Chapter 115 [VIP] Savior’s Gratitude (2)

Chapter 115 [VIP] Savior's Gratitude (2)

After Nan Yan had roughly sorted out the entire plot in her mind, only one thought remained: it was utterly absurd that the male lead's undying love was solely for his savior. It was preposterous.

It was true that the male lead, Jin Yanli, had been moved by the female lead's act of saving his life. However, at that time, he was blind and severely injured, hiding in the woodshed. Under the female lead's deliberate concealment of her identity, they barely conversed. The only trace of his affection was the gentleness and care she showed him.

He had fallen for that ethereal figure in his dreams.

Later on, when Jin Yanli found Li Nanyan, their interactions made it clear to him what kind of person she was.

Aware of her lack of wit and her overly trusting nature that often led her to be taken advantage of without her realizing, he had always offered her subtle protection.

He also knew that despite her spoiled demeanor, she was inherently kind-hearted and never held grudges.

Wasn't it because Li Nanyan's character appealed to him that he decided to seek her hand in marriage?

Why, then, did all his affection and love vanish completely once he discovered she wasn't his savior?

It made absolutely no sense!

Is there such logic?

Can feelings be retracted so easily?

The male lead fell for someone due to a life-saving grace, even though he had mistaken the object of his affection. But if one truly falls for another, can that fondness also be a mistake?

Their genuine interactions between him and Li Nanyan were undeniable. Not to mention, when they prayed together at the temple, their mutual admiration was genuine. And what about when Jin Yanli, moved by his feelings, took the initiative to kiss her in that lush peach blossom forest? Was that also a fabrication?

They had embraced, kissed, and even accidentally touched intimately, leaving the girl's innocence in tatters. Can all of that simply be dismissed with an "I mistook you for someone else"?

How ironic, he could have fallen for Li Nanyan, but because she wasn't the female lead, his affection was simply a case of mistaken identity; it didn't belong to her.

Nanyan mused to herself, perhaps he only truly loved the debt of gratitude he owed her. That was why he could so easily detach himself and turn to marry another.

At this point in time, Nanyan had entered the world right when their marriage was already in the works.

Half a month ago, Jin Yanli had personally invited the Duke's wife to propose marriage. They had officially become engaged three days prior, and in just three more months, they would consummate their union.

Ironically, it was precisely three days after their engagement that Jin Yanli sensed something amiss.

Initially, he thought that since they were already betrothed, bringing up the past wouldn't be inappropriate or offensive, and Nan Yan wouldn't have to hide it anymore.

However, when he mentioned the life-saving incident in the barn at the farm, his fiancée evaded the topic for a long while without giving a clear answer. Ultimately, she had no choice but to tug on his sleeve coquettishly, "Oh dear, let bygones be bygones. Our future is what truly matters. Aren't you with me because you like me?"

Jin Yanli's expression shifted slightly, but he concealed it well.

Having spent years in officialdom, he was skilled at reading between the lines. Thus, he probed further, seemingly nonchalant, "Yes, you're right. The past is indeed in the past."

"But if you hadn't secretly saved my life in that barn, I might not have survived. I could never forget such a kindness."

He couldn't resist caressing Li Nanyan's hair as he spoke, his smile still on his face, though his gaze had turned somewhat distant. "And do you remember the wound on my left chest? If not for your prompt treatment, Jin Yanli might not exist in this lifetime."

Li Nanyan naturally replied with a smile, but her expression was visibly uneasy.

Perhaps she truly wasn't skilled in deception, as she hadn't realized that her facade had already crumbled.

A chill ran through Jin Yanli's heart at that moment.

In truth, the arrow wound hadn't been on his left chest at all, but rather in his waist and abdomen. The difference in location was significant. It could be excused if she had mistaken due to the darkness and her anxiety at the time. However, she had secretly tended to his wounds every day after that. How could she have possibly misremembered such an obvious detail?

Jin Yanli now had no doubt at all.

Li Nanyan had clearly deceived him!

She had no knowledge of what had transpired in the storeroom back then.

This certainty was further solidified through his recent probing. Li Nanyan didn't even know the location of his wounds. How could she be the girl who had taken such meticulous care of him? Therefore, from beginning to end, she wasn't the savior he had been yearning for.

If his initial misidentification due to the jade pendant was his own mistake, why had she never refuted his assumption when he mentioned it afterward? Instead, she had even perpetuated the error, leading him to believe that she was that person?

Well... this... liar.

Jin Yanli couldn't conceal his irritation for a moment, and his disdain for the woman who pretended to be his savior intensified.

As for why Li Nanyan went along with the deception, it was naturally because she had genuinely fallen for the man who had shown her constant care and protection.

At first, she didn't understand why Lord Jin, the rumored cold and decisive figure who kept his distance from others, would always show her mercy, help her out of predicaments, smile at her, discipline arrogant young masters who crossed her path, and, most importantly, appear promptly to save her during times of crisis when her carriage encountered accidents...

How could she not be charmed by such an aloof man who showed indifference to all women except for her, softening his heart and favoring her alone?

After all, she was merely an inexperienced young lady from a prominent family, though the term "young lady" might be stretching it. Li Nanyan was well aware of her own worth.

She had no proficiency in music, chess, calligraphy, or poetry; she wasn't gentle or virtuous. In her idle moments, she enjoyed wandering around with her maidservants.

She loved listening to the noblewomen discussing trivial matters and gossip, shopping for cosmetics, powders, and exquisite accessories. Her favorite pastime was reading the new storybooks from Zhang's Book Pavilion. Exposed to many tales of love at first sight between talented scholars and beautiful maidens, she eagerly awaited such a scenario in her life.

Li Nanyan considered herself a beauty, and the seemingly brainless Miss Li had a peculiar confidence in herself. She believed that she and the handsome Jin Official were meant to be a match made in heaven.

However, as their interactions deepened, Li Nanyan gradually began to sense that something was amiss.

Though not the sharpest tool in the shed, she wasn't entirely foolish either. When Jin Yanli had subtly hinted that the jade pendant was intentionally left in the storeroom, coupled with the servants' chaotic complaints back then, she began to piece together the truth. It seemed that her half-sister, Li Qingruo, was the one who had saved him, while she had merely stumbled upon the pendant by coincidence. Thus, he mistakenly identified her as his savior.

Frustration outweighed jealousy in Li Nanyan's heart. Li Qingruo had actually been secretly harboring a lover within the manor, and this lover later became her betrothed!

As expected, Li Nanyan kept this matter hidden. To her, a life-saving debt didn't equate to genuine affection. After all, weren't they still together? Didn't he still claim to like her?

Rescue and admiration were two distinct emotions. Apparently, falling genuinely in love made one vulnerable to insecurity. Li Nanyan, once spoiled and prone to tantrums, started to temper her temper after developing feelings for Jin Yanli. She began trying to change for him.

Before him, she endeavors to embody the image of a gentle and virtuous woman, gradually transforming herself into the kind of person she believes he would admire. She always aspires to present her best self to the one she loves.

The more she falls for Jin Yanli, the more sensitive her temperament becomes. Especially when Li Qingruo appears before them, Li Nanyan transforms into a protective kitten, every hair on her body standing on end in alertness.

After all, she has suffered many subtle insults from this younger sister, who has cleverly ridiculed her on several occasions, leaving Li Nanyan clueless for quite some time.

Otherwise, the idle gossip about the elder Miss Li's empty beauty and lack of intelligence would not have spread so widely.

Now, she finally has a chance to redeem herself.

Li Nanyan was indeed pleased with herself, carefully showcasing their intimacy before others. She presented him with sachets, held his hand, whispered sweet nothings into his ear with blushing cheeks, and sometimes took advantage of her position without any scruples. She had a touch of vanity, and naturally, she relied on the influence of Jin Yanli, her high-ranking fiancé.

She would also speak ill of her stepsister in front of Jin Yanli, openly expressing her dislike for the girl and demanding that he not have any affection for her or engage in any interactions. Her spoiled and willful behavior was irresistible.

At first, Jin Yanli didn't understand the origin of her words, but he soon saw through her petty jealousy. Instead of being angered, he found Li Nanyan's possessiveness and liveliness amusing.

Everyone said she was empty-headed, but to him, she appeared innocent and kind. Even her gaze, when she stared at him, was just right, as if peering into his soul, melting his heart effortlessly.

However, all this joy and affection vanished abruptly when he discovered that she was not his savior.

Indeed...

Well, it was rather unreasonable.

But then again, there were plenty of unreasonable matters.

What surprised Nan Yan was that Jin Yanli, upon discovering that her savior was an actual impostor, didn't immediately expose her lie.

One could say he hadn't completely severed ties with her, but his attitude had indeed shifted, becoming somewhat distant.

Nanyan could fully comprehend his reasoning behind this decision. After all, their engagement had just been confirmed, and now the entire Yan Yun City's elite knew of their relationship. Suddenly breaking it off would undoubtedly invite gossip and even harm his reputation in the court.

Furthermore, Jin Yanli still had no idea who the true heroine, the girl who saved him, was.

However, the fact that the jade pendant was in her possession indicated that Li Nanyan knew the identity of that young lady. Therefore, he needed to extract the truth from her about the woman's real identity.

……

In the present moment, Nanyan was cornered by the man in his study, forcing her to lift her gaze and meet his eyes. This was Jin Yanli's study.

The reason Nanyan came here was that she sensed a certain coldness from her fiancé. Hearing from the maids who had gone out shopping that Lord Jin was resting at home due to a cold, Li Nanyan, who had been eagerly anticipating a meeting with her fiancé, couldn't sit still any longer. Accompanied by two young maidservants, she eagerly rushed to the Jin residence, just as she had done before.

In theory, since the two had just become betrothed, they were not supposed to meet before the wedding. However, the people of the Great Li Dynasty were open-minded, and the boundaries between men and women were not strictly enforced. As long as both parties exercised self-restraint and upheld propriety, certain matters could be overlooked without causing too much fuss.

Yet, something about this person before me seems off, doesn't it?

South Yan lifted her gaze to the man before her. Sir Jin was born with a pair of aloof and dignified phoenix eyes, his long eyebrows slightly furrowed, and his thin lips barely parted, revealing a faint line of blood between them.

Perhaps from spending too much time in the court, his gaze carried an indifferent air of authority when observing others, like a tranquil and unfathomable pool without a ripple. His deep, serene eyes betrayed no emotion, and when he looked at someone expressionlessly, the subtle yet overwhelming aura was almost unbearable to withstand.

Especially under such a gaze, Nan Yan couldn't help but turn away, feeling rather embarrassed.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, considering their current relationship and the person's increasingly distant demeanor lately. Her heart filled with even more resentment.

"What's been going on with you lately? You either ignore me or can't take your eyes off me when I'm around. You said you weren't feeling well, so why aren't you taking it easy?"

Nan Yan let out a soft huff, an endearing complaint lacing her tone.

Jin Yanli, on the other hand, recalled the truth he had only recently discovered and the three instances of deception from the other party. A chill ran through his heart, and his gaze subtly swept over the woman before him from head to toe. The more he looked, the more something felt amiss.

He should have sensed it long ago...

Though his vision had been impaired then, his intuition was infallible. The maiden who had saved him was gentle and reserved, her every action meticulous and cautious. Though she hadn't conversed much with him, her demeanor exuded the elegance and refinement of a well-bred lady, which was entirely distinct from this petulant, vacuous woman before him.

How ridiculous! How could he have ever mistaken her for the one who rescued him? There wasn't a single similarity between them, from head to toe.

And now, she was still deceiving him.

Jin Yanli's gaze remained fixed on Nanyan's face. He had expected her to show some guilt, but perhaps he had overestimated her intelligence. To his surprise, as he stared at her, the woman's cheeks gradually flushed, a rosy glow suffusing her fair complexion, as if veiled by a delicate blush. Her eyes, shimmering with moisture, met his in return.

"What's gotten into you today? W-Why are you looking at me like that? Did someone else upset you?"

Upon hearing her words, Jin Yanli across from her didn't seem to react as he instead asked with a hint of ambiguity, "You're right. If someone were to deceive me, what should be done?"

Nan Yan blinked her eyes and replied without hesitation, "Of course, punish them." Only then did she realize what she had said and hesitantly asked, "Is something wrong? Did someone deceive you? Who was it?"

Jin Yanli glanced down at her but didn't answer her question. Instead, he nonchalantly asked, "What do you think the punishment should be for her?"

Nan Yan felt tired from speaking in this position, as he was too tall and standing too close. It was uncomfortable for her to keep looking up, so she turned her face slightly, her gaze landing on his sleeve. Her little finger couldn't help but twitch, eventually looping around it and finally entwining. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she said, "Anyway, when punishing someone, one should target what's most important to them, just like how Father usually punishes me by withholding my monthly allowance. It's barely enough as it is, and with more punishments, I wouldn't even have enough to buy snacks."

As soon as she finished speaking, the sleeve in her hand was pulled away.

Jin Yanli sneered and then asked her, "Has Yan Yan ever hidden anything from me?"

At the sudden question, Nan Yan's face paled, but she quickly regained her composure. She bit her lip, her gaze wandering with uncertainty, her voice hesitant as she replied,

"Well...no..."

Upon hearing this, Jin Yanli's expression grew even more indifferent. "You're really saying there's nothing you've kept from me?"

Nan Yan huffed softly. Twisting her handkerchief tightly in her fingers, she stole glances at him from the corner of her eye. When he caught her gaze, she shifted uncomfortably and her voice drifted away, "Actually, when you first approached me, I thought you were rather effeminate, lacking any manly charisma..."

Jin Yanli: "..."

A moment of silence settled within the room.

For once, the usually stern and ungrateful Mister Jin found himself at a loss for words.

Following that, you hear the person across from you, hunched over, continue speaking.

"I've read in novels that men like you often have their quirks. Later, I also heard quite a bit about you from some close friends..."

"They claim Lord Jin abstains from women due to some secretive proclivities, so they've spread rumors about you among the noble ladies, alleging your inability to perform and even that you have a penchant for... other men."

The speaker's words grew increasingly outrageous, pushing Jin Yanli beyond endurance. He drew a deep breath and firmly pressed the woman in front of him against the window frame behind her. "Enough! Weren't you clear on my capabilities that day? What 'strange habits'? What nonsense novels have you been reading lately? Is it acceptable to spread such idle gossip?"

He was referring to their encounter in the peach blossom forest, when their passion had escalated to a point where natural reactions had occurred between them.

Lord Jin, known for his composure and unwavering demeanor, was now seething with anger. He had forgotten his previous words and only wished to delve into her mind to see what sort of absurdities she harbored. How could these noble ladies engage in such baseless gossip?

Yet, the woman before him maintained her wide, dewy eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed as she looked at him. "Did someone spread rumors to you? I'm sorry; I didn't know before. Should I go and clarify with them?"

She attempted to rise, eager to escape the conflict, but the person in front of her tugged firmly, pulling her into his embrace.

Jin Yanli's forehead twitched twice, inexplicably feeling a sense of exhaustion. He looked down at her and asked, "How do you plan to explain this situation? Moreover, what good will it do to explain to them? Li Nanyan, do you still care about your reputation?"

It seemed that Nanyan was finally realizing the situation. Blushing, she laid against his chest, blinked twice, then adopted an innocent expression. "Can I just not say anything?"

Jin Yanli sighed in relief. For some reason, perhaps due to their betrothal, she no longer held back or restrained herself in front of him as before. Instead, she was increasingly revealing her true nature.

Gazing at the captivating face nestled against his chest, Nanyan lay obediently in his arms. Her jet-black tresses cascaded over her shoulders, and her skin held a faint blush, resembling a freshly blossomed crabapple flower - vivid, delicate, and tantalizingly beautiful.

Jin Yanli is an ordinary man, and he would view the woman before him through the eyes of one. In the past, he had abstained from women because he had never encountered one who stirred his heart. Then, after finally meeting someone who did, she turned out to be an imposter.

At this moment, Jin Yanli's emotions were somewhat complicated. He was unsure what feelings he had towards this person in front of him. Intellectually, he knew it should be disdain, but there was also an indescribable desire simmering in his heart.

"Jin... Yanli..."

Nan Yan's voice was soft, tinged with nervousness. Blushing, she looked at him, observing the complexity in his gaze before shifting her eyes away uneasily. She then gently tapped her two fingers together. "Why are you staring at me like that? Could it be... you're thinking about it again?"

Hearing this, Jin Yanli was genuinely perplexed for a moment. "Thinking about what again?"

What else could it be? She pondered.

Nanyan pursed her lips, an expression of both hesitation and determination on her face. Gazing at the person before her, she seemed to make a decision, turning around to slip out of his embrace. With a sudden movement, she pushed him against the window sill, pouting as she leaned in for an impetuous kiss.

This unexpected action left Jin Yanli stunned, unable to react in time. He didn't struggle, finding himself pressed against the windowsill, feeling a slight ache on his lips. All his anger vanished instantly.

Outside, the servant, hearing the commotion, looked up just in time to witness Miss Li pinning their master against the window, kissing him into a daze. The sight left him utterly astonished!

So it turned out that their master was actually...

The one down there?

So the young lady of the Li family was this fierce?

Nan Yan also blushed after the kiss. Her lips were rosy, and her eyes glistened. Especially when she saw Jin Yanli still staring at her, a bewildered expression appeared on her face as if she was saying, "We've already kissed, why aren't you satisfied?"

"Why are you... still looking at me like that?"

Upon hearing the question, Jin Yanli quickly suppressed his emotions and said directly, "What's the matter? Aren't you already my fiancée? Is it wrong for me to look at you?"

Ha, such insincerity. Nice words, but who knows what he really thinks?