Wu Zhenhai had no idea how he had followed Mingzhu into the tea room, nor how he had ended up sitting across from her at a small table.
He stared at her intently, like a fool, not even daring to blink.
He felt as if it were all a dream.
He was somewhat prepared for Zhou Xu's situation, but he never expected her to be able to change her appearance so thoroughly.
It is breathtakingly beautiful.
He dared not speak, as if opening his mouth would shatter his dream.
Mingzhu calmly replied, "I suffered injustice at the Zhou Family that day, and then I suddenly learned that my aunt was the prince's birth mother, so I begged the prince to take me out of this misery."
Wu Zhenhai said, "Your face..."
"It was also arranged by my elder brother." Mingzhu raised her sleeve, revealing three red moles on her left forearm. "But some things can't be changed."
"Ruanruan, you really are Ruanruan."
No wonder he seemed somewhat familiar with me when we met that time.
Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was not to realize that she was who she was.
He hadn't noticed the person he knew so well for so long.
"Ruanruan," Wu Zhenhai pleaded, his voice tinged with humility, "Our wedding date is still on, right?"
Mingzhu laughed, "Wu Zhenhai, do you believe it?"
Wu Zhenhai said hurriedly, "Ruanruan, I know I was wrong."
"After Zhou Xu died?"
Wu Zhenhai was speechless.
Mingzhu said, "Zhou Xu is dead, so your engagement is null and void."
"Ruanruan, can't you forgive me?"
Mingzhu raised her hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the movement exuding a touch of alluring charm.
"Want to hear the truth?"
"Yes, tell the truth, Ruanruan, tell me the truth!" Wu Zhenhai said eagerly.
To be honest, I've never blamed you.
Wu Zhenhai's face lit up with surprise.
He never expected things to take such a dramatic turn for the better.
"Have you forgotten how things started between us?" Mingzhu asked calmly.
initial?
Wu Zhenhai's initial memories are vague.
What he can recall are the surprises and thrills she brought him.
Aside from that, he was ashamed to discover that he didn't seem to have any particularly vivid memories.
The memories that were repeatedly recalled after her "death" were all snippets of their time together afterward.
"Initially, we were just using each other," Mingzhu said. "Actually, in the end, we still were. It's just that my sudden 'death' made it seem a bit unexpected for you."
These words deeply stung Wu Zhenhai.
Mutual exploitation...
That was indeed the case between them initially.
But in the end, it really wasn't like that.
"Ruanruan, what's past is past. Let's start over! We..."
"No," Mingzhu said. "I am the prince's sister. If I were to marry someone as a second wife, where would I put his dignity?"
Wu Zhenhai was stabbed again by her.
"I've come to you today to give you an explanation," Mingzhu said. "I'll tell you the whole story of what happened that day. If you feel I've wronged you in any way, just tell me. I'll make amends if I can, and if I can't, there's always my elder brother."
Wu Zhenhai's Adam's apple bobbed, and he stammered, "No, Ruanruan, I don't want your compensation, nor do I want the prince's things. I just want..."
You!
Mingzhu replied, "Don't say that. You've helped my elder brother eliminate a major threat, and your contribution is invaluable. He will reward you. Our relationship is a separate matter. Tell me!"
"Between us..." Wu Zhenhai began, his voice strained.
His imagined reunion, with tears streaming down his face and a tight embrace, was destined to remain just that—an imagination.
"Wu Zhenhai," Mingzhu said sincerely, "We had a good relationship, let's each go our own way from now on."
Are you all doing well?
Wu Zhenhai felt completely numb.
He didn't understand why the reunion he had longed for would turn out this way.
Did he open it incorrectly?
Did he do something wrong?
He can change it.
"Ruanruan, I know I haven't been good to you in the past; I know you've suffered a lot of grievances, I know all of that. Give me a chance, let's postpone the wedding, and you'll see how I treat you."
Mingzhu said, "I already have someone I like."
Wu Zhenhai felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face, the pain so intense that his heart clenched together.
No, she must be lying to him.
How could she possibly like someone else?
Mingzhu seemed to see through his thoughts and said, "He's an ordinary person, without power or status, without money, but he's very kind to me."
The five words, "You treat me very gently," pierced Wu Zhenhai's heart like a knife.
His treatment of her was far from gentle.
But he truly loved her.
Wu Zhenhai didn't know how he left the Prince's mansion.
He couldn't believe what had happened; he needed time to process it.
After he left, the Prince of Jin, who had been eavesdropping outside, breathed a long sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Wu Zhenhai wasn't as obsessive as he had imagined.
Mingzhu said, "Brother, I've finished talking to him. There's nothing more to do with us now; it's all business between you and him from now on."
The Prince of Jin nodded.
"Brother, really," Mingzhu said again, "He doesn't owe me anything, and he should receive whatever he deserves in the future, so please don't withhold anything from him."
The phrase "may each other be well" truly means hoping that each other can be happy.
This is true letting go.
If Wu Zhenhai is mistreated because of the past, she will feel uneasy.
The Prince of Jin said, "I understand. Don't think about anything else, just get along well with Cui Run. But don't always think about him, and don't wrong yourself."
Mingzhu smiled and said, "Brother, I know. You go ahead with your work, I'll go back and tell my sister-in-law so she won't worry."
"Go."
This matter seems to have come to an end.
A few days later, Wu Zhenhai came to the Prince's residence again to discuss serious matters with the Prince of Jin.
--The Zhou Family still has a lot of mess to clean up.
He didn't mention Mingzhu at all, seemingly indicating that he had truly let go of her.
If he didn't bring it up, the Prince of Jin naturally wouldn't bring it up on his own initiative.
"I just want to know," Ren Yingying said lazily, resting her chin on her hand, "What did he do with the older sister who was buried underground?"
Xiu'er: "Of course we should let them rest in peace. Otherwise, why would we take them home and worship them?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "Although it sounds a bit petty to say this, I'm still worried about what will happen if Wu Zhenhai goes after Cui Run?"
"No way," Xiu'er said. "I don't think he'd dare. If he really did, Mingzhu would fight him to the death."
The current Mingzhu is not someone that Old Cabbage Stalk can bully at will.
Ren Yingying said, "These two are over just like that, and my heart feels empty."
I feel empty inside without any melons to eat.
"We should wait and see how Mingzhu and Cui Run's talk goes," Xiu'er said. "Mingzhu insists on being honest with Cui Run about the past; we don't know how it will turn out."
Tang Zhuyun was also worried about this.
However, Mingzhu herself is very principled.
She said, "Sister-in-law, the longer it drags on, the harder it will be to let go. I'll make things clear to him sooner rather than later. If he minds, then it's better to end it now. I can cry for a few days and it will pass. If I wait until this relationship becomes too difficult to let go of, it will be too painful, and I'm afraid I won't be able to bear it."