Leng Si’s words were like a wake-up call. Leng Ren’s heart had already been open, and with his guidance, he saw his inner self even more clearly.
Perhaps it was his advancing age, or perhaps it was seeing Leng Kui now living a happy life with a wife and children, or recalling Leng Feng’s animated descriptions of the little maid before his accident.
Leng Ren felt that he had indeed felt something different the first time he saw Miss Chen. He didn’t know if it was love at first sight, but he knew that when he saw other girls, his heart had never stirred in such a way.
Even when facing the all-powerful Su Muqing, he had always maintained a sense of awe, never daring to harbor any other frivolous thoughts.
Huo Qiyuan walked forward and patted Leng Ren on the shoulder. “This is your own decision regarding your feelings, so you’re the only one who can make it! We can only offer advice, but we can’t decide for you. If you feel something for her, then you must seize the opportunity!”
Su Muqing, thinking of Chen Wenyi’s plea, also chimed in with timely advice. “Brother Leng, you should follow your heart. If you clearly have feelings for Miss Chen but hold back for other reasons, wouldn’t that be a great pity? You know, some opportunities, once missed, are lost forever! By then, even regret will be useless!”
Meanwhile, Chen Wenyi was still pretending to sob, and the head of the Chen family was feigning comfort for her. In reality, both of them had their ears perked, wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Leng Ren held the embroidered ball in his hand, lowered his head, and pondered for a moment. Without much hesitation, he made up his mind, walked slowly to Miss Chen, and looked at her slightly trembling back, quietly saying,
“Miss Chen, please don’t be sad anymore. Since I have accepted your embroidered ball, I shall… keep my promise… My name is Leng Ren, I am thirty-four years old, unmarried, in good health, and have no bad habits. I wonder… if I meet your requirements?”
Leng Ren’s stuttered self-introduction was followed by him looking nervously yet expectantly at the back of Chen Wenyi’s head, unsure of her response.
To his surprise, after he finished speaking, Miss Chen’s body trembled even more violently. Could it be that his repeated rejections and indecisiveness had already hurt the young lady’s heart?
If the young lady was unwilling to marry him again, he would probably feel very sad.
Upon hearing Leng Ren’s words, Chen Wenyi grinned at her father, her eyes narrowing into slits, and her gums showing.
She hadn’t expected it to be so easy, and she was so excited that her whole body was shaking. This appearance was hardly demure and looked somewhat silly!
If it weren’t for the fact that their prospective son-in-law was standing before them, the head of the Chen family would have definitely felt the urge to roll his eyes and scold his daughter for her foolishness.
Chen Wenyi’s smile lasted only a short while. She exerted great effort to control her body, which was trembling with excitement.
Seeing her sudden change of expression made the head of the Chen family suspect that his daughter had been swapped. She felt so unfamiliar.
As Chen Wenyi turned her head, she pinched herself hard, her eyes immediately welting up with tears as she looked at Leng Ren. She raised her hand to wipe away the physiological tears that had escaped. The pinch was quite painful.
She made a gesture as if to reach for Leng Ren’s robe, but then adopted a shy expression, worried about being too forward. “Are you really? Never mind, I don’t want you to force yourself to accept me… I was the one who threw the embroidered ball to you, and I never considered if you were willing. I was too selfish. Even if you don’t like me, I…”
The words "I don't blame you" were never uttered by Chen Wenyi. It was an indirect expression of her unspoken thoughts: if you truly don't like me, I will be very sad, I will blame you, and my future unhappiness will be all your fault!
She couldn’t finish her sentence for a long time, and coupled with her slightly choked voice, it must be said that Chen Wenyi had some acting skills. When she played the role of a fragile, pure, and innocent girl, she indeed had a pitiable aura.
Su Muqing did what the head of the Chen family wanted to do but didn’t: she rolled her eyes at Chen Wenyi.
If she had read fewer novels about pure, innocent, and manipulative girls, she couldn’t have replicated such a vivid performance.
However, Su Muqing was also curious. Would ancient men like Leng Ren, who were somewhat chauvinistic and straightforward, truly have a special preference for girls who acted like innocent flowers, as depicted in novels?
The result was both unexpected and within expectation! Indeed, the ancients never lied!
Seeing Chen Wenyi’s apparent distress, yet her words consistently considering him, a young lady who was almost rejected, and still apologizing to him, Leng Ren’s heart softened immensely.
“No! If I truly had no feelings for Miss Chen, I would not have personally picked up the embroidered ball and returned it!” Having faced his inner self, Leng Ren no longer avoided it.
Chen Wenyi looked at the man’s earnest expression and thought that while her actions and words had an element of performance, they also reflected her true feelings.
She no longer played any role but looked at Leng Ren very seriously and solemnly. “Then… are you willing to marry me?”
This was the third time Chen Wenyi had asked this question, not because of any obligation to marry her destined partner, nor for the Chen family’s future prosperity.
At this moment, when she asked this question, it represented only herself and her emotions.
“Yes! I am willing to marry you!” This time, Leng Ren answered quickly and firmly.
“Good! Then I will marry you! For the rest of my life, I ask for your care, Young Master Leng…”
Chen Wenyi’s voice was a little choked as she said this. Unlike the feigned tremor before, this time, as she replied, her throat truly felt like it was trembling.
“Thank you for your trust, Miss Chen! I will certainly work hard, and for the rest of my life, I will surely protect you!” Leng Ren made a rare joke.
This was the first time he had made a promise to someone other than Huo Qiyuan.
For the rest of my life! What beautiful words, just imagining them made one yearn for them.
At least before today, he had never thought he would be so lucky to meet someone willing to spend her life with him.
They looked at each other, and under the lamplight, they could both see themselves in each other’s eyes.
The feeling at this moment was good, the atmosphere was good, and everything around them was just right!
Chen Wenyi wore a smile on her face, a happy and sweet smile, her eyes shimmering with moisture. Leng Ren looked at her smile and also curved his lips to smile along.
A mature, steady, and heroic man’s smile was naturally captivating. The more Chen Wenyi looked at him, the more she felt her own excellent judgment. Such a good man, and she had managed to win him over. Thinking about it made her feel incredibly happy!