Chapter 2387 — A Failed Confession

Yet even as one part of her kept reminding herself to stay calm, another part kept acting on impulse, doing one thing after another that Wang Xinyan herself found unforgivable... embracing Wei Zhao, watching a movie with Wei Zhao, and now seeing him in the flesh like this...

She did not care for Kang Jinglong, nor for the Kang family's betrothal, but since her family had already given their consent, Wang Xinyan felt she should not be doing this. It had the flavor of an affair, and it left a sense of guilt in her heart.

Still, Wang Xinyan had to admit that being with Wei Zhao made her happy, made her comfortable; that occasional hint of something unspoken, that single skipped heartbeat, were hard to forget and left her deeply content. She even wished she could stay desk-mates with Wei Zhao forever, never graduate, never have to face any arranged alliance between families.

Yet imperceptibly, Wang Xinyan's heart leaned further and further toward Wei Zhao, grew more and more rebellious, no longer wanting to think about any such alliance... But she knew, too, that some things were fated and could not be changed, and that all this was merely self-deception.

When Wei Zhao displayed extraordinary strength, when she saw his followers grow more formidable one after another, when even Old Master Pi had become Wei Zhao's hanger-on, a new hope kindled in Wang Xinyan's heart.

The worldly Xiao family's backer was the hidden Pi family; and now that the hidden Pi family were all Wei Zhao's hangers-on, surely it would not be too difficult to have Old Master Pi speak to the Xiao family and dissolve the betrothal?

But Wang Xinyan had never expected Wei Zhao's confession to come so soon, catching her wholly off guard. To her mind, the betrothal should at least be broken off first before she could be with Wei Zhao. From childhood she had been a good girl, an obedient girl, and so she had always felt that being with Wei Zhao before the betrothal was broken was a kind of crime, leaving her with a profound sense of self-reproach...

That was why she had frozen on the spot, not knowing how to answer Wei Zhao: yes? no? Her heart pounded, and for a moment she could not make up her mind, could not think what to do...

Wang Xinyan was rather dazed. At that very moment she truly felt the urge to say yes to Wei Zhao, but with so many people watching in the room—especially before Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu—she really could not bring herself to nod just like that.

Did this not amount to a kind of coercion? Was he saying this only because he meant to take responsibility for her? Otherwise, why had he pretended to be asleep before?

For a time Wang Xinyan's heart was in utter turmoil, one thing after another surging up in her mind until her head swam and she felt an urge to flee. As if possessed, she hurried out of the villa and vanished from everyone's sight...

Wei Zhao was taken aback. Stopping Wang Xinyan would have been easy as turning his hand, but did her leaving now mean she was refusing him?

Wei Zhao could only smile bitterly; he could not quite fathom Wang Xinyan's thoughts. By any reasonable account she must have some fondness for him—otherwise why would she have helped him in his cultivation so many times?

For a girl to make such a sacrifice was proof enough of her feelings. But then why had she suddenly run off?

"Brother Arrowhead's confession failed..." Shen Yushu was puzzled too. Wang Xinyan had clearly seemed to like Wei Zhao, so how had it failed?

"Xiaoshu!" Gu Mengyao shot her a glare. At a moment like this, with Wei Zhao's confession having just failed, his mood was surely poor; Xiaoshu's remark felt rather like pouring oil on the fire.

Yet for some reason Gu Mengyao felt a sense of relief, as though a weight had lifted. Was it because Wang Xinyan had not accepted Wei Zhao's confession? But then why did she also feel a little regret, a wish that Wei Zhao and Wang Xinyan could be together?

Was it because of that promise to Tang Zhi?

Old Master Pi and the others sensed the awkwardness in the air as well. In such a situation it was best not to linger in the villa, lest Wei Zhao lose face. So he cleared his throat and said, "Well then... Zhishan, Zhihai, Chentian, Old Wu, let us go out for a stroll. The weather seems fine today..."

The others chimed in readily, all understanding Old Master Pi's intent. Staying here now would indeed be awkward, so it was best to go out.

Wei Zhao did not stop them, letting them go. But before Wu Chengtian stepped out last, Wei Zhao said, "Keep an eye on her. Make sure nothing happens to her..."

"Understood, Boss!" Wu Chengtian grasped it at once. Wei Zhao had not said so plainly, but Wu Chengtian knew he wanted him to watch over Wang Xinyan.

With a bitter smile Wei Zhao sat down on the sofa, while Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu kept him company, one on either side.

"Brother Arrowhead, you failed at wooing her, huh. Want your love consultant Shu to analyze it for you?" Shen Yushu asked.

"What do you know? Stop your wild analyzing." Gu Mengyao cut Shen Yushu off. "Go pour some water. I'm a little thirsty..."

"Oh..." This time Shen Yushu did not drag her feet but rose briskly and headed toward the kitchen.

"Wei Zhao, Wang Xinyan was probably just stunned for a moment. It's not that she rejected your confession." Gu Mengyao was a careful observer of details, and after turning it over and over in her mind she had reached this conclusion—though she was not at all certain of it, and said so only to comfort Wei Zhao and set his mind at ease.

"It's all right, haha..." Wei Zhao smiled. "I know..."

"Mm, as long as you know. Don't be too disappointed—really, Wang Xinyan probably does like you," Gu Mengyao said. "What happened today was too sudden. If it were you... if you suddenly confessed to me, I'd probably hesitate too. Of course, if you confessed a few more times, I'd probably say yes..."

"Mm..." Wei Zhao nodded, without thinking much of it.

A faint trace of disappointment flickered in Gu Mengyao's eyes. Had he really understood? It seemed he had not...

Just then Shen Yushu came back carrying a cup of tea, which she handed to Wei Zhao. Then she said, "Oh, right, Brother Arrowhead, what exactly did you go looking for Sister Xinyan for just now?"

"Just now..." Wei Zhao took the cup Xiaoshu handed him and was about to take a sip to moisten his throat—he was in fact a little thirsty—but he had barely lifted the cup, not yet brought it to his lips, when Shen Yushu suddenly reached out and snatched it back.