"I love not only Aiyouyou, but also you more. If you have doubts about me, it must be because I haven't done well enough. I can do better."
Qi Shifeng's tone was gentle, but his words were full of determination.
However, Xu Tingyu didn't show the happiness he had expected. Instead, she continued to look thoughtful, with no sparkle in her eyes.
Qi Shifeng didn't press her for answers. Instead, he finished his meal and carried her back to the room.
After she relaxed a bit more, he said, "Was it unpleasant to meet her today?"
That was probably why she was acting so unusually.
As soon as they got back, they came straight to the hotel, and her eyes always seemed to be avoiding something.
Xu Tingyu nestled in his arms, her tone lazy. "It was really unpleasant. I also feel a bit sorry for you."
From Zhang Qiu, she had confirmed again that the marriage alliance between the two families back then was all the parents' idea.
She herself had a crush on him, while he was completely indifferent.
Moreover, her marriage to him could be considered a bit of a stretch for her family. The Xu family had obtained quite a few resources from the Qi family.
Just as Old Master Qi had said, if it weren't for her birth date and relatively good family background, she wouldn't even have been able to get close to the Qi family.
"Why would you feel sorry for me?"
Qi Shifeng held her hand and played with it absent - mindedly.
"Back then, you didn't like me, but were forced to marry me. If I were you, I might have also run away from the wedding."
She looked at him sincerely.
Being forced to marry someone you didn't like, running away from the wedding was the last act of resistance.
If she had known earlier, she would have supported him and run away too.
Qi Shifeng didn't expect her to say this. He was stunned for a moment, and the hand holding hers suddenly tightened. His expression became skeptical.
"Why are you suddenly saying this? Are you trying to draw a clear line with me?"
First, she had said she liked Chen Yan, and now this. Every word seemed like a goodbye.
Did it mean that once she left, she would never return to the capital?
No, he wouldn't allow it.
Xu Tingyu took the initiative to raise her head and kissed his lips to comfort him. "No, I really feel sorry for you."
If there hadn't been that initial mistake, he would have met someone he loved and lived a perfect life.
Qi Shifeng was most afraid of her being so calm, as if she had let go of everything from the past.
In that case, he would rather she hated him.
"I don't want your apology. Running away from the wedding back then was indeed my problem. I was stupid and driven by my rebellious mentality."
"I didn't dislike you either. I just... just hated the behavior of having everything arranged for me. It made me feel like a useless puppet."
He hugged her tightly, his tone urgent.
From beginning to end, there had never been anyone else in his heart.
It was just that he was indeed more stupid than ordinary people. No one had ever taught him what love was, so he simply didn't know.
His feelings for Xu Tingyu were not lack of love. He just didn't realize at that time that it was love.
If he didn't love Xu Tingyu, he wouldn't have cared so much about the relationship between her and Qi Ye.
Nor would he have been so angry after she took the initiative to propose a divorce.
"I was so immature and cowardly back then. I was a monster who didn't understand love, but I've been changing. I'll learn to love someone properly."
He almost rambled on incoherently.
Such a calm and composed man was now so nervous that he was sweating on his forehead, for fear that she wouldn't believe him.
"Tingyu, don't draw a clear line with me, and don't treat me like this. Even if you hate me, as long as you still have emotions towards me, okay?"
His eyes were red, and his face was full of pleading.
How could such a noble - born person look at her with such a humble expression?
Xu Tingyu felt a pang in her heart and couldn't help covering his mouth. "I'm not indifferent to you, nor am I trying to draw a clear line. Don't think too much."
"I just realized that I misunderstood you a lot and also delayed you a lot. I feel it's unfair to you."
That was where her guilt came from.
When she got married, she had feelings for him, but he didn't.
Marrying someone you didn't like, that kind of pain, she didn't even dare to think about.
Qi Shifeng understood what she meant and moved her hand away from his lips.
"I don't feel it's unfair. In fact, I was very happy during those years of our marriage."
How could he not have feelings for her?
If there were no feelings, would he have recognized at first sight that she was the little girl who had climbed trees with him when they were kids?
If there were no feelings, would he have tried to get home on time every day so as not to leave her alone at home?
...
He simply loved without knowing it.
Xu Tingyu knew he wouldn't lie, so she didn't refute. Instead, she kissed his face again and then quietly hugged him.
After an unknown amount of time, Qi Shifeng calmed down and then continued to ask her, "So, what are you afraid of?"
Her unusual clinginess today made him feel the fear deep in her heart.
Hearing this, Xu Tingyu couldn't help but burrow deeper into his arms, as if she was really scared.
He gently patted her back, trying his best to comfort her.
After another unknown amount of time, Xu Tingyu finally spoke. "My father has an illegitimate son outside. My mother doesn't know about this."
"Also, when my younger brother died, I heard in the hospital that his heart had been taken away. It wasn't an accidental injury, but a pre - meditated one."
She had once thought that Xu Jia's death was related to Qi Shifeng.
But it was only a thought. She had never dared to believe that it was entirely his doing.
Now, she completely believed that this had nothing to do with him.
First, if it was really Qi Shifeng who did it, then Xie Yu and he would be in the same boat, and their relationship in the end wouldn't have been so tense.
Second, would Qi Shifeng really kill Xu Jia just to save Xie Shu?
Even if it was to take revenge on her, he wouldn't do such a thing.
Because the Qi Shifeng she knew, although cold and not easy to get along with, was definitely not a law - breaker.
Nor was he the kind of crazy person to this extent.
It could be seen from the way he had raised Youyou so well.
The third point, and the most important one, was something she had only figured out later.
Since this was an illegal thing, how did the nurse know about it?
Illegal things should be kept at the highest level of confidentiality. The more people who knew, the greater the risk.
If it were her doing this, she would definitely find people from other hospitals. How could she leave so many clues so openly?
And it was just so coincidental that she happened to go out for some fresh air and heard it. It was as if it was meant for her to hear.
Before she returned to the capital, she had basically determined that this was either fabricated or done by someone else.
The reason she had been investigating Xie Shu's whereabouts for so long was also because of this.
But Xie Shu had been hidden too well. Until now, she hadn't shown up on her own initiative, nor had she been found.