Su Miao frowned. She’d set up the perfect opportunity for him, and he didn’t take it—what was that about?
Di Ronghua’s face was blank. “I’m not done eating.”
The man nodded. “Then keep eating. I’ll wait.”
Di Ronghua eyed his figure standing there like a post and said icily, “You think I can eat with you hovering like that?”
“Then I’ll wait over there. Call me when you’re finished.”
“…”
Di Ronghua shot to her feet. “I’m not eating anymore!”
With that, she stormed out without a backward glance.
Xiao Hanjin’s expression shifted, and he took a long stride to follow, but a voice behind him stopped him with a raised brow. “Hey.”
He turned, frowning. “What?”
Su Miao studied his stiff, emotionless face. For a split second, she considered letting him crash and burn. But for Ronghua’s sake, she decided to hold back. “Are you not planning to marry our Ronghua?”
Xiao Hanjin’s gaze flickered. “Her staying with me is already enough.”
What did he mean by “already enough”?
Su Miao’s expression turned strange. “So, shouldn’t you treat her even better?”
He frowned. “Of course I’ll treat her well.”
“Leaving her to follow you without a proper title—that’s treating her well?”
Xiao Hanjin’s throat bobbed, a faint, self-mocking curve tugging at his lips. “You don’t get it. She said she’d never marry me again.” He forced a smile. “I’ve already forced her into too much. I don’t want everything to be like that.”
Su Miao’s face twisted into something indescribable.
Her gaze grew odder. “She also said she’d never like you again, never be with you—yet here you are together, right?”
He glanced at her, his brow creasing deeper. “It’s not the same. If it weren’t for my injuries, even if she liked me, she wouldn’t have reconciled. Didn’t you see her storm off when you mentioned marriage? Isn’t that clear enough?”
What the—?!
Su Miao nearly swore aloud, staring at him in disbelief. “You’re sure she stormed off because of me?”
It was obviously because of him!
—
The more Di Ronghua thought about it, the angrier she got. Whether she wanted to marry was beside the point—how could that jerk Xiao Hanjin not even ask her?
And he still hadn’t caught up after all this time?!
She glanced back—nothing but an empty street, not a soul in sight.
“Damn Xiao Hanjin, rotten Xiao Hanjin!”
Fuming, she spun around, only to crash into someone, stumbling in shock.
Luckily, the man steadied her by the waist. “Careful.”
Di Ronghua instinctively moved to push him away, but the familiar voice made her snap her head up. “How are you ahead of me?”
Xiao Hanjin replied, “I took a shortcut.”
“Even with a shortcut, you’re this slow? What were you doing?”
“Nothing much.” His expression was layered as he looked at her. “Ronghua, would you… marry me?”
Di Ronghua’s face froze.
—
At the tavern, Su Miao popped the last peanut into her mouth and stood leisurely. A faint scoff sounded nearby. “Heh.”
She turned to see a tall, striking figure leaning against the wall, his cool gaze fixed on her. “I’ve been wondering when you’d notice me. Turns out your eyes only see food—nothing else?”
Two months. Two whole months since she’d last seen him or heard his voice.
Su Miao’s face lit up with shock and delight as she rushed over, throwing herself into his arms. “What are you doing here?”
