Feng Ran told Sheng Yi everything that Xuan Yuan Heng had said.
"No wonder Qing Huan came to find me today and said all those nice words. I thought Qing Huan was finally behaving. Now it seems she has truly deceived me completely."
"Feng Ran, give this back to Qing Huan. I will discipline her, and she will behave," Sheng Yi said, rising to leave. This matter was urgent, and she absolutely would not allow anything to happen.
"Feng Ran, you don't need to trouble yourself with this. I will handle it for you, I..."
"No need." Feng Ran's face was filled with chilling cold. She said icily, "Sheng Yi, I will handle this myself."
"Sheng Yi, please do not get involved. I don't want innocent people to be implicated because of my affairs."
Sheng Yi looked at Feng Ran. "Then do you have a solution?"
Feng Ran nodded.
Finally, Sheng Yi left. As Feng Ran walked out, she still did not forget to say, "Sheng Yi, please do not interfere with this matter. I will handle it."
"Alright." Sheng Yi had initially thought of secretly helping, but in the end, she agreed.
She understood clearly that if she interfered, she would not be able to extricate herself unscathed.
Xuan Yuan Heng was already fully aware of what was happening with Feng Ran.
Xuan Yuan Heng put down his brush after writing the last stroke, extremely satisfied.
...
Ling Family.
At the family banquet.
Feng Ran sat restlessly in her seat. She didn't speak, even wanting to escape, but Ling Chi Yuan, by her side, firmly restrained her.
Today, Ling Chi Yuan had appeared in a hurry, saying he would take her somewhere. She thought, perhaps it was like before, that he had found a fun place and was taking her there.
Ling Chi Yuan had spent a fortune to 'keep' her. If he wanted to take her out, she naturally had to obey and follow.
However, she never expected Ling Chi Yuan to bring her to the Ling family.
Today, the Ling family hall was full, and they seemed to be holding some sort of event.
Wait, that day Xuan Yuan Heng had told her he would come to pick her up to go to the Xuan Yuan mansion in two days. Was it because of this?
Thinking of this, Feng Ran's face instantly turned pale. She bit her lip tightly, wanting to escape here immediately.
She thought, if this was true, then Xuan Yuan Heng would definitely appear here. What should she say then?
She let out a scoff. No matter what she said, it seemed impossible to quell Xuan Yuan Heng's anger.
She stood up, wanting to leave, but Ling Chi Yuan grabbed her hand. She desperately wanted to break free, but there were too many people around, and she didn't dare to make any significant movements. If her movements were too large, the people around would naturally notice.
She was already notorious, so she wasn't afraid. She was only afraid of what might happen if Xuan Yuan saw her.
"Young Master Ling, you brought me here today to humiliate me, is that right?" Feng Ran calmly questioned.
Ling Chi Yuan's brows furrowed, his expression somewhat unpleasant. He knew he hadn't explained things clearly to Feng Ran, and the mistake was his. But to say it was for humiliation, that was a bit too extreme.
He brought Feng Ran here for her own good.
He simply wanted everyone in the world to know that Feng Ran was someone he, Ling Chi Yuan, protected. Even if she was in Chun Manyuan, no one could lay a hand on her.
To harm her was to make an enemy of him.
"Feng Ran, I only wanted to bring you here so that these noble families could see you. Let all those who want to bully you restrain themselves."
"With me protecting you, even if those people are dissatisfied with you, they wouldn't dare to kill you."
Ling Chi Yuan looked at Feng Ran earnestly, seemingly waiting for her response.
He reached out, wanting to grasp Feng Ran's hand, but Feng Ran retreated. Feng Ran's eyes were filled with vigilance towards him at this moment.
"Feng Ran?" Was she dissatisfied with his arrangements?
Feng Ran suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart. She mocked herself internally. Ha, in what capacity could she reject Ling Chi Yuan?
Ling Chi Yuan could do whatever he pleased at this moment.
Her life was already his. What right did she have to say these words to him?
Feng Ran, Xuan Yuan Heng was right; Feng Ran, your boldness is truly growing.
"I'm sorry, Young Master Ling."
Ling Chi Yuan was stunned. He hadn't expected that Feng Ran, who had been so agitated moments ago, would now lower her head and apologize to him. He found this sudden change in Feng Ran utterly perplexing.
"If you don't like it here, I'll take you away now," Ling Chi Yuan said, reaching for Feng Ran's hand and intending to leave.
After a long while, Feng Ran finally raised her eyes, looking at the person before her, seemingly resigned. "Young Master Ling, there's no need. This is all my fate, and what right do I have to refuse?"
Hearing this, Ling Chi Yuan's brows furrowed. He felt a pang of heartache at Feng Ran's words.
Why did she have to say such self-deprecating things?
Feng Ran shouldn't be like this.
For some reason, Ling Chi Yuan's face filled with anger. Without a word, he grabbed Feng Ran's hand and walked out.
Feng Ran was forcefully pushed by him into the carriage.
Ling Chi Yuan's face was grim, and he said unhappily, "Feng Ran, I am not what you imagine. If there's something you don't want to do, I naturally won't force you."
"Everything I've done, my starting point was naturally for your own good."
"Perhaps, our circumstances are different. Therefore, our experiences are also different."
"And our thoughts are naturally different."
"Young Master Ling..."
"Feng Ran, we've arrived. Go and rest well."
"This matter was indeed a bit excessive on my part. I made decisions for you without asking you."
"Next time, I will definitely ask you. If you disagree, I naturally won't force you."
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan's apologetic expression, and her heart felt a twinge of guilt.
Looking at Ling Chi Yuan, Feng Ran's heart trembled. She, such an unlucky person, did not want to drag down innocent people. She thought for a long time, wanting to say the words that were on her mind.
However, considering her situation, she eventually swallowed the words she wanted to say back down.
Those words should never have been spoken in the first place.
What right did she have?
A lowly person.
How noble was Ling Chi Yuan's status?
Hadn't she long ago accepted her fate? Feng Ran, you are no longer the highly esteemed eldest daughter of the Feng family. How can you possess the pride and integrity?
As long as you can survive, isn't that enough?
Ling Chi Yuan paid for her; she should serve him well, shouldn't she?
If it were someone else, would she be like this now?
No, if it weren't for Ling Chi Yuan, her life would have been much more miserable.
Shouldn't she be secretly happy?
Feng Ran, be content. You have enough already. You are still alive, aren't you?