Chapter Twelve: Becoming My Person

Chapter Twelve: Becoming My Person

Back in our youth, we wore light spring coats, rode horses by the slanted bridge, and watched red sleeves wave from the upper floors.

Are all hunters like this now?

Or is Changxi Village a hidden treasure trove of extraordinary people?

Lu Mingchao felt like two little figures were fighting in her mind. One, with a big question mark on its small face, was asking if this was reasonable. The other, with hands on hips and chest puffed out, answered that existence is reasonable.

I feel guilty.

I should have known better.

I shouldn't have used such frivolous words as keeping a young court companion.

To be honest, my thoughts might be a little dangerous.

How can it be called fickleness when it comes to marriage engagements? It's called careful consideration.

While Lu Mingchao thought she was subtly and inconspicuously observing Xie Yan, Xie Yan also saw the lovely young girl under the lamp.

She had fair skin and delicate features, with intelligent eyes that sparkled with wisdom. A soft yellow silk flower adorned her hair, and her gaze, though worldly, remained pure—almost as if she didn’t quite belong in the refined world of the Yongning Marquis estate.

Xie Yan was not a libertine; he quickly averted his gaze.

Yunniang: "Should we proceed with the engagement or call it off? Is this match appropriate or not?"

"Xie Yan, thank you for coming out on such a cold day. We’d like to hear your thoughts on the engagement and discuss it calmly between our families." Yunniang pinched her brows, a sense of unease making her throat tight.

Lu Miao's actions had made them unable to face Xie Yan.

Xie Yan's brows furrowed slightly, and he could vaguely guess the Lu family's intentions. His ink-like eyes were like rolling dark clouds on the horizon.

"If it's about breaking the engagement, I agree."

He wasn't someone without self-awareness, nor did he have a penchant for dragging a moon from the clouds into the mud.

A girl raised in a life of splendor had a graceful demeanor, something he couldn't match at present.

Originally, the marriage with the Lu family was only agreed upon out of necessity. With Lu Miao gone, it would be best to take this opportunity to end things smoothly.

The mention of Lu Miao darkened Xie Yan’s mood, his expression growing somber.

Yunniang: ...

How did we jump straight to breaking the engagement without even talking?

"Aunt, if you're worried about the betrothal gifts, there's no rush." Noticing the Lu family’s discomfort and recalling Lu Miao’s typical behavior, Xie Yan understood the situation.

Yunniang's inquiring gaze turned towards Lu Mingchao.

Should they proceed with the engagement or call it off?

"Mother, may I speak with Young Master Xie alone?" After some thought, Lu Mingchao finally spoke up.

Xie Yan's brows furrowed slightly, seemingly puzzled.

Seeing that Xie Yan had no objections, Yunniang nodded at Lu Mingchao.

People came and went, stirring the air and causing the small flame to flicker, shifting between light and dark.

Lu Mingchao looked up at Xie Yan, her eyebrows elegantly raised. "Lu Mingchao. My name is Lu Mingchao."

Her voice was firm and clear, graceful and composed, without a trace of awkwardness or shyness.

In essence, this was a meeting to assess each other.

Xie Yan looked down at Lu Mingchao, lowering his eyelashes and offering a polite smile. "Xie Yan."

"Would you mind if I took her place in the marriage?" Lu Mingchao asked directly.

Xie Yan was startled, a flicker of astonishment crossing his otherwise impassive face.

This question caught him off guard.

"You..."

"Would you be willing to marry me?" Xie Yan pressed his lips together, a rare flustered look in his eyes.

Lu Mingchao chuckled, her expression both delicate and composed. "I'm thinking about it."

"I just didn't expect you to firmly propose breaking off the engagement."

Lu Mingchao, who never dwelled on internal conflicts, saw no need for hesitation now that she had initiated a conversation with Xie Yan. His appearance was very appealing to her. Now, it was Xie Yan's character that remained to be seen.

"You might not know, but I have two boys and a girl. I have no land, no proper occupation, and no steady income. I'm not a suitable match." Xie Yan exhaled lightly, the visible breath dissipating as he steadied his mind and spoke truthfully.

Lu Mingchao nodded slightly with a faint smile. "I know."

"Then why would you still consider marrying me?" Xie Yan's confusion was almost palpable.

No matter how composed and sharp he was, Xie Yan was still a young man approaching his coming-of-age ceremony, a traditional rite marking the transition to adulthood.

A time of vibrant attire, spirited horses, and bold ambitions.

"Can I be honest with you?" Lu Mingchao tilted her head slightly and asked.

Xie Yan was so tall that her slender neck, already strained from supporting her head and thick hair, had to strain even more to look up at him. Her neck was really feeling the strain.

Noticing Lu Mingchao's small gesture, Xie Yan found a stool and sat down. "Go ahead."

"In matters of marriage, one should always speak honestly."

"Very well." Lu Mingchao was quite pleased with Xie Yan's attentiveness.

"Before meeting you, I considered the fact that your marriage with Lu Miao had caused quite a stir, widely known by everyone around. Breaking the engagement could hurt Second Brother's chances in the imperial exams and damage the reputation of both our families."

"After meeting you, I realized I don't dislike you at all. You're good-looking, and my brothers have nothing but praise for you, which suggests you're a reliable person."

"I don't have any objections to this marriage."

"If you're worried about how I might treat your kids, I can assure you that won't be an issue."

"As long as they have no malice towards me, I can treat them as my children and will never have kids of my own."

For her, not having children felt like a divine reward for a girl who feared pain and death.

Xie Yan froze, and the Lu family on the other side of the wall panicked.

In the hearts of the Lu family, young and old, Lu Mingchao was being treated unfairly.

"How can she say something like that? It’s like she’s tearing my heart out."

"As for the marriage, let it be called off."

"Sure, her reputation might take a hit, but there’ll always be a way to fix it."

"Without her own kids, what will Mingchao have to live for?" Yunniang’s eyes turned red, her voice choked up, and she was about to walk towards the next room.

Lu Yao stretched out his arm, loosely blocking her. "Mom, Mingchao has her own mind."

On the other side of the wall, a suspicious flush crept up Xie Yan's cheeks, and he suddenly stammered, "Have you really thought it through?"

Lu Mingchao nodded. "Yes."

Xie Yan suddenly stood up, his head lowered, not daring to meet her eyes, and said in a low voice, "You can think about it some more."

"This is a big decision for your whole life, so you should think carefully."

"It’s not that I look down on you, it’s just that..."

He was now just Xie Yan, a hunter hiding in Changxi Village.

"So it’s decided then."

"The wedding date remains unchanged," Lu Mingchao declared.

Having no feelings for each other at the moment—was it important?

No, it wasn’t.

Who says she couldn’t have a marriage-first-love-later script?

Xie Yan: ...

"Since you're my husband now, you can’t flirt with the village women anymore."

"Xie Yan."

The candlelight flickered, warm and intimate.

Xie Yan's face turned completely red, "I haven’t."

He lived at the foot of the mountain on the village’s outskirts and kept to himself.

Lu Mingchao beamed, thinking this book's world wasn’t so bad. She liked this world where anything went.

With Chaocchao’s blessings, a family full of handsome members, and a handy hunter to play with, life was looking pretty good.

Xie Yan pulled a pouch from his pocket and handed it to Lu Mingchao. "Use this money for now."

"If you ever want to have kids..."