"But Buran, I don't want to make a choice."
Zhao Shuning turned around.
Looking at Yan Ruyu,
she said seriously.
"I don't want to choose between the righteousness of the world and my brother. I don't owe the world anything, but I owe him a great deal."
"Ning'er, I'm telling you this not to make you choose. It's just that Zhao Huai doesn't belong to this plane after all. It was an accident that he appeared here as a baby. Eventually, he will return to his own place."
"Buran."
Zhao Shuning rarely interrupted Yan Ruyu.
Yan Ruyu also stopped.
Looking at Zhao Shuning seriously.
"Don't hurt him." "Him" here referred to Zhao Huai.
For some reason, although Yan Ruyu knew that Zhao Shuning's feelings for Zhao Huai were more like family affection, when he heard Zhao Shuning say this to him so seriously, his heart couldn't help but twitch.
"Do you think I'll hurt him?" he retorted, with a hint of emotion in his tone.
"Or rather, if one day I really do something to him, Ning'er, will you never have anything to do with me again because of him?"
Zhao Shuning was stunned for a moment.
For a while,
she didn't know how to answer.
It was an undeniable fact that she liked Buran.
But Zhao Huai was her elder brother. Since childhood, he had always taken her with him. At that time, Zhao Huai, with his already frail body, had shouldered a piece of sky for Zhao Shuning.
She had said that
when she grew up, she would protect her brother.
But now,
Buran was a very important person to her. Zhao Shuning couldn't even imagine what she would do if one day
the two of them confronted each other with weapons.
It was unrealistic for her to choose either of them.
"The moment you hesitated, I already knew your decision."
Yan Ruyu's already bloodless face turned even paler.
Zhao Shuning felt a pang in her heart.
She quickly said, "Buran, I—"
"Ning'er, there's no need to say. I can understand. It's just that I can't get over this hurdle in my heart."
Looking dejected, he continued, "Actually, you don't need to worry that I'll hurt him. Currently, my spiritual power hasn't fully recovered. So many things have happened over the years, and I'm no longer as powerful as you remember. Maybe when that day comes and we finally fight, I'll be the one who can't match him."
"I won't let him hurt you," Zhao Shuning quickly said.
But Yan Ruyu just smiled bitterly.
Such was his mission.
What could he do?
Although he didn't want to make things difficult for Ning'er, Zhao Huai didn't belong to this plane. His abilities were too powerful, and the hatred he carried wouldn't be easily let go.
He was from the Feng family. As the founder of the Kyushu Continent, he had the responsibility to safeguard the safety of Kyushu.
Zhao Huai was like a sudden intruder. If he was okay, it would be fine. But if he was stimulated, what awaited the Kyushu Continent might be an unprecedented disaster.
Yan Ruyu couldn't take such a big risk.
"Ning'er, there's no perfect solution to this matter for now. I just hope that you won't hate me when that time comes."
"But if you harm my brother, it might be hard for me to forgive you."
"Really?"
"Buran, you're very important to me, more important than anyone else. Zhao Huai is my family. He's been very good to me. I'm actually quite selfish. I can't just watch him and you fight each other. One is my brother, and the other is the only person I've ever deeply loved in my life. I can't make a choice. Do you understand, Buran?"
Of course, Yan Ruyu understood.
But he had no other choice.
"Alright, let's put this matter aside for now. Who knows what will happen until the very end?"
Zhao Shuning flattered and leaned closer to Yan Ruyu.
Yan Ruyu smiled faintly.
He opened his arms.
He knew that Ning'er was feeling guilty and worried that her previous words might have hurt him. He was indeed a bit angry when he heard those words.
But it wasn't directed at her.
She was the treasure he had painstakingly retrieved. How could he push her away with his own hands?
"Buran—"
"Ning'er, there's no need to say. I understand."
Zhao Shuning nestled in Yan Ruyu's arms.
It made her feel at ease.
Actually, even if what Buran said came true and one day they really reached that point, what would she do?
Abandon her brother? Her conscience told her she shouldn't do that.
Go against Buran? That was the last thing she wanted to see.
"Alright, Ning'er. Don't think about it anymore. I promise you that I won't do anything to Zhao Huai unless it's absolutely necessary. How about that?"
Zhao Shuning nodded in Yan Ruyu's arms.
Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she quickly raised her head and said, "If he dares to do anything to you, I won't let him go." But she believed that the gentle and kind Zhao Huai wouldn't do such a thing.
"Okay." A smile quietly appeared on his face.
Yan Ruyu hugged the person in his arms even tighter.
Everyone in the Zhao Mansion knew that there was a very extraordinary and high - status person in the house.
Because of his high status, they didn't dare to look him in the eye.
The engagement banquet was extremely grand.
People in Linjiang knew that the Zhao family was very powerful, but this time, they were really shocked.
In the following days,
Zhao Shuning entered the Zhao family ancestral hall and paid homage to the ancestors of the Zhao family.
Old Master Zhao offered incense and then led Zhao Shuning out of the door.
He earnestly handed the token of the Zhao family head to her.
At that time, almost all the important people in the Zhao family were present.
Of course, except for Zhao Zheng and his wife who were traveling far away. Zhao Xiangxiang and Xie Yu were also there.
Zhao Shuning was quite puzzled at that time.
The banquet was already over. Why didn't Zhao Xiangxiang and Xie Yu hurry back but stay instead?
It wasn't until today
when Old Master Zhao handed the token representing the head of the Zhao family to her in front of everyone
that she understood.
Perhaps this ceremony
had been decided by her grandfather the moment he saw her.
"Keep this token well. From now on, you'll be in charge of the entire Zhao family."
Zhao Shuning frowned slightly.
She pushed the token back.
Old Master Zhao was confused.
The hearts of everyone, which had just settled down, were raised again.
"Shuning?"
"Grandpa, the Zhao family is in the best hands with you."
"Grandpa is already old."
"Grandpa, you're not old. Even if you are getting on in years, there are still Uncle Second and Uncle Younger. With them around, they will surely prevent the Zhao family from going downhill."
Hearing this, Zhao Xue and Zhao Chao quickly stepped forward.
"Girl Shuning, we're convinced that the token should be given to you," Zhao Xue said with a pious look on his face.
"Little girl, don't worry. Don't think we'll have any objections. Although your Uncle Younger is heroic, elegant, and extremely capable, only you are qualified to take this token," said Uncle Younger, who was usually glib, but his last words were said with extraordinary seriousness.