clergé

Chapitre 72

He Shaoxin jumped and wailed for a while, finally sitting back down in his chair, his mouth dry.

"Alright, let's leave it at that!"

He picked up a cup of tea to moisten his throat, a satisfied expression on his face.

"Since it's Xiaoluzi's choice, I can't say anything. You two can do whatever you want!"

After saying that, he waved his hand dismissively at them, signaling them to leave quickly.

Pang's eyes popped out of their sockets, and he almost bit off his own tongue.

"Thank you, Uncle Xie."

He Qinglu nodded to him, then turned and calmly pushed her wheelchair out.

**********

He Qinglu escorted Pang Wan back to her room in silence the whole way.

The mute maid was still waiting obediently by the bedside. She quickly reached out to take Pang Wan's hand and covered her with a blanket, afraid that she would catch a cold.

"Remember to take her out for a walk," He Qinglu instructed the mute maid before turning to leave.

"Young master, don't you think there's something you need to explain to me?" Pang Wan couldn't hold back any longer and reached out to tug at his sleeve.

He Qinglu paused.

"You can go down now."

He gave an instruction to the mute maid, and after she took her leave and closed the door, he slowly turned to the side.

"Actually," he cleared his throat casually, "this is how it is."

"Back in the capital, didn't you try to seduce me time and again?"

He looked down at her with an arrogant expression.

Pang Wan stammered as she recalled the absurd things she had done under Jin Buyao's guidance.

"...It seems...that's true."

"Didn't you say I'm very beautiful, that I can never get enough of looking at me?"

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"...I did say that."

Pang Wan wore a bitter expression, wondering what kind of trick he was up to.

Do you think my talent is exceptional, unmatched by anyone?

His eyes sparkled.

"That's true in some respects..."

Pang Wan carefully considered her words, trying her best not to hurt the young master's fragile ego.

"Look, since you're so infatuated with me, I'll reluctantly accept you."

He Qinglu spoke in a compassionate tone, while extending a long, slender, fair hand toward her.

"I allow you to become my fiancée, He Qinglu. Be mindful of your composure and don't be too overjoyed or ostentatious."

With a soft "plop," Pang Wan's many questions turned into saliva that sprayed onto the young master's cloud-patterned brocade sleeve.

"What?" she screamed, jumping off the bed and standing in front of him.

"You're so happy that your leg is even better?" He Qinglu looked at her with a puzzled expression, then flicked her sleeves with a hint of disgust.

"What?!" Pang Wan looked at her legs, decided to turn her head away and forget about this incident. Her priority now was to end this strange marriage.

"How could I become your fiancée?" She shook He Qinglu hysterically. "When did I agree to this? How come I didn't know?" Was it in some unknown nightmare?

"Why should I ask you to agree?" He Qinglu gave her a disdainful look.

For three whole days, he wrote down Pang Wan's strengths and weaknesses on paper and pondered for three days and three nights. The girl's weaknesses were countless, while all her strengths combined amounted to only two and a half: she was young, the owner of the Flame Needle, and in good health (but that would have to wait until her leg injury healed).

She was clearly ordinary and plain, completely unworthy of him who had stood at the pinnacle since childhood. But when he thought of her hiding in the corridor crying, saw her stubborn steps as she touched the wall and walked forward, and saw her holding Nan Yi in a panic, a lingering bitterness welled up in his heart.

He asked Jin Diluo, "What kind of existence is a wife?"

Although Jin Dilu was somewhat surprised, she still replied respectfully, "A wife should regard her husband as her heaven and be his strong support. A good wife is also a gentle and understanding woman."

"Her husband is her everything?" That's a good explanation, he thought to himself.

If this silly girl becomes his wife, then she will only have him in her world.

There will be no one else in her eyes, she will not be led around by anyone, she will not shed tears for anyone, and she will not think about leaving anyone all day long.

All the shortcomings that filled three whole pages paled in comparison to this powerful reason in an instant.

Jin Buyao once said that as long as Young Master He nodded, he could have as many beauties as he wanted in the entire martial arts world.

But for the sake of the silly girl with a conflicted expression in front of him, he decided to give up those meaningless glamorous appearances and focus on nurturing this young flower.

This was sympathy, this was compensation for ruining her martial arts career—he told himself.

"I'm already giving you permission to be my fiancée, that's an immense favor. Do you have any complaints?"