then can we be friends?" Zhu Yao asked again.
The knot in Li Shiyan's heart was immediately untied. He said, "Of course, as long as you're willing, I, Li Shiyan, will treat you as my little sister for the rest of my life. If anyone dares to bully you, I will help you take revenge."
He patted his chest.
Zhu Yao pursed her lips and smiled. It was a beautiful smile, and the paleness on her face seemed to gradually fade away. Her complexion became much better, and she said, "Alright, then it's settled."
"Of course!"
This time, Zhu Yao had truly let go. She couldn't ask Li Shiyan to become her cage bird just because she was a caged bird. That way, she would be too selfish, and this kind of love and marriage was something she didn't want to have. Perhaps what Li Shiyan said was right, she deserved someone who loved her more, and not to hold on to a love that didn't belong to her and die in pain. That kind of life wasn't what she wanted, so now, she had to make her own choice and fly out of the cage.
Let everything take its course.
The knot in their hearts was untied at this moment. Regardless of what their future would be, at least at this moment, they were honest with each other.
Outside, Cai 'er looked in from time to time. She was worried that her young miss would be heartbroken in front of the heir. If the heir said something provocative, she was afraid that her young miss would not be able to bear it. If something really happened, what would she do? At that time, she wouldn't be able to explain herself to the Master and Madam. She was afraid that even if she had ten lives, it wouldn't be enough for her punishment. Thinking of this, Cai 'er became even more nervous. She couldn't help but look into the hall a few more times. She saw her young miss's lips curling up into a smile, and the frailty on her face was greatly reduced. Her expression was completely different from when she first entered.
Because of this, Cai 'er felt relieved.
Although she didn't know what her young miss had said to the heir, as long as her young miss was safe and sound, Cai 'er's apprehensive heart could continue to be at ease.
When she withdrew her gaze from the inside, she saw a group of people walking towards the backyard from outside the hall. The few young masters looked like they were from wealthy families and each of them had a scholarly air about them. Presumably, they were the guests invited by the mansion.
The guests followed the manservant to the rear courtyard and saw Su Ziluo.
"Teacher Su." The young masters cupped their hands in greeting.
Su Ziluo sat in a pavilion in the courtyard and invited them to sit. He asked, "Why are you all here?"
These young masters were famous poets and scholars in the city. Su Ziluo had always regarded them highly, so he often had dealings with them. Usually, when they came to the Su residence, he didn't even need to greet them.
One of the green-robed men took out a painting scroll he had brought with him and presented it to Su Ziluo. "Teacher Su, I obtained a good painting in the past two days. I like it very much and wanted to give it to you so that you can have a look. If you like it, I will give it to you as a gift."
Su Ziluo looked at the painting scroll in front of him. He hesitated for a long time but didn't accept it. He said, "How can I take away someone else's love?"
"Teacher Su, you are too polite. A good painting must be worthy of someone who understands painting. Among us, you are the only one who understands painting the most. If you think this painting is good, I will give it to you. Moreover, Teacher Su has always generously gifted us with the four treasures of the study. Today, it is only a painting, so I hope you won't be too polite. Otherwise, I won't be able to accept your gifts in the future. "The young master spoke clearly and logically.
Su Ziluo found it hard to refuse, so he took the painting scroll and opened it. It was a painting of mountains and rivers. The painting was exquisite, and the colors were deep. Every stroke was on point, highlighting the spirituality of the mountains and rivers. It was vivid and lifelike, and when one looked at it, one would feel as if they were in the midst of the mountains and rivers shrouded in clouds.
"It is indeed a good painting. Who painted it?" Su Ziluo asked.
The azure-clothed man said, "A man named Wang Wei painted several more, but I only got this one. Since Mister Su said that this painting is good, then it is really good. When I go back, I will ask someone to find the rest and send them to your mansion. Mister Su, please don't refuse."
Su Ziluo knew that if he didn't accept the painting, they would not let it go. He nodded and slowly rolled up the painting. "Very well, I will accept it."
A man in blue suddenly said, "Aiya, I ate too much this morning and am not feeling well. I will go for a while and be back soon."
The man stood up and cupped his hands, then went to relieve himself.
Su Ziluo's eyes darkened. He pretended he didn't know anything and continued to discuss poetry with the others.
After the man in blue left, he didn't go to the toilet. Instead, he snuck into a side room in the backyard when no one was looking. He looked around and found that there was no one else in the mansion. When he came out, he pulled a servant girl and asked, "Oh right, did the mansion have any guests recently?"
The girl shook her head. "No!"
"Really? Think carefully. "
The servant girl shook her head again. "Young Master Liu, the mansion really has no guests. If we are talking about guests, the heir and Miss Zhu are here today. They are in the reception hall. Young Master Liu and the other young masters are also here."
Her face was sincere and didn't look like she was lying.
The man in blue didn't ask any more questions to avoid arousing suspicion. He smiled and said, "Many thanks."
The maidservant bowed slightly and left.
When the blue-clothed man saw that there were no guests in the mansion, he returned to the pavilion. Su Ziluo and the others were still discussing Wang Wei's painting. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, so no one paid attention to the blue-clothed man.
They continued to chat and drank a few more cups of tea before ending their conversation. Su Ziluo kept the painting and ordered his servants to send them off. After a while, a manservant returned and whispered something in Su Ziluo's ear.
Su Ziluo grunted. His eyes narrowed as he ordered, "If they come to the mansion again, they are to leave immediately. They are not allowed to enter again."
"Yes!"
Su Ziluo immediately picked up the painting and handed it to the manservant. "Take this painting back and choose a few other paintings to send as well."
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