"I really do like you."
"...I know." Even if she hadn’t known before, she knew now. Otherwise, why would he torment himself ?
He smiled, and then let out a light sigh.
Maybe he was just too tired, so he closed his eyes.
Some things can’t be rushed.
But he could wait, slowly.
"You don’t have to feel burdened, even if you still can’t bring yourself to love me in the end, I won’t blame you. To love or not to love you is my right, to accept or not is your choice. My only wish is that you don’t leave again, don’t disappear from before me..."
Dong Huiying looked deeply at him.
She thought, she needed to seriously consider what she should do in the future.
To accept, or not to accept?
The problem is, she didn’t understand at all!
What exactly is love, and how should one love another person?
The first time, to be liked by someone, to be loved by someone...
She thought of her grandfather and maternal grandfather.
Even her own blood relatives couldn’t love her.
So why, Shujun, why did you fall so deeply for her?
What, after all, is love?
What does it feel like?
The night grew deeper.
The mountain’s night breeze wailed like a ghoul, and Haoming sat alone on a stone by the shore.
He looked toward the shimmering pond, recalling the sight in the afternoon when Third Brother held the girl tightly in his arms.
The tear streaks of Third Brother seemed engraved on his heart.
He was unclear what drove his abrupt flight at that moment.
He had shooed Black Dog away because his heart was in turmoil, and at this moment, he just wanted some peace alone.
Footsteps could be heard in the distance, growing closer and closer.
Haoming turned his head, then saw a listless figure approaching.
Yue Ning seemed to notice, and suddenly looked over, then blinked in surprise, "Fourth brother?"
Seeing Fourth Brother here was unexpected, but considering Third Brother’s sudden appearance during the day, it wasn’t all that surprising.
Yue Ning was not in a good mood.
He hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Fourth Brother.
"When did you get here, Fourth Brother?"
The two brothers faced an awkward silence.
Yue Ning took a deep breath and glanced at Fourth Brother. "Why don’t you seem surprised?" he asked, referring to the brothers reuniting here.
Haoming lowered his gaze. Maybe because... right now, his mind was just too chaotic, too messy.
Yue Ning’s state of mind was much like Haoming’s.
He sat down beside Fourth Brother.
"Fourth Brother... Baobao is here, we found Baobao."
"Fourth Brother, you like Baobao too, don’t you?"
"I..." He hesitated for a moment.
Yue Ning’s gaze went blank, "First Brother found Baobao first, then it was me, and then Third Brother... Third Brother burst in today, he picked up Baobao and ran, I didn’t even get a clear look at him. Later, he was carried back by Baobao..."
Haoming’s eyes flickered momentarily: "What happened?" he asked almost eagerly.
Yue Ning’s gaze fell despondently: "Baobao said Third Brother’s body has been severely depleted. Since Baobao left home, I have visited many places, never returning home..."
He plucked a handful of weeds, looking utterly nonchalant.
"Fourth Brother... there’s only one Baobao."
And there were six brothers.
He wasn’t sure about the intentions of Big Brother and Second Brother, and Yixuan... it was hard to say. But, he knew for certain that he, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, all three of them had fallen deep.
Yue Ning felt a bit lost, "There’s only one Baobao, how can we brothers share her? If she chooses one of us, the rest will surely be heartbroken. In the end... what will we become? Brothers turning against each other, becoming enemies? Or..."