Zhao Luoning didn't take the feather duster from Ji Shisu. She was too exhausted from crying to punish him anymore.
Seeing Zhao Luoning slumped weakly on the edge of the bed, Ji Shisu was extremely anxious.
“Tired? Then take a rest.”
Ji Shisu noticed that whenever he got closer, Zhao Luoning would instinctively back away. A look of hurt flashed across his eyes.
Reluctantly, he let go of Zhao Luoning.
“Ning'er, I won't touch you. Don't be afraid.”
Ji Shisu obediently stayed a few steps away from Zhao Luoning, looking helpless, like a child who had made a mistake.
Zhao Luoning murmured dejectedly, “So, you've bribed Luoyu too. From the very beginning, this was all your trap, wasn't it?”
Ji Shisu quickly explained.
“I really didn't know you'd come today. I...” Of course, Ji Shisu wanted to keep Zhao Luoning, but seeing her like this, he didn't dare.
He felt that he was pushing Zhao Luoning further and further away. A deep sense of powerlessness engulfed his mind.
“I just saw you were in pain and wanted you to rest.”
Also, he wanted to spend some time alone with her, to look at her and talk to her.
Ji Shisu sighed and asked, “Luoning, is the reason you're angry and left me because of what happened at Tianxiang Tower that year? I can explain this. That day...”
Although it was hard to speak up, Ji Shisu told her in detail what had happened that day when he was drugged during a banquet for guests.
“I know I hurt you that day and I feel extremely guilty. You don't know that I've fallen in love with you since that day.”
“Hehe? Love? Then you've been keeping it from me and treating me like a fool, deceiving and coaxing me?!”
“No... No... I'm not... You're not...” Ji Shisu was so anxious that he stammered. He lowered his head, looking flustered.
“I wasn't deceiving you. I was deceiving myself. Ning'er, I'm sorry. I was wrong. I didn't have the courage to admit that I had hurt you, so I chose the most useless way out.”
In the days since he found out the reason why Zhao Luoning was angry and left, Ji Shisu had been constantly reflecting.
At first, he also thought that Zhao Luoning was angry because he had hurt her at Tianxiang Tower.
It was only later that he figured it out.
He should never have kept it from Luoning.
Maybe if he had confessed earlier, she would have been angry and furious, but there would still have been room for reconciliation. She wouldn't have been so determined to leave.
Ji Shisu actually apologized?
The second young master of the Ji family, General Ji, actually apologized?
Zhao Luoning was stunned for a moment. She glanced up at Ji Shisu. He was standing obediently beside the bed, more docile and obedient than ever.
He was like a puppy trying hard to please its master, afraid of being abandoned.
For a moment, Zhao Luoning's heart softened.
But soon, she forced herself to be tough again.
Why should she forgive him so easily just because of a few words?
Zhao Luoning wasn't an unreasonable person. She had beaten and scolded him.
Now she was tired, and she had listened to Ji Shisu's explanation.
After hearing that Ji Shisu had been drugged, Zhao Luoning's hatred for him had diminished a lot.
Zhao Luoning minded a great deal the rudeness of the man on the night of her first time.
So, when she found out that Ji Shisu was that man, her world instantly collapsed.
However, this didn't mean that she was unreasonable.
Over the years, she had felt Ji Shisu's care for her.
Not to mention anything else, just the effort he had put into replicating Furongyuan must have taken a great deal of thought.
But the fact was that Ji Shisu had kept it from her and deceived her.
No matter what his purpose was.
“Ning'er, don't worry. I'll make those who hurt you pay for it.” After a pause, Ji Shisu added, “Including myself.”
Zhao Luoning looked up at Ji Shisu.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and asked in surprise, “Nanny Xu...”
Actually, it wasn't just Nanny Xu.
There was a reason why Zhao Luoming, who was quite capable, had never been able to succeed in business.
There was also a reason why the Ning family had faced many setbacks after marrying Zhao Luoyue.
Ji Shisu had spared no one who had anything to do with the second branch of the Zhao family.
Ji Shisu said, “I'll do what you can't bring yourself to do.”
Ji Shisu knew that Zhao Luoning always left some leeway in everything she did.
Whether it was towards the Zhao family or the Ji family.
After being hurt, her first reaction was to run away and hide far away.
She would only fight back when she was pushed to the corner.
There was still kindness in Zhao Luoning's bones.
This was also what made Ji Shisu feel so powerless.
Zhao Luoning was gentle with everyone else. Why was she so cruel to him?
Thinking of Nanny Xu's fate, Zhao Luoning didn't dare to ask any more questions.
At this moment, Ji Shisu said, “As for how you want to punish me, it's all up to you.”
“All up to me?” There were still traces of tears on Zhao Luoning's face, but her mood had calmed down a lot, and she even had the mood to joke. “Then if I want to leave, will you agree?”
Ji Shisu glanced at her belly and said, “That's not punishing me. That's punishing yourself.”
“I don't want to stay here. I want to go back.”
To Zhao Luoning's surprise.
Although Ji Shisu hesitated for a moment, he still nodded.
He just told her worriedly, “If you're not feeling well, take a rest. When you want to go back, I'll send someone to take you. I won't bother you.”
So straightforward?
Zhao Luoning had been avoiding him because she knew his temper.
Now that he had caught her, would he really let her go?
Zhao Luoning didn't believe it. She deliberately said, “I want to leave now!”
Ji Shisu looked very disappointed, but he still obediently called for Jing Su.
Jing Su was very surprised. They had finally found the mistress, and now they were just going to let her go?
“My lord...”
“Do as the mistress says!” Ji Shisu instructed, “From now on, do whatever Ning'er says.”
Hearing this, Jing Su could only retreat and do as he was told.
Even when she stepped out of Ji Shisu's mansion, Zhao Luoning still felt like it wasn't real.
She had actually gotten out so easily?
Moreover, she wouldn't have to hide and live incognito anymore?
Seeing Ji Shisu seeing Zhao Luoning off, Zhao Luoyu, who had been waiting outside, was also stunned.
Was Ji Shisu a fool?
He had been delivered the person on a silver platter, and yet he was letting her go?
The guests also noticed this strange situation.
The host, Ji Shisu, left all the guests behind and carefully escorted a woman. Judging from Ji Shisu's cautious appearance, an outsider might think that a princess had come.
So, many curious heads popped out at the door.
The carriage prepared for Zhao Luoning was quickly brought over.
The coachman was Gui Su.
As soon as Zhao Luoning saw Gui Su, her face changed.
“Ji Shisu!”
Ji Shisu quickly stepped forward two steps and bowed his head to listen.
“What's going on?” They had agreed that she could leave, but now he had sent Gui Su to monitor her closely? “You sent her to monitor me?!”
“Gui Su will come back after she takes you home.”
Hearing him say this, Zhao Luoning suppressed her anger.
She got on the carriage and lifted the curtain. She couldn't help but let out an exaggerated exclamation.