C8 I Don't Want to Marry You(part I)

Although Jiang Qixing was a military man, he was also a noble by birth and understood that the day Su Yu'an gave birth to a son would likely be her last.

"I always thought the General was a man of his word, steadfast and unyielding, but I never imagined..." Su Yu'an's eyes brimmed with tears as she bowed deeply to Jiang Qixing. "Given the circumstances, please, General Jiang, spare me. Lin Jiaoer is a lady of high standing, and though I am of humble birth, my parents cherish me. I hope the General can grant me a way out."

"I'm... not like that, my dear sister," Jiang Qixing said, his heart aching at the sight of Su Yu'an's tear-streaked face. He reverted to the childhood nickname he once used for her. "I just came to apologize..."

He intended to apologize, but after hearing Su Yu'an's words, Jiang Qixing realized that "sorry" was far too inadequate.

Su Yu'an, however, didn't let him continue. She spoke softly, "Life is hard for women in this world. If the General doesn't leave, my fate will be either a piece of white silk or the waters of the lake."

Seeing Su Yu'an's face, as beautiful as a painting, even Jiang Qixing, who had faced death on the battlefield, turned pale.

Finally, Jiang Qixing pressed his lips together, gave Su Yu'an a deep bow, and with a light step, vaulted over the wall and left.

Su Yu'an finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although today's conversation couldn't disrupt Jiang Qixing and Lin Jiaoer's engagement, it was enough to plant a thorn in his heart.

Jiang Qixing is a straightforward man; some things he doesn't understand until they're pointed out, but once they are, he remembers them well.

"Lin Jiaoer, you chose this path, so walk it with care."

After Jiang Qixing left, Su Yu'an was about to leave as well when a voice hurriedly called out from behind a screen, "Miss Su, please wait. I'm Jiang Qiyun, and I have something to discuss with you."

Su Yu'an turned around, momentarily stunned. Wasn't this the man she saw by the outer wall earlier?

"Who's there? You..."

Danzhu, initially ready to shout "scoundrel," softened her tone upon seeing Jiang Qiyun's striking face. "Sir, what are you doing here?"

"I have something to discuss with your young lady, so step aside!" Jiang Qiyun said, positioning himself in front of Su Yu'an.

Su Yu'an pulled Danzhu aside and addressed Jiang Qiyun, "Are you the Second Young Master Jiang?"

"You know me?" Jiang Qiyun looked at Su Yu'an. "Wait, have you been secretly watching me? Have you been plotting something all along?"

Su Yu'an looked up at Jiang Qiyun and replied, "Why would I secretly watch you? Just because you're handsome? Haven't I seen good-looking people before?"

Jiang Qiyun took a good look at Su Yu'an and realized she was... quite attractive too!

Raising an eyebrow, Jiang Qiyun declared, "I have no intention of marrying you!"

“What a coincidence, I actually don’t want to get married either,” Su Yu'an replied.

“You don’t want to marry me?” Jiang Qiyun’s eyes flickered with a hint of a cold smile. “I guess it’s true, none of the young ladies in the city seem eager to marry me.”

Hearing this, Su Yu'an felt an inexplicable tremor in her heart.

“It’s not that you’re not good enough,” Su Yu'an explained, “I just don’t want my life to be arranged like this. Isn’t it the same for you? You say you don’t want to marry me, but do you even know what kind of person I am?”

Jiang Qiyun couldn’t help but nod in agreement, then quickly caught himself and explained, “I’m different from you. I just don’t like women.”

Don’t like women? Su Yu'an’s eyes widened in surprise.