novelraw Chapter 727 - 707: Betrothal Gifts
Chapter 727 - 707: Betrothal Gifts
Lan Ningzhen listened to her own frantic heartbeat but could not guess what kind of answer she truly wanted to hear. Her heart was in turmoil, yet so anxious. Did he fall for Lan Ningzhen?
"Can you feel whether I like you?" Xie Jue responded with a question instead of an answer. His inquiry was subtle, gentle, and accompanied by a faint smile in his eyes as he gazed at her. Neither Xie Jue nor Lan Ningzhen had seen him smile so tenderly before. Lan Ningzhen’s heart raced wildly, as if a small rabbit were pounding in her chest. "I can feel it!"
Indeed, emotions are incredibly private and subtle feelings. Whether you like someone, whether they like you, it’s something you can sense—all revealed in an unintentional touch or a lingering glance. She could feel Xie Jue’s affection. It was for this reason that her heart became a mixture of sorrow and joy.
"Then follow your heart," Xie Jue said softly as his hand brushed gently over Lan Ningzhen’s ear, which had turned a fiery red. Her hair was soft, her ear blushed as if dripping blood, and his slightly cool fingertips caught its warm texture. Each part of her seemed to fit his heart perfectly. How could he have been so blind to not recognize it sooner?
"Anning..."
Now, hearing Xie Jue call her name up close, Lan Ningzhen’s ears reddened even more. She instinctively tried to evade Xie Jue’s gaze but found it impossible because his palm rested against her cheek. "Anning, I want to confirm the words I said to you that day. Think carefully before you answer me."
"What words?" Lan Ningzhen realized how serious Xie Jue was. He had always been someone who pursued everything with utmost seriousness.
"No matter who I am, no matter society’s prejudices—if it’s me, will you be willing to be with me and walk through life hand in hand?" Xie Jue’s palm was pressed against her cheek, his fingers on her jaw exerting gentle pressure. In that moment, it was hard to tell who was more nervous, whose heart was more anxious.
Lan Ningzhen’s heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, she felt as though Xie Jue had seen through her disguise and knew who she really was beneath this facade. But in the next instant, she dismissed the thought. How could that be possible? The secret medicine was so effective that it made her unrecognizable. Standing thinly clad in front of him now, whether male or female—it was evident at a glance. No one could identify her true identity.
"Yes. This has been my extravagant hope buried deep within my heart for so, so long. I had wanted to bury this affection forever, never letting anyone know. But now... it cannot be concealed anymore. No matter who you are, I am willing to live my life with you, never regretting it." Lan Ningzhen thought, this was the most certain decision of her life, one no one could sway. Even knowing she was young and possibly unfit to decide, even aware that this strayed from convention, she still wanted to try. "What about you?"
This thing she was so certain about—how did Xie Jue feel about it?
"Then let’s marry!" Xie Jue said. "We’ll bow to the heavens and gods right here. At least here, we will be husband and wife, sharing honor and disgrace as one."
Xie Jue could not offer Fang Chuning any promises, as too much separated them—societal prejudice, family honor, and so on.
But Helian Feng could offer Lan Ningzhen everything, including his entire being.
"Truly?" The promise Lan Ningzhen sought seemed to simply be Helian Feng’s sincerity and commitment. "Are you truly willing to marry me?"
"The Beiman King has already decreed the marriage; we cannot refuse. Let’s fulfill their wishes," Xie Jue said.
"No, no matter what he says—it has to be you!" Lan Ningzhen anxiously grasped Xie Jue’s hand and asked earnestly, "It’s only you... are you willing to marry Anning?"
Looking at Lan Ningzhen, whose eyes were slightly reddened with emotion, Xie Jue felt a pang in his heart. She gripped his hand so tightly that she hadn’t noticed leaving red marks on his skin.
"I’m willing," Xie Jue said. "I am willing!"
This one promise brought all her emotions vividly to the surface. Lan Ningzhen, overwhelmed with excitement, gazed at him and spoke firmly, "Rest assured, I will prepare our wedding thoroughly. You just wait to be the groom."
Xie Jue, "..."
Isn’t it the groom’s responsibility to prepare for the wedding? Yet, for now, there was another issue—the fact that he had come to Beiman alone and possessed nothing, not even a presentable betrothal gift.