Chapter 19: Yan Ziyue's Plan Fails

Under the warm amber light, the girl smiled brightly, her expression both radiant and gentle. Her eyes, shimmering as if filled with starlight, gazed straight at Xiao Heshuo.

Xiao Heshuo’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times as his breath caught, and it felt as though his heartbeat skipped a beat.

“When did you sneak into my room?” he asked hoarsely.

Yan Ziyue lightly patted the space beside her, adopting a look that said, “Husband, come lie down with me.” “Husband, what you said isn’t right.”

“Coming into my own husband’s room—how could that be sneaking around?”

“This is perfectly proper!”

Xiao Heshuo’s lips twitched slightly. He rubbed his forehead, suppressing the surge of feelings within. “You should go back to your room. Don’t cause a fuss.”

He was genuinely worried that if this continued, he might lose control of himself.

Yan Ziyue puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, her face full of displeasure. “Husband, is it that you have no feelings for me in that way, or that I just don’t attract you?”

Xiao Heshuo replied, “...It’s not that.”

“Yan Ziyue, please be obedient, alright?”

Even more irate, Yan Ziyue scoffed heavily, “No!”

“If you don’t clarify today, this matter won’t be over.”

Hearing this, Xiao Heshuo sat down on the bench, patiently explaining, “Yan Ziyue, have you really thought this through?”

Yan Ziyue frowned, looking at him. “Which aspect are you referring to?”

“If you mean wanting to live a proper life with you.”

“Then I’ll tell you again—I’ve thought it through clearly. I want to live a good life with you, a lifetime kind of life.”

Xiao Heshuo shook his head slowly, his tone growing somber. “No, you haven’t fully thought it through.”

His dark eyes held a complex emotion. “Let alone a lifetime, even just one or two years—you might not be able to hold on.”

He was the one who insisted on marrying her in the first place. She only agreed due to various pressures.

From the start, Yan Ziyue had made it clear she didn’t want to marry him and wouldn’t.

Yet eventually, through his persistence and the Yan family’s threats, she married him.

Now, it dawned on Yan Ziyue that their marriage was only possible because of his unilateral determination and effort.

It was natural for him to have such concerns.

“Are you worried I might change my mind at any moment?” she asked calmly.

Xiao Heshuo did not deny it, lowering his head slightly. “You said you saw clearly what Xu Lecheng is like and want to live a good life with me.”

“Can I understand that you’re choosing me for now, between Xu Lecheng and me?”

He raised his hand to stop Yan Ziyue from speaking. “You don’t need to explain.”

“Understand one thing: within this village, you’re choosing between me and Xu Lecheng. But what if you leave this village?”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be a little selfish, to truly be husband and wife with Yan Ziyue and have a child with her.

But he couldn’t bring himself to be so selfish.

He would rather let go than have her trapped by his side, unhappy for a lifetime.

He wanted her to be happy forever.

Now Yan Ziyue finally understood the root of the problem.

Xu Lecheng was a knot between her and Xiao Heshuo.

But the bigger knot was the instability of the future.

From Xiao Heshuo’s perspective, she would eventually leave him for another man.

“Husband, can’t you have a little more faith in me?” she sighed softly.

Xiao Heshuo’s expression was strange. “It’s not about having faith in you; the future has too many uncertainties.”

He had seen with his own eyes how terrifying a person could become.

That person was his own uncle.

Yan Ziyue walked over and knelt before him.

She spoke gently, “Husband, believe me once more, will you?”

“I’ll prove to you that no matter how the future turns out, I’ll always be by your side.”

Xiao Heshuo lowered his gaze to her.

His calm eyes rippled like the surface of water stirred by the wind.

“Yan Ziyue, have you really made up your mind?”

His feelings were tangled and complicated. “Your future...”

Yan Ziyue reached out and covered his mouth with a tender smile, “Husband, my future indeed holds infinite possibilities. I will meet many people, some of whom may be outstanding men.”

“But...”

She smiled softly, “No matter how good they are, they don’t even compare to you.”

“In my eyes, you are the best, the very best man, the best for me.”

“I am no longer foolish or confused; I would never give you up for those unworthy men again.”

Xiao Heshuo heard the heartfelt sincerity in her words, but he still found it hard to completely believe.

He was afraid.

Afraid that one day, Yan Ziyue might abandon him once more, just like before.

He took her hand down and held it in his palm. “How about this?”

“Let’s take our time getting to know each other.”

“If after some time you still feel this way, then we’ll talk about what comes next.”

Yan Ziyue understood this was his condition—and the chance he was giving her.

Perhaps his only chance.

“All right!”

Her eyes sparkled brightly as she looked at Xiao Heshuo. “Husband, I will prove to you that your trust this time is not misplaced.”

Xiao Heshuo couldn’t help but touch her face. “Whether my choice was right or wrong doesn’t matter.”

“What matters is whether you’re happy, whether you’re well.”

This marriage had been forced upon them.

To have such a happy moment was already enough for him. How could he dare to hope for a lifetime?

Yan Ziyue rested her head on his knee and whispered, “My happiness is tied to you.”

“You being by my side is what truly makes me happy.”

Xiao Heshuo sighed softly, but said no more.

He sincerely wished to be with Yan Ziyue for a lifetime.

Yan Ziyue remained silent.

The atmosphere grew quiet, but an indescribable emotion lingered.

After an unknown length of time, Yan Ziyue suddenly stood.

Her legs went numb, and she collapsed straight into Xiao Heshuo’s arms.

“My legs went numb!”

Xiao Heshuo hurriedly caught her.

He helped her sit on the bench and gently massaged her legs with just the right pressure.

“My fault—I should have brought you a low stool to sit on.”

Yan Ziyue enjoyed his care and smiled. “You can’t blame you; I just didn’t think of it.”

She gently patted his hand. “Alright, we should rest now.”

Then—

Yan Ziyue stood at the door, knocking on the room’s door with a hint of displeasure. “Xiao Heshuo, how can a married couple sleep in separate rooms?”

Xiao Heshuo lay on the bed, turning his head to gaze at the night sky outside the window. “We’ve always slept separately. That was your request.”