“Whatever you do to me is fine.”

Qiao Zhao thought about Shao Mingyuan’s words, her brow twitching.

What did he mean by “whatever she did to him was fine”?

Qiao Zhao secretly drew in a breath, met his focused gaze, and said helplessly, “Put your clothes on first.”

Did he think that exposing more would make her more accepting? Was she that kind of person?

Shao Mingyuan bent down to pick up the outer robe that had fallen to the floor, shook off the dust, and put it on, immediately returning to his cool and noble appearance.

Of course, having just witnessed this person’s shameless behavior, Qiao Zhao knew this was all an illusion.

“Shao Mingyuan, let’s have a proper talk.”

Shao Mingyuan leaned slightly forward, appearing to listen attentively.

“I hope we can maintain an appropriate distance.” Qiao Zhao looked directly at Shao Mingyuan. “You can manage this, can’t you?”

“I can’t.” Shao Mingyuan answered honestly.

“You—” Qiao Zhao opened her mouth, truly not knowing what to say.

The young general looked completely innocent. “Zhaozhao, you wouldn’t want me to lie, would you?”

Qiao Zhao looked away and steeled herself. “Shao Mingyuan, if I were to become your wife again and we faced the same situation as before, what would you do?”

She really shouldn’t have asked this question.

This question was too cruel. She knew there was only one possible answer, yet she deliberately forced him to say it, to make him give up hope.

That arrow was her inner demon, but wasn’t it also Shao Mingyuan’s inner demon?

She had never thought he did anything wrong—she simply didn’t want to marry anyone again.

Shao Mingyuan fell silent, his face turning frighteningly pale.

Qiao Zhao smiled. “General Shao can’t answer, can you?”

Shao Mingyuan looked deeply at her, his voice hoarse and dark. “Zhaozhao, I can answer you.”

“I’m all ears.” Qiao Zhao smiled sweetly.

Once he spoke that answer aloud, how could he have the nerve to say anything else?

Qiao Zhao thought this way, then suddenly noticed that the man across from her had lips that were completely pale, his entire person looking like a lone wolf trapped in a quagmire with no strength to struggle.

Her hardened heart suddenly softened somewhat.

“I—” Shao Mingyuan uttered one word, then felt a metallic sweetness surge in his throat, but he gritted his teeth and continued, “I would naturally do the same thing again.”

It’s just that if that nightmare truly repeated itself, he would go find her after handling everything.

He slowly spoke the answer, clenching his teeth tightly.

Qiao Zhao laughed lightly. “If that were the case, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have such good fortune this time.”

Her meaning was obvious—since he would take her life again if given another chance, why would she marry such a man?

After saying this, Qiao Zhao quietly observed Shao Mingyuan’s reaction.

Having said this much, surely Shao Mingyuan, with his strong sense of pride and heavy sense of responsibility, couldn’t possibly continue to pester her shamelessly, could he?

Shao Mingyuan reached out to cover Qiao Zhao’s hand and said earnestly, “So I won’t let such a scenario occur again.”

“General Shao is not a god after all. Don’t forget that heaven’s will is unpredictable—who knows, perhaps fate has arranged it exactly that way?”

“No one can predict how fate will arrange things. If it’s already destined, then being with anyone wouldn’t change it, so I’m even less at ease entrusting you to someone else.”

He wasn’t stupid. Zhaozhao was deliberately saying these things to force him to give up. However, how could he give up? Even if those words cut his heart like knives, he wouldn’t let go.

“Zhaozhao, listen—” Shao Mingyuan grasped Qiao Zhao’s hand and placed it over his heart, saying softly, “It died long ago and only came back to life yesterday. Do you have the heart to let it die again?”

Qiao Zhao’s heart jumped. She forcefully pulled her hand back and said with a stern face, “I’m going back first!”

She didn’t dare look at the man with his desolate expression again. She turned and hurried toward the door, suddenly yanking it open.

Chen Guang stumbled forward into the room, met Qiao Zhao’s surprised gaze, and grinned sheepishly.

Qiao Zhao’s face instantly turned red. She pretended to remain composed and quickly walked out.

Her mind was still filled with Shao Mingyuan’s words and his scoundrel behavior. She didn’t even notice Chi Can standing at the corner and headed straight for her room.

Chi Can stared intently at Qiao Zhao’s retreating figure, deep in thought.

Why was Third Miss Li’s face so red when she came out of Tingquan’s room?

He couldn’t help but walk toward Shao Mingyuan’s door, just in time to hear Chen Guang ask a question: “General, did you express your romantic feelings to Miss Li?”

As if struck by a club, Chi Can was completely stunned. Though he wanted to enter and scold Chen Guang for being inappropriate, his feet seemed rooted to the ground, unable to move an inch.

Accompanied by the clear, rapid sound of his heartbeat, his friend’s answer reached his ears: “Mm.”

Just one word, but it expressed his friend’s attitude clearly.

Chi Can felt as if thunder had exploded in his mind, leaving his thoughts completely blank. When he came to his senses, he was already inside the room, grabbing Shao Mingyuan by the collar and asking, “Tingquan, what were you just talking about? Did I mishear?”

His pair of delicate eyes was startlingly bright, carrying a hint of pleading.

Shao Mingyuan could only sigh at fate’s mockery. What should have been between him and Zhaozhao had dragged his friend into it because of that arrow.

What made him feel even more guilty was that not long ago, he had assured his friend that he had no feelings whatsoever for Miss Li.

He would never have any intentions of taking things further with Miss Li, but regarding Zhaozhao, he absolutely wouldn’t retreat a single step.

“Shixi, you didn’t mishear.” Shao Mingyuan said seriously.

He had originally planned to explain everything clearly to his friend tonight anyway. Since the opportunity had presented itself, it was good to speak openly earlier.

“I didn’t mishear?” Chi Can’s voice rose slightly. “So you did confess to Third Miss Li?”

Chen Guang inconspicuously retreated several steps, quietly closed the door, and very wisely shut himself outside.

At times like this, he shouldn’t disturb the General’s discussion with his rival in love. Besides, the General was skilled in martial arts and wouldn’t suffer any losses.

“Answer me—did you or didn’t you?”

Shao Mingyuan nodded. “I did.”

“Shao Mingyuan, you bastard!” Chi Can swung his fist and struck hard.

Shao Mingyuan didn’t move and took the punch directly.

Chi Can’s fury blazed even higher, his eyes turning red. “Shao Mingyuan, don’t think I won’t fight just because you’re acting like this. Come on! I don’t need you to go easy on me. If you have the guts to interfere, don’t you have the guts to fight me?”

Punch after punch aimed at Shao Mingyuan, who didn’t mobilize his internal energy or use any techniques. The two quickly engaged in a completely graceless brawl.

Despite the closed door, the commotion still summoned Yang Houcheng from the adjacent room.

Hearing the crashing and banging sounds coming from inside, Yang Houcheng asked Chen Guang, who was guarding the door, in surprise, “What’s happening?”

Chen Guang grinned, showing his white teeth. “Young Master Chi and our General are having tea.”

What?

Yang Houcheng cleaned out his ears.

Don’t joke around—was this having tea? It was more like demolishing the house.

In Yang Houcheng’s mind, all of them shared life-and-death friendships. For Shao Mingyuan and Chi Can to come to blows was truly remarkable.

Signaling for Chen Guang to step aside, Yang Houcheng pushed open the door and entered, just in time to see a stool flying toward him while the two friends rolled around on the floor together.

Catching the projectile with quick reflexes, Yang Houcheng looked completely puzzled. “What are you doing?”