Such a juicy piece of gossip—why not listen in? To hear more clearly, Chu Lingzhi simply carried her pastries closer to the redwood wall, stood there, and pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.
Ouyang Ruobing’s heart ached again, and she smiled bitterly in resignation. Her sorrowful expression made her even more pitifully charming. The light yellow dress accentuated her fair skin, making it look even more delicate and tender. She was like a crystal doll, needing to be cradled in one’s palms and carefully cherished.
Ouyang Ruobing was beautiful, capable yet tinged with a hint of fragility, making any man who saw her want to pull her into his arms and adore her. If she hadn’t left him back then, he would still feel pity for her now.
He took a sip of the jasmine tea he usually liked, but couldn’t taste its fragrance. Nangong Yehen’s expression was cold and gloomy, yet he silently savored the tea and pastries.
Ouyang Ruobing gripped her teacup tightly, looking at him boldly as she asked, “Nangong, can we start over?”
A flicker of emotion passed through Nangong Yehen’s eyes, then turned as cold as ice. He stopped eating, his voice frigid, “If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”
“Do you love her?” Ouyang Ruobing suddenly asked.
Nangong Yehen raised an eyebrow, his refined, sinisterly handsome face filled with displeasure.
Ouyang Ruobing gave a bitter smile: “I’m not asking you to love me. Can’t we even be friends?”
“What exactly are you trying to say?” His tone was thick with impatience.
“Is it because you love her that you let her live in Nangong Manor?”
Chu Lingzhi was slightly startled. *Her*—did that mean her?
Nangong Yehen sneered mockingly: “What does that have to do with you? Who I love is none of your business.”
It felt as if someone had reached out with five fingers and clawed at her heart, pain radiating from its tip.
“Do you have to treat me like this?” Ouyang Ruobing’s eyes reddened as she looked at Nangong Yehen sorrowfully.
“Then how do you want me to treat you?”
“…” She just wanted them to be friends. Even if they couldn’t be lovers, being friends would be fine, as long as he didn’t look at her or treat her this way.
Nangong Yehen stared at her sharply, the aura radiating from him as cold as a demon king’s. “Miss Ouyang, don’t think too highly of yourself. Without you, Nangong Yehen still has plenty of women waiting for my favor.”
Ouyang Ruobing trembled at his words, her face turning slightly pale. “In the end, you still hate me.”
“Miss Ouyang, I’ve told you, I don’t have time to hate you, and you’re not worthy of my hatred!” The man’s presence was filled with an intimidating chill.
“She’s done a lot for you. Love her well.”
“I don’t need your reminders.”
“I’m glad you answered my call and had this meal with me.” Ouyang Ruobing suppressed the pain inside her, forcing a smile at Nangong Yehen.
Her smile carried a sense of brokenness, enough to tug at one’s heart. But Nangong Yehen was ruthless and hard-hearted, unmoved by her pitiful demeanor. Instead, his gaze at her grew darker and colder. “I answered your call and had this meal with you out of respect for the years you’ve taken care of Yichen, but there won’t be a next time.”
Ouyang Ruobing’s heart ached terribly, and she choked out, “Nangong, I’m sorry. I’ve caused you so much pain all these years.”
Chu Lingzhi stuffed the last piece of pastry into her mouth. *All these years, Nangong Yehen has been in pain?* From the way he looked, he didn’t seem like someone who had come through suffering. Though she had only met Ouyang Ruobing once, her elegance and beauty were vividly etched in her memory.