Chapter 78: Infatuation
Song Hemei was nearly entangled by the successive interrogations from the man before her, made to feel as if she were the one at fault.
She steadied herself, her eyes carrying a hint of probing as she looked back at him. "Stop trying to deceive me with such words. I ask you—did you truly go to see Jilang first?"
"Naturally."
Song Hemei narrowed her eyes, feeling she had caught a flaw in his words, and spoke with a sharp tone. "Nonsense. If you had truly seen Jilang, you wouldn't have come to think this way."
Yu Yeqing's breathing grew heavier. "How could I use such a matter to deceive you? If you do not believe me, you may seek out Third Young Master to confront him face to face."
Seeing that he did not seem to be feigning truth, Song Hemei's tone softened slightly as she probed, "Then what did Jilang tell you?"
Yu Yeqing's expression dimmed further, another suppressed emotion surging within him. "He said you had been away from home for many days, missed your husband, and once matters at your natal home were settled, you hurried back to Linzhou."
He had traveled day and night to reach Changzhou, but it was improper to enter the residence abruptly at night, so he visited during the day, following proper etiquette. It was the household-managing Song Jilang who received him personally, allowing him to hear these words.
He did not know how he managed to ride to Linzhou; even the wind that accompanied his galloping could not dispel the suffocating feeling.
Yet the woman before him showed no guilt at being exposed, nor any panic demanding explanation. Instead, she looked at him with puzzled eyes. "Jilang truly said that?"
"I have spoken not a single false word."
Yu Yeqing stared at her, waiting for an explanation. Any explanation would do—he would believe anything—anything but the feeling that the bright moon he had finally obtained would turn out to be empty.
Song Hemei's lashes fluttered, and her gaze dropped as she fell into silent contemplation.
The longer she remained silent, the more Yu Yeqing felt himself drowning in a hopeless abyss, unable to struggle free. He leaned slightly forward, forcing her to lift her head and meet his eyes. "Do you not even want to offer me a single word of explanation?"
Song Hemei instinctively leaned back. Actually saying it out loud proved rather embarrassing.
"What explanation do I need to give? If you hadn't left without a word, none of this would have happened. It's still your fault."
She turned her gaze aside and coughed twice lightly. "Jilang likely guessed what's between us, and that's why he deliberately said that to you."
Yu Yeqing's brow twitched slightly as he waited for her to continue.
"Perhaps he thought you had deceived me and wanted to vent on my behalf. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said that knowing full well what I came back to do. If it were merely because my affairs couldn't be shared with outsiders, he could have brushed it off casually instead of saying things meant to make you misunderstand."
Song Hemei released her grip on his lapel, smoothing the wrinkles on it a few times until it lay flat.
A tingling sweetness spread through her heart. She found herself rather pleased.
If what he said was true, then he had come rushing over because he thought she was returning to Shao Wen'ang, which was why he appeared like this, ready to interrogate her.
After a moment of silence, she indeed heard him ask, "Then why did you return to the Shao residence?"
Even Yu Yeqing's voice was softer than before. He had always been timid about guesses; bad outcomes were unbearable, and the shattering of too-beautiful expectations was an even more devastating blow.
He simply stood still, watching her, waiting for her final verdict, his grip tightening around her waist as he did so.
Song Hemei reached behind her to grasp his long fingers, hooking her warm fingertips around his, feeling as if even her own heart trembled along with them.
Being magnanimous, she decided not to keep things from him. She lowered her voice and said, "I came back to seek an amicable divorce."
As she spoke, she watched all the emotions in Yu Yeqing's eyes dissolve, and the stunned look that followed was almost foolishly vacant.
Song Hemei was quite satisfied with his reaction. She regretted not bringing the letter Jilang had written for her.
If she had shown him that letter as well, what would his reaction have been? Even more foolish than now?
But Yu Yeqing seemed truly stunned beyond measure. He suddenly asked, "Amicable divorce? With whom?"
Song Hemei choked. "Who else could it be? Naturally, with Shao Wen'ang. Was I supposed to seek an amicable divorce from you?"
Yu Yeqing felt as if all the blood in his body surged through him in an instant, and even his limbs were filled with a exhilaration he dared not release.
All he could do was stubbornly confirm again. "You truly want an amicable divorce? Why?"
"Why else? I simply don't want to continue living with him." Song Hemei stiffened her face. "If you keep asking such pointless questions, even the truth will turn into a falsehood."
Yu Yeqing's dark pupils trembled, his increasingly heavy breathing making it vividly apparent to Song Hemei.
This stirred a bit of curiosity in her—she wondered what he would say.
Would he urge her? Tell her to hurry up and sever all ties with the Shao family?
Would he express joy? Certainly he must be joyful, but he wasn't the type to deliver long speeches of happiness.
Would he discuss with her how to settle her from now on?
Having things tangled in ambiguity was definitely not acceptable. Whether she had a marriage certificate or not, she could care less, but he must have an attitude and a plan.
But in the next moment, he pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her neck, his voice full of affection and infatuation. "It is my fault."
His voice was like clear dew in spring, as if it could soak through all her thoughts.
"I am the one forcing you to make a choice."
He released her waist, his warm palm gently stroking her back.
Such a tall man bending over to bury himself in her embrace—Song Hemei felt a kind of possessive satisfaction gradually spreading within her.
She savored his words for a moment, then deliberately asked, "According to you, if I find it difficult, I can stay?"
Yu Yeqing paused, not answering immediately. His warm lips brushed against her neck, whether intentionally or not.
When he spoke again, his voice was muffled. "No."
Song Hemei couldn't help but curve her lips. "So it is 'no' after all. Then what was all that talk about wrongs? I thought you were planning to acknowledge your mistake and correct it."
With their chests pressed together, she could feel the slight vibrations when he spoke.
"As for my faults, we can settle the accounts after I die."
Those words were rather soothing to hear.
Song Hemei's mood improved considerably. She wrapped her arms around his narrow waist, gently rubbing it. The warmth from his neck transferred to her in wisps, and threads of sweetness spread from the tip of her heart.
She whispered in his ear, "I've got your back. I won't settle accounts with you."
A smile hung at the corners of Song Hemei's eyes, but then a figure suddenly appeared in her line of sight, choking back the words she was about to say.
Fang Yiyun had come over at some point. Seeing them embracing, she nearly stumbled, quickly covering her mouth to stifle a cry.
Embarrassment and panic flooded her. She hurriedly patted Yu Yeqing's back to make him let go.
Yu Yeqing turned around, only noticing the newcomer. Instinctively, he pulled Song Hemei behind him, his tall frame perfectly shielding her.
"Why is Lady Fang here?"
His voice was icy, sharp as a blade, startling Fang Yiyun and halting her forward steps.
Song Hemei quickly pushed him aside and stepped forward to take the shocked woman's hand. "Yiyun, why are you here?"
Fang Yiyun's lips moved slightly, her gaze alternating between Yu Yeqing and Song Hemei. She swallowed before speaking. "Lord Shao noticed you were missing and was looking for you. I was afraid he would come back here and ruin things… and the person who found this spot is me."
Her meaningful gaze wandered between the two, though 'wandered' was an exaggeration—she only glanced at Yu Yeqing once before quickly focusing back on Song Hemei, practically drilling into her with her eyes.
"What should we do, Hemei? Should you go back with me, or?"
"I'll go back with you," Song Hemei answered immediately.
After all, this was still someone else's wedding banquet; it wouldn't do to cause a scene. Moreover, Yu Yeqing's identity was sensitive, and with so many people around, it could damage his reputation.
Before leaving with Fang Yiyun on her arm, she looked back at the man behind her. "Go back quickly, Lord Yu. You've been away from your seat for a long time."
Yu Yeqing stared fixedly at her, the deep reluctance in his eyes making her feel a pang of guilt.
Now she truly had abandoned him first.
But there was no time to dwell on that. She quickly turned back and pulled Fang Yiyun along the corridor.
Once they were a good distance away, Fang Yiyun patted her chest, still shaken. "You really startled me. Your movements were way too fast—how did you end up hugging like that in the blink of an eye? If I had come any later, would I have had to deliver you a bed?"
Song Hemei felt a twitch at her temple. "That's an exaggeration. It was just a hug. We didn't do anything else."
"What else did you want to do!" Even when whispering, Fang Yiyun's shock was evident. "I see now. No wonder I hadn't even figured out how to lure him out when you stood up, and he left his seat on his own, trailing after you like that. Had you already started something with him long ago?"
Song Hemei didn't deny it. "Don't make a fuss. Weren't you just earlier thinking I did the right thing?"
"That's completely different. I'm just saying—why did Shao Wen'ang also come looking for you? Do you think he might have sensed something? Men are naturally sensitive and suspicious about this sort of thing. Maybe you already gave yourself away before."
Song Hemei pursed her lips. "If that's the case, then he's really wronging me."
Back at the Shao residence, they hadn't done anything yet. Even coming back to Changzhou together was his doing. If he actually caught on to something now, it would be terribly unfair.
The way back wasn't long; soon they were back at the banquet. Shao Wen'ang stood not far from the entrance. The festivities inside were still lively, but the groom was no longer receiving guests at the front.
Seeing her, Shao Wen'ang quickly stepped forward. Fang Yiyun didn't want to linger, but before leaving, she threw out, "Hemei drank a little and felt unwell, so she went out for some air. She didn't want to disturb your affairs, so she didn't send word."
Maintaining his usual warm and courteous demeanor, Shao Wen'ang made a bow to Fang Yiyun. "Thank you for your trouble, Lady Fang."
After she acknowledged it and returned to her seat, Shao Wen'ang turned his attention back to Song Hemei. "Are you feeling better now?"
Song Hemei casually said she was much better, not wanting to talk to him.
But Shao Wen'ang had a lot to say. "Mei'er, we have been husband and wife. I naturally want what's best for you. That Fang woman is unlucky—just a few years into her marriage, and her husband was cursed by her into paralysis. You should keep your distance from her."
He gestured subtly with his eyes. "There are many official ladies here today. Why did you have to sit at that side table with Fang? You should be mingling more with proper official wives. I know you don't like socializing with them, but if they don't receive you well, you can't blame them entirely."
The more Song Hemei listened, the tighter her brows knitted. She didn't want to argue here and planned to shut him up with a single line.
But Shao Wen'ang suddenly stepped closer to her. "Lord Yu also left his seat earlier. Did you happen to run into him, Mei'er?"
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Post a Comment