Red sleeves...
Upon hearing this name, Huangfu Mi frowned almost imperceptibly. Even now, he still has many fragments of memories about Hongxiu. However, he realized from the beginning that the feelings he had were less about love and more about the fact that they had instilled in him that he and Hongxiu were going to get married, leaving him with no choice.
But now, things are different!
V93
But now, things are different!
He clearly heard his own heart's voice. Even though he couldn't remember every little detail from the past, he was still certain that the flutter he felt when facing Meng Wan was something he had never felt when facing Hong Xiu.
"Brother, please help me say goodbye to the princess. I went to see her before, but she refused to see me. I suppose she still harbors resentment because of the concealment and framing of Wan'er. But actually, we don't blame her at all. It's all because I lost my memory. So please pass on a message to her: if she's willing, when you go to Lanling in the future, please ask her to come along. Wan'er and I will then personally thank her for saving my life."
Meng Junheng nodded, then turned and glanced in the direction Huang Die had left, sighing softly.
Hongxiu is indeed a bit willful and selfish, but she truly loves Huangfu Mi very much. If she doesn't come to see them before they leave, she might regret it.
He frowned, and after seeing Meng Wan and Huangfu Mi off, he went back to Hongxiu and told her what Huangfu Mi had said. Finally, he said, "They will be leaving in three days. If you want, go and see him."
Hongxiu listened quietly, but remained silent for a long time.
--
When Meng Wan and her entourage left Western Shu, the King of Western Shu and Meng Junheng personally came out to see them off, and Hongxiu was among them.
She stood in the crowd, gazing at the group of people on horseback in the distance. Even from that distance, she could still spot him at a glance. In the end, she still loved him deeply, it was just a pity...
Ultimately, it is something that cannot be obtained even if one desires it.
Back in Lanling, she had admired him, but Meng Wan was by his side. Later, rescuing him was unintentional. She was happy to learn that he had lost his memory, thinking it was a chance given to her by God. But in the end, it was just wishful thinking on her part.
One is persistent and unwavering, while the other, even with amnesia, still knows who he loves. How can she separate these two?
She gave a wry smile. Huangfu Mi and the others were already preparing to set off. She held back for a moment, but couldn't help herself and stepped forward: "Brother Heng--" she called out.
She once vowed that she would find her own Huangfu Mi, but in the end it was all in vain. Even so, it could not stop her from loving him.
Huangfu Mi pulled on the reins, turned his head to look at her, clearly not expecting her to come, or rather, only now noticing her arrival. He was obviously stunned for a moment, and in his surprise, Meng Wan had already taken a step forward with her horse: "You guys talk first, I'll go ahead with Fifth Brother and the others to wait for you."
She knew that Hongxiu was, after all, Huangfu Mi's savior and a very important person in his memory. At this moment, she had to give the two of them some time alone.
Huangfu Mi nodded, glanced at her again, then jumped off his horse and walked up to Hongxiu: "Princess, you've come too."
Hongxiu nodded, but now she didn't know what to say. She looked down at the ground, speechless for a moment.
Seeing this, Huangfu Mi took another step forward: "Is there something you want to say to me?"
His gentle tone almost brought tears to Hongxiu's eyes. Why couldn't he be hers? Why did she have to meet him so late? Why did he have someone he loved? Why could they meet but not be together?
"Brother Heng, do you really not like me?" She raised her head somewhat unwillingly and looked straight at Huangfu Mi.
Yes, I'm not reconciled.
What is it about her that Meng Wan doesn't have, and why can't she make him like her?
Huangfu Mi narrowed his eyes, but had no reply.
What could he say? In the past few days, he had listened to Meng Wan talk a lot about their past. Although his memory had not yet returned, the feeling of being there when she told him the story was still familiar to him. So he became more and more clear that he could not fall in love with anyone else, no one at all!
After pondering for a while, he said, "I am very grateful to the princess for saving my life, and I am also grateful for the princess's misplaced love. However, love arises without knowing where it comes from, and once it begins, it becomes deep. In this life, I am afraid I can only let the princess down."
One sentence was all it took to completely break Hongxiu's heart.
Yes, things have come to this point, what is she still clinging to? But in the end, her heart still aches, and she is still unwilling to accept it!
Clenching his fist, he punched Huangfu Mi in the chest fiercely and shouted, "Chu Heng, Chu Heng, you damned Chu Heng, even now you won't lie to me? Is it so hard for you to say you like me? After spending so many days together, are you really not moved?"
Completely disregarding her image, she seemed out of control. Huangfu Mi didn't dodge, just letting her hit him, her fists landing on his chest again and again.
He didn't know how many times he hit her, but he eventually got tired, clenched his fists against her chest, and gasped for breath.
Seeing this, Huangfu Mi couldn't help but frown slightly, feeling a pang of pity. However, he didn't know what to say to comfort her, so he could only look at Hongxiu without saying a word.
Feeling his gaze, Hongxiu raised her head. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away again: "Don't look at me with such pity. I don't need your sympathy. Liking you is my business, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."
She gave herself a way out, speaking very casually, but Huangfu Mi's brows furrowed even more: "Princess, you..." He didn't know whether to be happy or not after she said that.
Hongxiu impatiently interrupted him, hastily wiping away her tears, and then said, half-jokingly and half-teasingly, "Don't be like this, okay? Or have you thought it through and realized that I'm better than Meng Wan, and you want to stay?"
"No." Huangfu Mi immediately shook his head, which made Hongxiu give another wry smile. "Why are you so nervous? I'm not going to steal you."
Huangfu Mi then realized that her reaction was too strong, and she curled her lips into a slight smile.
Hongxiu stepped forward again: "Alright, it's getting late. They're all still waiting for you. You should hurry up and go!"
Huangfu Mi hesitated for a moment, then turned his head to look ahead. Meng Wan and the others had stopped and were waiting for him there.
He nodded: "Well... I'm leaving now, take care!"
The sun slowly set, sweeping away the harsh cold of the previous days; its warmth seemed to melt away even the coldest heart.
For some reason, Hongxiu suddenly felt like crying. She looked up at the horizon, at the white snow and sky, blinked, and couldn't help but cry out, "Brother Heng—"
She took two steps forward, stood up to Huangfu Mi, and whispered in his ear on tiptoe, "Remember this, you must take good care of yourself. If you are not doing well, I will definitely go to Lanling and take you back!"
Huangfu Mi was initially startled by her sudden action, but upon hearing these words, he stopped in his tracks, which was about to retreat.
He glanced down at Hongxiu, then smiled and said, "Don't worry, that day will never come." His tone was firm, and his gaze showed no hesitation.