"Yu Yan... I... I can't... choose... I don't know how to choose."
As he spoke, Shen Lang retreated several steps, his expression more conflicted and pained than ever before.
Since meeting Shen Lang, Wang Yu Yan had only ever seen him as strong, dominant, and invincible. He was like a sharp blade, his passage instilling fear in all.
Wang Yu Yan had never seen Shen Lang like this, and for a moment, she froze.
However, from the pain and conflict in Shen Lang's eyes, Wang Yu Yan saw a flicker of love, a love that was restrained and suppressed.
Wang Yu Yan was certain that Shen Lang loved her, but with Yu Xiao present, this love became stifled and troubled.
"Brother Shen..."
Wang Yu Yan looked at Shen Lang, unsure of what to say.
It was painful when a goddess has feelings, but the king is indifferent.
But when both have feelings, yet cannot be together, that was an even deeper pain.
"Yu Yan... I... I don't know how to answer you... I'm very confused right now... Can we discuss this later?"
From the time he could remember, he had begged on the streets of Nanling, enduring the bullying of ruffians without showing a shred of weakness.
Yet, Shen Lang now felt an unspeakable cowardice, his gaze towards Wang Yu Yan filled with guilt and uncertainty.
"Brother Shen, logically, I should be very angry when you say such things, but for some reason, I'm not angry at all, and I'm even a little happy."
Wang Yu Yan took Shen Lang's arm, her eyes bright as she smiled. "You have me in your heart, which is why you're in pain and conflict. This is much better than the disgust you showed me the first time we met."
"Brother Shen, since you've decided to break off the engagement, I agree. I won't bother you again."
"Break off the engagement?"
Hearing Wang Yu Yan's words, Shen Lang quickly interjected, "Yu Yan... I... I didn't mean that."
"Give me some time to think it through properly. Once I've figured it out, I'll give you my answer."
Shen Lang's face was filled with agony.
"I understand."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Wang Yu Yan smiled. "Since you need time, I'll give you time."
"Brother Shen, let's postpone our engagement. Let's postpone it for three months. If you still haven't decided after three months, then I will personally annul the engagement."
"What?"
Upon hearing Wang Yu Yan's words, Wang Yunchuan was greatly shocked. He never expected his granddaughter to compromise.
In his expectation, seeing Shen Lang hesitate and struggle, his granddaughter would have certainly exploded in anger and stormed off.
Wang Yunchuan could never have imagined that his granddaughter would actually consider Shen Lang's perspective.
Shen Lang was equally stunned, never expecting Wang Yu Yan to compromise in the end.
Shen Lang knew Wang Yu Yan's personality – proud and unyielding, not someone who would ever compromise willingly, yet here she was, compromising on such a matter.
"Yu Yan..."
Shen Lang looked at Wang Yu Yan, and as he was shocked, his guilt became even more pronounced.
"Brother Shen, don't feel guilty, don't be in pain. This is my choice."
Wang Yu Yan looked at Shen Lang and smiled. "If you have no objections, then it's settled. Can we do that?"
"Okay—"
Hearing this, Shen Lang nodded, then turned to Wang Yunchuan and said, "Old Master Wang, if after three months, I choose Yu Yan as my wife, I will do everything in my power to protect her for her entire life, ensuring she lives without worry."
"Similarly, if after three months, I do not choose Yu Yan as my wife, I will still do everything in my power to protect her for her entire life, ensuring she lives without worry."
"This is my promise, Shen Lang. I will uphold it with my life. If I break this vow, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Wang Yunchuan breathed a sigh of relief.
He realized that at this moment, Shen Lang bore the shadow of that person from years ago. In time, his achievements would surpass that person's.
With Shen Lang's words, the Wang family would be secure in the future. At least, after he died, Wang Yu Yan would be safe.
"Alright, since you say so, I will no longer interfere with your engagement."
Wang Yunchuan looked at Shen Lang and said, "You young people should make your own decisions. Today, let's just have a good meal and not talk about anything else."
"Okay—"
Hearing Wang Yunchuan's words, Shen Lang smiled and nodded.
"Yes, yes, let's not talk about that, let's eat first."
Wang Yu Yan chimed in as well.
Although Wang Yu Yan hadn't made Shen Lang choose her, knowing that he had her in his heart made her very happy, her spirits soaring.
The meal lasted for two hours.
From his conversation with Wang Yunchuan, Shen Lang learned that Wang Yunchuan and his old master were from the same hometown and had once received financial assistance from the old master, which led to the prosperity of the Wang family today.
However, Wang Yunchuan didn't know much about the old master, as there was a twenty-year period of no contact between them.
For those twenty years, the old master seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth. But when Wang Yunchuan saw him again twenty years later, he found that the old master was as powerful as a celestial being, possessing not only formidable martial arts but also miraculous medical skills capable of bringing the dead back to life.
Yet, despite possessing such formidable martial arts and medical skills, the old master had lost all will to fight and eventually retired to Qiulong Mountain, never to emerge again.
Two hours later, Shen Lang and Wang Yu Yan left Yunding Mountain Villa, while Wang Yunchuan returned to his newly purchased villa alone.
In the car, Wang Yu Yan looked at Shen Lang, who was driving, and smiled. "I don't know why, but I feel incredibly unreal. The first time we met, I wished you, this bumpkin, would die, but now, I've fallen in love with you."
"I also find it incredible. The first time we met, I found you utterly detestable and wished to annul our engagement immediately, but now that I have the chance, I can't make a decision at all."
Shen Lang looked at Wang Yu Yan and sighed, "Yu Yan, I've always had a feeling that our lives are intertwined, that we can't break free from each other, no matter what. I just don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
"Misfortune is the foundation of good fortune, and good fortune is the cover of misfortune. Who can say whether it's good or bad?"
Wang Yu Yan smiled and said, "The only thing I know clearly now is that I love you, you scoundrel, and I don't want to be separated from you, ever."
"Bewitching creature—"
Shen Lang shook his head, a wry smile on his face.
"Where to next?"
Shen Lang glanced at his watch, realizing it was not yet two in the afternoon, and asked Wang Yu Yan.
Hearing this, Wang Yu Yan smiled. "Let's go buy a phone first. My current one is unusable."
"Okay—"
Shen Lang replied, "Let's go to Nanling Mobile City. I'll buy you the best one."