10 – Chapter 10
Barefoot again?
Duan Yuan sat silently in his wheelchair without speaking, his face still expressionless, and the group of men in black surrounding him also wore inscrutable looks.
Just as Wang Ling was being supported by several servants attempting to slip away, Old Master Lin spoke up: “Aren’t you going to apologize before leaving?”
This woman’s words had not only insulted his precious granddaughter but also slandered the young master of the Duan family—she deserved to be taught a lesson. Old Master Lin was a reasonable man.
Wang Ling was inwardly shocked. Her mouth was sealed, throbbing with intense pain, and she was sweating profusely, already feeling blood trickling from her lips. How could she possibly apologize now? This old man was far too biased toward that little village girl!
In the quiet moment that followed, a figure suddenly appeared at the wide-open entrance of the Lin family villa. She wore a gray shift dress, but due to her extreme thinness, it hung on her like a sack, making her appear drab and dusty. At first glance, one might mistake her for a servant.
But as the young woman drew closer, no one would mistake her for a servant again.
Each step she took was as graceful as walking on a red carpet, her demeanor both noble and languid. She carried an air of lofty elegance, yet seemed completely at ease.
The Lin family servants were stunned. Was this really their timid, easily bullied young lady, the one who seemed like any servant could push her around?
The girl walked past the Lin family members, approached the iron gate, and fixed her gaze intently on the man in the wheelchair. Then, she called out softly, “Duan Yuan?”
The man in the wheelchair straightened his back further, as if he could see her, turning his face precisely in her direction without deviation.
Then, something even more astonishing happened.
The man in the wheelchair stood up and strode steadily and directly toward the girl.
Duan Yuan stood over 190 cm tall. Though lean, his presence was commanding—tall with long legs, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. Even among a group of burly men in black, he stood out like a crane among chickens, impossible to ignore.
Coupled with the black silk ribbon covering his eyes, he exuded an added aura of dark charm.
On Duan Yuan, blindness didn’t seem like a flaw—instead, it made him even more captivating!
Covering the five or six meters in just a few long strides, he knelt on one knee before anyone could react, kneeling outside the iron gate, directly facing the young girl in the gray dress inside.
The scene was like a ruthless king bending his waist, lowering his noble head—and the object of his reverence was merely a young girl.
Lin Jinyi, who had originally hoped A Tao would quickly marry Duan Yuan, now felt conflicted. Watching the scene before her, a pang of sourness welled up deep in her heart.
“Grandfather, look…”
Old Master Lin, lost in thought observing the young pair, shot his eldest granddaughter a warning glare without speaking.
At that moment, A Tao and Duan Yuan acted as if no one else was present, exchanging words no one could quite catch. Everyone around them—whether from the Lin family or Duan Yuan’s entourage—held their breath, watching the two on either side of the iron gate.
“Why didn’t you come find me?” Duan Yuan’s voice was no longer as icy as before, as if afraid of startling the girl. He deliberately softened his tone, making it much gentler.
“Haven’t we only been apart for 20 hours?” A Tao’s tone held a note of helplessness.
“You think 20 hours is short?””No…” A Tao noticed the man seemed somewhat displeased. She nearly blurted out “You’re so persistent,” but swallowed the words back down. Deciding to coax him gently—partly because he was so good-looking—she said, “It’s just that you seem a bit impatient. I haven’t finished handling my matters yet.”
“What matters? Let me help you with them.”
“I can’t trouble you with that.”
“Then how long will you need?”
“That’s hard to say…” A Tao pinched her chin and thought seriously for a moment. “At least until I’ve recovered my health a bit more.”
At the mention of A Tao’s health, Duan Yuan fell silent for a long moment. “You really should take good care of yourself.” No sooner had the words left his mouth than he suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly reached for A Tao’s foot.
A Tao jumped at the touch of his icy hand, her foot instinctively pulling back, but Duan Yuan still managed to grab it. “You’re not wearing shoes again? Why won’t you listen?”