NOVPUBXu Ruoru immediately looked aggrieved. “You… You think this is all my doing?”
“How can you think that of me? I don’t even mind your face, and yet you can’t see my sincerity?”
Shen Roujia stared directly at Xu Ruoru, clearly not believing a word she said.
Xu Ruoru’s spirit deflated, and her voice took on a sobbing tone. “Fourth Brother said this arrangement would benefit all four of us. His liking that woman is her good fortune. Why don’t you understand?”
Shen Roujia let out a cold laugh. “How amusing. You want to make so many people suffer just to satisfy your selfish desires.”
“I will never marry you, unless I’m dead.”
This was the first time Xu Ruoru had heard such strong words. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
Shen Roujia turned to a nearby bookboy and said, “I resign from my position as the Seventh Elder. Go and deliver the message. They should find someone more capable to take my place.”
Having said this, Shen Roujia prepared to leave.
Xu Ruoru, shoulders shaking and voice choked with tears, called out, “Must you go to such extremes?”
Shen Roujia didn’t reply and continued walking forward. Xu Ruoru ordered the guards outside, “Someone, seize him!” 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
“Teacher is defying the imperial decree! Take him down! Didn’t you hear me?”
Shen Roujia’s heart tightened. In her rush to leave, she had forgotten to disguise herself properly, only wearing a mask, which was surely not enough to fool anyone. Gritting her teeth, she turned back to Xu Ruoru. “I really can’t marry you! Why won’t you listen? I’m not even considered a man, so how can I marry you?”
Shen Roujia was getting dangerously close to revealing her identity, but Xu Ruoru interpreted her words differently.
“For the sake of not marrying me, you’re willing to throw away your dignity? It doesn’t matter! Even if there’s really an issue, I’m still willing to marry you!”
Shen Roujia was utterly baffled by Xu Ruoru’s logic. Unable to take it any longer, she softened her tone. “This won’t end well for either of us. How about this—give me some time to think it over.”
Xu Ruoru, seemingly smarter this time, replied, “Give you time? What if you deceive me and leave the capital before I see you again?”
Xu Ruoru’s suspicion was well-founded, something Shen Roujia hadn’t even considered. She could abandon this identity forever, but she couldn’t afford to be caught now.
