As expected, Gu Youyou was very shocked, but calmly told him, "Between us lies a distance as vast as Mount Everest, and I do not like a life of hiding and secrecy."
"You’re talking nonsense." Jin Ziyuan knew she would reject him, yet he had not anticipated such a reason, "You don’t like a life of hiding? Then all these years, haven’t you been living exactly that way? In Lotus Village, in Lingnan, at the Lin Residence. You could hide for him, why can’t you do the same for me?"
Hearing this, she truly had been living that way over the years. Yet precisely because she disliked such a life, she had always been striving, alongside Jin Zijin, to change this situation, from darkness to light, to live together openly and honorably.
That was only because...
"I like him, not you," Gu Youyou sighed softly.
Jin Ziyuan staggered backward, he had anticipated this outcome, but hearing it from her still caused him a heart-wrenching pain.
The most heart-devouring love in the world is to love someone who belongs to an enemy.
She did not like him and unfortunately liked that person.
Jin Ziyuan took a deep breath, pushing the overwhelming thoughts back into the depths of his heart.
He said softly, "Very well, since that is the case, I shall bid you farewell and take my leave!"
He had arrived quickly and left just as swiftly, vanishing into the darkness in a blink.
Gu Youyou stared at the dark sky, unable to speak for a long time.
In modern times, many men had tried to pursue her, but she had never seriously considered any of them.
Those men were either after her money or her status, none genuinely cared for her.
She was thankful that besides Jin Zijin, there was one more person who had truly cared for her. Yet love is a selfish thing, so selfish that it does not allow for any third person to share it.
Leaning on Jin Zijin’s back, basking in the warm sun, feeling the mountain breeze, breathing the freshest air, those days were as vivid in her mind as if they were yesterday.
She thanked heaven for sending him to her side in her most desperate moments, leading her out of the ceaseless darkness.
Her love contained only Jin Zijin.
For in this mournful passage of time, the only thing that could give her peace and safety was his broad back. The only thing that could warm her like spring was his fiery embrace. Unknowingly, she had lost herself in the vast sea of stars in his eyes.
Over in Searcy, her straightforward nature had fully exposed Gu Youyou.
"Yes, Jin Zijin is her clandestine lover!"
Hearing such words shocked Madam Lin to the core.
Where did this uncouth gossip come from? How could a young woman use such words so freely?
"Since when did this start?" Madam Lin asked, pressing down her anger.
Searcy replied calmly, "How would I know? I’ve only known Gu Youyou for a few days. Ever since I met her, the Taoist comes to Qi Mountain once a month, and during his stays, he spends every night in Gu Youyou’s house. Oh wait, the house Gu Youyou stays in actually belongs to Jin Zijin, so technically, he is just returning to sleep with Gu Youyou in his own house."
Madam Lin felt as if thunder was rolling in a clear sky, scorching her inside out.
She had been a well-read woman from childhood, a proper lady in the Ducal Residence, and after marrying, always remained demure and dignified. From a young age, she knew the decorum women should maintain.