Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Everyone adores you, but I alone cannot.

Luo Wanqing was taken aback when she heard Xie Heng’s words, then quickly realized what she had forgotten.

Xie Heng seemed to be waiting for her. Then she remembered that he had told her to come back for dinner later today.

Recalling this, Luo Wanqing felt a bit guilty, but remembering the urgency of her task, she immediately said respectfully, "Young Master, today I discovered..."

"Xuanshan."

Xie Heng interrupted her, and Xuanshan, upon hearing his name, entered from outside the door and bowed respectfully, "Young Master."

"Prepare the meal."

Upon hearing this, Xuanshan left to make preparations. Xie Heng then looked at Luo Wanqing calmly and said, "It's cold outside; come in first."

With this interruption, Luo Wanqing lost some of her initial excitement. Seeing that Xie Heng wasn’t in a hurry, she calmed down as well, knowing that he didn’t want to discuss official matters right now. She quietly stepped into the room and knelt beside Xie Heng. He continued writing without speaking, and the only sound in the room was the scratching of the brush pen. After a moment, Xuanshan brought in the food and placed it on the table.

Then Xuanshan stood up and retreated outside the courtyard.

"Let's eat first."

Smelling the food, Xie Heng put down his pen and sat down at the table with Luo Wanqing.

The food was clearly prepared earlier and just reheated. Luo Wanqing glanced at Xie Heng and tentatively asked, "Young Master, were you waiting until now?"

"Was Xiniang busy all day?"

Xie Heng did not answer but instead asked her.

Sensing his displeasure, Luo Wanqing dared not say more and gave an ambiguous response.

Seeing her unease, Xie Heng paused for a moment, then deliberately relaxed and sought a topic that would elicit a response from her: "What clues did Xiniang find today after being busy all day?"

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but look at Xie Heng again.

She knew Xie Heng must be angry. Anyone who waits all day for someone to have dinner would be angry, especially someone with his temper. He was known for his bad temper, something she had noticed even during Cui Heng’s time, and Xie Heng was even more notorious for it.

Yet, not only was he not blaming her, but he was also making an effort to engage her in conversation. Not understanding why, she decided to get straight to the point and said, "Today, I found another character and can roughly guess what these three characters are."

As she spoke, she explained how she made her discovery and her conjectures, but she did not mention why she suddenly went to search for the cloth strips on the tree.

Xie Heng listened silently. When she finished, he asked, "So, what are these three characters?"

Luo Wanqing replied, "I think they are Jia, Xin, and Gui."

Xie Heng nodded, seemingly unsurprised, and asked, "And what order do you think they should be in?"

This question made Luo Wanqing pause. After a moment of hesitation, she thought aloud, "I want to try them in chronological order."

"Jia Xin Gui?"

Xie Heng understood her intention, and Luo Wanqing nodded. But before she could suggest trying it, Xie Heng shook his head, "No."

"How do you know?"

Luo Wanqing was surprised. Xie Heng smiled and said, "I tried it."

"You tried it?" Luo Wanqing exclaimed, "When? When did you find out?"

"Today when I returned," Xie Heng said, picking up a cup of tea and sipping slowly, "The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches not only represent time but also direction and the Five Elements. You’re not adept at formations, so you might not have been sensitive to these nuances. Otherwise, you should have realized when you saw the ‘Xin’ character today that Xin corresponds to the eighth day and is associated with the west and metal."

At the mention of direction, Luo Wanqing immediately understood: "Ming Cuilou is in the west, so it actually uses both direction and time to determine a character."

"Exactly. And Yue Lao Temple is in the east, on the first day, which corresponds to Jia. Kaiyuan Gambling House is in the north, on the tenth day, corresponding to Gui. The answers are clear, so I specifically came back to test it."

"Then why didn’t you tell me, Young Master?"

Thinking about all her hard work, Luo Wanqing felt a bit frustrated. "If you had told me..."

"This key is incorrect," Xie Heng looked at her patiently and explained, "We need new clues to determine if the characters or the order is wrong."

Luo Wanqing understood. Xie Heng had already guessed but was uncertain. If the attempt had succeeded, he would have notified her to stop. Since it failed, he didn’t interfere, allowing her to continue searching for new clues or ideas.

The Xuantian Box has only three chances to try, and they had already used one. Every remaining chance needed to be cherished.

Thinking about only having two chances left, Luo Wanqing felt a slight heaviness in her heart.

Seeing her worry, Xie Heng gently consoled her, "But don’t worry too much. If we can’t open it, it doesn’t matter. Since I learned it was a Xuantian Box, I’ve already had someone start replicating it. If we can’t manage, we’ll use a fake one."

Luo Wanqing, hearing him speak so casually, couldn’t help but say, "But what if His Majesty finds out..."

"Didn’t this thing pass through Ji Ruifang’s hands?" Xie Heng spoke confidently, clearly having prepared an explanation, "I will help His Majesty uncover who is behind Ji Ruifang and recover the real Xuantian Box."

Luo Wanqing was momentarily stunned by Xie Heng’s ability to muddy the waters.

Ji Ruifang hadn’t touched the item, but since it had passed through Ji Rui Palace, she could no longer explain herself clearly.

Even so, Li Zong might still not trust Xie Heng and would always harbor suspicions about his words.

But with a backup plan in place, Luo Wanqing felt relieved, and her fatigue suddenly washed over her.

They sat in silence. After a long while, Xie Heng suddenly asked, "Why did you suddenly decide to search for the cloth strips on the tree?"

Luo Wanqing didn’t expect Xie Heng to ask this, but she didn’t plan to hide it either. She spoke honestly: "I had a ribbon tied with Li Guiyu’s there before, and today I couldn’t find it. I found it rather strange."

Xie Heng said nothing, only turning his head to look out the window at the bare branches. He lifted his teacup and took another sip.

Seeing that he remained silent even after hearing ‘Li Guiyu,’ Luo Wanqing felt increasingly uneasy. She cautiously asked, "Young Master, are you angry?"

Xie Heng turned his head, letting out a light laugh. "Why would I be?"

He softened his voice. "It’s all in the past. I don’t mind. Let’s eat."

Luo Wanqing saw no change in his expression and finally relaxed, starting to eat seriously.

Xie Heng seemed to have finished eating, but perhaps to keep her company, he continued to pick at some dishes.

The two ate quietly. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but glance at him across the table, feeling a warmth slowly envelop her.

She suddenly realized how little she truly desired.

Someone waiting for her to come home, someone to eat with her, and this person wasn’t like Cui Heng, whom she couldn’t quite grasp. She knew his name, his identity, that he would get upset if she came home late, and that he would wait for her.

This small, genuine warmth was enough to overwhelm her.

After they finished eating, Luo Wanqing had just put down her chopsticks when she heard Xie Heng say, "Do you want to wash up?"

Luo Wanqing nodded in confusion, not quite understanding what Xie Heng meant. Then she heard him take a sip of tea and continue, "There’s a hot spring in the secret room below. It’s inconvenient to call for water now, so you can use that."

Luo Wanqing was taken aback by this. Xie Heng lowered his gaze and said, "Your room wasn’t prepared with charcoal fire. After bathing, it might be cold at night, so you can stay here."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing fell silent, her mind somewhat muddled.

Seeing her silence, Xie Heng took it as consent. He got up, went to the wardrobe, took out clothes and a towel, and handed them to Luo Wanqing. "Go ahead."

Luo Wanqing, unable to think clearly, nodded calmly and took the clothes, heading towards the secret room.

She remembered how to enter the secret room and followed the sequence from earlier, descending down the dark staircase.

Not knowing where the candles were and too lazy to light them, she followed the sound of water, moving in the direction she remembered.

The bath was not deep, filled with flowing hot spring water. The gentle sound of water echoed in the quiet darkness, making the room seem vast.

Beside the bath were fragrant tablets, carrying the scent of pine that always lingered on Xie Heng.

Cui Heng often used bamboo fragrance, while Xie Heng preferred the deeper scent of pine. These two scents weren’t contradictory; switching between them wouldn’t feel abrupt. She hadn’t noticed before, but now she realized how meticulous Xie Heng was, even considering such details whenever he met her.

The soothing scent of pine enveloped her nose. Whether due to the water temperature or something else, she finally noticed her heartbeat quickening.

Steam rose to her face as most of her body submerged in the water. In this quiet moment, she finally had time to reflect on everything that happened today.

This was the second day since Xie Heng woke up.

The second day she faced him.

For Xie Heng, everything felt natural because his eyes had always been on Luo Wanqing.

But for Luo Wanqing, he seemed like a new, yet familiar stranger.

If it were Cui Heng, waiting for her, eating with her, and letting her bathe wouldn’t feel strange. But thinking of it being Xie Heng gave her a subtle sense of unfamiliarity.

This unfamiliarity made her feel both fresh and uneasy, even finding it difficult to face him.

She began to wonder why he wanted her to stay overnight.

Thinking about what he might do, she recalled that night in the cave.

That night, the pain and pleasure intertwined, reaching an intense climax. The memory made Luo Wanqing tense.

She couldn’t pinpoint the source of her tension, but instinctively felt a mix of desire and resistance.

She washed herself, lost in thought, until she heard Xie Heng’s concerned voice from above: "Xiniang?"

Realizing she had been washing for too long, she quickly responded, "I’m fine."

He acknowledged her response and didn’t ask further.

Luo Wanqing finished washing quickly, dried herself in the dark, and changed into the clothes Xie Heng had given her.

Once dressed, she realized these weren’t her clothes but Xie Heng’s. They were loose, and she had to fold them several times to fit her properly. She then climbed the stairs and left the secret room.

Upon exiting, the sudden brightness made her eyes adjust for a moment. As she stood there, the light gradually revealed Xie Heng’s figure.

He seemed to have just bathed as well, his hair loosely draped, still damp. The dining table had been cleared, indicating Xuanshan must have visited, assuming she had already retired to her room.

Luo Wanqing felt a twinge of guilt and stood there uneasily. Xie Heng glanced at her briefly and then turned around, saying, "Come over, let me dry your hair."

Luo Wanqing walked stiffly to sit in front of Xie Heng. He stood behind her, taking a towel to dry her hair.

He was very close, and perhaps due to the largeness of his clothes, every inch of her skin became hypersensitive. She felt his warmth and the drops of water sliding down her neck and onto her clothes.

This created a sense of intimate secrecy, making her feel slightly hot.

She didn’t dare look up, only feeling Xie Heng’s long fingers combing through her wet hair. She looked down, wishing her hair would dry faster so she could leave this strange atmosphere.

But the room grew warmer, leaving her feeling increasingly parched and hot.

After a while, she couldn’t bear it anymore and finally spoke, "Young Master."

When she spoke, she realized that perhaps because of her prolonged silence, her voice had become hoarse.

Xie Heng paused in the act of drying her hair, seemingly stopping to listen to her words.

Luo Wanqing lowered her head, feeling her face heat up, and softly said, "The room is a bit warm. Could you open a window?"

Xie Heng's throat moved slightly as he listened to her, pretending to remain calm as he continued drying her hair. In a hoarse voice, he reminded her, "The window is already open."

This realization left Luo Wanqing momentarily stunned before she understood what she had said, causing her some embarrassment. She prayed Xie Heng wouldn't notice her awkwardness.

Xie Heng didn’t dare to think too much either, fearing he might misunderstand Luo Wanqing’s intentions. He assumed it was simply due to the warmth from the charcoal fire.

They silently finished drying her hair. Then, Xie Heng got up and stepped back, turning to Luo Wanqing and saying, "Go lie down on the bed."

As he spoke, he went to extinguish one of the charcoal basins.

Luo Wanqing watched him for a moment before looking away and walking to the edge of Xie Heng's bed. She drew back the bed curtains and lay down on the inside.

Born into a noble family, Xie Heng usually slept on the inside when sharing a bed with a woman, to make it easier for her to serve him. However, when she was with Cui Heng, she always slept on the inside. Now, with Xie Heng, she felt no discomfort.

After extinguishing the charcoal and turning off the light, Xie Heng returned and saw Luo Wanqing lying perfectly still on the inside.

She lay straight, muscles tense, hands placed neatly over her navel, resembling a well-behaved student before a teacher.

Xie Heng couldn't help but smile, taking off his shoes and getting into bed. He took a quilt and covered her, leaning over to look at her in the darkness, softly asking, "What are you nervous about?"

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare to speak, only feeling the tickle of Xie Heng's hair against her skin.

Seeing her reluctance to speak, Xie Heng found her particularly endearing. He wanted to pinch her cheek but feared the consequences, so he pressed the quilt tighter around her and gently said, "Let's sleep."

With that, Xie Heng lay down beside her.

Luo Wanqing felt Xie Heng beside her and couldn’t help but glance over.

He had prepared only one quilt for himself, which he now gave entirely to her. He lay curled up next to her, only touching her shoulder with his forehead, keeping the rest of his body far away.

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Wanqing moved closer to him, lifting half the quilt to cover him. Seeing his puzzled expression, she feigned calmness and said, "It's cold at night. If I cause Young Master any discomfort, I should leave."

The quilt carried her scent and warmth. Hearing her words and seeing the slightly embarrassed girl facing him, Xie Heng could only say, "If Si Shi says so, how can I refuse? But sharing a quilt with Si Shi," he couldn't help lowering his voice, teasingly adding, "I fear I might turn into a bad person."

Luo Wanqing responded with a low, "Mm."

This simple permission made Xie Heng stiffen; the suppressed thoughts surged uncontrollably. He stared at her, unconsciously tightening his grip on the quilt.

Feeling his gaze, Luo Wanqing also grew tense, noticing the change in his breathing. She prepared herself, but after a long while, she only heard Xie Heng softly laugh, his fingertips brushing her cheek, leaving a tingling sensation. He then pressed the quilt tightly around her, whispering, "Sleep well."

He turned away and lay down.

Luo Wanqing was stunned, taking a while to realize that Xie Heng truly intended to just share the bed with her. His promise from the previous night—to talk and be together—had not been a lie.

Yet, the gentle touch lingered on her skin, stirring her heart and making her restless.

She dared not look at Xie Heng again, instead turning her back to him and reciting the calming sutra he had taught her.

But the more she recited, the more agitated she became. Though exhausted, she couldn’t fall asleep.

Unable to sleep, Xie Heng was clearly struggling too.

Hearing his restrained breathing, she knew he hadn’t fallen asleep either.

After a long while, Luo Wanqing finally decided to break the tension, pretending to do so unintentionally, and lightly touched Xie Heng's calf with her toes.

The touch of her toenails and the smoothness of her foot made Xie Heng shudder. Luo Wanqing, too nervous to speak, waited for a response, but none came.

Confirming Xie Heng’s lack of interest, Luo Wanqing finally relaxed, her mind clearing, and fell into a shallow sleep.

But this sleep was barely sleep at all, a hazy state between waking and sleeping.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Luo Wanqing felt Xie Heng move closer to her.

His breath brushed against her neck, heavy and warm. Exhausted and sleepy, she ignored his actions and continued her shallow slumber. Soon, she felt Xie Heng reach out to her, hesitantly and with increasingly heavy breathing, touching her.

Luo Wanqing woke almost instantly but didn’t know how to react.

Xie Heng’s movements were gentle, assuming she was asleep and trying not to wake her. Listening to the rustling behind her, she vaguely understood what he was doing but didn’t dare to guess further.

She remained still, feeling the darkness heighten her senses. With closed eyes and controlled breathing, she pretended to know nothing.

People often push their luck, and Xie Heng was no exception.

Seeing no reaction, he grew bolder.

After everything ended, Xie Heng buried his face in her neck. After a long while, he whispered, "When did you wake up?"

Luo Wanqing didn’t want to answer, pretending not to hear.

Seeing her silence, Xie Heng assumed she was displeased and hesitated before saying, "I'm sorry."

Luo Wanqing was taken aback, hearing him softly say, "I didn't mean to disturb you, but you..."

"Enough!"

Realizing what he was about to say, she quickly interrupted, "I need to wash up, Young Master. You..."

Luo Wanqing found it hard to continue. Xie Heng didn’t move, so she gently pushed him, "Young Master?"

Xie Heng chuckled softly, his chest vibrating against hers, infecting her with his amusement. Luo Wanqing sensed his good mood and relaxed, feeling his hand grasp hers as he slowly sat up, looking down at her.

Drenched in sweat, he exuded a damp warmth, his clothes half-opened, and his eyes slightly red, revealing a side of him she rarely saw.

"I'll rest for a bit longer."

Xie Heng spoke softly, reassuring her, "I've taken the medicine."

These words stunned Luo Wanqing, and she finally realized that Xie Heng had been taking contraceptive pills earlier.

Contraceptive pills for men indeed did not cause much harm, but prolonged use could lead to infertility.

Realizing this, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but say, "Young Master, you shouldn't..."

"Shh."

Xie Heng lowered his head, placing a finger on Luo Wanqing's lips gently, "Don't say such discouraging things. Now, tell me," he looked at her seriously, "how do I compare to Cui Guanlan this time?"

Luo Wanqing was taken aback by these words, then quickly understood that he was responding to her deliberate provocation in the cave last time.

Feeling embarrassed, she turned her head away, unable to respond. But Xie Heng persisted, "Did it hurt? When did you wake up? Why didn't you make a sound? Is there anything I can improve..."

"Stop talking!"

Luo Wanqing, unable to bear it any longer, blushed and said, "I'm going to sleep now."

Xie Heng understood her response and chuckled, pulling back. Luo Wanqing immediately got out of bed, intending to go to the secret room, when Xie Heng said, "This room also has running water; I was just worried it would be inconvenient for you."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing quickly went to the bathroom in the room.

Xie Heng remained quiet, not saying more. After they took turns cleaning up and returned to bed, it was already past dawn.

After bathing again, Xie Heng held no reservations, embracing her as soon as he got into bed and whispering, "Sleep now."

Luo Wanqing listened to his voice and, thinking about the time, couldn't help asking, "When does Young Master usually get up?"

"When I'm asleep, no one dares to knock on the door."

Luo Wanqing immediately understood what he meant and gently patted his back, saying warmly, "Sleep well."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt reassured. Lying in Xie Heng's arms, despite being extremely tired, she still couldn't resist asking the question that had been on her mind all night: "Why must you wait until we're sleeping to... bother?"

Xie Heng didn't answer, and Luo Wanqing, struggling to keep her eyes open, looked up at him from his embrace, "Young Master?"

Xie Heng was speechless for a moment, then finally admitted, "I hoped you would understand that even just seeing you, talking to you, lying in the same bed, makes me very happy."

His eyelashes fluttered slightly as he added, somewhat awkwardly, "Considering our relationship is just beginning, I feel presumptuous."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but want to laugh.

Initially, she had felt awkward and nervous, but seeing Xie Heng like this made her suddenly feel more relaxed.

She turned over to look at the canopy, lying next to Xie Heng, feeling more composed and mature. She gently advised, "Actually, Young Master needn't overthink it. The balance of yin and yang is natural and righteous. I've studied medicine since childhood and don't place much importance on propriety within the Supervision Division. You should just follow your heart."

"In the past, I thought so too." Xie Heng, lying on his side and looking at her with his usually cold eyes now filled with warmth, continued, "Xiniang, in terms of following one's heart, I should be more familiar with it than you. Yet, with you, I can't bring myself to do so."

Luo Wanqing turned to look at him, puzzled. Xie Heng smiled, "I always want Xiniang to see my best self."

"Actually, it's not necessary." Luo Wanqing hadn't expected this from Xie Heng. After a moment's thought, she advised, "No one is perfect. When you love someone, even their flaws become endearing."

Xie Heng didn't respond, only smiling at her.

Luo Wanqing turned to face him, "You don't believe me?"

Xie Heng didn't answer directly. After a moment's reflection, he whispered, "Perhaps you're right, but I still hope Xiniang sees only my best side. I want Xiniang to love me," he looked at her earnestly, "as she loved Cui Guanlan."

These words stunned Luo Wanqing. Xie Heng's gaze held an expectation that she couldn't quite understand. Why did he seem to treat Cui Heng as another person, wanting her to love him as she loved Cui Heng?

But as she thought about it, she suddenly realized the underlying disdain and insecurity in Xie Heng.

In the past, when he was Cui Heng, she hadn't noticed, but now, recalling Cui Heng's evaluation of Xie Heng and how Xie Heng repeatedly sought her acceptance, she understood the source of today's strangeness.

Why could Xie Heng wait for her all day and still be so gentle?

Why could he endure his anger and still be patient?

Why could he desire so much yet let go?

Because he wanted to maintain his best appearance before her, just as Cui Heng had done.

So he suppressed all his negative emotions, hiding his pain, presenting only his best self to her.

Cui Heng was both his reality and his facade. He built Cui Heng's existence with all his virtues, and when the lie crumbled, he was more unsettled than she had imagined.

Silence enveloped them in the darkness. Seeing Luo Wanqing's lack of response, Xie Heng grew tense.

He chuckled lightly to ease the awkwardness, turning to lie flat and closing his eyes, "Alright, let's sleep."

Luo Wanqing didn't speak, silently staring at the mosquito netting. She couldn't help but wonder:

If Xie Heng kept all his true feelings hidden from her, what was he really thinking?

Would he also feel sad and anxious in their relationship?

Since realizing his true identity, she often doubted what she meant to Xie Heng.

He treated her well, with his attention, care, gifts, and assistance. She remembered every detail, and while she was grateful, upon realizing it was Xie Heng, she couldn't help but think that these things came too easily for him.

Even saving her and guiding the mother-child gu, she couldn't be sure if it was because he loved her or simply due to his decisive nature, something he would do for anyone important.

Yet, in the moment she saw his restraint and caution, she realized how far she was from truly understanding him.

She was merely imagining a version of Xie Heng, assuming he was invincible and in control, which made her feel resentful when acknowledging her love for him.

She couldn't get the fairness she desired, yet she couldn't help but pity and love him.

But could it be that he truly controlled everything, leaving her as the only one feeling uneasy in this relationship?

Luo Wanqing lay there lost in thought for a long time before suddenly coming up with a possibility: "So... the red thread of fate between me and Li Guiyu, did you tie it?"

Xie Heng stiffened upon hearing this. Luo Wanqing, deep in thought, raised her hand to pull out the marriage token from her chest, observing it under the night sky.

"That red thread was newly tied by me and him last year," Luo Wanqing recalled. Xie Heng's expression turned slightly colder as he glanced at her indifferently, listening to her conjecture, "If not for someone with ulterior motives, who would hide it away? When I mentioned the red thread today, your reaction was perfectly normal. Given your petty nature, there should have been some reaction. And you've been to the Yue Lao Temple..."

Luo Wanqing deduced, turning to look at Xie Heng, having already reached a conclusion, somewhat puzzled: "Since you saw it, why hide it instead of destroying it directly?"

Xie Heng couldn't speak. He instinctively wanted to cover it up, but seeing Luo Wanqing's clear and moist eyes, he couldn't bring himself to lie.

He had deceived her many times before; he knew she cared about it and couldn't deceive her again.

Xie Heng restrained his urge to lie and cover up. Turning his head away, he no longer pretended and said calmly, "After all, it's something between you and him. No matter how much I dislike it, I have no right to destroy it arbitrarily. Let it hang there; after all, the past is the past, and destroying a red thread won't change anything."

"Then why hide it?"

Luo Wanqing found this strange. Xie Heng felt awkward being questioned but knew Luo Wanqing's character, so he coldly replied, "If I can't destroy it and don't like looking at it, can't I hide it?"

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but want to laugh, but she didn't dare to do so in front of Xie Heng. She looked at him, softened her voice, and continued asking, "Is there anything else that has upset or angered you that you haven't told me?"

Xie Heng remained silent. Luo Wanqing thought carefully and asked, "Did you get angry when I suspected you of poisoning Zhang Yiran today?"

Xie Heng hadn't expected Luo Wanqing to remember this. He looked at her, and she continued, "Today, you actually wanted to find an excuse to stay with me a little longer, but I chased you away. Did that make you angry too?"

Xie Heng's throat moved slightly, and he spoke dryly, "Xiniang, actually..."

"And when I came back late and forgot what you said, you must have been angry as well."

Luo Wanqing recalled, looking at Xie Heng. "Is there anything else that has upset you? Tell me."

Xie Heng was silent, knowing he shouldn't say anything.

She liked Cui Heng, people like Zhang Yiran.

He should be gentle, generous, humble, bright, and kind, always thinking of her. Only such a Xie Heng might win her affection.

Don't believe her when she says she loves him genuinely. People are like this; they think they can do it but actually can't.

He had seen too many people and understood human nature too well.

But at this moment, when she gently asked him, "Is there anything else that has upset you?" he couldn't help but want to try.

He lifted his gaze to look at the woman in front of him and finally said, "Actually, these are all minor things."

Luo Wanqing waited for him to continue, watching him raise his hand to touch her face softly, saying, "Xiniang, meeting you has made me feel incredibly fortunate. So these minor things, I haven't truly taken them to heart. The only thing that truly upsets me is one thing."

With that, Xie Heng raised his hand to lightly brush the marriage token around her neck.

"In this world, everyone can have a connection with you. They can hang their names alongside yours on the tree of fate, set a wedding date, and announce it to the world," Xie Heng paused, his voice slightly hoarse after a while, "Only Xie Heng cannot."

---

**Side Story**

Xie Heng: "Xiniang, meeting you has made me feel incredibly fortunate. So these minor things, I haven't truly taken them to heart."

Zhang Yiran: "If you didn't take them to heart, why do you always argue with me?"

Li Guiyu: "If you didn't take them to heart, why did you hide my red thread?"

Cui Heng: "If you didn't take them to heart, why do you always threaten to throw me into the water?"

Xie Heng: "I really haven't taken them to heart. If I took them to heart, I would have killed all of you. Hiding the red thread? I would burn down the entire tree!"