"Not me. Ling Ling."
Ye Cixin gave Meng Chen a reproachful look.
Huh? Ye Lingling?
Meng Chen understood. Ye Cixin had come to speak on her daughter's behalf.
"That's right. You've noticed it too, haven't you? How Ling Ling feels about you."
Meng Chen fell silent.
Of course he had noticed. It could hardly have been more obvious.
But...
How was he supposed to respond to such sincere, passionate feelings?
Meng Chen thought of Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.
Their feelings for him were unwavering too, weren't they?
If he pledged himself to Ye Lingling for life, what would happen to them?
When it came to love, Meng Chen was still a little weak. He couldn't make up his mind on the spot.
He barely dared to think any further about it.
Ye Cixin didn't press him for an answer. She even gave him time to take it all in.
After a while, she said, "The year after you left, I started introducing Ling Ling to promising young men. Eligible ones from Heaven Dou City's families—talented ones, ones with bright futures. I introduced her to all of them."
"But she didn't like a single one. She wouldn't even meet them. At first, I thought she was just shy. Later, I realized she wasn't shy at all. There was no room in her heart for anyone else. She only liked you."
A girl who had eyes only for him... How could he bear to let her down?
Ye Cixin paused again, watching Meng Chen's expression shift before she continued. "So I'd like to ask you for one thing. Wherever you go this time, take Ling Ling with you. Spend some time together, just the two of you. Maybe then you'll be able to... accept certain things."
A wistful look came over