"Stinky brat, look at how much I dote on you and care about you!"
Daoist Qiu stuffed the parcel into Liang Yuzhou's hands as if he were holding a precious treasure. "I stole your wife's clothes for you. She must be extremely worried. Hurry up and send them to her. Isn't this a chance for you two to meet?"
Liang Yuzhou's face was as black as burnt charcoal.
He snatched the parcel from Daoist Qiu's hands and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Daoist Qiu scratched his head. "Why is he getting so angry?"
Yaoguang came in and looked at this old rascal with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
In front of others, he pretended to be a lofty hermit, but in private, he was like an immature child, always causing trouble!
"Daoist, our master's image in the lady's heart is already quite bad. You stole the lady's undergarments and asked our master to send them. The lady will surely think it was our master who stole them on purpose to create a chance to meet. Aren't you just sending him to get scolded?"
The master's path to winning back his wife was already arduous enough, and Daoist Qiu had just dug a huge mud pit for him on this long journey!
Daoist Qiu stroked his beard, looking a bit guilty. "He spent several hours making date - paste cloud - slice cakes in silence. Miss Song took one bite and then stopped eating, looking unhappy. I just wanted to help him and create a chance for him to express his feelings."
Yaoguang shook her head helplessly. "Thank you, Daoist. If you just stay out of trouble, that'll be a great help!"
Nan Zhi and the other two had been gone for half an hour and still hadn't returned.
Song Wanchu was sitting in front of the couch, feeling rather restless.
She thought this whole thing was fishy. Who would steal the parcel she had left in the carriage for no reason?
If it were a thief, they wouldn't steal a bunch of not - very - valuable clothes.
She had no grudges with the Chu family, and no one would deliberately frame her.
...
Liang Yuzhou stood in a secluded corner for a long time, holding the parcel.
His line of sight was directly on that window.
The candle cast her shadow on the window. Her slender figure was graceful, and she seemed to be deep in thought.
In Liang Yuzhou's heart, it was as if a bamboo shoot was breaking through the soil, showing its tip and poking out, revealing his longing.
The two of them were so close. If he took one step forward, he could hold her in his arms.
But Wanchu didn't want to see him. No matter how affectionate he acted, it would only increase her annoyance.
Just as he was about to throw the parcel in the corridor -
Shi Luohan entered the courtyard.
He stood at the door and knocked, his eyes as gentle as water.
"Wanchu, the wind is strong on the mountain. Cover an extra quilt at night so you don't catch a cold."
"Got it, Brother. You too."
Song Wanchu's gentle voice came from inside the room.
Shi Luohan had a smile on his face. "There's a thousand - year - old locust tree on Wuyin Mountain. When we go up the mountain to watch the sunrise tomorrow morning, we'll be able to see it. Many people hang their wish - notes on the locust tree. Let's write two and hang them up, shall we?"
Song Wanchu didn't hesitate at all. "Sure, I'll do whatever you say, Brother."
Shi Luohan left contentedly.
The two of them were still at the stage of being in love but keeping their behavior within the bounds of propriety.
The cold wind blew on Liang Yuzhou's face. His body was icy cold, and his palms suddenly tightened until his knuckles turned white.
The locust tree on the mountain was said to be a tree of marriage planted by the God of Matchmaking when he traveled here.
The wish - notes that young men and women hung on it were all for good marriages.
There were also engaged couples who prayed that they would respect and love each other after marriage, live in harmony, and be in love until they were old.
Shi Luohan was going to go with Wanchu to pray for marriage, and Wanchu had agreed.
It was as if a wild beast awakened by anger had climbed out of his dark and cold heart, roaring and howling, wanting to tear Shi Luohan into pieces.
All his calmness and self - restraint vanished at this moment.
Song Wanchu felt uneasy and was about to put on her clothes and go to the courtyard gate to take a look.
Suddenly, there was a soft sound by the window.
It was the sound of the wind blowing, and there was a presence behind her.
Song Wanchu's body froze.
Even though a year had passed, she was still extremely familiar with this man's presence.
Cold, gloomy, angry, and full of possessiveness.
Her body trembled uncontrollably. She wasn't sure if she was afraid to turn around or didn't want to.
The presence got closer and closer, brushing past her neck. The man's broad chest pressed against her.
The memories of their skin - to - skin contact seemed to be awakened, and countless memories flooded her mind, happy, shameful, painful...
"Get out!"
Song Wanchu gritted her teeth, her voice choking.
Liang Yuzhou held her slender shoulders and slowly turned her body around.
Song Wanchu turned her head away, looking into the void, refusing to look at him.
Liang Yuzhou pinched her chin. The force wasn't heavy, but it carried an irresistible dominance.
Song Wanchu was forced to meet his eyes.
In those pitch - black eyes, there was an inexpressible resentment and sorrow swirling, making the corners of his eyes turn red.
"Are you going to marry Shi Luohan?"
His warm breath blew on her face.
Liang Yuzhou's tone was urgent. He had warned himself countless times to be patient and calm, but at this moment, he couldn't do it.
"What does it matter to you?" Song Wanchu's tone was cold.
"You don't love him."
Song Wanchu was stunned. How ridiculous! During the three years she was married to him, Liang Yuzhou had firmly believed that she loved Shi Luohan.
She regretted telling him painfully when she left that he had misunderstood, and that she had always only loved him.
Maybe if she hadn't said it, Liang Yuzhou would have given up his hope.
Who would chase after someone who had never loved them relentlessly?
But he knew that she had loved him, and this was his bargaining chip.
He wanted to bet that she would turn back and love him again.
It was already impossible!
Song Wanchu raised the corners of her lips. Her charming smile dazzled him. She wanted to make sure that Liang Yuzhou could see happiness and joy in her eyes.
"Brother loves me, respects me, and takes good care of me. He'll never hurt me in his whole life. That's enough."
Liang Yuzhou's breath suddenly hitched. His blood rushed to his head, and the redness spread in his eyes.
"Is this what you want, to spend your whole life with someone you don't love?"
"It's better than being with someone I can never understand, someone who says he loves me but is full of lies."
Every word she said was like a sharp thorn, accurately piercing every nerve of Liang Yuzhou's regret.
In front of her, he had long lost his proud capital. He was embarrassed and humble.
Song Wanchu coldly pushed him away.
"Liang Yuzhou, get out of my room."
"I'm no longer Liang Yuzhou. A year ago, I cut off my ties with the Duke's Mansion by cutting my hair. Everything about the Duke's Mansion has nothing to do with me anymore."
Liang Yuzhou looked into her eyes, his gaze deep. "The person standing in front of you is someone who has deeply realized how arrogant and stupid he used to be, and wants to make up for his mistakes with everything he has."
Song Wanchu sneered. "Really?"
"Wanchu, you can continue to hate me now, and you can reject me. But you can't deprive me of the right to love you."
"Love me?"
Song Wanchu laughed softly. "Daoist Qingzhou, is your love something extremely valuable?"
Liang Yuzhou took a deep breath, desperately suppressing the dark emotions surging in his heart.
"Wanchu, do you really have to talk to me like this?"
"I'm just copying the way you used to talk to me. Why, can't you stand it?"
Liang Yuzhou felt as if he had stepped into a bottomless abyss, falling, falling. Endless regret tightly缠绕着 him, making him suffocate.
Suddenly, there was a noise outside.
"Wanchu, is there someone in your room? Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Liang Yuzhou tightly grabbed Song Wanchu's waist, pulled her onto the couch, and covered them with the quilt.
"Tell him to go!"
The man's hot breath steamed her ear.