Not only was there a quilt, but also a thick mattress pad.
Both the quilt cover and the mattress cover were made of dark blue cotton cloth. The quilt was embroidered with orchid patterns, while the mattress featured floral medallions. They felt wonderfully soft to the touch, and when wrapped around him, they carried the clean scent of fresh cotton, mingled with the fragrance of grass and wood.
There was also a faint hint of jasmine, like morning dew clinging to fresh blades of grass.
It was Ruan Qingli’s scent.
With the door now gone, it was much easier for them to talk to each other.
Han Sheng asked,
“You made new quilts today?”
From the inner room came her gentle reply.
“Fang Shubai returned the money from selling my adoptive father’s house today, so I bought some cotton and made two quilts. How are they? Aren’t they nice and warm?”
There was unmistakable excitement in her voice.
Han Sheng could hear how happy she was.
Yet, for some reason, his heart felt sour.
The money had come from Fang Shubai.
Had she gone to see him?
He wanted to ask, but felt he had no right, so he kept his thoughts to himself.
In the darkness, Ruan Qingli continued,
“Young Master Han, now that I have enough money to support myself, I plan to move out in a few days. Thank you for taking care of me during this time.”
Hearing that she intended to leave, Han Sheng suddenly found himself reluctant to let her go.
Perhaps Su Mingyuan had been right.
He had already developed feelings for Ruan Qingli.
Otherwise, why would he have brought her home in the first place?
Sometimes, falling in love with someone was just that simple.
Not every love story began with thunder and lightning.
He…
Didn’t want Ruan Qingli to leave anymore.
Those feelings were his own selfish desires.
But reason reminded him that he couldn’t drag this young woman into his dangerous life.
He couldn’t make her bear the risks that came with being by his side.
When Han Sheng was about to speak again, he realized Ruan Qingli had already fallen asleep.
Her breathing was soft and even.
She was sleeping peacefully.
That somehow made him even more depressed.
Did she really not see him as a man at all?
There wasn’t even a door anymore.
The only thing separating them was their own conscience.
And she trusted something as unreliable as conscience without the slightest hesitation.
This girl…
She was far too innocent.
Ruan Qingli slept exceptionally well that night.
The newly made quilt was soft and warm, finally keeping the winter chill at bay.
When she woke up, she didn’t hear any movement outside.
Stepping out, she found that Han Sheng had already left.
How had she slept so soundly?
She hadn’t even made him breakfast.
After washing up and fixing herself a simple meal, she headed out.
She wanted to see if she could rent a small house.
She didn’t want the rent to be too expensive, but she also didn’t want a place that was too isolated.
Living alone in a remote area would be frightening.
The moment she stepped outside, she saw Fang Shubai waiting at the door.
“Ali!”
Ruan Qingli ignored him and tried to walk around him.
He stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“Ali, I’ve already given you the money you wanted. You’ve beaten me, you’ve scolded me. Haven’t you calmed down yet?”
“Move aside. I have nothing to say to you.”
But Fang Shubai refused to budge.
“Ali, you hit me so hard that day. Didn’t you feel even a little sorry for me?”
So…
He knew after all.
Ruan Qingli wasn’t surprised.
With Fang Shubai’s calculating mind, it was only natural that he’d figured out she was the one who had beaten him.
“Fang Shubai, are you a dog? Why do you keep clinging to me?”
“Ali, I’ve heard what happened between you and Master Li. Don’t you understand now? Other than me, no one will want you. No one else will ever treat you sincerely.”
“Of course. You’ve blocked every road I could take. You ruined my reputation precisely so no one else would marry me. Fang Shubai… you disgust me.”
“Ali, I don’t believe you’ve stopped loving me. If you keep playing this hard-to-get game for too long, even I’ll lose my patience. Come home with me today, all right?”
As he spoke, Fang Shubai reached out to embrace her.
Just then, Madam Zhou and Fang Xiuxiu came outside and witnessed the scene.
Madam Zhou shrieked,
“Ruan Qingli, have you no shame? First you failed to seduce Master Li, and now you’re trying to seduce my son again? A damaged woman like you still dreams of getting married? Keep dreaming!”
Fang Xiuxiu chimed in,
“Brother, stay away from this woman. Everyone in town is saying she tried to climb into Master Li’s bed. She even drugged their tea. When Master Li rejected her, she turned around and falsely accused him.”
Those rumors had indeed spread throughout the town.
Even Han Sheng had heard them.
He felt he had gone too easy on that man named Li.
How dare he spread such outrageous lies?
So Han Sheng paid Master Li another visit and personally taught him another lesson about how to behave.
“Constable Han, please stop hitting me! I swear I didn’t spread those rumors. Think about it—how would I even dare? This time I’m truly innocent!”
Even Su Mingyuan found the situation suspicious.
He persuaded Han Sheng,
“Let’s go. He probably isn’t lying. Someone else must be spreading those rumors.”
Han Sheng had been wondering who it could be.
But when he returned home and saw Ruan Qingli arguing with the Fang family again, he immediately understood.
Who else could it be?
It had to be Fang Shubai.
He was terrified that Ali might marry someone else.
He wanted to completely destroy her reputation so no one would ever take her as a wife.
Seeing Fang Shubai still gripping Ruan Qingli’s wrist, Han Sheng strode over and pulled her behind him.
His imposing presence was intimidating enough, and now he was visibly angry.
The moment Madam Zhou and Fang Xiuxiu saw him, they hurried away.
Fang Shubai also sensed Han Sheng’s fury and wanted to retreat for the moment.
But Han Sheng gave him no chance.
He swung his fist and landed a solid punch.
The blow stunned both Fang Shubai and Ruan Qingli.
Staggering backward before regaining his footing, Fang Shubai asked,
“Brother Han, what is the meaning of this? How can you just hit someone?”
“I’m hitting you because you’re a complete bastard! Fang Shubai, listen carefully. Ali is the finest woman in this world. You’re the one who isn’t worthy of her.”
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Fang Shubai sneered.
“The finest woman in the world? Then marry her yourself! Han Sheng, do you really think you’re so noble? I schemed against Ali because I love her. I merely used a few methods to bring her back to my side. You keep saying how wonderful she is—but will you marry her? Aren’t you rejecting her just the same?”
His words left Han Sheng speechless.
He had been avoiding his feelings for Ruan Qingli all along.
Would Ali also think…
That he looked down on her?
If everyone else rejected her…
Then he would choose her.
Who cared what the future held?
Life was short.
Since fate had brought them together here…
If Ali was willing…
He would marry her.
With that thought, he turned to Ruan Qingli and, right in front of Fang Shubai, asked,
“Ali… if I wanted to marry you, would you be willing to become my wife?”