Huangfu Huazhang also turned his head, his gaze landing on Shi Nian’s face.
Shi Nian looked at the newcor.
The local robe, originally jade white, had turned ivory due to dust. He wore the local headscarf, wrapped long from his head, almost covering his entire face, leaving only a pair of distinctly proud eyes. In this anxious and uneasy afternoon, his gaze was bright like a cold spring, dissolving the thirst in her heart.
His seemingly casual glance, like the splendid rise of a phoenix tail, left one feeling overwheld at that mont.
She sighed softly within, secretly praising: Truly handso.
Yet she smiled calmly under Huangfu Huazhang’s scrutiny, showing no unusual expression, rely nodded lightly to the newcor as a greeting.
Huangfu Huazhang was quite surprised, hurriedly turning to look at Tang Yanqing.
Tang Yanqing was not as composed as Shi Nian. Fortunately, separated by the headscarf covering most of his face, although his long eyes still surged with too many emotions.
Regarding this, Huangfu Huazhang couldn’t help but be confused.
He had no idea, that although Shi Nian t Tang Yanqing that night, Tang Yanqing never let her see his face from beginning to end. Thanks to the fog that night, it fulfilled his intentions. Thus now, even facing him, Shi Nian remains so calm.
What she recalls is the person in her heart; it’s that person who was always in the darkness from the start, the one whose face she could not see.
Deeply skilled in psychology, Tang Yanqing naturally understands how to minimize the impact on Shi Nian, to protect her as much as possible by Huangfu Huazhang’s side.
.
Shi Nian even stood up, gracefully and politely smiling at Tang Yanqing: "Hello. I am Nian Nian. I’m sorry, I can’t rember so old friends due to a car accident, so I can’t recall who you are right now. Please don’t mind, please have a seat. Let know if you like Chinese tea or so other beverage, and I’ll prepare it."
The well-mannered hostess.
Tang Yanqing suppressed his heartache, removed the headscarf covering half his face, revealing a gentle smile to her. His voice was gently, as if afraid to startle her: "...Chinese tea, please."
Upon hearing his voice, Shi Nian slightly raised her eyebrows, then nodded: "Please have a seat first, I’ll be right back."
Shi Nian diligently went, while the two n in the room stared intently at each other.
The air between them seed still, apparently calm, yet beneath it countless turbulent waves were hidden.
Tang Yanqing squinted his eyes, yet smiled silently: "Cousin, didn’t you say she was in George’s hands? How co she’s by your side now?"
Huangfu Huazhang was equally blunt: "Young Master Yan Qi, why bother asking the obvious. If you like riddles, I could say I’ve already rescued her. But now we both should understand, the crux is no longer her, but Jieyou!"
Tang Yanqing lowered his eyelids. Yes, the crux is Jieyou.
Moreover, because Shi Nian always felt guilty towards her daughter, always thinking herself an unqualified mother, so Jieyou’s safety, her staying or leaving, might directly decide Shi Nian’s future choices.
Huangfu Huazhang gazed coldly at Tang Yanqing: "Young Master Yan Qi, since you’ve been to Mo Ya Village, why doesn’t she recognize you?"
Tang Yanqing’s gaze drifted upwards, giving a forlorn smile: "Cousin doesn’t like asking the obvious, what about this then?"
Huangfu Huazhang finally smiled.
The answer seed clear to him: Tang Yanqing was unable to undo his hypnosis, so in fact Shi Nian still didn’t rember him.
But this brief joy was soon replaced by anger as Huangfu Huazhang brushed past the bedding filled with freshly picked leaves and flowers. The scene was too obvious, he absolutely didn’t believe the two rely sat side by side on the bedding chatting!
Just then, the door gently creaked, and Shi Nian entered with a tea tray.
Out of courtesy, she first approached Tang Yanqing, pouring tea for the guest.
Her graceful bow, her silhouette bathed in the slanting sunlight, was as beautiful as a pastoral painting. By her side, Tang Yanqing gazed intently at her, his eyes flowing with gentle affection that couldn’t be concealed. Looking at them like this, they ford a perfect picture, while Huangfu Huazhang found himself outside the fra, rely a distant observer.
Huangfu Huazhang couldn’t suppress the bitterness inside, gritting his teeth and hoarsely asked: "Nian, do you really not rember him?"
Shi Nian slightly trembled, straightening her posture to look over, hesitating slightly: "I know I am indeed very rude, I shouldn’t forget the identity of a guest. Just now... I did seem to feel as if I’ve seen this gentleman sowhere, especially his voice, I have a faint impression."
Huangfu Huazhang laughed bleakly: "Really don’t rember? I heard so villagers from Mo Ya Village said they saw you two in bed! It was the night when Jieyou went missing!"
The uncontrollable jealousy rose like a fierce wolf, tearing his own guts to pieces. He couldn’t control himself!
Tang Yanqing’s gaze swept coldly: "Mr. Huangfu!"
Shi Nian’s face instantly turned pale, as she turned her gaze to Huangfu Huazhang: "What did Mr. Huangfu say?"
She wasn’t unable to admit what she had done; she rely couldn’t associate the person in the night fog with the one before her now.
Was it him?
That voice, that body, was it matched with the face before her now?
Despite the overwhelming impact, she couldn’t deny that—if it were indeed such a pairing, it was truly—wonderful.
Huangfu Huazhang stared at the two people before him, witnessing their ability to gaze steadily at each other in such an awkward context, quietly contemplating?!
It’s as if it wasn’t an ugly affair, as if there was no guilt.
He slamd the table: "Isn’t it so? Nian, do you dare swear to that you did not engage in lascivious acts with a man that night?"
Shi Nian breathed heavily, a void enveloped her vision.
After all, that night, her leaving to et led to losing Jieyou. It’s sothing she’ll never forgive herself for, thus transforming that night’s beauty into subsequent hideousness. It’s hard for her to face.
As she hesitated over how to respond, Tang Yanqing stood up, pulling her arm to protect her behind him.
He lifted his head towards Huangfu Huazhang, smiling calmly. As if he had forgotten this was Huangfu Huazhang’s territory, dozens ard with guns stood at the door, ready to reduce him to shambles with a single command from Huangfu Huazhang.
"Cousin, since you want an answer, I’ll give you the answer: that night I indeed shared a bed with her, though unfortunately, from start to finish it was I who forced her."
"I pretended to be her online friend, claiming to have traveled far to Mo Ya Village for inspiration, eager to see her. Upon eting, she didn’t recognize and was eager to leave. It was my uncontrollable emotions that compelled her. That’s why she can’t face you; she’s afraid to admit it."
His deep, dark eyes carried both indolence and arrogance: "As for why I forcefully possessed her... Cousin, I believe you understand. It’s been too long, and I simply couldn’t control myself."
He narrated it calmly, his voice even and gentle, yet his hand remained firmly on Shi Nian’s arm, protecting her.
Behind him, Shi Nian’s heart was in turmoil. She knew he was shouldering all the bla, but this would surely lead Mr. Huangfu to react as any husband would—to take his life!
She took a deep breath and stepped out from behind him, standing shoulder to shoulder with Tang Yanqing.
"Mr. Huangfu... it’s my fault. I know it’s wrong, but—I don’t know why—I just couldn’t resist his allure. He misstated it; he didn’t force , I simply couldn’t help but be with him."
After all, as a woman speaking such things, self-reproach is more predominant: "I know I’m unworthy. If Mr. Huangfu wants to kill , I can understand. Just please, endure a little longer, wait for Jieyou to safely return, then it won’t be too late for Mr. Huangfu to take my life."
Huangfu Huazhang’s face lost all color.
She said she didn’t understand why it turned out this way, which wasn’t an excuse but rather the truth.
It was because it was a decision from her subconscious, sothing she couldn’t control. And the reason was simply because he controlled her consciousness...
So, in asking once, in asking a thousand tis, he was rely questioning what he already knew. By probing further, it was like his spear piercing his own shield.
He breathed deeply, slowly shook his head, and reached out to Shi Nian: "No, it’s not your fault, it’s mine. I’m your husband, Jieyou’s father, but I failed to protect you both, leading to that night’s events."
Shocked, Shi Nian felt her heart ache slowly spreading.
At this mont, she wished he would lose his temper with her.
He reached out to her, his blue eyes like eralds: "Forgive , co back, will you?"
Shi Nian instinctively walked over, clasping his hand.
Little did Shi Nian know, behind her, Tang Yanqing closed his eyes in anguish.
Watching helplessly as his beloved moved toward another, even knowing she hadn’t fully awakened, the taste was soul-crushing.
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