In his previous life, Ye Chu lived a life of indulgence, treating countless women with calm detachment, yet now, gazing at the woman before him, his heart unexpectedly began to race. In that moment, he fully understood the inexplicable nervousness stirring within him. Ye Chu knew clearly that this feeling had been left behind by the other soul that once inhabited his body.
Su Rong lifted her gaze and met Ye Chu’s steady eyes. In her mind flashed the image of Ye Chu clashing palms with the leader of the Sha Kingdom, the sight of him wielding his brush with effortless grace as he inscribed characters on a plaque, the memory of his unrestrained, wickedly charming smile.
Yet at the same time, her mind conjured images of Ye Chu bullying men and dominating women, smashing and looting without restraint.
The two contrasting sets of memories overlapped, leaving Su Rong’s expression dazed and distant. In her recollection were scenes she admired and even liked, but there were also scenes she detested to the core.
As a child, Su Rong had once dreamed of a prince on a white horse who would be accomplished in both literature and martial arts, worshipped by the world, capable of saving the masses from peril. Of course, she knew it was only a fantasy, but which woman did not have dreams?
Ye Chu possessed a silhouette that made her heart flutter, and now even his unrestrained, roguish smile seemed warm and gentle to her. Sometimes when she thought of him, her cheeks would occasionally flush.
To go from a notorious scoundrel to this point had already earned him considerable favour in Su Rong’s eyes.
Yet he still fell short of the prince in her fantasies. Her prince should be a true hero, not someone so wild and unrestrained, carrying a wicked charm and burdened with a notorious reputation.
The prince in her memory should enjoy universal praise and acclaim.
Ye Chu was far from that. Though the occasional sight of his lonely figure quickened her pulse, he was ultimately not her prince, unable to carry her soaring to the heavens or embrace the radiance of the sun and moon.
“I’m sorry.”
Su Rong spoke in a low voice, glanced at Ye Chu one last time, released her grip on the balcony railing, stepped forward to draw the curtains, and walked back into the hall.
Inside the hall, everyone was still discussing Ye Chu and Su Rong, but when they saw her step out, all conversation abruptly ceased. They stared blankly at Su Rong as she emerged and at Ye Chu, who remained standing there in a daze.
Ye Chu watched Su Rong pull the curtains and disappear inside. He involuntarily let out a long breath, as if something deep in his soul had finally been released. Looking at her graceful retreating figure, Ye Chu smiled faintly, turned around, and faced the cold lake once more. To outsiders, his back appeared lonely and forlorn.
Seeing this, the others exchanged glances. The bewildered group of young men and women seemed to understand something. “Su Rong rejected Ye Chu?”
The thought surfaced, and everyone’s gaze snapped toward Su Rong. Some of the girls could not help sighing, wondering if even the current Ye Chu was not good enough for her, then what kind of man in this world could Su Rong ever fancy?
“Su Rong truly is an impregnable fortress, lofty and unattainable, impossible for any man to conquer.”
The hearts of the young men were utterly crushed. Someone like Chen Bowen, laden with honours, had been shot down by her, and now even Ye Chu, with his bad-boy charm and occasional melancholy coolness, could not win her over. Was there no man in the world capable of conquering her? Anyone who dared harbour thoughts of her would be ruthlessly struck down.
Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Su Rong’s gaze involuntarily drifted to the figure gazing out over the cold lake. A sudden pang of sorrow welled up in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it.
Su Rong did not know that in the many years to come, she would often recall this day, recall his words “Is that what you hope?”, recall the shimmering light on the cold lake that day, and most of all, recall the indolent young man leaning against the balcony. In the future, she would sometimes wonder what her life might have been like if she had chosen a different answer that day.
Would she, each time she remembered this scene, be moved to tears?
…
When Ye Chu returned to the hall, Su Rong’s eyes happened to meet his. Ye Chu smiled at her. Naturally, he would not take her recent rejection to heart.
This was the outcome the previous soul had long anticipated. Expressing his feelings to Su Rong was something he had always wanted to do but never found the courage for. Now Ye Chu had done it on his behalf, fulfilling a regret from the past. At this moment, Ye Chu felt a sense of release, as if his body had grown lighter.
Seeing Ye Chu remain so carefree and smile at her, Su Rong felt relieved. Yet her cheeks grew hot, and she quickly turned her head, unable to meet his gaze. An indescribable feeling stirred in her heart.
Ye Chu walked over to Liang Shan, clapped him on the shoulder, then turned his eyes to Su Rong and smiled. “This may be our last meeting. In a few days, I will be leaving Yao City. I came today specifically to say goodbye to everyone.”
“What?” His words plunged the entire hall into deathly silence, every gaze fixed on Ye Chu.
Many of the girls shifted their eyes to Su Rong, some even showing displeasure.
In the eyes of many, Ye Chu’s decision to leave Yao City now stemmed from Su Rong’s rejection. Even Liang Shan thought so, for he had heard nothing of Ye Chu’s plans to depart before this.
“Su Rong has truly wounded Ye Chu deeply.” Looking at his not particularly tall figure standing there, some of the girls felt a pang of heartache.
He had left for three years, transformed upon his return, and faced countless scornful words, all to pursue the girl he had secretly loved. Yet all his efforts had come to nothing. The mere thought was heartbreaking. Some even felt that Su Rong had been too cruel.
“Then, farewell!” Ye Chu smiled at the crowd, turned without hesitation, and left through the door with Pang Shao.
Only when Ye Chu had passed through the gate and it closed with a heavy thud did everyone snap out of their daze. Staring at the empty doorway, they looked at one another. Some of the girls’ eyes reddened.
Su Rong stood frozen in place, staring blankly toward the door. Only when she saw Liang Shan rush out did she react and follow. But outside the gate, Ye Chu and Liang Shan were already nowhere to be seen.
“Has Ye Chu really gone?” Several girls who had also chased out stared in bewilderment at the empty alley, exchanging glances.
Zhang Su’er had always despised Ye Chu in the past, yet now her heart was inexplicably touched. Thinking of how he often stood alone gazing at the cold lake, looking lonely, her eyes could not help growing red.
“Su Rong, run after him! Maybe Ye Chu would stay if you asked!” Zhang Su’er said. “The Ye Chu of today is no longer the villain of three years ago.”
“Yes, yes! Su Rong, can you really bear to reject him? If it were me, I would be willing to be with him.” Another girl sighed beside her. “But he came back for you.”
“Su Rong! I think Ye Chu is really good. A bit melancholic, handsome, skilled in both literature and martial arts, always a little roguish, capable of romantic madness for someone. He’s very attractive to girls. I truly don’t understand why you turned him down.”
…
Glancing at the empty alley, Su Rong felt an inexplicable irritation. Surrounded by Zhang Su’er and the others chattering away, she could barely make out what they were saying and could only nod reflexively.
Many books are now very difficult to find any more, so read them and cherish them while you can.
