Absolutely Can’t Let Romance Trip Me Up!
Ling Li’s eyes had only been on Su Jingyang, and he had not noticed the person beside him at all. Being yanked out so suddenly, he felt a little dazed.
However, once he clearly saw Ming Zhan’s face, his eyes began widening uncontrollably. His lips, still wet with tears, trembled beyond his control, and the memories buried in his mind from years ago surged up all at once like a flood.
Ling Li abruptly realized something. The shock on his face turned into helpless panic. He tried to wrench his hand free from Ming Zhan’s grasp, but it was futile, Ming Zhan was gripping far too hard.
“Please... let go of me.” Ling Li’s voice was very low. He kept pulling his hand outward. His wrist felt like it was about to be crushed.
Seeing Ling Li’s resistance, anger rose in Ming Zhan’s eyes. He stared at him for a moment, then swept a chilly gaze toward Ah Xuan, who was being held by Su Jingyang.
Ah Xuan was looking at him too. Those glossy dark eyes were full of curiosity.
Noticing Ming Zhan’s gaze, Ling Li’s breathing instantly went unsteady, and his whole body tensed. He truly had never imagined he would meet this man again, and in such a sudden, unavoidable way. Ah Xuan’s existence had been exposed... and once Ah Xuan was seen, there was no way to hide anything. Ah Xuan’s brows and eyes looked far too much like his.
Ling Li knew who this man was, and panic surged through him. He was afraid Ming Zhan would blame him for privately keeping a child behind, and he was also afraid Ming Zhan would snatch the child away...
There was no blood in Ling Li’s face. He turned his head aside, not daring to look at Ming Zhan.
Ming Zhan pinched his chin and forced him to turn back. He leaned in close and ground out through clenched teeth, “Didn’t you say you never loved me? Then why did you still keep my child?!!”
Ling Li’s light brown eyes, still holding a sheen of tears, finally met his. His lips moved, and after a struggle, he said in a low voice, “I’m sorry...”
Ming Zhan’s gaze tightened sharply. A dangerous edge seeped into his expression as he pressed, cold and harsh, “You’re sorry? What does ‘I’m sorry’ mean?”
Ling Li’s lashes trembled uneasily twice. When he heard Ming Zhan’s accusation, Ling Li had thought Ming Zhan was blaming him for giving birth to Ah Xuan on his own. However, Ming Zhan’s expression felt wrong. Ling Li could not read what Ming Zhan meant at all, and he did not dare say anything careless.
The two of them froze in that standoff. Watching from the side, Su Jingyang felt extremely uneasy. His lips moved, and he was just about to call Ling Li’s name when Ah Xuan suddenly shook free of his hand and ran toward Ming Zhan. Su Jingyang reacted too late and failed to grab him.
Ah Xuan ran up and shouted at Ming Zhan, “Let go of my papa!”
Ming Zhan’s gaze moved from Ling Li’s face and landed on Ah Xuan. Ah Xuan struggled hard, hugging Ling Li’s arm and tugging outward as if he believed Ling Li was being bullied and wanted to rescue him.
Ming Zhan went still for a moment, then slowly loosened his hold on Ling Li. Ling Li immediately crouched down and pulled Ah Xuan into his arms, his pale face stiff and blank.
Ming Zhan also lowered himself on one knee. Looking at that little face that resembled his so closely, his eyes softened without him noticing.
He patted Ah Xuan’s small head and asked, “You want me to let go of him. Do you know who I am?”
Ah Xuan looked at his face. His small mouth moved, yet he could not form an answer. Instinctively, he turned to look at Ling Li. “Papa...”
“Ah Li?” Ming Zhan’s eyes flicked toward Ling Li. The expression on his face abruptly hardened again, and his tone slowed to an eerie calm. “The child is asking you.”
Ling Li could not help glancing toward Su Jingyang not far behind him, who was watching with a face full of worry. Ling Li’s throat felt blocked with pain. He tightened his hold on the child, and only after a moment could he force out words. “Ah Xuan, he... is your father.”
Ming Zhan held Ah Xuan’s soft little hand. Seeing the confusion on his face, Ming Zhan curved his lips into a smile. Light flowed in his eyes, and his voice was indescribably gentle. “Your name is Ah Xuan?”
Ah Xuan tilted his head at him, biting his lower lip and staying silent.
Ming Zhan smiled again. “Ah Xuan, call me Father.”
Ah Xuan seemed to get shy. His little face reddened, and he hid in Ling Li’s arms. Ming Zhan’s mouth kept slightly lifted, and he did not get angry. The moment Ling Li stood up with Ah Xuan in his arms and hesitantly said, “Then... we won’t trouble you further. We’ll take our leave,” Ming Zhan’s face changed instantly.
“Take your leave?!” Storm clouds gathered in Ming Zhan’s eyes. His expression turned terrifyingly cold as he glared at Ling Li, who kept his gaze lowered. His voice seethed with towering fury. “What ‘leave’ are you talking about?? Stay here properly. You’re not allowed to go anywhere!!!”
Ling Li shuddered from the shout. His face went white as he buried it into Ah Xuan’s neck.
Su Jingyang finally could not hold back anymore. He strode forward and wrapped an arm around Ling Li’s trembling body. Feeling Su Jingyang’s warmth, Ling Li turned his eyes toward him, and his heart churned with discomfort.
Su Jingyang stared fiercely at Ming Zhan. “Young Master, Ah Li doesn’t want to stay. Forcing someone like this isn’t good, is it?”
Ming Zhan’s gaze turned to Rong Ci, and he said each word clearly, “City Lord Rong, take your person away.”
Rong Ci, who had been silent at the side, shook his head. “I don’t dare offend him. Young Master, please don’t make things difficult for me.”
Su Jingyang knew Rong Ci was helping him, yet he still could not help spitting in his heart. You’ve offended me plenty of times already!
“Ah Li, let’s go.” Su Jingyang held Ling Li and turned to leave. He had no idea where it came from, yet in a rush, nearly twenty or thirty guards appeared. Every one of them wore a grim, killing expression. They surrounded them in the corridor, blocking every path in front, behind, left, and right.
Su Jingyang stared in disbelief. What was he supposed to do when he could not fight!? His eyes instinctively snapped to Rong Ci. Rong Ci swept his gaze around, his brows tightening slightly. When he looked at Ming Zhan again, sharpness spilled from his eyes. “Young Master, what is the meaning of this?”
Ming Zhan’s face was dark. He said coldly, “I’m unwilling to clash with you. You’re unwilling as well, I believe. You can take your people and leave. My people must stay.”
Rong Ci had not yet spoken when Su Jingyang snapped angrily, “This is forcing people against their will!”
Su Jingyang knew there was a past between Ling Li and this man. He did not know exactly what had happened, yet he could feel that Ling Li was resisting and even a little afraid of this man. Su Jingyang could not abandon Ling Li no matter what.
“Fine. Ah Li, I’ll give you two choices.” Ming Zhan glanced at Su Jingyang, then looked back to Ling Li. “One, you and Ah Xuan stay. Two, the person at your side stays.”
Ling Li’s complexion worsened. Su Jingyang also cursed inwardly. Sinister, truly sinister. This man had seen at a glance that he mattered to Ah Li, so he was openly using Su Jingyang as leverage!
Ling Li did not hesitate at all. He said hoarsely, “The child and I will stay. Let them go.”
Rong Ci was clearly wary of this young master, and Su Jingyang could vaguely guess his identity was far from simple. Seeing Ling Li compromise so quickly, Su Jingyang immediately said, “Three, Ah Li and I both stay!”
In the end, Rong Ci stayed too. Rong Ci and Su Jingyang were arranged in the East Courtyard, while Ling Li and Ah Xuan were arranged in the West Courtyard, where Ming Zhan also stayed. Su Jingyang tried to force his way in twice, and both times he was stopped and driven back by the guards.
Su Jingyang still refused to leave and kept wandering around nearby. He folded his arms, one hand rubbing his chin as he paced back and forth. When he glanced back without thinking, he realized Rong Ci was standing behind him. He had no idea when Rong Ci had arrived there.
Seeing those deep, dark eyes looking straight at him, that hard-to-name discomfort in Su Jingyang’s chest began to spread again.
What had he yelled at Rong Ci yesterday, again? Had he told him to get lost?
Right, right, right! Su Jingyang suddenly remembered something else. The embarrassment instantly scattered, replaced by fury at having been deceived. He ran over with a stiff face and demanded, “Why did you lie to me?”
He had openly expressed admiration for the City Lord more than once, and this guy had been there every time. He must have been laughing at him in secret the whole time! Truly hateful!
Rong Ci shot him a glance and asked oddly, “When did I ever lie to you?”
Hearing him still try to argue, Su Jingyang snapped, “You are the City Lord of Rongcheng!”
Rong Ci looked at his puffed-up anger. A faint, light smile touched the slightly upturned corner of his eyes as he asked back, “Think carefully. Did I ever tell you I was the City Lord? You were the one who didn’t believe it.”
“…………” D*mn it, there actually was such an incident.
Su Jingyang stared at him in disbelief. “Are you sick in the head? You’re the City Lord, so why were you talking bad about the City Lord?!”
Rong Ci answered with perfect seriousness, “How is that talking bad? That was modesty.”
“Modesty, my ass!” Su Jingyang truly had nothing to say to him. He thought again, then said, “Wait, no, no. Then what about Murong? Her name was a lie too? What’s her identity, then??”
“Her name is Rong Hua. She is the Saintess of the Rong clan.”
“So it’s Rong Hua. You people are truly despicable!” Su Jingyang snorted through his nose. Rong Hua had brought up the City Lord in front of him several times on purpose, even saying things like the City Lord liked someone like him and that he should marry the City Lord. It turned out she was not teasing since there was deeper behind it! Looking back now, Su Jingyang felt he had truly been played by these two!!!
Su Jingyang’s chest felt tight and his breathing short. He turned and headed for his room. Rong Ci followed behind him, neither too near nor too far.
As soon as Su Jingyang entered, he turned around and shut the door, blocking Rong Ci outside.
After a moment, Rong Ci’s voice came from outside. “Hey, Su Jingyang, didn’t you say you loved the City Lord to death?”
Su Jingyang pressed himself to the crack of the door and replied coldly, “You said the City Lord wouldn’t want me to fall in love with him.”
Rong Ci’s voice, pleasant as it was, suddenly carried a trace of awkwardness. “...He does. He really does. He was lying to you before.”
Su Jingyang remained resolutely cold. “Tell him I don’t.”
Silence fell outside. A sudden wave of weariness rose in Su Jingyang’s heart. He was quiet for a moment too. His tone softened slightly, and he turned around, pressing his back against the door as he spoke to the person outside. “I’ll tell you something sincere. I complain about you and say I dislike you, and I’m always grumbling about you in my heart, yet you’re actually pretty good, aside from having a poisonous tongue. The problem is, I won’t stay here forever. There’s no future for us. Your insistence has no meaning...”
“Su Jingyang, once you finish whatever you need to finish and you can go home, I will never stop you. However long you can stay, that’s how long you’ll be with me.”
Su Jingyang knew Rong Ci had long suspected something abnormal about him. After what Rong Ci had heard yesterday from Su Jingyang’s sobbed-out words, Rong Ci must have guessed even more, which was why he said this.
Su Jingyang still refused to fall for it. “I don’t want to. I don’t want to. Just leave.” After speaking, he covered his ears and sat down at the table, refusing to communicate with him any further.
Su Jingyang understood himself fairly well. He was genuinely afraid he would foolishly let Rong Ci trick his heart away, and then he would not be able to leave.
Going home, going home, he had to go home. Romance absolutely could not be allowed to trip him up!!!
The next day, Su Jingyang was finally able to see Ling Li and Ah Xuan. At that time, Ah Xuan was holding a small bow. Ming Zhan was squatting down and patiently teaching him how to play. After several rounds of treatment, Ah Xuan had not fully recovered yet, yet no flaws could be seen. Ming Zhan probably still had not noticed that Ah Xuan had once had problems.
While the father and son were building their bond, Su Jingyang tugged on Ling Li’s sleeve, wanting to pull him out to talk. Ling Li’s foot had only just moved one step when Ming Zhan, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, spoke without turning around. His voice was flat. “Ah Li, where are you going.”
It was clearly a question, yet he said it like a statement, making a person’s scalp go numb.
Ling Li tightened his grip on Su Jingyang’s hand, then said, “I’m saying a few words to Jingyang.”
Ming Zhan stood up and turned around. He wore dark blue brocade, noble and imposing. His dark eyes, dark as night, flicked to Su Jingyang, then looked at Ling Li with unreadable emotion. “What does Ah Li have to say that can’t be said in front of me?”
Ling Li froze, then shook his head and answered softly, “Nothing.”
Ming Zhan smiled. “Good.”
Su Jingyang watched from the side, feeling so stifled he was about to burst. This man’s need for control was terrifying. Did he want Ah Li to never leave his side, to have no privacy at all?? Ah Li clearly did not want this!
Su Jingyang drew in a breath and was about to argue, yet Ling Li secretly pinched his palm, signaling him to stop talking. Su Jingyang had no choice but to swallow the words down. He turned his head and saw Ling Li’s tightly furrowed brow. The frustration in his chest was heavy.
Su Jingyang remembered that Ling Li had once said he met Ah Xuan’s biological father because he needed to help Liu Yue repay gambling debts. Afterward, there was some misunderstanding and they separated. Ling Li had never said what that misunderstanding was.
From how things looked now, this young master’s relationship with Ah Li was far from simple.
Su Jingyang stayed with Ling Li for a while. Everything happened under Ming Zhan’s watchful eyes. Guards were everywhere. Even speaking required caution, and Su Jingyang could not ask anything at all. A huge confusion still sat in his heart, and that was Ming Zhan’s identity...
After Su Jingyang returned, he held it in until he could not anymore. Instinctively, he wanted to find Rong Ci to get answers. Rong Ci knew that person, so Rong Ci definitely knew.
Su Jingyang had told Rong Ci to go away, and then running to him on his own felt strange...
Su Jingyang could only swallow all his questions back down. He wanted to know too much. After enduring it for several days, Su Jingyang felt his stomach hurt terribly from holding it in.
Seeing Su Jingyang’s face constantly twisted up, Rong Ci thought Su Jingyang felt unwell. With great difficulty catching the constantly dodging Su Jingyang to ask, Su Jingyang just said nothing was wrong, then pushed him away and disappeared without a trace.
Su Jingyang avoided Rong Ci and drifted around the estate for several days, wasting time. Early this morning, when he got up, a vast, boundless emptiness rose in him for no reason. He could not figure it out. He ran to Ling Li and said a few words, did not wander aimlessly again, and returned to his own room instead.
Su Jingyang sat on a stool for a while, yet it felt like there were nails poking him. He stood up and paced several circles in the room, yet that strange feeling clinging to his heart still would not fade. In the end, he simply went to get a rag and began... cleaning the whole room.
He wiped the table, then the chairs. He wiped the bedframe, then the screen. If the floor had not been covered with carpet, he probably would have wiped the floor too.
After working for most of the day, there was truly nothing left to wipe. Panting hard, he tossed the rag aside and sat cross-legged on the ground. He touched his forehead and muttered to himself, “Did a fever cook my brain? Who am I, where am I, what am I even doing...”
That wrong, unsettling feeling lasted all the way into the night. He did not even eat dinner. He climbed into bed, lay down, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
He had burned too much energy today. Not long after his head touched the pillow, he was out.
Until the second half of the night... Su Jingyang jolted awake as if something had slammed a hammer down inside his skull. He sat straight up like a corpse suddenly springing to life, and a bone-deep chill poured from his head to his feet.
Today was the five-day deadline.
He had slept, but he had not entered the dream, and the man had not appeared.
Su Jingyang’s head buzzed violently. He threw off the blanket in a frenzy and practically tumbled and crawled to the table where the candle flame still had not gone out. He spread open his hands that would not stop shaking.
The red mole in his palm had visibly darkened.
Su Jingyang’s expression looked like he had died ten thousand times in an instant. Terror filled his eyes. He stumbled back several steps, his body suddenly losing all strength, and he crashed down onto the floor.
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