Feng Lingtong was puzzled.
"You mean a girl can take the initiative in this regard?"
Zhao Shuning pried open Yan Ruyu's hand and replied fluently.
"Of course, Sister. Sometimes happiness has to be fought for by oneself. I could tell at a glance that Su Mu has feelings for you. I just wasn't sure if you had the same feelings for him. Now that you know your own heart, this is a mutual secret love, a two - way relationship, which is the most beautiful and moving kind."
Zhao Shuning's eyes sparkled with stars.
Yan Ruyu said jealously, "Don't you have this kind of feeling when you're with me, Ning'er?"
Zhao Shuning shrugged and whispered, "I do, but the feeling with Buran is even better."
Feng Zhan shivered. He just couldn't bear to watch the interaction between Buran and that girl.
It seemed that with so many people present, they were the only ones being sweet. Their conversation could be so cheesy. Was this still the Buran he remembered?
"Sister, if you want to go to him, you'd better go now. It'll be too late soon."
"This—"
"Sister, you're not a hesitant person. Hurry up!" Feng Zhan also urged.
"Go, Xiaotong. I think if our sister knew you'd met someone you truly like, she'd hope you'd seize the opportunity." Shi Jiu said sincerely.
Feng Lingtong let out a sigh of relief. She was just about to speak when hasty footsteps came from the yard outside.
Before long, a man in white rushed into the yard, followed in a hurry by a large group of maids and eunuchs.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't run so fast!"
"Your Majesty, be careful of your health!"
"Your Majesty, you've just taken your medicine. You can't run vigorously!"
The voices from behind kept ringing, but Su Mu had already reached the yard. When he saw Feng Lingtong still in the yard, he let out a sigh of relief. Then he leaned on his legs with both hands, gasped for a long time, and finally straightened up. It was obvious that he had run here.
Feng Lingtong frowned. Feng Zhan stepped back and pulled Shi Jiu along. Yan Ruyu, understanding the situation, put his arm around Zhao Shuning and went into the room.
"Saintess, you haven't left yet."
"Do you hope I leave?" Feng Lingtong retorted.
"Of course not!" Su Mu quickly refuted, looking into Feng Lingtong's eyes seriously. This was the first time he didn't avoid her gaze.
"What are you doing here?"
Seeing Feng Lingtong's determined look, Su Mu felt a pang in his heart. He took a few steps back and leaned against the wall to support himself.
Yes, what was he doing here?
Stop her from going back? How could he be so selfish? She didn't belong here in the first place. Her appearance was just a fleeting glance. She was like a figure in a painting. How could she come to this mortal world and stay for him?
"I—"
"I don't know—"
After hesitating for a long time, Su Mu only said this.
Seeing this, Feng Lingtong got angry. Even at this point, he still didn't say anything.
"If you don't know, what are you doing here? Has Your Majesty finished dealing with all the political affairs so that you come to see us off?"
Su Mu lowered his head.
Feng Lingtong said, "If Your Majesty is here to say goodbye to us, then say what you want to say quickly. We're short on time and can't waste it with you."
Su Mu wanted to speak but felt that with his current status, he couldn't.
"If there's nothing to say, Your Majesty, please go back. Your Majesty and I just met by chance. I'm already very grateful that Your Majesty came to see us off before we leave."
Feng Lingtong used to speak very gently, but today her words were full of gunpowder.
Su Mu didn't know why Feng Lingtong would say such things today. They were about to part. Did she really have no nostalgia at all?
Feng Zhan couldn't stand their awkwardness anymore. He simply pulled Shi Jiu and said to Feng Lingtong, "Sister, we'll go out first. We only have half an hour left. If you two keep dragging this on, we'll have to go back."
"Got it."
After Feng Zhan left, Feng Lingtong said, "If there's nothing else, you can go back. You've heard. I don't have time to deal with you."
Su Mu lowered his head. His eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of frost.
"Then, will you come back?" There was an obvious pleading tone in his voice.
"Maybe not."
He looked up, his eyes full of panic.
"Why?"
"It depends."
"You?"
"If, as A Zhan said, I find a good marriage there, then I'll have to fulfill my mission. You should know that I'm the Lord of the Charm Forest. The inheritance of the Charm Lord depends on blood."
"You?"
"Su Mu, what do you want to say?"
"What are the men like there?"
"Most of the men there are straightforward and do things neatly. If they fall in love with a girl, they'll surely propose marriage with the three documents and six betrothal gifts. Even if it doesn't work out in the end, at least they've spoken out, so the girl can be sure of their feelings and decide whether to be together or look for someone else."
"The men there are really brave."
"Su Mu, go back."
Su Mu didn't respond and naturally didn't move his feet.
"What if, if you meet someone there who is very kind to you at first, but treats you badly after marriage?"
"You don't need to worry about this."
Su Mu's heart ached. He put his right hand on his chest and forced a smile. "It seems I don't have the right to interfere in your affairs."
"Then I wish you to meet a kind person for the rest of your life."
"Okay."
Su Mu turned around. His hand in his sleeve trembled constantly. His face was full of grief at this moment.
She was still going to leave. He knew clearly that even if he came, it wouldn't help, but he still ran here to confirm it again.
Su Mu, you're really a coward.
"Your Majesty." A maid stepped forward. Su Mu shook his head and called a eunuch over. The eunuch stepped forward, and Su Mu grabbed his arm. If he didn't, he felt he would faint instantly.
"Are you just going to leave like this?" Feng Lingtong spoke, looking at Su Mu's back.
Su Mu stopped in his tracks and only gave a bitter smile.
What else could he do if he didn't leave? He knew the saintess was too noble for him to approach, but he couldn't help but fall in love with her every time he faced her. He had tried many ways to let her go.
But once his heart was trapped, it wasn't that easy to get out. As long as he saw Feng Lingtong and as long as she gave him a gentle smile, he would persuade himself again.
Just watch her and protect her from afar without disturbing her. No one should notice. If she found her own happiness, he would never affect her.
But it was only today that he knew what he would become if she really left and never came back.