"You don't remember anything? You've forgotten everything that happened last night? Everything you said and did..."
"What did I say? What did I do? What's with that expression?" Leng Yiqing asked curiously, her heart pounding. She hoped Su Yunmo would just let it go. After all, it was her first time confessing to someone, and she'd been rejected so humiliatingly. If Su Yunmo noticed anything amiss, she'd want to dig a hole and bury herself.
"Oh! No—it's nothing. It's good that you don't remember! It's good that you don't remember!" Su Yunmo's voice grew softer and softer, until only he could hear it.
Taking advantage of Su Yunmo's momentary lowering of his head, Leng Yiqing's face flashed with a sly smile. She breathed a sigh of relief: "Then shouldn't we talk about the Typhoon Shelter's end-of-month profit sharing?"
Before he could offer any opinion, Leng Yiqing went straight to Su Yunmo's study.
It was only at this point that Leng Yiqing understood Su Yunmo's business model and his relationship with those shops. It turned out that Su Yunmo didn't trust others very much. All along, the people in these shops were people he knew well, and their relationship with him was simply that of employer and employee. He had to do everything himself. Even when Su Yunmo went on long trips, Duan Feng would take care of these things on his behalf.
Manager Sun of the Typhoon Shelter was the person Su Yunmo trusted most; when Duan Feng was away, he could make all the decisions. Yet, even with these people, Su Yunmo treated them as employees. Leng Yiqing couldn't help but feel a chill for Su Yunmo. It was better not to know before; knowing now made her realize how hard his life had been.
Why is he so distrustful of others? Putting everything else aside, imagine the pressure Su Yunmo must be under! It's a wonder he always seems so relaxed.
"Why don't you trust others?" Leng Yiqing couldn't help but ask him.
Su Yunmo, however, asked dismissively, "Why should I trust them?"
She countered, "Aren't all other companies operating under a shareholding system? Why can they trust you, but you can't?"
"Shareholding system? What does that mean?" Su Yunmo was a little confused.
"It's like partnering with others! The final profit sharing is determined by your different roles and the amount of money you invest in the shop." Leng Yiqing found it difficult to communicate with him. Was it because she didn't understand business? Or was it a difference in generations?
“Oh! I know that. They all do it that way, but I’m not comfortable with it,” Su Yunmo said frankly.
She couldn't stand it anymore and decided to stand up and change Su Yunmo's mind: "So you're relieved now? If someone really wants to take something for themselves, they can still do it, right? You can't keep watching other people like this forever! I really don't understand what you're thinking. Why can't you relax a little?"
"I..." Su Yunmo was speechless; this woman was meddling too much.
"What do you mean, 'you'! You insist on doing all this all the time, making yourself look like you're seventy or eighty years old. And now, you don't even have a woman. Aren't you afraid of what others will say about you..." As she spoke, Leng Yiqing stopped abruptly, realizing she had said the wrong thing. The scenes from last night involuntarily flashed before her eyes, and she felt utterly ashamed.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Relentless Entanglement
Su Yunmo's eyes widened as he stared intently at Leng Yiqing. How could such a heartless woman dare to claim she had once been a high-ranking official? He simply couldn't believe that she truly remembered nothing of yesterday's events, and was now bringing up women in front of him.
However, this was indeed a great pain for Su Yunmo. Over the years, he still couldn't trust anyone, not even Duan Feng, and there were still many things he was unwilling to talk about.
Leng Yiqing, however, hit the nail on the head, revealing his thoughts in one sentence: he was too tired and wanted to rest, but he would not relax until he achieved his goal.
"Ah! Hey!" Leng Yiqing wanted to call him back to his senses, but after last night, she couldn't bring herself to call his name. It turned out that pretending to be nonchalant wasn't so easy after all.
"Hmm?" Su Yunmo was equally at a loss. He could vaguely sense that Leng Yiqing was different today, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. She clearly didn't remember anything from last night, so why did he feel the atmosphere was so subtly tense today?
As they spoke, Duan Feng had already reached the door. Yesterday's disheveled state was gone; he was still as spirited and energetic as ever. Leng Yiqing suddenly remembered last night; he seemed to have mentioned a familiar name, and she was very curious. Now that she was sober, she would ask him about it.
Before Duan Feng could even enter the room, Leng Yiqing hurriedly asked, "What was the name of that woman you mentioned last night?"
"Huh?" Duan Feng was taken aback. Yesterday, he thought this woman was drunk and didn't remember anything. He hadn't been thinking clearly when he told her. What if she found out something? He'd be scolded to death by the prince! Duan Feng was too shocked to say anything.
But Su Yunmo seemed to have noticed something: "Just how drunk were you last night? Didn't you say you didn't remember anything?"
Suddenly, Leng Yiqing blushed from her face to her neck. She dared not look at Su Yunmo again, staring blankly at the ground, absentmindedly counting the colors of the embroidery threads on her shoes.
Duan Feng had already noticed the subtle shift in the relationship between the two. Perhaps he had even indirectly helped the prince? He secretly felt smug and silently withdrew. He'd report back on those matters after his prince had dealt with this little woman!
Judging solely from Leng Yiqing's reaction, Su Yunmo was already quite certain of this woman's thoughts. He smugly approached Leng Yiqing and gently lifted her delicate chin: "You remember everything!" He smiled wickedly, his deep, dark eyes filled with a calm that was captivating.
As she looked up, everything came into view, and Leng Yiqing lost her composure. All her pretense had been seen through, and Leng Yiqing had nowhere to escape, her eyes darting around in panic.
He turned to look at her seriously and explained earnestly, "I thought you were drunk and didn't want to take advantage of you."
This answer left Leng Yiqing completely bewildered. Did Su Yunmo also have those kinds of feelings for her? She looked at Su Yunmo in confusion, waiting for him to confess or make some kind of promise.
But Su Yunmo clearly told her, "But we can't be together! Because I'm still your royal uncle!"
"Royal Uncle!" Leng Yiqing repeated the title that had been troubling her in a daze. If he weren't her royal uncle, would they be able to be together?
"Yiqing, I'm sorry!" A deep sense of regret and helplessness was etched on Su Yunmo's flawless face. He gently pulled her into his arms.
Without exchanging a single word, Leng Yiqing leaned against him quietly, feeling his tenderness and care. Nothing needed to be explained; they seemed to understand each other's thoughts perfectly.
"Then I'll go back!" Gently pushing him away, Leng Yiqing composed herself and returned to Qingyu Garden.
After packing her clothes and getting ready to go, she saw Su Yunmo standing guard at the courtyard gate and asked curiously, "Where are you going?"
"Hehe!" Leng Yiqing laughed self-deprecatingly. She had been presumptuous again. How could they be so in sync? "I'm going back to the Crown Prince's residence to take care of some things that need to be taken care of but haven't been taken care of yet."
What she wanted was freedom. Now, Leng Yiqing had the motivation to face what she had previously been afraid to do. She had to do it. For her own future, and to eliminate the barrier between them.
"Is it really a decision? It might not be that simple! Even if Su Zhengyang is willing, there's still the Emperor and Empress to consider." Su Yunmo said worriedly, genuinely not wanting her to return to the Crown Prince's residence.
Leng Yiqing said confidently, "I've thought it all out. I'm going to go back and turn the Crown Prince's residence upside down, making the Emperor and Empress dislike me. That way, I..."
"I don't deserve this from you. You're a good woman, and you shouldn't be seen that way by others!" Her words were filled with heartache and pity.
"It's not for you, I'm just doing this for my own freedom," she comforted him. Confidently embarking on her unknown journey, she turned back with a smile, her delicate hand waving lightly: "Goodbye!"
Su Yunmo smiled easily, a relaxed expression spreading across her face. She said with concern, "No matter what others think, I'll still visit you often. Tell me if anything's wrong, and I'll help you!"
With Su Yunmo's concern in mind, she resolutely stepped into the gates of the Crown Prince's residence.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Escape or Let Go
Fallen leaves swirled, carrying with them the hardships of the past, settling on the surrounding earth. The autumn wind swept them far, far away. It was as if this tense struggle was finally beginning to reveal its outcome. Su Yunmo felt a sense of peace emanating from the depths of his heart, and he let out a long sigh of relief. Everything would soon be resolved.
Recalling what Leng Yiqing had said about Duan Feng and Shen Jiaxue last night, he felt a pang of guilt. Even though neither of them had spoken of their relationship, back then, Shen Jiaxue had unhesitatingly agreed to enter the Crown Prince's residence to help him. He should have realized that if it wasn't for wealth and status, then it could only be because of love.
The three of them had agreed that Shen Jiaxue's task was to sow discord between Su Zhengyang and Leng Yiqing. Once the task was completed, and Leng Yiqing was either divorced by Su Zhengyang or kicked out of the Crown Prince's residence, then her task would be finished and she would be free.
However, when Duan Feng asked about it some time ago, Su Yunmo hesitated to give an answer. After all, Leng Yiqing was still the Crown Princess, and Su Yunmo was really worried, fearing that either Su Zhengyang or Leng Yiqing might still harbor some lingering affection or reluctance. In fact, at that time, he should have realized that there might be some different kind of feeling between Duan Feng and Shen Jiaxue.
Only now, belatedly realizing the enormity of his actions, does he understand how he has deeply hurt a couple in love for his so-called plan. Now, he can certainly make amends. Because of the position of Crown Princess, even if the Crown Prince is willing now, the Princess is likely uninterested. Moreover, Su Zhengyang is completely indifferent to Leng Yiqing; can such a relationship last?
Therefore, Su Yunmo immediately found Duan Feng and told him the good news: "You can go and pick up Shen Jiaxue now. Leng Yiqing can handle things over there perfectly well."
Duan Feng could hardly believe his ears. Just a short while ago, Su Yunmo had stubbornly refused to budge. In just one night, he had changed his mind because of a mere Leng Yiqing. But what was the point now? Shen Jiaxue had already decided everything for him. He had already hurt her deeply. If he rashly brought her back now, would she still be willing?
Seeing Duan Feng's hesitation, Su Yunmo said firmly, "Go! It wasn't your fault before, I believe she won't be so resolute."
Encouraged, Duan Feng leaped over the courtyard wall.
However, the atmosphere at the Crown Prince's residence was strange. Servants whispered amongst themselves, while Su Zhengyang sat upright in the hall, seemingly lost in thought. "Heh, this Leng Yiqing certainly has guts. She's only just returned and she's already caused quite a stir." At this moment, Su Zhengyang probably had no time to look for Shen Jiaxue!
He lightly leaped over the rooftops and headed straight for the Snow Garden without anyone noticing.
"Xue'er!" When Duan Feng saw that there was no one else in Shen Jiaxue's room, he quietly appeared and gently called to her as she was lost in thought.
Duan Feng's arrival brought Shen Jiaxue not hope, but a burden. Years of feelings couldn't be easily let go. However, she knew deep down that with Su Yunmo's orders, Duan Feng would never take her away. She had longed for the day she would leave for a very long time, but the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment; and as she waited, the thought gradually faded away.
She remembered how excited and thrilled she was when Su Zhengyang told her he was going to divorce Leng Yiqing, and Xiao Xiang told her Leng Yiqing was leaving first. She immediately sent a signal to Duan Feng to come see her. But what she received was an uncertain reply from Duan Feng. After consulting with Su Yunmo, he was even more certain that she needed to stay here.
They had made a promise a year ago when she entered the manor, and Su Yunmo's words still echoed in his ears. But now that the day had come, he hesitated. Perhaps he had no idea about her relationship with Duan Feng, or perhaps he had simply been using them, and that so-called loyalty was nothing but a pretext to deceive people. Only Duan Feng trusted him wholeheartedly.
Whenever he had to choose between her and Su Yunmo, he always chose Su Yunmo without hesitation, solely because of that ridiculous debt of gratitude for raising him. She repeatedly mocked herself; wasn't it precisely this narrow-mindedness of Duan Feng that she had loved in the first place? Since when had she become such a timid, submissive woman?
"Xue'er! I've come to take you home!" A magnetic, alluring voice echoed in Shen Jiaxue's ears. Was she hallucinating? It had only been a short time, yet it had repeated itself so many times, giving her hope only to dash it again. Could she still believe?
"Xue'er! Prince Yun sent me to take you home!" Not feeling her enthusiasm, Duan Feng became a little anxious.
"Didn't you already decide to choose Su Yunmo and abandon me? Why are you still bothering me?" Xue'er said, feeling sorry for herself.
"I didn't say anything that day! I didn't make any decisions! It was because Su Zhengyang came that I had to leave. Isn't that right? You know that too. How could I possibly give you up?" Duan Feng argued passionately. As long as Shen Jiaxue was still willing to speak to him, he believed that she would still come back to him.
However, Shen Jiaxue wasn't entirely sure. Although Duan Feng had promised a year ago that he would take her no matter what, the current situation was what it was. Even if Duan Feng insisted, she was still conflicted: "I'm already Su Zhengyang's woman. Do you really still want me?"
“You did this to help us. Your sacrifice is something I, Duan Feng, could never repay, even if I gave my whole life. Besides, our love is still there, isn’t it? No matter what you become, I will still be the Duan Feng who loves you!” He solemnly promised that he could never make up for what he owed this woman in this lifetime.
“Feng…” Shen Jiaxue’s inner turmoil crumbled after Duan Feng’s heartfelt confession. She saw the glimmer of happiness.
Having been inside for quite some time, Duan Feng was afraid someone would see him, so he hurriedly tried to slip away first: "Tell me when you're ready, and I'll come pick you up!"
"No need to prepare anything. I'll go with you now." Shen Jiaxue didn't want to give Su Yunmo any chance to back out; she had to make a decisive decision. After leaving a note, she resolutely followed Duan Feng away.
Chapter 30: A Little Woman's Little Tricks
Shen Jiaxue's sudden departure not only dealt a huge blow to Su Zhengyang, but also brought considerable trouble to Leng Yiqing, who had just returned home. However, this was exactly what Leng Yiqing wanted; she hoped for more conflict between them.
It might be difficult for someone to fall in love with you, but it's very easy to make someone hate you to the point of breaking up with you. Her purpose in returning this time was to make Su Zhengyang reach his breaking point; she really wanted to be able to be with Su Yunmo openly as soon as possible.
Although the Su Zhengyang she saw before her looked exactly like the one before, she felt no lingering affection for him. This Su Zhengyang had shattered all her beautiful expectations of the CEO Su. The few months she had spent here had also completely killed any thought of returning to the modern world.
To survive better here, the only person she could rely on was Su Yunmo. And here, only Su Yunmo was truly kind to her. This had become even clearer to her after her drunken night last night, because Su Yunmo hadn't taken advantage of her. Whether she was naked when she first arrived or in her drunken escapades, she had received meticulous care and attention from Su Yunmo. He was someone she could trust.
For these reasons, she resolutely chose this difficult path, hoping that things would end soon so that she could return to the peaceful Qingyu Garden.
This morning, she swaggered into the Crown Prince's residence with her bundle, and under everyone's watchful eyes, returned to Qingxin Pavilion with an air of nonchalance. She knew that Su Zhengyang must have some unspeakable grievances regarding her free comings and goings. She just hadn't anticipated Shen Jiaxue's situation.
When Su Zhengyang discovered that Shen Jiaxue had left, his first thought was to rush into Qingxin Pavilion and confront Leng Yiqing: "Why did Shen Jiaxue leave as soon as you returned? What did you do to her? Is it because Xue'er is the easiest to bully in this mansion that you can bully her again and again?"
"How absurd! Your precious Xue'er is gone, and you have nowhere to vent your anger, so you come to me? Don't you even bother to look at your own behavior?" Leng Yiqing completely ignored his feelings, only caring about her own satisfaction. That's the good thing about being emotionless. But there was one thing she never dared to say to Su Zhengyang like this, after all, he still bore some resemblance to President Su.
"Don't play innocent with me! Look at this note yourself! I want to see what you have to say now." Su Zhengyang threw a note at him angrily.
Leng Yiqing casually unfolded the letter, glanced at the neat handwriting on it, shook her head, and smiled helplessly.
"Su Zhengyang, I'm leaving! You'll never find me. Blame your Crown Princess. I've said it before, it's either her or me. Now, even without her, even if you find me, I won't come back." Leng Yiqing read the letter word by word with the air of an observer. Every word fueled Su Zhengyang's anger; he was almost ready to tear down the Qingxin Pavilion.