The long - missing longing welled up in her heart. Even Yu Xueling, a gentle and well - bred young lady, could hardly contain herself.
Just as she was about to rush into Qi Rong's arms and her arms were about to embrace him, an arm suddenly came between them in time, keeping them apart.
Yu Xueling was stopped just a foot away from Qi Rong and couldn't get any closer.
"Brother Rong?"
Looking at the arm Qi Rong had put up to block her, Yu Xueling couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes.
Such a disregard for propriety in getting close seemed unintentional, but it had actually exhausted all her courage.
She knew that he might reject her, but she still didn't want to give up the chance to get close to him. However, when the anticipated reality was right in front of her, she realized:
Even though she had prepared herself mentally for rejection, she still felt heart - broken.
Qi Rong deliberately ignored Yu Xueling's resentful look. Instead, he stepped past her and looked at his friend Yu Chengyang.
"You must be hungry too. I've had someone prepare some food. Come on in."
Saying so, he turned around and walked straight towards Yun Xi behind him with a doting smile.
"I've had the local chefs cook some special dishes. You can try them later and see if you like them. If there's any dish you like, just remember it. I'll have someone cook it for you every day."
"How could you be here!"
Yu Xueling's sense of loss hadn't subsided yet, but when she saw Yun Xi, it was like a thunderbolt exploding above her head!
Her face showed shock and jealousy. She even forgot to hide her hatred for Yun Xi.
When Yun Xi saw the Yu siblings, a look of embarrassment flashed across her face, but she quickly composed herself.
She deliberately ignored Yu Xueling's hostile gaze and calmly greeted them. In response to Yu Xueling's question, Yun Xi had a half - smile on her face and answered boldly.
"Since Miss Yu can come to Lingchuan, of course I can too."
She hadn't forgotten that Yu Xueling had once instigated Yun Ni to be against her and even used the Eighth Princess and Lady Jiang to plot against her.
Although that incident had gradually died down later, Lady Jiang and the Eighth Princess had received some punishment. Yun Ni had been confined by her father, and even Zhen Bao had been affected and hurriedly sent out of the capital...
But only Yu Xueling had reaped the benefits. She had stirred up such a big storm but still managed to get away unscathed!
Such scheming made her the most calculating woman Yun Xi had ever met!
"You!"
Rebuked by Yun Xi's words, Yu Xueling frowned tightly.
As an unmarried young woman, Yun Xi was traveling with a man without any proper status. It was easy for people to gossip about this!
But no matter how much she wanted to accuse Yun Xi of being shameless, she seemed to have no ground to stand on because of Yun Xi's words.
After all, she had also insisted on coming with her brother just to see Brother Rong!
"Come on. Aren't you tired? Let's go in and have dinner quickly so you can rest earlier."
Yu Chengyang couldn't bear to see his sister so jealous. He stepped forward, put his arm around her shoulder, and half - pushed her into the room.
At the dinner table, Qi Rong unashamedly kept serving Yun Xi food. Yu Chengyang felt extremely embarrassed looking at his sulking sister.
"Xueling, try this. It tastes quite good."
Yu Chengyang tried to divert his sister's attention and put a piece of sweet - and - sour chicken on Yu Xueling's plate. However, Yu Xueling didn't appreciate it at all.
"I don't like such greasy food. It looks disgusting!"
Saying so, she cast a challenging look at Yun Xi, who was enjoying a piece of sweet - and - sour chicken, and her words were full of disgust.
Yun Xi was eating the sweet - and - sour chicken and almost burst out laughing when she heard Yu Xueling's words.
This young lady usually acted gentle and noble, but when it came to Qi Rong, she immediately showed her true colors.
Was this the so - called one thing subduing another?
No matter how calculating Yu Xueling was, Qi Rong would always be her weak point. A little poke would make her explode!
Yun Xi was already used to Qi Rong's ability to attract women. Thinking of Cheng Caijie before, she just felt pity.
Qi Rong was a disaster. Falling in love with such a cold - hearted man usually wouldn't end well!
She was now deeply involved and couldn't get rid of Qi Rong. If she was ever abandoned by him, her ending might not be much better than Cheng Caijie's.
Therefore, she always reminded herself to be rational and not to have too many expectations for Qi Rong. Otherwise, the one who would get hurt in the end would surely be herself!
Yun Xi stopped dwelling on Yu Xueling's feelings for Qi Rong and enjoyed her meal to her heart's content.
She completely ignored Yu Xueling.
Seeing that Yun Xi didn't respond, Yu Xueling felt a bit bored. However, she wasn't discouraged. Immediately, she picked up a fried fish and put it on Qi Rong's plate, smiling softly.
"Brother Rong, I remember you liked fried yellow croaker the most when you were a kid. I see you've lost weight recently. Eat more."
Since the late queen and her mother had been good friends before they got married, when they were young, Qi Rong and Yu Chengyang often played together. Yu Xueling also often entered the palace with her mother and was very much loved by the late queen.
Once, when she fell asleep in the palace, in a daze, she heard the late queen talking to her mother about making her Brother Rong's concubine.
Although she was young at that time and didn't understand much about feelings, when she heard that she might marry Brother Rong, she felt extremely happy!
Even her look at Qi Rong became more persistent, and she was looking forward to growing up quickly every day!
However, things didn't turn out as she wished. When Yu Xueling learned that the late emperor had privately arranged a marriage for Qi Rong, she was sad for a long time. Even after Qi Rong, the once - glorious Seventh Prince, was demoted to a prisoner and lived among the common people, far below her in status, she still didn't give up her love for him.
Looking at the yellow croaker Yu Xueling had put on his plate, Qi Rong hesitated for a moment.
It was indeed a dish he had once loved because it was the only dish his mother had ever learned to cook, just because he used to dislike fish.
He also enjoyed his mother's love very much and came to like this dish even more.
But now, he had a different state of mind.
"I don't like this anymore."
Qi Rong refused straightforwardly. He directly picked up the fried fish from his plate and put it on Yun Xi's.
"You eat it for me."
This action made the smile that Yu Xueling had been barely holding up crack. Eventually, the crack spread to her heart. It was as if there was a gash in her heart, and the pain spread to every part of her body!
She suddenly stood up, her eyes red and on the verge of tears.
"Brother Rong, I'm not feeling well in my stomach. I'll leave first."
After saying that, she cast a cold look at Yun Xi, covered her lips with her hand, and stumbled out of the door as if running away.
She couldn't bear the fact that her feelings were constantly being rejected while having to watch him carefully take care of another woman in front of her.
It seemed that only when Yun Xi completely disappeared could she truly regain Brother Rong's attention!