Chapter 17 Wounds “False affection, feigned compliance, two-faced flattery…”

Chapter 17: Wounds "False affection, feigned compliance, playing both sides..."

Ever since their reunion, Yue Rongrong had told herself that the past was over, that she shouldn't dwell on it, as it would only torment her. She had been doing her best to maintain composure when facing Shen Jichen. But today, that suppressed pain resurfaced.

She hated Shen Jichen, just as much as she did back then.

Back then, she tore up the marriage contract. He rushed over and embraced her. She struggled frantically, kicking him, punching him, even biting his shoulder, but he still wouldn't let go. Eventually, her heart softened, and she released him, bursting into loud sobs. He held her tightly, as if wanting to press her into his very bones. She thought he had relented, but then he spoke utterly heartless words.

"Bear with it for now, come to the capital as a concubine, and in the future..."

She didn't even want to hear it, pushing him away, her composure shattered: "You've been deceiving me all along!" She resolutely forced out the words through gritted teeth, "I will not be a concubine, and I don't want you anymore."

These words seemed to provoke Shen Jichen. In the days that followed, he constantly had her watched. It was Qu Lieshan who rescued her and helped her escape...

Yue Rongrong didn't want to think further. She couldn't help but shudder, sitting down in the armchair by the window in the flower hall, taking a deep breath toward the outside to calm herself.

The once bright and lively Yue Rongrong was now frowning and silent, full of melancholy. Shen Jichen sat in the side room watching from afar, his brows tightly furrowed, his eyes filled with an unshakable heaviness.

Zheng Xuchao laughed freely but still said seriously, "Can't you see? Rong Rong is intentionally keeping her distance from us. Back then, you fought so fiercely I thought you'd never want to see her again in your life. Who would have thought..." He suddenly let out a bitter laugh, recalling that chase, still feeling a lingering fear. He chose his words carefully, "Perhaps, leaving each other alone is the best outcome."

"Some things are not up to her," Shen Jichen's cold, stern face was frosty. He looked at Zheng Xuchao with stillness and determination, "Nor are they up to me. Her and I, it will only end with death."

Zheng Xuchao was utterly stunned.

Footsteps came from outside the door, more than one set. Shen Jichen and Zheng Xuchao both looked toward the door.

As Zhen Xi came upstairs, she saw Yue Rongrong standing up from the armchair. She ran over joyfully, "Rong Rong, I can't believe you're here eating! The banquet here is very expensive." As she spoke, she sneaked a glance back. The handsome young master was coming up, and she asked quietly, "Why are you with He Minxuan? You two..."

Yue Rongrong immediately cut her off, "There's nothing between him and me. He... he wants Aunt Ming's help, so he asked me to put in a word, and I just asked him for a favor in return."

Young Master He halted mid-step.

Zhen Xi missed the point and only asked, "Then will you help him?"

"No. He's of noble status; he doesn't need my help." She didn't want to be involved with them, nor did she want Zhen Xi to misunderstand, which is why she made a point to wait for her outside.

Zhen Xi said softly, "Ah, that's not good. Should I go..."

Yue Rongrong stopped her from heading toward He Minxuan, her expression grave, "Zhen Xi, I asked you here to tell you something." She took a deep breath, her face no longer hesitant, and pulled Zhen Xi toward the room where Young Master Luo was.

He Minxuan turned and entered Shen Jichen's room. As soon as he stepped in, he said, "Miss Rong Rong is as ruthless as ever, cutting ties with us in just a few sentences." He glanced meaningfully at Shen Jichen, whose face darkened.

Zhen Xi didn't know what Yue Rongrong wanted to say, and her expression was so serious that she teased her a bit. But when Yue Rongrong pointed in a direction, she followed the gesture and her smile abruptly froze. The color drained from her face bit by bit until she was pale.

"Young Master Luo has a fiancée, the legitimate daughter of a vice minister, a perfect match for the Luo family. They've been engaged for a long time. Zhen Xi, he's deceiving you." Yue Rongrong's voice was calm, but it choked up toward the end. Her eyes reddened as she looked at Zhen Xi's pale face, her heart aching for her. She knew it was too cruel, but seeing it now was better than being struck hard after falling too deep. Her heart ached with piercing pain. Seeing Zhen Xi stunned silent, she worriedly called out, "Zhen Xi..."

Zhen Xi suddenly turned and hurried into another empty room next to Shen Jichen's. He Minxuan almost simultaneously walked to the door. Zheng Xuchao coughed dryly and also walked over. Only Shen Jichen remained seated, drinking with downcast eyes.

Yue Rongrong followed Zhen Xi into the room, "Zhen Xi, he's a noble young master, he..."

"You want to say he won't marry me, right?" Zhen Xi turned abruptly, looking at her calmly, only tears welling in her eyes, "But so what?"

Yue Rongrong was taken aback, her thoughts surging, suddenly becoming agitated, "He won't marry you. What does being with him even mean?"

Zhen Xi smiled lightly, "You said it yourself, that's his socially appropriate wife. How do you know she's the one he truly wants? He's only marrying that woman for his family. Who knows the bitterness in his heart? But he says he loves me. He loves me. What does status matter? Even if I become a concubine in the future, I'll still be his only comfort. Why did you make a point to bring me here to see this? To tell me it's not worth it? That he's not worth it? Or that you think I can't have his true love?"

"Rong Rong, you're so beautiful, so many young masters like you, and you didn't give them a second glance. Now such a noble young master has taken a liking to me, loves me. Do you think it's impossible? Do you feel resentful?"

The well-intentioned Yue Rongrong, in this moment, became the villain—a jealous wrongdoer blocking Zhen Xi's path to becoming a noble lady. She looked at Zhen Xi, speechless, her eyes full of sorrow.

Zhen Xi turned away, avoiding her gaze. She knew her words were harsh. She didn't want to fall out with Yue Rongrong over this, so she turned back and took Yue Rongrong's hand, pleading, "Rong Rong, I know you're not like that. You want me to be happy. So, please don't speak of him like that anymore. He's not the kind of noble young master you describe. He's different. He's sincere with me."

A girl in love always thinks she's the exception.

Yue Rongrong looked at her with a heavy heart, "You'd rather be Young Master Luo's concubine than Li Suian's wife?"

The room fell into silence. Zhen Xi seemed to be considering it. After a long moment, she said heavily, "Yes."

"What if Li Suian tops the imperial exams and becomes the top scholar?"

"I would wish him well."

Yue Rongrong let out a bitter laugh, still holding onto a sliver of hope, "Have you ever thought that once you become a concubine, you're no longer yourself? If he stops loving you in the future, you won't even have the right to seek separation. You'll be at the mercy of the main wife."

"I accept it." Zhen Xi took a deep breath, turned her head to wipe away tears, and smiled, "Rong Rong, let's pretend I never came here today. I have things to do, I'm leaving first."

Yue Rongrong stood alone, infinite sorrow churning within her.

He Minxuan walked to the door and sighed softly, "Your friend is smart, she's pragmatic. Yue Rongrong, much smarter than you."

Zheng Xuchao hurriedly pushed him. He came to his senses and turned to see Shen Jichen's stormy face. He hurriedly coughed twice and laughed awkwardly, "Well, we won't disturb you then." He and Zheng Xuchao quickly slipped away.

Shen Jichen looked at her, lowering his voice, "Some people are willing to gamble everything for wealth and status. Even if that Li whatever tops the exams, even if they had deep feelings before, it can't compare to a prominent family." Suddenly, he laughed, "Yue Rongrong, in some ways, she's very much like you."

Yue Rongrong's heart trembled as she heard his icy voice slowly say, "False affection, feigned compliance, playing both sides."

But he actually envied Young Master Luo. He pitifully harbored a fantasy—what if it were Yue Rongrong standing here, gambling everything and saying those words...

Utterly humiliated and scorned, cold reaching the depths of her heart, Yue Rongrong almost couldn't stand steady. She turned with a faint smile, "Fortunately, you and Jin Tangsong ended up together. Congratulations."

Ten thousand arrows piercing the heart. Shen Jichen stared at her with a tense face, the hatred in his eyes almost devouring her. He advanced on her, no longer able to restrain his outburst, "So back then you unhesitatingly chose Qu Lieshan! So easily discarded me. Did you think my sincerity was worthless compared to his?! You didn't even care..."

He suddenly stopped, breathing heavily as if to cushion the overwhelming pain, veins bulging on his temples, the corners of his eyes red as he stared at Yue Rongrong.

Yue Rongrong's heart raced. She pressed her lips tightly, suppressing the sadness, her voice still trembling slightly, "Don't mention him."

Shen Jichen's face darkened, his voice extremely cold, "Why can't he be mentioned? The man you were willing to die for to be with, why can't he be mentioned?"

Yue Rongrong stared at him defiantly, "I forbid you to mention him!"

A long-healed pain surged in his chest. This pain flared up from time to time. Shen Jichen could bear it, but this time it was particularly sharp. He advanced on her, restraining his anger, his voice even colder, "Don't forget your status. In front of me, you have no right to say 'no'!"

Yue Rongrong stood rigidly, looking at him, the light in her eyes flickering slightly.

Almost fleeing in panic, Yue Rongrong stumbled out of Qingyang Tower. It was actually raining. Pedestrians on the street hurried to take shelter from the rain. The cold wind mixed with fine rain poured into her collar, chilling her to the bone. She felt a slight pain and snapped back to reality.

She wanted to buy an umbrella, but on this bustling long street, there wasn't a single umbrella seller in sight. Under the eaves outside Qingyang Tower, more and more people were crowding for shelter from the rain, pushing her to the very edge.

After who knows how long, when Han Zixian walked out of Qingyang Tower with the others, he saw Yue Rongrong looking around and called out, "Piao Yao."

Hearing the voice, Shen Jichen looked over Han Zixian and saw Yue Rongrong standing under the eaves. The smoldering anger in his heart hadn't dissipated yet, and he looked at her coldly.

He Minxuan quickly said, "Piao Yao, let's go."

Shen Jichen didn't move an inch, saying in a low voice, "The umbrella."

He Minxuan was taken aback, somewhat reluctant, "Why bother with her anymore!"

Zheng Xuzhao had already ordered someone to bring an umbrella and handed it to Shen Jichen. Shen Jichen took the umbrella and was just about to approach when suddenly a joyful voice cut in.

"Rong Rong!"

Yue Rongrong turned toward the voice and looked over to see Wei Hui, beaming with delight, rushing toward her under an umbrella.

Author's Note:

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Dear readers, you’ve probably noticed that what happened three years ago also hurt Shen Piaoyao, but neither of them fully understands the extent of the pain they caused each other. So they’re both viewing things from their own perspectives.

When the conflict erupts later on, it’ll be explored in depth～[finger heart gesture]