It’s often said that love lasts forever, but how much of it truly does?
Zhan Yiyang stammered, unable to respond.
Could he say he suspected she was a fox spirit?
It was merely a suspicion, with no evidence.
Under Du Yumeng’s piercing gaze, Zhan Yiyang steeled himself and spoke honestly, “I came to apologise to you.”
Du Yumeng raised an eyebrow. “Apologise? You already apologised after explaining things clearly last time. There’s no need to come back and apologise again. I don’t blame you. Matters of the heart require mutual feelings; they can’t be forced.”
“A melon twisted off the vine won’t be sweet. I won’t force you to accept me.”
“It’s been so long, and I no longer have any feelings for you, Fourth Young Master Zhan. I should thank you for being upfront with me early on. Back then, I was just starting to fall for you, but you made things clear, and I quickly got over it.”
Zhan Yiyang said sheepishly, “Miss Du, it’s not about that. Recently, I’ve been secretly following you.”
“Following me? Why?”
Du Yumeng feigned ignorance and asked, “What did I do to warrant being followed by you?”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “Last night, my guard dog kept barking. The security guard said there was a thief, but they didn’t catch them. That thief wasn’t you, was it?”
Zhan Yiyang’s face flushed even more.
“It was really you? Zhan Yiyang, do you know how dangerous that was? If the dog had bitten you and you’d died, our family couldn’t afford to compensate your grandmother for her grandson. If Grandma Zhan found out about your behaviour last night, she’d break your legs.”
Old Lady Zhan would surely swing her cane and give Zhan Yiyang a good thrashing.
“You still haven’t explained why you were following me and acting like a thief.”
Zhan Yiyang looked at her.
“Why are you staring at me like that? I haven’t gone looking for you. We haven’t seen each other in months.”
“Are you Mengbao?”
Zhan Yiyang asked.
“Are you the fox?”
Du Yumeng laughed. “My name has the character ‘Meng’ in it, so calling me Mengbao when I was little was fine. But now I’m in my mid-twenties—rounding up, you could say I’m thirty. Calling me Mengbao now feels a bit odd.”
“Fourth Young Master, just call me Miss Du. Don’t call me Mengbao, or I might think you’re trying to pursue me again.”
“And who’s this fox? Why would you think I’m either of these people you’re talking about?”
Du Yumeng wanted to know why Zhan Yiyang suspected she was the fox. Had he found something out, or had someone told him?
Logically, very few people knew.
Even her family didn’t know about the many aliases she used.
So, she particularly admired Grandma Zhan. She had never met Grandma Zhan before, so how did she know about her aliases?
Since Grandma Zhan knew about her aliases but didn’t tell Zhan Yiyang, what was her intention?
Zhan Yiyang picked up the bowl of ginger soup.
To speak properly, he forced himself to drink most of the bowl, despite his reluctance.
Du Yumeng watched him drink.
When he put the bowl down, she said, “Didn’t you say you don’t like spicy things? You looked like you’d rather face the guillotine than drink that ginger soup.”
“I kept sneezing, and it was affecting my speech.”
“Are you preparing for a long speech, then?”
Du Yumeng said with amusement, “Should I get some sunflower seeds or snacks and sit here, eating while I listen to your grand monologue?”
