Love Under the Distant Stars - Chapter 19
When asked that question, Su Yuyin immediately realized her lapse in composure, "Uh... I've just never seen anyone so beautiful before."
Ouyang Tianyun didn't say anything, took her hand, and walked towards the river.
They boarded the painted boat, and Jiang Zilun happened to come out from inside.
"Tianyun, you've finally arrived." Jiang Zilun looked at his friend with a hint of complaint, then glanced at the woman beside him and a knowing smile appeared on his face. "This must be your sister-in-law? I am Tianyun's friend, my name is Jiang Zilun."
"Hello!" Su Yuyin smiled back, secretly sizing him up.
"Sister-in-law, please!" Jiang Zilun led them into the cabin, and then followed them in.
"Tianyun, why are you so late? You didn't drink all night last night, did you?" Yang Zhen, sitting on the right, joked with Ouyang Tianyun, who was late. Unexpectedly, he was right.
"How did you know?" Ouyang Tianyun asked, somewhat surprised.
"Oh? You really drank all night? You and Junhan are really good brothers!" Yang Zhen pointed to the man sitting on the other side. "He's worried about his marriage. What about you?"
Ouyang Tianyun did not answer, but looked deeply at his wife beside him. Yes, he too was troubled by love, because of the woman beside him.
Without him saying it, they understood what was going on, but they couldn't understand why Ouyang Tianyun, who had disliked his wife so much not long ago, would fall in love with her.
"Where's Ruiyang today?" Ouyang Tianyun asked, feeling that one of his friends was missing. He wanted to change the subject.
“He had something come up and can’t make it,” Jiang Zilun replied.
Besides Su Yuyin, there were two other women on the pleasure boat: Yang Zhen's wife, whose given name was Hu Yiyi, and Liu Junhan's personal maid, Jue'er. Although she was called a maid, she could tell their relationship was far more than just that of mistress and servant. From the moment she boarded the boat until now, she had noticed their hands were always tightly clasped together…
The painted boat slowly sailed towards the center of the lake. A gentle breeze was blowing. The men chatted about world affairs while sipping fragrant tea, and the women sat quietly to one side.
"Junhan, cheer up. We rarely get together, so don't keep giving us that look." Yang Zhen patted Liu Junhan's shoulder when he saw that Liu Junhan always looked sullen.
“Yes, tell us what’s wrong so we can all help you make a decision,” Jiang Zilun chimed in.
“My father wants me to get married.” Liu Junhan said softly, his grip on Jue’er’s hand not loosening at all. “The Wang family’s daughter and I were betrothed since childhood. You all know that without me saying it. Morally, I should be responsible for her and marry her. But I love Jue’er, and the only one I want to marry is Jue’er.”
"I thought it was something serious. Isn't this easy to handle? If you want to take responsibility for her, just marry her and make her the eldest daughter-in-law. You can take Jue'er as a concubine later." Jiang Zilun couldn't help but suggest after hearing this. If he can't even handle something this simple, has this guy gone crazy in love?
Upon hearing this, everyone present, except for Su Yuyin, nodded in agreement with Jiang Zilun's words.
Su Yuyin frowned deeply. What kind of responsibility system was this? She felt sorry for the women born in this era. If she had the chance in the future, she would definitely leave this place and return to her own time...
"Sister-in-law seems to disagree with my suggestion," Jiang Zilun asked curiously, seeing her disdainful expression. He had long heard Ruiyang mention that Tianyun's wife was exceptionally talented, even surpassing men in some aspects.
Su Yuyin glanced at Ouyang Tianyun and then said, "I do not agree with Young Master Jiang's suggestion."
"Why?" Six pairs of eyes looked at her at the same time.
"Before I explain the reason, may I ask Young Master Liu a few questions?" she asked, looking at Liu Junhan.
"Please speak, sister-in-law!"
“My question is a bit abrupt…” Su Yuyin paused for a moment, and continued only after Liu Junhan said “It’s okay”, “You said before that you love Miss Jue’er, how much do you love her? If you had to choose between everything you have now and her, what would you choose?”
"Yin'er!" Ouyang Tianyun scolded softly. He thought that Zilun's words had touched a nerve, which was why she was so extreme. But how could she say it so bluntly?
Liu Junhan was stunned for a moment. He really didn't expect her to ask this question. He looked at Jue'er deeply, his eyes filled with deep love. "She is worth everything I would give, even my life."
Such a devoted man is truly rare in this world. Everyone present was deeply moved, and Jue'er, with tears in her eyes, threw herself into his arms.
“With your words, everything will be much easier.” Su Yuyin looked at him appreciatively. “Let me first explain why I disagree with Young Master Jiang’s proposal: I don’t think that marrying your betrothed is being responsible to her. On the contrary, I think it’s irresponsible.”
"What do you mean?" They didn't understand.
"He didn't love her, yet he married her, then left her at home, ignoring her completely, letting her watch helplessly as her husband and other women cuddled together, while she never received a shred of pity from him, destined to live a life of widowhood. Is that what you call being responsible?" Su Yuyin voiced her thoughts. She didn't know if she could save a woman's life, after all, this era was not like the 21st century, but she should at least give it a try.
"What do you think I should do, sister-in-law?" Liu Junhan asked.
“It’s simple, dissolve the engagement!” Su Yuyin said, enunciating each word clearly.
“Sister-in-law is being too naive.” Yang Zhen shook his head, quite surprised that a woman would say such a thing. “Once Junhan proposes to break off the engagement, not only will the Wang family lose face, but that Miss Wang will also be regarded as a ‘discarded wife,’ and it will be difficult for her to find a good family in the future.”
"What if the Wang family takes the initiative to break off the engagement?" She also knew that if the man broke off the engagement, it was usually the girl who would suffer.
"If that's the case, what about Junhan's reputation?" Jiang Zilun thought it was inappropriate; it would be too embarrassing!
"Hmph! What a chauvinistic guy." Su Yuyin glared at him irritably. "Didn't Young Master Liu just say that he would give up everything, even his own life, for Miss Jue'er? What does face matter? That way, Miss Wang won't be ridiculed, and Miss Jue'er can stay with Young Master Liu forever."
“What my sister-in-law said makes a lot of sense, but how can we get the Wang family to take the initiative to break off the engagement?” Liu Junhan asked, this was a very troublesome question.
“You should know his third brother, Ouyang Tianyu, right?” she said, pointing to Ouyang Tianyun beside her. “Tell me, which parent would want to marry their daughter to him? Do you understand what I mean?”
"What did my third brother do to offend you?" Ouyang Tianyun, who hadn't spoken until now, chuckled. Although he also disapproved of his third brother's actions, he always secretly protected him, after all, they were blood brothers.
Offended? "No, I was just using an analogy." She knew her third son's character very well; it was just an act.
"Does my sister-in-law mean I should act like a rogue?" Liu Junhan's lips curled up slightly.
"Yes, the more shameless the better. When the Wang family can't stand it, they will definitely take the initiative to ask for the annulment of the engagement."
"Sister-in-law, what if the Wang family insists on marrying their daughter to Junhan?" Jiang Zilun thought it was highly likely.
"This shows that the Wang family only covets the Liu family's wealth. So, they can only let the Wang family's daughter sit on the 'throne' of young mistress. As for you two... you'll just have to elope." Su Yuyin winked mischievously at Liu Junhan and Jue'er, her adorable expression making everyone laugh...