Luo Qingyao pondered for a while and muttered with a pout, "What does that mean?"
...
After leaving Guardian Sword Island on Lake Heart Main Island, Fan Wubing began to feel conflicted on the road. Should he tell ManâEr about this?
The next game would set the engagement.
He thought to himself:
"If I say I was set up, will she believe me? She has always believed what I said. But this time, itâs really hard to say."
Whether she believes it or not is secondary.
The key is, can ManâEr accept it? What if she canât...
She wonât dump me, will she!
Fan Wubingâs brow twitched. No, no, no! Just the thought of being dumped by ManâEr made him feel heartbroken.
Should he keep it from her?
But could it be hidden for a while, or a lifetime?
Moreover, to be honest, Fan Wubing didnât want to deceive ManâEr.
He didnât want to hurt ManâEr.
Nor did he want to hurt his junior sister.
Fan Wubing questioned himself deep down, as a man, he was vulgar and greedy. So, he greatly admired Venerable Chengming, who loved Jiang Nianshu alone his whole life, regardless of how many years have passed since Jiang Nianshu passed away, he still couldnât forget her.
"Sigh..."
"Senior Brother, why are you sighing?" Suddenly, the voice of Luo Qingyao emerged from beside him.
Fan Wubing was startled, "Since when have you been beside me!"
"Iâve always been here." Luo Qingyao looked puzzled, "You must have been too engrossed in your thoughts."
Fan Wubing let out an awkward laugh and, after a brief moment of thought, revealed his dilemma.
After listening, Luo Qingyaoâs eyes widened, "Eh! So Senior Brother has considered hiding the truth? I thought you would definitely tell Senior Sister ManâEr without any hesitation!"
Fan Wubing silently cursed, why call her Senior Sister ManâEr again? Werenât you two arguing and crying yesterday? And today youâre reconciled? Women... ha!
Luo Qingyao said, "No matter what Senior Brother thinks, Iâm going to speak the truth anyway."
Fan Wubing was puzzled, "Arenât you afraid it will make her cry again?"
Luo Qingyaoâs eyes shone, "She wonât. Senior Sister ManâEr is actually very strong. She wonât cry because sheâs hurt; she only cries when someone she cares about is hurt."
Fan Wubing fell silent.
Itâs true, ManâEr is indeed such a person. Her childhood experiences made her cherish everyone around her.
And it is precisely because of this that Fan Wubing was conflicted about how to tell her about this matter.
He didnât want to hurt her.
But perhaps, deception is the most hurtful of all.
If lies are inherently cruel, then the truth is a swift knife.
...
Fan Wubing explained the situation in detail and then sat properly, like a child who had made a mistake, waiting for Fu Manmanâs judgment.
After listening, Fu Manman looked at him, then at Luo Qingyao, who was forcing a smile, and took a deep breath without saying a word.
The atmosphere was very tense.
Xianchan sat beside them eating pastries, her legs swinging restlessly, curiously watching the three people. The little girl didnât quite understand why they were getting tangled up in such matters; wasnât it best for everyone to be together?
ChanâEr didnât understand, but ChanâEr knew the pastries were delicious. Crunch cruch, she ate happily, completely out of sync with the three.
After a while, Fu Manman finally spoke,
"Actually, you donât have to act this way, as if I am some kind of burden." Fu Manman sighed, "What can a Dao Marriage Certificate represent? If the two of you truly like each other, such a certificate wonât affect your feelings. And if your hearts are not in sync, a certificate wonât make you fall in love. More than anything, I want to know, you."
She looked at Fan Wubing, "Whatâs your attitude towards Qingyao? I know Qingyao really likes you. What about you? Do you like her? Donât consider me, just speak your mind."
Fan Wubing couldnât understand what was going through ManâErâs mind at the moment, or why she would ask this.
Luo Qingyao stood aside, turned away, also waiting for his answer.
Fan Wubingâs heart became incredibly calm.
Everything in front of him slowly disappeared, his memory returned to the Eternal Immortal Sect, to the day he first met Luo Qingyao... In his mind, the words Luo Qingyao said when she confessed to him echoed again, "Senior Brother Fan, the Immortal Path is bitterly cold, and the Dao is full of hardships, why donât we help each other, and hold each other close to keep warm?"
"Okay."
This was an answer that transcended time.
Upon re-evaluating his feelings for Luo Qingyao, he realized that at some point, she had already flown into his heart like a little unreasonable bird.
Fan Wubing had emphasized countless times to himself that he only had sibling-like affection towards her. Initially, that might have been the case, but it later became an excuse for him not to admit he had actually developed feelings for someone under eighteen.
He sighed and said to them, "Iâm sorry, I really am like Sister Ying said, a fickle person."
Fu Manman said quietly, "I saw through your true nature long ago."
Luo Qingyao was stunned and asked in confusion, "Who is Sister Ying again?"
Fan Wubing thought things were getting worse, quickly stood up, and laughed awkwardly, "You guys chat, Iâll take Xianchan for a walk."
He then looked at Xianchan, "Xianchan, letâs go."
Xianchan pouted, pointed at the pastries in front of her, then at her mouth to indicate she wanted to finish eating before going for a walk and then saw Fan Wubingâs pleading eyes.
Xianchan sighed, jumped off the chair, extended her hand to Fan Wubing, while thinking helplessly, this family canât function without me.
Fan Wubing grabbed Xianchanâs hand and fled.
Luo Qingyao looked bewildered toward the courtyard gate, "He fled..."
Fu Manman shrugged her hands, "This is the Senior Brother you like. Qingyao, donât blame me for not warning you, heâs not the type to behave himself."