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墨書 Inktalez
On a sunny day, the streets were bustling with groups of women carrying vegetable baskets.
They formed small clusters, three or five at a time, gathering around the stalls selling cosmetics, meat, and fruits. Their laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere that was rich with the scent of everyday life.
However, as the crisp sound of wheels rolling over the cobblestone street echoed, all eyes turned in unison to a youth on the carriage, whose appearance was as exquisite as a jade disc.
“Miss, how much for this Yulan Flower?” Pan An's voice was warm and carried an innate elegance.
“Not for sale!” The nearest Flower Seller suddenly pushed away a middle-aged man who was leering at her. In a flurry of movement, she grabbed the most beautiful bouquet of Yulan Flowers and rushed to the front of the carriage, her cheeks flushed with shyness and excitement. “Mr. Pan, this flower… is for you!”
Seeing her precariously leaning against the carriage, Pan An frowned slightly, concern evident in his gaze. He quickly accepted the bouquet, his lips curling into a perfectly timed smile. “Thank you, Miss!”
“He smiled at me! Did you see that? Mr. Pan smiled at me! All those rumors about his engagement must be lies! A handsome man like Mr. Pan could never marry so casually, right?” The Flower Seller exclaimed, cupping her face in her hands, her voice trembling with excitement as she struggled to contain her joy.
This display instantly ignited jealousy among all the women nearby. In an instant, shrieks filled the air as various fruits and vegetables were hurled towards Pan An's carriage.
Pan An's smile was as clear and bright as a sky washed clean after rain. Watching these women swoon and scream for him, his expression gradually turned contemplative. He suddenly recalled that night when Xue Rongji had urged him to call off his engagement.
“Could it be that the moonlight that night wasn’t bright enough for her to see my true self?” He rested his chin on his hand, frowning in confusion. He couldn’t quite understand what kind of woman would be indifferent to his appearance.
“Mr. Pan is quite dashing; he surely doesn’t desire these flowers! I heard he loves fruits; why not send him a pear to soothe his throat?” someone in the crowd shouted loudly.
Immediately, those without flowers erupted into action. Oranges, bananas, apples, and grapes flew towards Pan An’s carriage in a chaotic frenzy.
However, the most terrifying sight was the enormous unidentified object rapidly approaching Pan An overhead.
With a loud "thud," a fruit covered in giant spikes, about a foot long and three inches high, crashed onto the frame of the vehicle behind Pan An, producing a dull sound.
Startled, Pan An turned around to see a Durian rolling to his feet. Following the trajectory from which the Durian had come, he was shocked to find Xue Rongji, whom he had seen by the wall that night.
She stood there with her hands on her hips, grinning with delight, her face lit up with playful mischief as she made a funny face at him.
“It’s you?” Pan An quickly jumped out of the car, agilely pushing through the crowd to catch her, his eyes filled with urgency. “Why did you throw a Durian at me?”
“This is just a warning!” Xue Rongji proudly waved her fist, tilting her chin slightly in a show of arrogance. “Who told you to fool me that night? You’re clearly Pan An, yet you pretended to be a servant. I can’t stand people like you!”
As she spoke, her expression shifted. With her slender finger pointed at his chest, she wore a mischievous grin. “Let me tell you, my father may like you, but I really dislike you! I will never marry you. If you don’t want to live in constant fear every day, it’s best for you to have Lord Pan talk to my father and call off this engagement.”
Pan An grasped her delicate finger tightly, disbelief etched on his face as he spoke with a hint of grievance. “Why? We’ve only just met. Although I wasn’t completely honest about my identity that night, I don’t think I did anything particularly wrong. Why don’t you like me?”
“A decorative pillow is just a decorative pillow; your head is filled with nonsense!” Xue Rongji rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Didn’t I tell you? I already have someone I like! I promised him that I would follow him to uphold justice and wander the world… My father thinks I’m just talking nonsense, but what I say must count!”
As she spoke, her expression softened considerably. On her youthful face was an undeniable sweetness as she continued, “ Brother A Qing has a good heart and great skills; if I were to marry anyone, it would have to be someone like him!”
Pan An felt his breath hitch for the first time in his life, as if something had struck him hard in the heart. “So, you really like him?” He noticed a hint of disappointment in his own tone and couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly while shaking his head. “You little girl, when it comes to reasoning, you sure have it all figured out! At your age, do you even know what marriage means?”
“Of course I do!” Xue Rongji squinted with pride, her face glowing with dreams. “If I marry him, it means taking care of him for life. We’ll share both hardships and joys together. He won’t mind that I’m not pretty; I won’t mind that he’s chubby. I’ll bear his children while he shields me from storms…”
Pan An looked at her profile, the sunlight casting a warm glow on her face, outlining her gentle features. He realized that although the girl before him was not exceptionally beautiful, the earnest and hopeful expression on her face was innocent yet resolute, causing his heart to race inexplicably.
"But," he said seriously as he turned to Xue Rongji, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions, "on that day at Xue's mansion, when your father promised me your hand in marriage, I also vowed to care for his daughter for the rest of my life. A man’s word is his bond. Since you are unwilling to marry me, I cannot force you. Instead, why don’t you tell me what kind of man you like and let me meet him? If I truly am not as good as he is, I will gladly step aside for you."
"Really?" Xue Rongji exclaimed with delight, her eyes lighting up and her face filled with surprise.
As Pan An gazed at her radiant smile, he suddenly felt a pang of regret for what he had just said, a bittersweet sensation swelling within him.
If he truly had to give this "future bride" away to someone else, he would indeed feel a sense of reluctance.
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