Qiao Zhao thought that she probably did like this bastard a little.

If there hadn’t been that trip to the Northern Territories, if she had remained in the capital’s grand mansion waiting for his victorious return, perhaps they could have lived in harmony and stayed together for life.

Unfortunately, there were no ifs. She had died and been reborn. After experiencing a cage-like married life, she had finally regained her freedom with great difficulty and never wanted to return to that cage again.

“Zhaozhao—” The young lady’s expression made Shao Mingyuan inexplicably panic.

He had witnessed her firm rejection of her good friend from beginning to end.

Could it be that she truly felt nothing for him?

Thinking of this possibility, Shao Mingyuan clenched his fists tightly and said earnestly: “Zhaozhao, when we return to the capital, let’s get engaged.”

“Impossible.” Qiao Zhao refused categorically.

Shao Mingyuan’s breathing hitched, his star-like eyes silently gazing at her.

Qiao Zhao’s expression was indifferent: “This matter is impossible.”

Pain flashed in Shao Mingyuan’s eyes, but his lips curved in a smile as he said gently: “I don’t accept that.”

He had lived in hell for twenty years. Meeting her, falling for her, he no longer dared to retreat. That would be a fate worse than death.

Qiao Zhao saw the sadness in the man before her eyes, and for some reason, her heart felt inexplicably blocked. But she knew this was precisely when she absolutely could not relent, or she would truly be entangled with him for life.

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhao steeled her heart and said in an indifferent tone: “Your refusal to accept it is useless. I don’t have you in my heart.”

The man opposite turned pale, but he didn’t shrink back in embarrassment as Qiao Zhao had expected. Instead, he fiercely pulled her over with his arm, holding her tightly in his embrace. His chin rested against her raven-black hair as he sighed softly: “Zhaozhao, you’re lying to me.”

He placed a kiss on her hair, then another on her forehead. Then he pushed her away slightly, looking directly into her eyes and asking steadily: “If it were another man treating you this way, how would you react? Zhaozhao, please don’t deceive yourself anymore. After we return to the capital, we’ll get engaged. After you come of age, I’ll marry you and bring you home. Whatever kind of life you want, I’ll strive to provide it.”

Qiao Zhao turned her face away.

Shao Mingyuan felt terrible and lowered his head to peck at her lips.

Qiao Zhao lifted her head, looking at him with a cold smile: “Shao Mingyuan, is this all you know how to do – bully me? Then let me tell you, I don’t know about other girls, but for me, what does kissing and embracing amount to?”

At this point, Miss Qiao stared at the man before her, whose face had turned pale, her expression unchanged as she continued: “After all, we were once married. I was just a bit curious, that’s all.”

She didn’t believe that after speaking to this extent, he would still shamelessly pester her.

“Curious?” Shao Mingyuan released his arms and stepped back, his gaze so deep that his emotions were unreadable. “Curious about what?”

Qiao Zhao said indifferently: “Curious about what kissing feels like.”

At this point, she lifted her eyes to look deeply at Shao Mingyuan, tugging at the corner of her lips: “Turns out it’s nothing special.”

Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes, feeling his heart being cut by knives.

Seeing him like this made Qiao Zhao feel terrible inside. She just wanted to cut through the mess quickly, so she continued: “Any man I’d been married to, I would probably be curious about.”

Shao Mingyuan opened his eyes to look at her: “Zhaozhao, don’t say anymore.”

Qiao Zhao smiled gracefully and raised her hand to caress his chest, her slender fingers poking at the man’s rock-hard muscles as she mocked: “Anyway, I don’t plan to marry anyone. If you really can’t control yourself, then it’s nothing. I’ll prepare medicine and take contraceptive measures—”

Shao Mingyuan’s face turned frighteningly pale. He interrupted Qiao Zhao and pulled her to the door: “Zhaozhao, it’s fine if you want to anger me, but I don’t want to hear you say these things that demean yourself. When you’ve calmed down, we’ll talk again.”

He opened the door, pushed Qiao Zhao out, and quickly closed the door. Then he slowly crouched down, burying his head deeply in his knees.

Qiao Zhao stared at the tightly closed door, her eyelashes trembling continuously.

When you should act decisively but don’t, you’ll suffer the consequences. Making things clear early was good for everyone – she hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Let’s go.” Qiao Zhao nodded to A’Zhu and walked a few steps before suddenly stopping. She turned to Ye Luo and said, “Your general has a head injury. Pay more attention to him.”

Ye Luo raised his hand to touch his nose. Looking at the young lady’s retreating figure, he was struck with inspiration: “Miss Li, our general hasn’t eaten yet.”

Qiao Zhao’s steps faltered.

“Young Master Yang and the others should have saved him some food. Remember to bring it to him.” She dropped this sentence and hurried away.

Ye Luo turned to look at the tightly closed door and sighed.

If only Chen Guang were guarding here today. What exactly was going on between Miss Li and the General? He couldn’t understand it at all.

But Miss Li’s skirt was covered in blood—

Ye Luo thought for a moment, then lifted his foot to find Chen Guang.

Chen Guang was sitting alone on the deck, looking like life held no meaning.

“Chen Guang—”

Chen Guang didn’t turn around: “Don’t call me. I want to jump into the sea.”

There was no response from behind for quite a while.

Chen Guang couldn’t stand it and turned around: “What kind of silent gourd are you? Won’t you ask me why I want to jump into the sea?”

With such a boring personality, how was a person supposed to pour out their feelings?

“I know why.”

“You know?” Chen Guang widened his eyes.

Ye Luo nodded.

“Then tell me why.”

“You disobeyed orders, so the General fined you money. Besides touching your fund, what else could make you like this?”

“Not bad, Ye Luo. I thought you were a block of wood.” Chen Guang turned back to face the sea, saying sadly, “That’s why I don’t want to chat. I just want to jump into the sea.”

“Why jump into the sea?”

“How can I marry a wife without a wife-fund?”

Ye Luo looked puzzled: “Once you marry a wife, won’t you have a fund? The General will give you a generous reward.”

Chen Guang blinked, suddenly enlightened: “Right! As the first among us brothers to get married, the General will be generous!”

Seeing Chen Guang instantly come back to life with fighting spirit, Ye Luo sighed: “But I don’t know what happened between the General and Miss Li. Miss Li just left the General’s room with a cold face, and her skirt was covered in blood.”

“What?” Chen Guang did a carp-leap and jumped up, staring intently at Ye Luo. “You better not be joking.”

After thinking, he muttered again: “Looks like it’s true. You’re not the joking type. No way, I need to check on the General!”

Chen Guang ran like the wind to Shao Mingyuan’s place and stood at the door calling: “General, may this subordinate come in?”

After a long while, a man’s low voice came from inside: “Come in.”

Chen Guang pushed the door open and immediately saw the General sitting dazedly on the bed, holding a blood-stained white handkerchief in his hands, lost in thought.

Chen Guang’s expression instantly became subtle.

“What is it?” Shao Mingyuan glanced at Chen Guang, but his eyes lacked focus.

“General, this handkerchief… is it Miss Li’s?”

“Mm.”

“Hiss—” Chen Guang sucked in a breath. “General, although this subordinate encouraged you to be bold and thick-skinned, this isn’t good, is it?”