Ruan Qingli asked in confusion,
“Ah Sheng, isn’t that Lord Su? Aren’t you going over to greet him?”
Han Sheng lowered his head behind the edge of his robe and whispered,
“Ah Li, let’s leave first.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re outside.”
The two of them left the breakfast teahouse and walked quite a distance before Han Sheng finally stopped.
“Ah Li, didn’t you say you wanted to make me some clothes? Why don’t you go buy some fabric first? I have something to take care of. I’ll come find you afterward.”
Ruan Qingli understood that he was trying to send her away first. He probably had something to discuss with Su Mingyuan and the young woman, so she obediently nodded.
“Alright.”
After Ruan Qingli left, Han Sheng turned around and went back to find Su Mingyuan and the young woman.
His sudden appearance caught Su Mingyuan by surprise.
“Where did you pop out from? Jiaojiao and I were just about to look for you.”
Han Jiaojiao knocked him lightly on the head.
“Xiao Wu, you’ve really grown bold. You even dared to run away from home?”
Seeing Han Sheng look at him, Su Mingyuan quickly explained,
“It wasn’t me. I wasn’t the one who told her where you were.”
“It really wasn’t him,” Han Jiaojiao said. “Tang’er accidentally found you.”
The moment Han Jiaojiao mentioned Jiang Tang, Han Sheng let out a cold laugh.
“What a coincidence.”
“Fifth Brother, why are you so ungrateful? Tang’er only cares about you.”
“I don’t need her concern!”
Han Jiaojiao finally lost her temper when she saw how stubborn he was.
“Han Xiao Wu, don’t reject kindness only to invite trouble! What’s wrong with Tang’er? She’s beautiful, comes from a good family, gentle, and virtuous. I honestly don’t know what kind of woman you’re looking for.”
“Third Sister, Jiang Tang and I are impossible. I don’t like her at all. I already have someone I love.”
“Who?”
“None of your business.”
“None of my business? I’m your own sister! Believe it or not, I’ll beat you up!”
Seeing the siblings becoming increasingly confrontational, Su Mingyuan hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“Jiaojiao, it’s not convenient to talk in the middle of the street. Why don’t we go to my place and have some hot tea while we talk?”
But the moment he finished speaking, Han Jiaojiao turned around and slapped him across the face.
Smack!
The loud slap startled even the passersby.
Su Mingyuan stood there in shock.
Han Sheng was equally stunned.
“Third Sister, you’ve gone too far! Apologize to Mingyuan right now. You’re making him lose face.”
Han Jiaojiao lifted her chin proudly.
“Apologize to him? Dream on! He deserves it. Visiting brothels, sleeping with random women, then hiding out in this godforsaken place to avoid me. And you—you deserve a beating too.”
With that, she kicked Han Sheng.
Though it was obvious she had held back. She hadn’t even aimed for his face.
Su Mingyuan truly couldn’t keep his composure anymore.
He had never expected Han Jiaojiao to slap him in public.
She had hit him before, but always in private, and never across the face. He had always treated it as one of her little tantrums and never held it against her.
But this time…
He was genuinely angry.
A man’s face wasn’t something anyone could simply slap whenever they pleased.
Seeing him about to leave, Han Sheng hurriedly grabbed him.
“Mingyuan, for my sake, please find somewhere to talk things out with my third sister.”
The three of them went together to Han Sheng’s home.
Throughout the journey, Su Mingyuan didn’t say another word.
Han Jiaojiao wasn’t about to give in either.
The two remained locked in silent hostility.
As soon as they arrived, Han Jiaojiao noticed a woman’s clothes hanging in the courtyard to dry.
Her sharp gaze immediately turned toward Han Sheng.
“You’re keeping a mistress?”
Her words were harsh.
Han Sheng had already been upset because she had slapped Su Mingyuan, so his face turned cold.
“Third Sister, watch your words.”
Han Jiaojiao sneered.
“It’s fine. Even if you are, it doesn’t matter. She’s just a plaything. After sleeping with her for a few days, you’ll get tired of her anyway—”
Han Sheng cut her off through gritted teeth.
“Third Sister, I’m getting married. I won’t allow you to insult my fiancée like that.”
“What did you say?”
“Let’s go inside and talk. If we keep arguing out here, the neighbors will hear.”
Su Mingyuan didn’t go in.
The siblings were about to discuss private family matters, and it wasn’t appropriate for him to be present.
So he moved a small stool into the courtyard and sat outside to wait.
Just then, Ruan Qingli came back.
Afraid she would run into Han Jiaojiao and create even more trouble, Su Mingyuan quickly stepped in front of her.
“Miss Ruan, Ah Sheng has guests inside. It wouldn’t be convenient for you to go in right now. How about we take a walk together instead?”
Ruan Qingli looked at him in confusion.
“You and me?”
“Is that inconvenient?”
“As long as it’s convenient for Lord Su.”
The two of them left Han Sheng’s house.
Su Mingyuan looked at Ruan Qingli.
“Miss Ruan, is there nothing you’d like to ask me?”
“If I asked, would Lord Su answer?”
Su Mingyuan smiled.
“No.”
Han Sheng’s identity could only be revealed by Han Sheng himself.
If Han Sheng chose not to tell her, then he must have his reasons.
Su Mingyuan would never reveal it on his behalf.
Still, he kindly reminded her,
“Miss Ruan, forgive my bluntness, but you and Ah Sheng are not well matched. His family will likely never accept you.”
“Does it matter whether his family accepts me? I’m marrying Han Sheng, not his family. As long as he’s willing to marry me, and I’m willing to marry him, and he loves me while I love him—that’s enough.”
Su Mingyuan looked at her in surprise.
Since ancient times, marriage had never been considered a matter between only two people.
In his mind, a good marriage required families of equal standing, mutual benefit, and the approval of both households.
It had never occurred to him that the true purpose of marriage was simply for two people to love and choose each other willingly, rather than to pursue vague worldly interests.
At that moment, Ruan Qingli’s words shook the very foundation of his beliefs.
Yet he still couldn’t help asking,
“But if your marriage isn’t accepted by your family, you’ll lose all their support. Could you really live such a poor life?”
Ruan Qingli didn’t answer.
But the expression on her face had already given him the answer.
Su Mingyuan felt strangely defeated.
For some reason, his chest felt unbearably heavy.
Han Jiaojiao’s slap still burned on the right side of his face.
Yet that slap had also awakened him.
He had been engaged to Han Jiaojiao since he was ten years old.
Back then, he hadn’t even understood what marriage truly meant.
He had only known it was considered a happy occasion—something beneficial to both families.
But had he ever truly loved Han Jiaojiao?
Had seeing her ever filled him with joy?
Did he miss her when they were apart?
Did he care about her daily life?
It seemed… none of those things were true.
In fact, whenever he saw Han Jiaojiao, he never even felt the desire a man should feel toward a woman.
Now, he finally understood why Han Sheng would rather fall out with his family than agree to the marriage they had arranged.
Because he didn’t love that woman.
And he refused to settle.
Suddenly, he asked Ruan Qingli,
“Miss Ruan, if one day you found Han Sheng in bed with another woman, but he told you he’d been set up, and that nothing had actually happened between them… would you believe him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“No particular reason. Because I trust him.”
So that was it.
Only then did Su Mingyuan realize how foolish he had been for explaining himself to Han Jiaojiao over and over again.
Because someone who truly trusts you only needs to hear your explanation once.