Wei Ting was in complete dismay, unable to believe the words that had just come out of Luo Ming’s mouth.
It wasn’t impossible for him to know Lin Han. No, Lin Han was the most famous and talented heir of the Lin Chosen Clan, the best of his clan, so they said, gifted with a unique power that let him speak to beasts with startling ease.
But what was impossible, as far as she knew, was for Luo Ming to speak of Lin Han in front of her as though he were aware of their hidden relationship.
’No...don’t tell me...’
"Oh yes, I definitely know about the two of you, darling." Luo Ming confirmed her suspicion with a gentle smile, and Wei Ting seemed to sag, as though about to sink to the ground.
If Luo Ming hadn’t been holding her shoulders, and if they hadn’t still been outside with people wandering nearby, she would have let herself collapse.
’No, no, no! It can’t be! What if people find out I had a relationship with another man while engaged?!’ Wei Ting began to panic, her heart pounding, her blue eyes dilating in fury.
Of course, she’d done nothing with Lin Han beyond telling him she loved him. But that alone would be more than enough to set tongues wagging.
And it was well known that whispers only ever grew, twisting further and darker with every retelling.
That would undoubtedly ruin her reputation, and her family’s along with it.
As a Chosen Clan, the Wei Clan valued reputation above nearly everything else.
With all of that weighing on her, Wei Ting looked at Luo Ming with poorly hidden fear, bracing herself for him to use this against her, to avenge the unjust accusations she’d made against him.
But...
"You have nothing to worry about, darling." Luo Ming said, his tone far gentler than Wei Ting cared for, "I’m not going to tell your family anything about this, as long as we make a deal, alright? Now let’s head inside, people are starting to notice."
So they walked in, stepping into the house.
"What do you want?" Wei Ting asked through gritted teeth, once they were shielded from prying eyes, her body trembling faintly, "What do I have to do to make you shut your mouth?"
"Is this really how you speak to your fiancé?"
"Answer me, bastard!" Wei Ting snarled, batting his arm off her shoulder now that they were inside and no guards were around.
She glared at him, mouth twisted into a scowl.
"You truly disappoint me, Luo Ming. Using this to blackmail me. Despicable method only someone on the Demonic Path would resort to. Have you no shame?"
"None I can currently feel." Luo Ming shrugged, "And spare me the moral lecture. You think coming to your fiancé and accusing him of rape, without bothering to investigate first, is something a righteous person does? Or, going further, entertaining another man while engaged to someone else?"
Luo Ming stepped closer to her, his silver eyes glinting like polished mirrors. Wei Ting instinctively backed away, only to halt when her back struck a pillar.
By then, Luo Ming was already close. Then he closed the distance further, stopping just an inch away.
There, they could each clearly see every feature of the other’s face, and it was in that moment Luo Ming noticed a small mole at the left corner of Wei Ting’s chin.
So tiny you’d have to be this close to see it at all. It gave her a rather interesting charm.
Wei Ting fared no better. She’d always known Luo Ming was beautiful. But this close? With his scent filling her senses?
She truly grasped how unfair he was.
But she refused to let looks sway her!
’Never!’
"You see, you have no right to condemn me for using this method." Luo Ming said, "You may not have done exactly what I did, but you did worse, at least in the eyes of our kingdom. You know how this kingdom would judge you if the truth came out. It would be unfair, but it would still destroy your reputation."
Wei Ting said nothing, knowing full well it was true. Unfair, but the truth. Society judged women far more harshly than men.
A woman behaving as Wei Ting had would be branded frivolous. A man doing the same would be praised for landing two women.
That was the harsh reality. And Wei Ting hated it more, the more clearly she saw it.
"Let’s not make this harder than it needs to be, shall we?" Luo Ming said, his tone almost soothing, "If you want Lin Han that badly, go on, darling, have him. I won’t stand in your way, or ruin your reputation. We’ll break the engagement in a way that leaves you blameless, I can help with that. But in exchange, I want you to do something for me. Or rather, two things."
Wei Ting could hardly believe her ears. Luo Ming was willing to make sure no one blamed her?
’He wants to break our engagement? But why? He once said he loved me! Why doesn’t he care about me at all anymore?’ Wei Ting found herself confused by her own feelings.
She should be relieved. And, in a way, she was. But Luo Ming’s readiness to end things left a sour taste in her mouth.
Still, she gave nothing away and asked coldly,
"What do you want?"
"First, I want to know if you’re aware of a spot somewhere in this beautiful house of yours that the sun never quite reaches, no matter how high it climbs during the day?"
"Huh?" Wei Ting exclaimed, startled, "How do you even know about that?"
"So you do know it?" Luo Ming smiled, recalling the description the Map of Pengu had given him about the opportunity hidden within the Wei household. The Map had also told him how to reach it.
But everything beyond that was up to him.
"Yes, of course I know it." Wei Ting answered.
"Perfect. My first request is for you to take me there. Not now, though, we’ll do it at night. Not tonight either, that would look suspicious. I’ll be staying here a couple of nights regardless. I’ll let you know when."
"Why would you even stay? Just leave once you’ve kept your promise."
"Can’t do that, darling."
Wei Ting scowled, "...what’s the second thing?" She said, deeply suspicious. Still, if showing him that spot bought her freedom, she wasn’t going to complain.
"The second one is more delicate, and I need you to take it seriously." Luo Ming said, his expression turning serious.
"What is it?"
"I want you to help me, darling, convince your family to arrange an engagement between me and Wei Bing, once ours is broken."
Wei Ting’s mind stalled, "...what?"
"I want to marry your older sister, darling." Luo Ming said, leaning in to whisper, "I find her far more appealing."
BADUM—!
Wei Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
—End of Chapter 22—