Chapter 4: Shameless
“Watch a show?”
The two had thought that Ying Tong called them over for something important, but it was merely to watch a show.
Ying Xuan was somewhat unwilling. After all, though it wasn’t a wedding, the engagement was equally important, and he didn’t want to waste time.
From the engagement banquet until now, he hadn’t even seen Xiaoya once. Given Xiaoya’s temper, she would definitely be angry.
Even so, Ying Xuan dared not disobey Ying Tong’s order.
Led by Ying Tong, the two arrived behind a large artificial hill.
The hill was big enough to perfectly hide the three of them.
At this moment, on the other side of the hill, a pair of lovers were passionately pouring out their feelings.
“What should I do, Brother Xuan? I don’t want to marry that person. The only one I love is you.”
Ying Xuan, who had been absentminded, instantly froze upon hearing the voice. His eyes widened, and he stared incredulously in the direction of the sound.
There was no way he could mistake that voice.
Just then, a deep male voice followed, “Don’t worry, Xiaoya. I will never give up on you, and I won’t just watch you jump into the fire pit. Come with me. Let’s wander the world together.”
Having regained his senses, Ying Xuechen became furious after hearing the man’s words.
Since when was marrying into the Ying family considered a “fire pit”?
Using the Ying family’s resources while also thinking that marrying into the family was like jumping into a fire pit—where did they get the nerve?
As the two shamelessly discussed how to break off the engagement in public, they were clearly planning to use public opinion to pressure the Ying family.
Not only did they want the Ying family to take responsibility for the broken engagement, but they also intended to pin all the blame on Ying Xuan.
He had never encountered such shameless people before. Fortunately, he and his father had made thorough preparations yesterday.
Using public opinion? These two were simply delusional.
In the face of absolute power, even public opinion must bow down to them.
Moreover, they had the esteemed Venerable Yunhuang on their side.
As for Zhangsun Ya, it seemed she had been spoiled by Ying Xuan, taking everything for granted.
At this moment, Ying Xuan had reached the limits of his patience, especially after hearing Zhangsun Ya call that unknown wild man “Brother Xuan.”
Ying Xuan couldn’t help but recall how Zhangsun Ya used to call him “Brother Xuan” as well, though the pronunciation was slightly different.
And now, she was claiming that this stranger was her true love. What did that make him?
Ying Xuan felt as if a giant hand had crushed his heart, the pain so intense it almost made him faint.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: he wanted to confront Zhangsun Ya in person. Had he not treated her well enough?
If she had been unwilling from the start, then why had she agreed to become his fiancée?
With this thought, his body moved on its own.
Seeing this, Ying Xuechen wanted to stop him, but Ying Tong intervened.
“Venerable.”
“Let him go. Some things need to be asked directly before one can give up completely.”
Upon hearing this, Ying Xuechen nodded and said, “It seems the Venerable foresaw this would happen.”
“It wasn’t exactly foresight,” Ying Tong replied, gazing at a resilient little white flower blooming in the cracks of the artificial hill.
She had no intention of sharing her dreams with anyone.
However, considering that Ying Xuechen was not among the unworthy descendants, she decided to humor him a little more.
“When Ying Xuan came to me earlier, I noticed a dark aura on his forehead and calculated that he was fated to face a peach blossom disaster. If he cannot overcome this trial, his destiny will take a sharp turn for the worse, and he could end up dismembered and left exposed in the wilderness.”
If things had unfolded as originally destined, Ying Xuan would indeed have been beheaded by that very man who had just spoken, his body left exposed in the wilderness.
Ying Xuechen’s expression changed upon hearing this. “Venerable, do you mean that Zhangsun Ya is the peach blossom disaster in Ying Xuan’s fate?”
“You’ve seen it for yourself.”
“Indeed.” Ying Xuechen frowned and replied gravely. Considering how much Ying Xuan cared for Zhangsun Ya, such an event would surely deal a devastating blow to him.
Especially if they hadn’t discovered the pair’s scheme in advance—had they allowed them to break off the engagement in front of everyone—while the Ying family wouldn’t have suffered much, Ying Xuan…
Those two were truly malicious in their intent.
On the other side of the hill:
Zhangsun Ya shrieked in fright when she saw Ying Xuan suddenly appear, instinctively clinging to the man beside her.
After the initial shock, she angrily accused him, “Why are you here?”
“Why shouldn’t I be here? This is the Ying family estate. Besides, if I weren’t here, how could I have witnessed such an interesting scene?”
Hearing this, Zhangsun Ya snapped back to reality, and with a guilty conscience, she instinctively let go of the man’s hand.
But Zhangsun Ya had always been domineering around Ying Xuan. Even when she knew she was in the wrong, she wouldn’t admit defeat, especially since the man beside her was the one she truly loved.
In her eyes, Ying Xuan was merely an obstacle on her path to true love.
With that thought, she regained her usual haughty demeanor and demanded, “Ying Xuan, are you even a man? How dare you eavesdrop on me and Brother Xuan!”
Over the years, Ying Xuan had grown accustomed to being humble and accommodating, leading Zhangsun Ya to believe that this was his nature. So when dealing with him, she had always been quick to criticize and insult him without any restraint.
However, what she forgot was that Ying Xuan bore the surname Ying. The reason he had been so submissive before was simply because Zhangsun Ya was his fiancée—and because Ying Xuan genuinely liked her.
But now, as Ying Xuan looked at Zhangsun Ya, all he could feel was anger—nothing but anger.
A faint floral scent lingered in the air, yet it did nothing to diffuse the tension that hung like a blade ready to strike.
“”Brother Xuan”, you sure sound affectionate when you call him that,” Ying Xuan sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
For some reason, looking at Zhangsun Ya’s face now made Ying Xuan feel a wave of nausea.
Irritated by his mocking tone, Zhangsun Ya’s own anger flared. She raised her eyes to meet his, her face full of arrogance and disdain. “Good, you heard it. Saves me the trouble of repeating myself. Brother Xuan and I are the ones truly in love. What happened with you was just a game, nothing more. This engagement was always your wishful thinking, so cancel it while you still can.”
Her tone was not that of a suggestion—it was a command.
At that moment, a large hand suddenly stopped Zhangsun Ya. “Xiaoya, your words are too harsh. Let me handle this.”
In an instant, Zhangsun Ya, who had been so aggressive moments before, softened her expression and leaned into the man beside her, demurely saying, “I’ll leave it to you, Brother Xuan.”
Qin Xuan looked at Ying Xuan and spoke, “Brother, I know you and Xiaoya are already engaged, but as you can see, her heart belongs to me. Would you really force her into a loveless marriage, condemning her to a lifetime of misery?”
He continued, “The truth is, Xiaoya and I are deeply in love. There’s a saying that it’s better to destroy ten temples than break up a marriage, but if you truly love her, you should understand that love isn’t about possession. If you really care for her, you should learn to let go.”
Despite trying to control his tone, Qin Xuan’s condescending attitude and mocking undertones were unmistakable.
