A warm breeze swept through, causing Xiao Zhihuan’s heart to sway like a lake. The masculine aura continuously brushing against her face, along with the restless hand on her waist, made her cheeks flush. But deep down, she still held onto the stubbornness befitting a young lady of the Marquis’ Mansion, refusing to show weakness before this man. So, she pushed away the hand that held her, quickly turned around, pressed down the fast-beating heart, and said, “But I don’t like you!”
Xia Qing, however, just smiled indifferently and leaned closer to her, saying, “It’s alright if you don’t like me now. We have plenty of time in the future. When Miss Third realizes my merits, she might not even want to leave.”
Xiao Zhihuan couldn’t believe how thick-skinned this man was. She cast a sidelong glance at him and scoffed, “But I prefer modest gentlemen, not warriors who fight all day long.”
Xia Qing slightly bowed, pushing Xiao Zhihuan back two steps, then said slowly, “That’s because Miss Third is still young and can’t distinguish between good and bad men. Those scholarly types can’t carry burdens or protect their families. Besides…” His gaze roamed over her again, and he smirked, “I can guarantee that sometimes they’re not as useful as this warrior.”
Xiao Zhihuan was momentarily stunned, but then she understood his meaning. Her face flushed once again, but she refused to admit defeat. Chin up, she met his gaze squarely and said, “But I heard that using force too often renders it ineffective. With so many concubines in the Xia Family, I’m afraid you might have exhausted yourself long ago.”
A hint of annoyance flashed in Xia Qing’s eyes. Then, he reached out and gently pinched her chin, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “Miss Third, rest assured. Before you agree to marry me, I won’t touch you.”
Xiao Zhihuan opened her eyes in astonishment, feeling something heavy on her head. She reached up and discovered a hairpin adorned with gemstones. Xia Qing tilted her chin up to examine it, seemingly satisfied, and said, “This hairpin was left by my mother. Once it’s pinned, you belong to me. There’s no turning back.”
Xiao Zhihuan removed her hand from the hairpin, feeling dazed. After a moment, she finally asked, “Why me?”
Xia Qing’s gaze grew deeper. “Because from the first moment I saw you, I knew we were similar.”
Xiao Zhihuan didn’t understand, she just stared at him dumbfounded, her flushed face and bewildered eyes making Xia Qing somewhat moved. He couldn’t help but peck her forehead and say, “As long as you agree, I’ll immediately send the betrothal gifts to the Marquis’ Mansion. I can’t wait another moment.”
Xiao Zhihuan’s heart raced, then she bit her lip and asked, “If I agree, will you truly help my brother and our family, even if it means betraying the Xia Family?”
Xia Qing’s expression turned disdainful. “Rest assured, the Xia Family is just a surname to me. If it weren’t for their current usefulness, I wouldn’t bother with them.” He concealed the disgust in his eyes, then smiled at Xiao Zhihuan, “If Miss Third agrees to an alliance with me, your family will be my family, and I will treat them well.”
Xiao Zhihuan stared at him intently, trying to discern the sincerity in his words. Finally, as if she had made a decision, she said, “Alright, then swear it!”
When Xia Qing’s betrothal gifts arrived at the Marquis’ Mansion, Xiao Du’s reaction could only be described as furious. He frightened the matchmaker, who had been expecting a reward, so much that the words nearly choked in his throat. He stuttered, “General Xia said this marriage proposal was personally agreed upon by Miss Third.”
Xiao Du grew angrier as he listened. He kicked a bundle of red cloth to the ground. Yuanxi, afraid he might aggravate his wound, quickly grabbed him and said, “Don’t be hasty. Let’s find Xuan’er and ask her.”
So, Xiao Zhihuan was nervously summoned to the flower hall. Seeing the room filled with betrothal gifts, she quickly lowered her head and twisted the handkerchief in her hand, looking like someone who had done something wrong. Xiao Du became even more displeased. Pointing at the trembling matchmaker hiding in the corner, he said, “I want to know when you agreed to this marriage!”
Xiao Zhihuan’s gaze swept around the room before she took a deep breath and looked directly at Xiao Du. “Yes, I agreed. Big Brother, I’m willing to marry him.”
Xiao Du’s blood boiled, and he suddenly coughed, covering his mouth. Then, trembling, he pointed at her, unable to speak. Seeing this, Yuanxi quickly gave some silver to the matchmaker and urged him to leave. Then she grabbed Xiao Zhihuan, saying anxiously, “Xuan’er, do you know who Xia Qing is? I heard he’s not only of a complicated background but also adept at manipulating women. You’re still young and inexperienced, don’t let his sweet words deceive you.”
Xiao Zhihuan raised her head defiantly and said, “I know everything. He hasn’t hidden anything from me. Sister-in-law, I know what I’m doing. I’m not a child anymore.”
But Xiao Du caught a glimpse of her true feelings in her words. He hurried to her and asked, “You’ve met him, haven’t you? When did you meet him? Did he do anything to you? Did he threaten or force you?”
Xiao Zhihuan met his concerned gaze, feeling touched and a bit ashamed. So, she lowered her head and said, “No, he didn’t do anything. Anyway, I agreed to this marriage willingly. I’ll talk to Father later, set the wedding date, and then I’ll marry him. You… you don’t need to worry about me.”
Xiao Du was enraged, his eyes turning red. He raised his hand to strike Xiao Zhihuan’s stubborn face, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. She was his little sister whom he had protected since childhood. How could he hurt her? But how could he stand by and watch her fall into such a pit? Yuanxi saw the situation becoming increasingly tense between them and quickly stepped forward, pulling Xiao Du back to his seat with a tug on his sleeve. “Du, it’s time to change your bandages. We’ll talk to her about this later.” Then she signaled Xiao Zhihuan to leave quickly.
Xiao Du clenched his right hand tightly under the table as if he had remembered something. He felt a pang of sorrow. He closed his eyes tiredly and said, “Xia’er, I feel so tired.” Yuanxi heard the exhaustion in his voice and felt a pang of sadness. She gently embraced him and comforted him, “Xuan’er was just confused for a moment. She’ll understand your intentions.”
Xiao Du leaned against her, sighing. “Regardless of my true identity, I truly consider Xuan’er as my sister and this family as my only responsibility. Since childhood, I’ve wanted to protect them, to prevent them from getting hurt. But now, my second brother sees me as an enemy, and Xuan’er… Xia’er, I can’t do anything. I don’t deserve to be their big brother.”
Yuanxi sighed and said, “Have you ever thought that maybe they’ve grown up? Maybe they no longer need your protection.”