Who else could you love besides me

Chapter 99

She nodded, gently tugging at her wound, but felt no pain. Feeling Long Ming's gaze fixed on her, she lowered her head and whispered, "Long Ming, I've never said I like you, and you've never said you like me, but... I admit I enjoy being with you. I once thought that was love, but until today, I'm suddenly unsure. I... I hesitated, right when Third Brother knelt before me... I'm no longer so sure that you're the only one in my heart. Because if I abandon everything to go with you, I'll always remember Third Brother, I won't be able to forget him. So, Long Ming... I need time... to sort out my thoughts..." She said so much in one breath, yet the wound still didn't hurt; the medicine had indeed worked.

He asked softly, "How long will it take?"

"Three months." (e7)

"It was an agreement between you and Minglu, wasn't it?" he asked.

She was startled and looked up, asking, "You know?"

Didn't you notice?

"What?"

"Look." He pointed to the roof, and Xi Ri looked over and saw that a roof tile was missing.

...frowning...the eccentric habit of the thief on the roof tiles is indeed hard to guard against.

She looked at Long Ming, not knowing what else to say...

But then he grinned, revealing his teeth, his demeanor completely different from his previous gentleness. He gave her a captivating smile, leaving Xi Ri momentarily stunned, her mind racing with thoughts of a smile that could topple a city… when she heard him speak with an air of condescension and arrogance: “It’s just three months, isn’t it? Let’s make a deal. Three months. If you haven’t fallen in love with Ming Lu by then, you can come with me. I can even break off the engagement. Actually, sometimes I think having a rival like Ming Lu is quite interesting. I accept Ming Lu’s challenge. Within three months! I’ll let you know, let him know, let the whole world know, that in this world, besides me, who else could you possibly love!”

ah?!

I just thought he was... heartbroken or something, how come he showed his true colors so quickly?

Xi Ri stared at Long Ming, who was beaming with pride, with a slightly open mouth.

At that moment, all the gloom in her heart vanished, left behind, and replaced by a smile that appeared naturally despite her furrowed brows...

Long Ming suddenly said, "What's with that expression? If you want to laugh, just laugh. Why are you frowning like that? It's hideous!"

"Oh." She tried hard to adjust her facial expression.

He suddenly said, "I like seeing you smile."

The smile froze on her face for a moment.

Then he said, "Don't be too moved. I don't have seven wives to give them their freedom."

"..." This guy's mouth is really ruthless.

"You were very moved when Minglu said those words just now, weren't you?"

“No…” Xi Ri shook her head and said, “I am shocked… shocked by Third Brother’s ruthlessness… and a little guilty, um… and a little scared.”

"Fear?"

"Um... I'm scared."

Are you afraid of him?

"A little." (10)

"Then why do you say you can't tell who you like?"

"I can't tell the difference."

"What's there to not understand? Are you afraid of me? If you're afraid of him, how can you still like him?"

“But… I can’t let go of Third Brother in my heart, it will break my heart for him… I probably owe Third Brother too much,” Xi Ri said sadly.

"I see..." Long Ming's gaze suddenly dimmed, then brightened again after a moment. Her large eyes looked expectant as she asked, "You just said you like me, so let me ask you, what do you like about me?"

How could you ask that directly? The courage she had impulsively confessed her feelings for him just now was long gone, and she hadn't heard him say he liked her either. She was already feeling ashamed, so when he asked her that, she was both angry and annoyed. She simply said, "I need to rest. You can leave."

He didn't press further, but instead asked, "During the time I was gone, did you ever think of me?"

"..." She remained silent and did not answer.

"I miss you so much," he said gently, then softly recited: "There is a beauty, whom I cannot forget once I have seen her. A day without seeing her, I am driven mad with longing. The phoenix flies gracefully, seeking its mate across the four seas. Alas, the beauty is not on the eastern wall. I string my zither to express my heartfelt feelings. When will I be granted a meeting, to soothe my anguish?"

"Let's go, I'm a patient, I need to rest." Swish... Xi Ri covered her head with the blanket.

"Okay, I'm leaving now. You get some rest, and I'll come see you again tomorrow."

The person inside said in a muffled voice, "Remember to put the roof tiles back on properly."

"oh……"

After a long time, Tian Shuang, who was supposed to keep watch but had disappeared without a trace, finally entered the house. Xi Xi had been tossing and turning all day and had not been able to sleep. When he heard Tian Shuang enter the house, he called her over and was about to question her about why she had deliberately let Long Ming in when he was shocked to see bloodstains on Tian Shuang. After asking her, he learned that...

Just now, Tian Xiyun, the younger sister, unexpectedly bumped into Long Ming. Tian Xiyun's infatuation with Long Ming wasn't something new; seeing him so late at night, she was so excited that she impulsively tried to rush up and hug him. Unexpectedly, Long Ming dodged her hastily, and Tian Xiyun crashed into a pillar, injuring her head and immediately losing consciousness. Seeing her injured and lying on the ground, Long Ming couldn't ignore her, so he had to find Tian Shuang to take Tian Xiyun back to her room.

Tian Shuang secretly helped Tian Xiyun back, pretending that she had fallen at the door. She then secretly had the maid discover that Tian Xiyun was injured. Only after the maid brought a doctor did Tian Shuang secretly leave.

After hearing this, Xi Ri was at a loss for words. She could only question Tian Shuang about what benefits he had received from Long Ming, given his obedience to Long Ming. Tian Shuang remained evasive, finally revealing the truth: Long Ming had promised Tian Shuang that he would definitely see Li Yu in ten days!

No wonder Tian Shuang would work for him. Xi Ri gritted her teeth in hatred for Long Ming; he was too wicked, even exploiting Tian Shuang's weakness!

The next day, Xi Ri learned that the doctor diagnosed Tian Xi Yun with amnesia caused by the accident. She couldn't remember anything that had happened recently. The doctor advised her to rest well, and that she might be able to remember things later. Otherwise, she was fine.

During the few days that Xi Ri was recuperating from her injury, things took an unexpected turn.

In the past few days, not only Minglu has been able to freely enter and leave the Tian residence to visit her, but even Longming has been able to come and go freely and openly.

Long Ming claimed to be a close friend of Xi Ri's cousin, Li Yu (Li Yu would probably be tempted to bang his head against a wall upon hearing this, but Tian Xi Yun beat him to it). Hearing that Xi Ri had recently fallen ill, he used this as an excuse to visit him at the Tian residence. Once would have been enough, but he kept coming, one after another, each time bringing flowers to Xi Ri's room, showing no restraint whatsoever! And yet, not a single person in the Tian household reprimanded his abrupt behavior; instead, everyone seemed to be eagerly awaiting his visits! Women could be understood, but for even men to act this way, one has to investigate what kind of sorcery Long Ming was using.

In truth, he possessed no magical powers whatsoever; he simply brought numerous valuable gifts each time, and he showered bribes upon everyone he met, without exception, regardless of rank. This is why he was so popular. Whenever he entered the Tian residence, eager servants would immediately inform Tian Shuang, begging for a chance to wait outside Miss Xiri's room to greet Young Master Long… These past few days, Tian Shuang had been flattered by the other servants, feeling elated and superior. She wondered if she would still be able to accept it if Young Master Long stopped coming…