Chapter 30: Childhood Sweethearts
Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Childhood Sweethearts
"Shut up!" His words were like a sharp knife, striking right where it hurt most.
Liang Wan’s face was deathly pale. Her body trembled uncontrollably as she turned her head away, her eyes wet and red.
"Furious because you’ve been exposed?" Wang Tingyue looked at her tearful eyes, completely unmoved. "Save your tears. I’m not them; you can’t fool me!"
Liang Wan pressed her lips tightly together. Tear stains were clearly visible on her averted face, but her eyes remained wide, showing no sign of remorse.
It was true—they had practically grown up together. How could he not know what kind of person she really was? She was the kind of girl who would pester him to teach her martial arts, coax him into sneaking her out over the estate walls, intentionally prank wicked servants, and even secretly slip laxatives into his bowl... How could she possibly be the delicate, fragile creature she pretended to be? He knew her too well.
In their youth, unable to resist her pleading, he had humored her through many childish, willful antics. Because of this, he had been punished more times than he could count, yet he had always kept his chin up without uttering a single word of complaint. But now, the only things in his eyes when he looked at her were disdain and disgust.
She didn’t know why, but having been reborn to live a second life, those distant childhood memories surfaced in her mind with crystal clarity, washing over her like relentless waves. A dull ache throbbed in Liang Wan’s chest.
The more she remembered, the more her tears surged. She drew in a sharp breath, trying to stop crying, but the tears just wouldn’t cease. It felt as though a massive rift had been torn open inside her, threatening to drain the tears of two lifetimes all at once.
Seeing her cry so fiercely, Wang Tingyue was taken aback. If this kept up, wouldn’t it alert everyone outside?
Gritting his teeth, he took two steps forward and hoisted her over his shoulder. Just like when she was a disobedient child, he resorted to brute force. The blazing flames of his anger were ultimately extinguished, turning to smoke in the torrential downpour of her tears.
The sudden movement startled her tears into pausing. She struggled, her voice hoarse as she cried out, "Wang Tingyue!"
The man beneath her scoffed coldly. "Why aren’t you calling me Brother anymore?"
Liang Wan had been kicking and thrashing, but she froze at those words. From childhood, Liang Zhang had never liked paying attention to her. However, after she met Wang Tingyue, he would always patiently play with her. Because of that, when no one else was around, she loved calling him Brother.
Seeing that she had stopped resisting, hanging obediently over his shoulder like a soft willow branch, his heart softened as well, and his attitude relaxed.
Wang Tingyue carried her into the room and set her down on the low couch. Liang Wan was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected him to still be living here after all these years. Who would have thought that a young master of the Sikong Mansion would actually live in such an old, run-down little house?
Sitting on the couch, she wiped her tears away and looked at every corner of the room. A rush of warmth and familiarity washed over her. It felt as though she had returned to her childhood, where she was just here for a visit, waiting for Awen to take her home later in the evening.
Liang Wan’s heart ached with a bitter sweetness. "Why are you still living here?"
Her voice was thick with congestion. Wang Tingyue simply kept his head down, examining her ankle. "What’s wrong with here?"
That single sentence somehow struck a nerve. Liang Wan’s eyes reddened again, and tears began to fall one after another.
Feeling completely at a loss, Wang Tingyue walked up to her with a stiff expression. "Stop crying!"
He would have been better off saying nothing. The moment the words left his mouth, she cried even harder.
Helpless, Wang Tingyue squatted down, his tone rigid. "What is wrong with you?"
Liang Wan looked at him, crying as she shook her head. She didn’t know what was wrong with herself either. Whether it was the release of grievances she had suppressed for too long, or the overwhelming emotion of regaining something she had lost, she couldn’t tell.
For some reason, seeing her cry like this made Wang Tingyue inexplicably frustrated. He clearly wanted to offer words of comfort, or perhaps pat her on the back, but the comforting words were stuck in his throat. His extended hand hovered in mid-air, unable to fall onto her shoulder.
Wang Tingyue could only watch her cry in silence until she had cried herself out, slumping powerlessly as if all her strength had been drained. When she looked up again, he saw a face completely stained with tears and felt a pang in his chest. "So ugly," he muttered.
Before Liang Wan could get angry, he stood up and left the room. When he returned, he was carrying a basin of clean water. He handed her a cloth. After she washed her face, he said dryly, "You look better like this."
Devoid of makeup, pure and clean.
The tip of her nose was bright red from crying, and her eyelashes were still damp. Her bright, watery eyes stared intently at him. "Are you no longer mad at me?"
Wang Tingyue looked away, going back to inspect her ankle, completely ignoring her question. "It’s just a sprain. The bone isn’t injured." With that, he lowered his eyes and began rubbing medicinal oil onto her skin.
Liang Wan hissed, sucking in a sharp breath of pain. "Didn’t you say my crying doesn’t work on you?"
Wang Tingyue glanced at her and eased the pressure of his hands. "It doesn’t."
She gritted her teeth against the pain, and Wang Tingyue remained silent. The air grew exceedingly quiet.
An unknown amount of time passed before Wang Tingyue finally lifted his gaze to look at her. "Awan, don’t change into someone I can’t even recognize, alright?"
Liang Wan’s entire body stiffened.
Wang Tingyue carefully helped her put her shoes and socks back on. Only after washing his hands did he continue, "I know what you’re planning."
Having known her for so long, he knew exactly what kind of person she was and what thoughts ran through her head. Others might not understand, but how could he not? However, understanding did not mean agreeing.
In the past, she had never cared about differences in status or wealth. She had even disregarded his status as an illegitimate son, affectionately calling him Brother. When he and his mother were bullied by spiteful servants, she would always come up with ways to help them seek justice. Whenever her older brothers mocked her, saying that she would one day marry an illegitimate son as his bride, she would tilt her chin up and glare right back, "So what if I do!"
Wang Tingyue lowered his head. His lean, upright posture suddenly seemed somewhat defeated. "I will go beg him to marry you to me."
"Wang Tingyue, you’re crazy!" Liang Wan’s face drained of color. Steal a woman from his own father? Did he have a death wish?
She pulled her leg back, using the edge of the bed to steady herself as she stood up. Walking on her tiptoes, she limped toward the door. Fortunately, everyone was currently at the banquet and wouldn’t be paying attention to this area. Otherwise, if they were discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The more Liang Wan thought about it, the more remorseful she felt. She had already caused his death once. For the sake of both their safety, they shouldn’t have any further interactions!
Liang Wan reached the door and stood with her back to him. She took a deep breath and turned her head slightly. Barring any accidents, this would be the last time she ever set foot in this room.
"Brother, listen to my advice. Liang Jiao truly likes you." Even though she had her own selfish motives, she genuinely valued Liang Jiao’s wholehearted devotion to him.
Liang Wan was just about to reach out and pull the door open when she was suddenly embraced from behind.
Wang Tingyue’s voice was hoarse. "Did you know all along that I... Is that why you deliberately conspired with her to frame me, forcing me to marry her?"
Did she know all along? Actually, she hadn’t known for long. It wasn’t until right before he died that he finally told her.
He forcefully turned her around, meeting her gaze with a face full of fury. "Why would you do this?"
Pinned against the door by him, unable to move, Liang Wan turned her head away for a moment to collect herself before looking back at him. "Why wouldn’t I do this? As long as Liang Jiao marries you, she’ll be able to wait for an opportunity to help me escape in the future. Why wouldn’t I agree to such terms?"
"You—"
"Me what? Are you going to say that I’ve changed into someone you don’t recognize again? Don’t be naive, Wang Tingyue. How could a person remain entirely unchanged for their whole life?"