Chapter 279 - 277: Xiao Yi’s Confession

Chapter 279: Chapter 277: Xiao Yi’s Confession

Xu Jing was amused, never having seen Xiao Yi look so frustrated before. She couldn’t help but cover her mouth, silently bending over with laughter.

Chunyang and Chunxiang looked at their lady with bewilderment. Was marrying Vice Minister Xiao such a source of joy for her? Wasn’t this marriage supposed to be just a temporary measure?

Nevertheless, seeing their lady happy made them happy too. They couldn’t help but start to giggle foolishly.

Nanny Wen: "..."

She found herself increasingly unable to comprehend these youngsters’ thoughts, but she decided to let it go; as long as they were happy, it was fine.

Everyone served them some food and let them wash up. Only then was the night’s sequence of events entirely concluded.

Nanny Wen led the maidservants in paying their respects to Xiao Yi and Xu Jing before slowly exiting and gently closing the door behind her.

The room finally fell into true silence.

Seeing Xiao Yi sitting silently on the bed, expressionless, Xu Jing walked over and sat beside him, smiling as she said, "Alright, I just asked Chunyang in private, and she said no one will come in to disturb us tonight. Say whatever you want."

Xiao Yi was momentarily stunned, turning to look at the woman beside him, whose smile was brightening like the morning sun. Unconsciously, his heart tightened, and his hands resting on his knees quietly clenched into fists.

The words he had carefully planned all somehow slipped from his mind, leaving only the face shining like spring before his eyes.

The self-control and rationality he had always prided himself on were rendered so fragile and defenseless that Xiao Yi couldn’t help but laugh at himself inwardly.

Xu Jing, seeing that Xiao Yi was merely looking at her and saying nothing for a long time, raised her eyebrows and said, "Are those words difficult to say aloud?"

Xiao Yi remained silent for a while longer before finally speaking in a slightly hoarse voice, "Indeed... they’re somewhat hard to say, Jing."

He paused, then said, "There are things I feel you should know in advance, so it will be fair to you."

Xu Jing was momentarily startled, inexplicably growing anxious.

She had a feeling that what Xiao Yi was about to tell her was incredibly important and could potentially change the nature of their relationship.

They were thoughts... she had never dared to delve too deeply into.

Xiao Yi took a heavy breath and said, "Jing, this marriage was not something you desperately sought; it came about because I harbored certain dark thoughts, secretly pushing for its occurrence.

The one who went to great lengths for this marriage was actually me.

You didn’t know, when you told me to remarry you, how joyous and delighted I was inside. It was like I was a vile and cowardly man, not daring to express my feelings and desires openly, only secretly fantasizing about being able to use that reason to keep you by my side, yet not daring to speak a single heartfelt word to you.

However, that’s not fair to you. You married me with honest and open intentions, with beautiful plans and expectations for your future life. If I continue to stay by your side with these dark thoughts, even if I finally manage to keep you as I wish, it would be disrespectful to you. I may never have dared to tell you about those shameful thoughts."

Xu Jing’s heart raced faster and faster with the man’s deep and rich voice.

She had an idea that was becoming clearer and clearer.

But it’s impossible, right? Back then, he didn’t show any signs of wanting to remarry her.

He even did many things that made her mistakenly believe he actually didn’t want to remarry her.

Could she have been wrong? Was she perhaps self-deluding?

"Jing."

Xiao Yi’s throat was slightly dry. Suddenly, he leaned forward, getting closer to Xu Jing, and shifted his hand on the bed closer to hers, clearly able to reach for her with just a stretch of his fingers, but he couldn’t.

At least, not now.

"I’ve always been fond of you. Back in Anping County, I was deeply drawn to your resilience and efforts to live independently, as well as your serious and responsible attitude toward cases. You’re rational but not numb, strong without being arrogant. In you, I’ve seen a vitality that I can’t approach.

In the past, I was smug and narrow-minded, thinking that I would never truly and genuinely marry a wife, and even believed that dying alone wasn’t such a terrifying thing. It wasn’t until I met you that I realized how dull and pitiful a single life can be. It was also the first deep desire I ever had to spend my life with someone."

"Jing..."

As he spoke, his throat suddenly felt tight, Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, and he said in a deep voice, "I don’t want to force you, but I don’t want to hide from you either. I want to openly and honestly express all my feelings to you, and the one who ultimately decides my future is you.

If you don’t want to stay by my side, our three-year agreement will remain in effect, and after three years, I... will let you go."

Xu Jing’s heart tightened slightly as she looked at him. Instinctively, she said, "If I don’t want to, will you give up?"

Xiao Yi was momentarily stunned, then suddenly smiled, "The fact that you’re asking this question means that everything I said earlier was in vain.

I told you long ago, my wife will only ever be you. It doesn’t matter what our relationship is; this statement will never change.

If you still aren’t willing, after our separation, I will once again plead with you to return to me."

The only situation that would make him willing to let go is if the woman before him found the happiness she truly wanted to hold onto.

But that situation is something he has neither dared to imagine nor is willing to let happen.

Just a casual thought of it was enough to make his heart twist, leaving him breathless.

Xu Jing was in a daze.

He had repeated this statement several times before, yet she never realized there was a deeper meaning behind it!

"Jing..."

Seeing Xu Jing’s eyes lowered and her silence, Xiao Yi felt his throat clogging. It took him a while to find his voice again, speaking hoarsely, "I told you, I don’t want to pressure you, nor do I want to make things difficult for you. You can take your time, and when you’re ready, give me your answer.

I can wait."

Saying this, he slightly lifted the corner of his mouth, "That’s what I wanted to say. It’s getting late, and you’ve been busy all day. You should rest early."

Xu Jing’s heart was now in utter chaos.

She had never thought Xiao Yi harbored such feelings for her.

In hindsight, Xiao Yi had been excessively good to her in the past. His intentions had long been evident; she had just been avoiding them, unwilling to think deeply.

It was her selfishness; she didn’t want the presence of someone to ruin her carefully planned future, and she was afraid to let another person entirely enter her life.

After speaking, Xiao Yi got up to extinguish the lamp, but suddenly, a low female voice came from behind, "This is sudden. Give me some time."

Saying this, Xu Jing raised her eyes, firmly gazing at the man not far away, and said earnestly, "I will definitely give you an answer."

Whether she was selfish or afraid, Xiao Yi was innocent in all of it.

No matter what her final decision would be, she had to give him a clear reply.

Xiao Yi was momentarily stunned; an unprecedented twinge of unease and anxiety welled up inside him, although he showed none of it and lightly smiled, saying, "Alright, sleep."

Saying that, he extinguished the room’s last lamp.