Warm lamplight flickered as moonlight spilled through the window.
Facing the soft question full of doubt from the girl beside him, Li Changsheng curled his lips into a faint, gentle smile. His gaze was warm as he slowly began to clear up every confusion in her heart.
"Strictly speaking, it is just as you thought."
"She and I have known each other since childhood. We grew up together, and our families have deep ties. Her character, appearance, and temperament are all excellent. By all rights, we should have had a childhood betrothal arranged long ago and become a naturally compatible pair."
He paused briefly, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness and clarity.
"But you overlooked the most crucial point."
"That is, her father and my father have always stood on opposing sides. They have been at odds in secret for a long time, with old grudges between them."
"Because there was estrangement and resentment between our fathers, no one had ever mentioned the possibility of a marriage alliance from the day we were born."
"It was not because she was not pretty enough, nor because the elders disliked her. It was simply that our fathers' positions held us back and blocked that possibility."
Jiang Nannan listened quietly, her brows shifting slightly as the fog in her heart gradually cleared.
Li Changsheng continued in a soft voice, speaking clearly and sincerely.
"Still, the grudges of our elders are ultimately matters of the previous generation. They do not affect the friendship between us younger people."
"So my parents still care deeply for her and spoil her, treating her as their own goddaughter. If she suffers a grievance or encounters danger, my parents would naturally have me step in to help and look after her."
"Besides, there are very few descendants in