After trying on a bunch of things, Song Huaizhi looked at Meng Ruyi's profile and secretly heaved a sigh of relief. It was just... just so...
After thinking for a long time, Song Huaizhi found himself at a loss for words. He couldn't find a suitable adjective, so he just pursed his lips, then turned around and whispered a few instructions to the shopkeeper beside him.
Meng Ruyi was in a great mood. Seeing Song Huaizhi's expression, she couldn't help but have a bit of a naughty urge to laugh. The look in her eyes towards him was filled with a sly smile.
It seemed that in just a few words, their roles had reversed. She had become the composed one, while Song Huaizhi, who was usually as calm as a mountain, had become the "delicate one" who was often at a loss.
Looking at the screen full of comments calling Song Huaizhi "delicate one" on the bullet chat, Meng Ruyi had to admit that she was indeed a bit too much.
But so what?
Meng Ruyi gave a faint smile, reached out to take the pair of red - gem earrings she had seen at first, and said to Song Huaizhi beside her, "Let's go. We're going back."
Song Huaizhi nodded slightly and followed the steps of the girl in front of him.
The way back was bustling. Meng Ruyi led Song Huaizhi to avoid the crowd and took a detour back slowly.
"Does Brother Song have a sweetheart?"
Meng Ruyi asked casually on purpose, but her peripheral vision was fixed firmly on Song Huaizhi.
She saw the young man beside her pause slightly, hesitate for a moment, and then calmly say, "It's still too early. I'm not thinking about these things for now."
Song Huaizhi knew that although he seemed calm now, the hand under his wide sleeve couldn't help but clench tightly into a fist.
"Really?" Meng Ruyi's expression remained unchanged, but the color of her eyes deepened slightly. She turned to look at Song Huaizhi and said softly, "What if I have a sweetheart?"
"...Really?" Song Huaizhi managed to find his voice and said, "That's naturally good, but you must..."
Must what?
Song Huaizhi's thoughts flew to the clouds. He had no idea what he was saying. He just felt his lips moving up and down, speaking instinctively.
Meng Ruyi thought he was really strange. He looked different from his usual self when he spoke. "Huh? Brother Song has said so much. Then what kind of husband do you think I should find?"
Even though they had taken a detour, it was still noisy. People passed by from time to time, casting glances at this outstanding young man and girl.
All the words in Song Huaizhi's mouth were suddenly blocked. He stood there motionless.
What kind of husband should she find? Someone with a good temper, a good family background, and who would be devoted to her.
The answer had long been there, but when Song Huaizhi turned to look into Meng Ruyi's clear eyes, he couldn't say a single word.
He remained silent.
"Since Brother Song doesn't answer, then let me speak."
Meng Ruyi took a step forward and stared closely at Song Huaizhi. Although she was a head shorter than him, she had a rare sense of oppression. "I like someone like Brother Song, with a good temper and good to me."
Song Huaizhi's Adam's apple rolled. He opened his mouth with difficulty and said, "But you're still too young, Yu Yu."
"You haven't come of age yet. How do you know what kind of person you can entrust your life to?"
Meng Ruyi pursed her lips. The smile on her face gradually faded, and she said, "Not all things can have an answer before you do them, Song Huaizhi."
"I'm being very serious. I'm also telling you my feelings very seriously." Meng Ruyi's eyes were stubborn. She rubbed her eyes and said, "If you don't like me, then..."
"No." Song Huaizhi finally interrupted Meng Ruyi quickly. "But do you really like me? Even though I'm not as I seem on the surface?"
"Otherwise?" Meng Ruyi looked at him in surprise, as if she didn't understand why Song Huaizhi would say such a thing. "I like you, so I've always felt with my true heart. You're not a good person in the traditional sense. You never tried to hide this when we first met."
When she said this, Meng Ruyi couldn't help but chuckle, thinking of the way Song Huaizhi had taken advantage of her without mercy at first. "But it's different now. No one is perfect. In my heart, you're much better than many hypocrites."
Song Huaizhi was shocked. Looking at the expression in Meng Ruyi's eyes, his hand unconsciously touched the sachet on his waist. Under his fingertips was the familiar little chubby fish. Song Huaizhi felt a complex mix of joy and melancholy in his heart, but he still couldn't bear to admit his true feelings.
What if he still died at the hands of those people this time?
Meng Ruyi looked at the expression on Song Huaizhi's face and felt uneasy.
【Ahhhhh, it's so painful. It's obvious that Brother Song likes Yu Yu!】
【Yes. I remember in the original story that Brother Song kept a distance from women. Someone once tried to curry favor with him by giving him money and beautiful women. But he sent the women back and kept the money. This plot was so strange that I've remembered it for so long.】
【He's probably still worried. Brother Song is burdened with a deep - seated hatred and is afraid of accidentally involving Yu Yu. Sigh.】
【I'm so angry. It seems that we'll have to go against the female lead and the others.】
"Let's go. We're going back." Meng Ruyi glanced at the bullet chat absent - mindedly. "Since Brother Song can't say it, I can't force you."
The last sentence already carried a hint of alienation.
Meng Ruyi turned around, but suddenly felt her sleeve being tugged. She looked back and saw Song Huaizhi standing there. His eyes were full of complexity, and there was a hint of struggle in them.
"No." He said in a low voice, his voice hoarse. "I have too many things to worry about. I'm afraid you'll get stuck in the mud like me."
"Wait for me. It won't take long." After Song Huaizhi said this, he let go of Meng Ruyi's sleeve. "Wait until I've dealt with the matters in the capital."
It was like a promise.
Looking at the solemn look on his face, Meng Ruyi finally found the answer. A faint smile appeared on her face, and she nodded slightly.
...
At the residence of the Third Prince.
Jing Zhe was polishing the sword in her hand. Zheng Yuanqing beside her hesitated for a long time and finally said to her, "Miss Jing Zhe, are you really not willing to work for me?"
"I'm not."
Jing Zhe gave him a half - smiling look. Then he suddenly slumped into the chair like a deflated balloon, muttering to himself, "What's so good about Young Master Song and Miss Meng? Sigh, am I really inferior to them?"
After muttering for a while, Zheng Yuanqing finally calmed down and unfolded the first letter from the capital.
It was a letter from his uncle.
Seeing the name on the letter, Zheng Yuanqing's heart sank. He immediately felt that the content of the letter was not what he wanted to see.
After struggling for a long time, he finally picked up the dagger beside him and cut open the wax seal, taking out the thick stack of paper inside.
It started with the familiar greetings, asking a bunch of meaningless questions with a hint of familiar perfunctory.
Zheng Yuanqing skimmed through the letter and finally found the purpose of his uncle's letter from afar on the last page.
Wait, this!