“You’re supposed to be so capable, why didn’t you dare to act just now? Didn’t you see how arrogant and shameless those people were…”
“I’m not a savior; I have neither the obligation nor the responsibility to intervene. You’re so compassionate, aren’t you? Why didn’t you think about taking action yourself?”
Xiao Yufan’s eyebrows subtly furrowed in response to Qing Luan’s accusation. This girl actually thought of him as a savior. Moreover, he disliked her tone—he wouldn’t allow others to dictate what he should or shouldn’t do.
“Quibbling! You’re clearly just cold-hearted and indifferent…”
“Indifferent? No, you’re simply too naive. I can guarantee your safety, but have you considered what might happen if those people become desperate? It won’t just be a matter of losing money!”
Xiao Yufan didn’t feel like explaining further. He was already somewhat irritated, and now his temper flared completely. Regardless of whether she could accept it or not, saying these things made him feel much better.
“Yufan, say a little less, Qing Luan didn’t mean it like that…”
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew tense and heavy. Tears welled up in Qing Luan’s beautiful eyes, and seeing this, Qin Menglu’s heart softened. She gently tugged on Xiao Yufan’s arm.
“Perhaps I was a bit too harsh just now. Please… don’t take it to heart…”
Though he felt somewhat relieved after speaking his mind, seeing Qing Luan’s pitiful expression made Xiao Yufan’s heart skip a beat. He realized he had just touched the tiger’s tail and sensed an impending storm.
“Do you really hate me that much? If you don’t want me around you, I can leave…”
Unexpectedly, Qing Luan didn’t raise her voice or throw a tantrum. Her quietness made Xiao Yufan feel a pang of sympathy. He couldn’t understand why he kept avoiding her feelings—could it really be that stubborn sense of pride?
“I’ve never hated you…”
Xiao Yufan replied stiffly, his eyes avoiding hers. It wasn’t that he feared Qing Yuanfeng, nor was it that he didn’t understand emotions. It was simply that, as a man, once certain words were spoken, they had to be followed through.
“Then why have you been avoiding me all this time? Am I really that terrible? You won’t even look at me properly!”
Hearing Xiao Yufan’s apology, Qing Luan grew even more emotional. She had never loved someone so completely before, yet now, faced with love, she felt lost and uncertain.
“You’re better than anyone else. It’s just… I’m not worthy enough!”
Thinking of what Qing Yuanfeng had said, Xiao Yufan’s lips curled into a bitter smile. If he couldn’t give a woman happiness, wouldn’t it be better to set her free? Like water slipping through his fingers, perhaps it was better to return it to the sea and sky.
“You’re such a bastard! Why are you treating me like this…” Her body trembled, her voice rising to a hysterical pitch, choked with emotion that made it sound unusually low.
“In your eyes, I’ve always been a despicable bastard, haven’t I? If that makes you feel better, go ahead—hit me or curse me, it’s up to you!”
His lips could only form a bitter smile as he looked at her beautiful face. For a moment, Xiao Yufan didn’t know what to say. He didn’t even know whether what he had done was right or wrong…
Qing Luan let out a cold laugh and turned her gaze elsewhere. Was this the result she wanted? No matter how hard she tried to impress him, she was always wrong in his eyes.
“Aren’t you supposed to be tough? Why didn’t you act just now? Didn’t you see how arrogant those people were?”
“I’m not a savior. I have no obligation or responsibility to intervene. Weren’t you the one full of compassion? Why didn’t you step up yourself?”
At Qingluan’s questioning, Xiao Yufan’s brow furrowed slightly. This girl really saw herself as a savior, and he didn’t appreciate her tone. What he did was none of her business.
“You’re just making excuses. Clearly, you’re cold and heartless…”
“Cold and heartless? That’s just your naivety. I can guarantee your safety, but have you considered what might happen if those people were pushed to desperation? It wouldn’t just be about losing money!”
Xiao Yufan didn’t bother explaining further. He was already irritated, and this exchange only fueled his frustration. He didn’t care if Qingluan could accept it or not; after saying his piece, he felt much better.
“Brother Fan, calm down. Sister Qingluan didn’t mean it that way…”
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Tears welled up in Qingluan’s beautiful eyes, and Qin Menglu’s heart softened. She gently tugged at Xiao Yufan’s arm.
“Maybe I went too far just now. Don’t take it to heart…”
Though he felt better, seeing Qingluan’s pitiful expression made Xiao Yufan’s heart skip a beat. He had touched a nerve, and he sensed a storm brewing.
“Do you really hate me that much? If you don’t want me around, I can leave…”
Contrary to his expectations, Qingluan didn’t make a scene. Her quiet demeanor made Xiao Yufan’s heart ache. He wasn’t sure why he was avoiding her feelings. Was it his pride?
“I’ve never hated you…”
Xiao Yufan forced himself to respond, though his gaze was evasive. It wasn’t that he feared Qing Yuanfeng, nor was he oblivious to her feelings. As a man, he felt he had to stand by his words.
“Then why do you keep avoiding me? Am I really that bad? You won’t even look me in the eye!”
Hearing Xiao Yufan’s apology, Qingluan grew even more emotional. She had never loved someone so deeply, yet when faced with her feelings, she felt utterly lost.
“You’re better than anyone else. It’s just… I’m not worthy.”
Thinking of what Qing Yuanfeng had said, Xiao Yufan’s lips curled into a self-mocking smile. If he couldn’t give his woman happiness, maybe it was better to let her go. Like water slipping through his fingers, perhaps it was best to return her to the vast ocean and blue skies.
“You jerk, why are you treating me like this?” Qingluan’s body trembled, her voice almost hysterical, the sobs making it unusually low.
“In your eyes, haven’t I always been a shameless jerk? If this makes you feel better, go ahead and hit me or curse me.”
His lips only held bitterness. Looking at her beautiful face, Xiao Yufan was at a loss for words. He didn’t even know if what he was doing was right or wrong.
With a cold laugh, Qingluan turned her gaze elsewhere. Was this the result she wanted? No matter how hard she tried to prove herself, in this man’s eyes, she was always wrong.
“Alright, alright, we came out to relax, didn’t we? If we’re going to be angry, we might as well stay home…”
The awkward atmosphere left the girls helpless. Yu Yihan had no choice but to step in. They didn’t understand how things had escalated so quickly. Her intention in agreeing to Qingluan’s request had been good.
After being comforted by the girls, Qingluan gradually calmed down, though her mood was still off. Xiao Yufan could only shrug in resignation.
The path up the mountain was rough, but Xiao Yufan didn’t mind. After just a few steps, Yu Yihan and Qin Menglu began to complain. They had insisted on this adventure, and now they were paying the price.
Though the sharp stones hurt, Qingluan didn’t complain. Sweat trickled down her face as she stubbornly marched forward, as if trying to release her pent-up anger through sheer will.
“Brother Fan, are you really going to let Sister Qingluan walk alone? She’s the young lady of the Qing family. When has she ever suffered like this?”
Qin Menglu felt sorry for her, but seeing Xiao Yufan unmoved, she had to remind him. In her eyes, Xiao Yufan shouldn’t be so clueless. He always prided himself on being a ladies’ man, yet now, faced with such a beauty, he seemed indifferent.
“Do you think she wants me around right now? She probably wishes I’d disappear. I don’t want to go up there just to be scolded.”
“You don’t understand women. Even though she’s angry now, if you put in the effort to comfort her, Sister Qingluan will forgive you quickly. This is the perfect time to win her over.”
“Are you really okay with this, Menglu? Pushing your husband toward another woman? Do you need a lesson in house rules?”
Xiao Yufan didn’t know what Qingluan had done to win over the girls, but now they were siding with her. It was both amusing and frustrating. Their way of thinking seemed to be getting more and more unconventional.
“How could I be okay with it? But since you and Sister Qingluan have feelings for each other, we can’t stand in the way, can we?”
With a gentle smile, Qin Menglu’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. Though her words seemed forced, Xiao Yufan felt a strange sense of gratitude. In some matters, the girls were more open-minded than he was.
“Feelings, my foot. Do you think I’m that kind of person?”
“No, Brother Fan, you’re definitely not that kind of person. But when you do let loose, you’re not human!” Qin Menglu pouted, rubbing the spot on her forehead where Xiao Yufan had flicked her.
Completely out of patience, Xiao Yufan found these girls were getting bolder, teasing him repeatedly. With a mischievous thought, his hand landed on Qin Menglu’s plump figure.
“Big sister and Tianxuan are watching…”
Her body squirmed uncomfortably. Qin Menglu couldn’t handle Xiao Yufan’s touch, her voice soft and her eyes glazed with desire.
“See if you dare tease your husband like this again. Next time won’t be so simple…”
Xiao Yufan raised an eyebrow, his smile devilish. If it weren’t for Qingluan’s feelings, he wouldn’t have let go. Even so, Qingluan, whose gaze had been wandering, caught a glimpse of what was happening between them.
The awkward atmosphere left the girls helpless. Finally, Yu Yihan stepped forward reluctantly. None of them understood why things had suddenly turned this way. She had only agreed to Qing Luan’s request with good intentions.
After being comforted by the girls one after another, Qing Luan gradually calmed down, though her mood was still off. Xiao Yufan could only shrug helplessly at this.
The path up the mountain was very rough, but Xiao Yufan didn’t mind much. However, after only a few steps, Yu Yihan and Qin Menglu began to complain bitterly. Who asked them to insist on going along for the thrill? Now they had only themselves to blame.
Although Qing Luan’s feet were bruised painfully by the gravel, she didn’t utter a single complaint. Sweat streamed down her pretty face, yet she stubbornly continued forward, as if trying to vent her frustration through this act.
“Yufan, are you really going to let Qing Luan walk all by herself? She’s the daughter of the Qing family, after all. When has she ever experienced such hardship…”
“Aren’t you supposed to be tough? Why didn’t you do anything just now? Didn’t you see how arrogant those people were?”
“I’m not a savior. I have no obligation or responsibility to step in. Weren’t you the one full of compassion? Why didn’t you take action yourself?”
Qing Luan’s questioning made Xiao Yufan’s brow furrow slightly. This girl really saw herself as a savior, and he didn’t appreciate her tone. What he chose to do wasn’t up for anyone else’s commentary.
“Twisting words, you’re clearly just cold-hearted…”
“Cold-hearted? That’s just your naivety. I can guarantee your safety, but have you considered that if those people were pushed to the brink, it wouldn’t just be about losing money?”
Xiao Yufan didn’t bother explaining further to Qing Luan. He was already irritated, and this exchange only fueled his frustration. Regardless of whether she could accept it, he felt a bit better after saying his piece.
“Brother Fan, ease up a bit. Sister Qing Luan didn’t mean it that way…”
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense. Tears welled up in Qing Luan’s beautiful eyes, and Qin Menglu’s heart softened instantly. She gently tugged at Xiao Yufan’s arm.
“Maybe I went too far just now. Don’t take it to heart…”
Though he felt relieved, seeing Qing Luan’s pitiful expression made Xiao Yufan’s heart skip a beat. He had clearly touched a nerve, and he sensed a storm brewing.
“Do you really hate me that much? If you don’t want me around, I can leave…”
Contrary to expectations, Qing Luan didn’t make a scene. Her quiet demeanor made Xiao Yufan’s heart ache. He wasn’t sure why he kept avoiding her feelings. Was it really his pride at play?
“I’ve never hated you…”
Xiao Yufan forced himself to respond, though his gaze was evasive. It wasn’t that he feared Qing Yuanfeng, nor was he oblivious to her affection. As a man, he felt that once he said something, he had to stand by it.
“Then why do you keep avoiding me? Am I really that bad? You won’t even look me in the eye!”
Hearing Xiao Yufan’s apology only made Qing Luan more emotional. She had never loved someone so deeply, yet when faced with real emotions, she felt utterly lost.
“You’re better than anyone else. It’s just… I’m not worthy.”
Thinking of what Qing Yuanfeng had said, a self-mocking smile appeared on Xiao Yufan’s lips. If he couldn’t give her happiness, maybe it was better to let her go. Like water slipping through his fingers, perhaps it was best to return her to the vast sea and sky.
“You jerk, why are you treating me like this…” Her body trembled, and Qing Luan’s voice turned almost hysterical, her sobs making her words sound unusually heavy.
“In your eyes, haven’t I always been a shameless jerk? If that makes you feel better, go ahead and hit me, scold me, whatever you want.”
A bitter smile lingered on his lips as he looked at her stunning face. Xiao Yufan wasn’t sure what to say anymore. He didn’t even know if what he was doing was right or wrong.
With a cold laugh, Qing Luan turned her gaze elsewhere. Was this the outcome she had wanted? No matter how hard she tried to prove herself, in this man’s eyes, she was always in the wrong.
“Alright, alright, we came out to relax, didn’t we? If we’re going to be upset, we might as well have stayed home…”
The awkward atmosphere left the girls feeling helpless. Yu Yihan had no choice but to step in. They didn’t understand how things had escalated so quickly. Agreeing to Qing Luan’s request had been well-intentioned.
After some coaxing from the girls, Qing Luan gradually calmed down, though her mood remained off. Xiao Yufan could only shrug helplessly.
The path up the mountain was rough, but Xiao Yufan didn’t mind much. However, after just a few steps, Yu Yihan and Qin Menglu began to complain. They had insisted on this adventure, and now they were paying the price.
Though the sharp stones hurt, Qing Luan didn’t complain. Sweat trickled down her delicate face as she stubbornly marched forward, as if trying to release her pent-up anger through sheer determination.
“Brother Fan, are you really going to let Sister Qing Luan walk alone? She’s the young lady of the Qing family. When has she ever endured such hardship?”
Qin Menglu felt a pang of sympathy, but seeing Xiao Yufan remain unmoved, she had to speak up. In her eyes, Xiao Yufan shouldn’t be so clueless. He always played the role of a flirt, yet now, faced with such a beauty, he seemed indifferent.
“Do you think she wants me around right now? She probably wants me to disappear as far as possible. I don’t want to get scolded if I approach her.”
“You don’t understand women. Even though she’s upset now, if you put in the effort to comfort her, Sister Qing Luan will forgive you quickly. This is the perfect time to win her over.”
“Are you really okay with this, Menglu? Pushing your husband toward another woman? Should I prepare for some ‘household discipline’?”
Xiao Yufan didn’t know what Qing Luan had done to win over the girls, but now they were all supporting her. It was both amusing and frustrating. Their way of thinking seemed to be getting more and more unconventional.
“Of course I care, but since you and Sister Qing Luan have feelings for each other, we can’t stand in the way, can we?”
With a soft smile, a glint of mischief flashed in Qin Menglu’s eyes. Her words sounded a bit forced, but Xiao Yufan felt a strange sense of gratitude. In some matters, the girls were more open-minded than he was.
“Feelings? I’m not that kind of person…”
“No, Brother Fan, you’re definitely not that kind of person. But when you do act on it, you’re not human at all!” Qin Menglu pouted, rubbing the spot on her forehead where Xiao Yufan had tapped her.
Completely out of patience, Xiao Yufan found the girls were becoming bolder, teasing him repeatedly. His hand instinctively moved to rest on Qin Menglu’s soft curves.
“Sister and Tianxuan are watching…”
Qin Menglu squirmed uncomfortably, unable to resist Xiao Yufan’s touch. Her voice turned soft, and her eyes shimmered with a hint of desire.
“See if you dare tease your husband like this again. Next time, it won’t be so simple…”
Xiao Yufan raised an eyebrow, his smile turning mischievous. If it weren’t for Qing Luan’s feelings, he wouldn’t have let go so easily. Yet, even so, Qing Luan, whose gaze had been wandering, caught a glimpse of the intimate moment between the two.
“Do you think she needs anything from me right now? I think she’d rather I just disappear as far away as possible. I don’t want to go up there only to be scolded off again…”
“You don’t understand women. Even though she’s angry now, if you just take the time to comfort her, Qing Luan will forgive you quickly. This is the perfect moment to show your affection.”
“You’re not jealous? Why are you so eager to push your husband away? Do you want to be punished?”
Xiao Yufan didn’t know what Qing Luan had done, but somehow she had convinced the girls to support her. This left him both amused and helpless—the girls’ thinking was becoming stranger by the day.
“Of course I’m jealous, but since you and Qing Luan obviously have feelings for each other, we can’t be the ones to separate you two!”
Smiling gently, Qin Menglu’s eyes sparkled with a glint. Her words sounded forced, but Xiao Yufan still felt an inexplicable sense of warmth. Sometimes, the girls were more open-minded than he was.
“Don’t talk nonsense! Am I really that kind of person?”
“No, of course not, Yufan! But when you act casually, you really aren’t acting like a decent person!” Grumbling, Qin Menglu rubbed the spot on her forehead where Xiao Yufan had tapped her, her lips pouting slightly.
Now completely out of arguments, Xiao Yufan realized these girls were growing bolder by the day, teasing him repeatedly. Thinking quickly, Xiao Yufan suddenly placed his hand on Qin Menglu’s soft, plump shoulder.
“Sister and Tianxuan are watching…”
Qin Menglu’s body squirmed uncomfortably. How could she withstand Xiao Yufan’s touch? Her voice softened into a dazed moan, her beautiful eyes brimming with desire.
“Just wait until next time you try to seduce your husband like this. Next time won’t be this simple…”
Xiao Yufan raised his eyebrows, his smile looking particularly lecherous. If not for considering Qing Luan’s feelings, he wouldn’t have let go so easily. Even so, Qing Luan, whose gaze had been wandering, still caught sight of what had just happened between the two…
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