Chapter 89: Where Does Love Begin?

“Yuner sister, don’t take those words to heart.” The calmer she appeared, the more worried he became. Su Qingwan nervously held Lu Yuner’s hand, looking at her with cautious eyes.

What kept man? What social climber?

It turns out Yuner sister has been enduring such harsh rumors and malicious slander all this time. Why did he know nothing about it until now? It seems everything had been kept from his ears.

Lu Yuner’s eyes flickered slightly. Although Wan Ling’s words carried hostility, there was nothing incorrect about them. This was indeed the situation between her and Young Master Su.

As for those unpleasant words outside, she had anticipated them and prepared herself mentally since deciding to be with Young Master Su. Naturally, they wouldn’t affect her.

Lu Yuner composed herself, her expression becoming dignified. Seeing the young man’s phoenix eyes filled with worry, she spoke in a clear voice like spring water: “Ah Wan, I’m fine. Rumors mean nothing to me.”

Hearing her response, Su Qingwan’s anxious heart eased slightly.

Seeing the intimate scene before her, Wan Ling’s heart was sharply stabbed. Her eyes turned dark and deep, her hands tightly clenched, a thick ink of resentment pooling in her gaze.

For years, she had rushed to battlefields, all to achieve success and fame, to have enough ability and dignity to care for Qingwan, to give him a lifetime of happiness.

The reason for her return to the capital was to marry Qingwan, but she quickly heard news of Qingwan’s engagement. Naturally, she was devastated. The feelings she had harbored for Qingwan for years, buried in her heart, how could they be easily let go?

Out of sight, out of mind. She came today to bid farewell to her adoptive mother, planning to return to Hua Bei. Who would have thought she’d run into Lu Yuner? Unable to let go, she wanted to vent her resentment.

Since Qingwan had already heard their conversation today, things had come to this point. She might as well speak her mind completely. If she wanted to hate her, then hate her fiercely!

Wan Ling sneered with a mocking laugh, looking at Su Qingwan with immense pain in her eyes. “I’m talking nonsense!? Qingwan, with your status, naturally those outside words wouldn’t reach your ears, but they’re not entirely unreasonable.”

“Who are you! You are Young Master Su, with such a noble status. The one who marries you must be an outstanding woman, heaven’s darling. Why choose such an ordinary woman who doesn’t match you? Lu Yuner is just a small doctor, what happiness can she bring you?! How much does she truly understand you?!”

Hearing this, Su Qingwan frowned, instantly displeased. He unconsciously gripped Lu Yuner’s hand tightly, not allowing anyone to speak rudely about Yuner sister.

Su Qingwan’s eyes turned from affection to a sharp glare, coldly interrupting her, his face tense, “Who I like is my own business, not for anyone else to meddle in. In my heart, no one compares to Yuner sister.”

Wan Ling narrowed her eyes slightly, her clenched fists turning white at the knuckles. She spoke slowly, “Qingwan, you and I have known each other since childhood. No one understands you better than I do. What you like, what you dislike, I remember it all. You wouldn’t fall for someone just because they happened to save your life once. There must be other reasons why you like her, right?”

Since Qingwan didn’t fall in love at first sight with Lu Yuner, and they had only interacted for a few short days, how could such deep feelings suddenly arise? She couldn’t believe there wasn’t another reason!

Otherwise, he must have been deceived by Lu Yuner’s sweet words to be so infatuated with her!

Hearing this, Su Qingwan’s frail body trembled slightly. Something soft in his heart seemed to be struck. His eyes flashed with unnatural nervousness. Indeed, his initial feelings for Yuner sister were somewhat vague, more of a dependence and sense of security.

Just then, Chen Si appeared, calling Wan Ling away on the pretext that Yun Qinwang wanted to speak with her, bringing the matter to a halt.

Later, in the vast night, the carriage was silent, enveloped in a complex atmosphere.

Su Qingwan’s uneasy gaze shifted to Lu Yuner’s face. Tugging at her sleeve, he spoke haltingly, “Yuner sister, actually… just now I…”

Lu Yuner looked at him thoughtfully, her voice growing lower, “Ah Wan, I already know everything.”

Su Qingwan’s expression froze, his heart filled with confusion: “…”

Lu Yuner lowered her eyelashes, hiding the darkness in her eyes. She instructed Xiao Yuan and Hua Ying to stop the carriage aside, leaving space for the two of them to talk.

After a moment of silence, Lu Yuner’s brow furrowed with some gravity: “General Wan is right. If I hadn’t saved you, there would have been no possibility of any connection between us. Even if we had met at the Imperial Academy, you wouldn’t have developed romantic feelings for me.”

“At first, I found it quite strange too. From being secretly kissed by Ah Wan in the carriage, disregarding a young man’s chastity and breaking propriety, to Ah Wan’s immediate and repeated apologies afterwards, and then to Ah Wan’s sudden confession – it all caught me off guard.”

“Ah Wan is the noble Young Master Su. With Ah Wan’s esteemed status, why would you need to beg so humbly for my forgiveness? We had only known each other for a few short days.”

“Precisely because we had only interacted for a few days, and had seen each other at the Imperial Academy before knowing the truth, there was no so-called love at first sight between us, let alone love growing over time. I still can’t figure out where these feelings came from.”

“Indeed, in terms of status and position, we are worlds apart. There are plenty of women around Ah Wan who are more outstanding than me. So why me? What exactly does Ah Wan like about me?”

“Yuner sister, I…” Su Qingwan wanted to explain, but was interrupted.

Having expressed the concerns that had long weighed on her heart, Lu Yuner felt relieved. She knew there were other reasons why Young Master Su had developed feelings for her, which is why she needed to carefully consider the future of this relationship.

Lu Yuner said seriously, “Ah Wan, you must think carefully. If this kind of liking comes with unclear reasons, or perhaps it’s a misidentified liking that doesn’t require us to be together, then everything can still be undone. Our marriage can be called off right here!”