Chapter 37 He Has No Relationship with Chen Cheng

“Young Master Xu, what do you want to talk to me about?”

Sitting in the teahouse, Zhang Meng poured a cup of tea for Xu Lu Cha sitting opposite her and moved it in front of him.

Inside the teahouse, the noise of people was chaotic, with people coming and going. Xu Lu Cha frowned uncomfortably. Hearing Zhang Meng’s question, he concealed the disdain in his eyes.

Never mind, although the environment was poor, as long as Zhang Meng was by his side, it was fine.

His slender fingers gripped the white porcelain teacup that Zhang Meng had just handed him. Looking at Zhang Meng’s beautiful eyes, soft as water, he said, “I came to thank you. A few days ago when I was sick, you came to see me. I was very moved…”

The weather was hot, and Zhang Meng was unbearably thirsty. She drank several cups of tea in succession. After swallowing the tea, she said casually, “No need to thank me. We’re friends, it’s only right to visit you.” Zhang Meng put down the teacup and smiled.

A few clear drops of tea flowed down her red lips. She casually wiped them with the back of her hand, but her lips still retained a watery sheen, looking tender and alluring. Xu Lu Cha stared at her lips, slightly dazed.

“Young Master Xu, your complexion has improved a lot. I’m truly happy for you.” Zhang Meng saw Xu Lu Cha staring at her intently and smiled at him.

Xu Lu Cha came to his senses, his handsome face heating up slightly. He lowered his head, pursed his lips and replied, “Are you truly happy for me?”

Or was it just polite words?

“Of course I’m happy for you, we’re friends after all.”

Zhang Meng repeatedly emphasized the word “friends”, which displeased Xu Lu Cha. He didn’t hide his emotions in front of Zhang Meng, and his handsome face sank.

“Zhang Meng, do you know that I…”

“Young Master Xu, I heard that Chen Cheng, the successful candidate in the imperial examinations from our Yun City, has proposed marriage to you. She’s not bad. I wish you both happiness.” Zhang Meng seemed to know what he was about to say and hurriedly interrupted him.

Xu Lu Cha suddenly raised his head, staring intently at Zhang Meng: “You… you wish us happiness?”

“Yes, hasn’t Young Master Xu been waiting for Chen Cheng to pass the imperial examinations and return to marry you? Now that your wish has come true, Young Master Xu must be happy.” Zhang Meng said sincerely.

Even though Xu Lu Cha initially did have some feelings for her, she believed Xu Lu Cha was a person calm enough. Chen Cheng and her were worlds apart, she was far inferior to Chen Cheng in every way. Any normal person would choose Chen Cheng over her, let alone the calculating Xu Lu Cha.

If Xu Lu Cha could find happiness, she would genuinely be happy for him.

Xu Lu Cha’s carefully groomed handsome face subtly paled. He clenched his fists tightly, and after a long while, he finally resisted the urge to splash tea in her face. He said coldly, “I have no relationship with her. I will absolutely not accept her proposal.”

Seeing Xu Lu Cha’s face change, Zhang Meng was slightly surprised, but quickly became annoyed at her own thoughtless remarks. In her haste to make Xu Lu Cha give up hope, she had said such things, overlooking the fact that Xu Lu Cha would be hurt by hearing such words from her. She knew clearly that even if Xu Lu Cha didn’t choose her, he wouldn’t want to hear such words from her.

“I’m sorry, Young Master Xu. I overstepped.” Zhang Meng said apologetically.

Xu Lu Cha took a deep breath, slowly loosening his tightly clenched fists: “Zhang Meng, you don’t need to say these things to make me give up. Liking you is my business, you don’t need to manage it.”

Hearing Xu Lu Cha admit that he liked her, Zhang Meng felt somewhat awkward: “Young Master Xu, I didn’t…”

Xu Lu Cha frowned, turning his head away from her, but Zhang Meng still saw his slightly reddened eyes. Zhang Meng couldn’t bear to see people cry, she really didn’t know how to comfort others. She fumbled for a moment, and finally found an excuse to leave.

“Young Master Xu, I still need to patrol the streets. I’ll take my leave first.”

She stood up, picked up the sword she had placed on the table, and was about to leave. However, she had only taken two steps when someone behind her grabbed her sleeve.

Long, pale fingers tightly gripped her sleeve, the knuckles turning white from the excessive force. Zhang Meng looked down at the hand gripping her sleeve, then raised her eyes to look at Xu Lu Cha, asking puzzledly, “Young Master Xu?”

Xu Lu Cha lowered his head, his black hair falling smoothly, hiding his face. Zhang Meng couldn’t see his expression, only hearing his somewhat suppressed voice: “Can’t you comfort me a little?”

Always so ruthless, wanting to push him away, not giving him any hope.

Who exactly was that man, to make her care so much? Why did she treat all men except that man as if they were fierce beasts, eager to distance herself from them?

He, Xu Lu Cha, was so beautiful, so good, so… in love with her. In what way was he inferior to that man?

Hearing Xu Lu Cha’s question, Zhang Meng awkwardly pursed her lips: “Young Master Xu, we really aren’t suitable. Chen Cheng is a thousand times better than me, she is your ideal match…”

Xu Lu Cha let go of her sleeve and said no more. Zhang Meng had just turned to leave when she heard the sound of teacups shattering behind her. She was startled and quickly turned back. Xu Lu Cha had swept all the teapots and cups off the table with both hands, shattering them on the ground with a crash.

“Young Master Xu!” Zhang Meng exclaimed, quickly stepping forward to restrain his hands, “What are you doing?!”

Xu Lu Cha struggled to shake off her hands: “It’s none of your business! You’re not anyone to me!”

A pair of reddened beautiful eyes were filled with tears, crystal clear tears falling drop by drop down his jade-like cheeks. He laughed coldly: “That’s right, you’re a constable. I’ve damaged someone else’s property, aren’t you going to arrest me and take me back to the government office?”

Zhang Meng looked at him expressionlessly, her emotions changing several times before finally turning into helplessness. She let go of Xu Lu Cha’s hands and said softly, “I won’t arrest you. I’ll compensate the owner for the damages.”

Xu Lu Cha’s actions had already drawn the attention of people in the teahouse. Some even gathered around Xu Lu Cha and Zhang Meng, pointing and discussing in low voices.

“Isn’t that handsome young master the third young master of the Xu family? I always thought he was gentle and kind, didn’t expect him to be so impetuous.”

“Hasn’t Miss Chen already proposed to him? What is he doing here with Constable Zhang? How can a man be so fickle…”

Hearing the unpleasant discussions of the people, Zhang Meng’s face darkened.

Xu Lu Cha had always been most concerned about his image, but now hearing others discuss him, he had no reaction, just coldly staring at Zhang Meng.

The teahouse owner hurried over, looking at the mess on the ground, and exclaimed in surprise: “Constable Zhang, what happened?”

Zhang Meng nodded apologetically to Boss Lin: “Boss Lin, this is all my fault. I will compensate for it.”

Hearing Zhang Meng’s words, Boss Lin hurriedly shook his head: “No need for Constable Zhang to compensate, these few teacups aren’t worth much.”

Although Boss Lin didn’t require Zhang Meng to compensate, Zhang Meng still compensated Boss Lin with a few taels of silver based on the market price of the teacups.

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People were still gathering around, and Zhang Meng frowned and said loudly: “Don’t look anymore, go about your business.”

The people in the teahouse all knew Zhang Meng, and they rarely saw her frown. They were a bit surprised, but still obediently dispersed.

“Don’t spread word of today’s events,” Zhang Meng added.

“Understood, Constable Zhang, we won’t spread it,” the people in the teahouse replied.

Xu Lu Cha had been staring at Zhang Meng the whole time. Seeing Zhang Meng turn back to look at him after handling the situation, he snorted coldly and averted his gaze.

His expression wasn’t as bad as before, but his beautiful eyes were still reddened.

She was always like this, after treating him coldly, she would give him a piece of candy, making him forget himself in sweetness, thinking she treated him differently. Whether it was visiting and taking care of him when he had a fever after firmly rejecting him, or now, handling the difficult situation for him when he lost control and smashed things after she wished him happiness with Chen Cheng.

She was always like this.

“Zhang Meng, I have no relationship with Chen Cheng. I will absolutely not accept her proposal,” Xu Lu Cha said softly.

“I have no relationship with her.” His voice trembled slightly as he emphasized, with a hint of gritted teeth, as if wanting to distance himself far away from that detestable person.

What he couldn’t tolerate most was Zhang Meng wishing him happiness with Chen Cheng. Just thinking about this made his heart and liver ache, followed by heavy heartache and grievance.

Seeing his tears still falling pitter-patter, Zhang Meng felt at a loss and also somewhat upset. Finally, she could only reply: “I understand. I know you have no relationship with her.”

Zhang Meng felt that being with Xu Lu Cha not only made Xu Lu Cha uncomfortable, but also made herself extremely awkward. She secretly decided that in the future, she would avoid Xu Lu Cha as much as possible.

She didn’t love Xu Lu Cha, and couldn’t soften her heart to give Xu Lu Cha any hope anymore. This wasn’t fair to Xu Lu Cha, and would also harm him.

“Young Master Xu, I really need to go on patrol now. I’ve already delayed for too long,” Zhang Meng said.

Xu Lu Cha raised his eyes, reaching out to grab Zhang Meng’s sleeve, but his fingers stopped an inch away from Zhang Meng’s sleeve. He slowly withdrew his hand and softly replied: “You can go.”

After Zhang Meng left, Xu Lu Cha sat in the teahouse for a long time. New tea sets were brought to the table, but he no longer had the heart to drink tea. He just lowered his head, tightly clutching an exquisite sachet in both hands.

He had given many sachets to other women, but those sachets were just casually picked from the warehouse.

The sachet in his hands now was one he had embroidered during his illness. It was the first sachet he had ever embroidered for a woman, every stitch a testament to his longing for Zhang Meng. He had intended to give it to Zhang Meng today, but even if he gave it to her, she probably wouldn’t accept it.

How did he end up falling in love with her? With her conditions, if it were the him from before, he definitely wouldn’t have given her a second glance.

Being upset for her every day, losing control of his emotions for her. It was as if he had lost himself completely.

If the him from before saw how pathetic he was now, he would probably mock him.

Xu Lu Cha stood up and walked out of the teahouse.

Even though the sun was fierce, so dazzling that one could barely open their eyes, he felt a chill in his heart.

He didn’t return to the Xu residence, but went to the mountain instead.

The familiar wooden house, the familiar courtyard. He pushed open the fence gate and walked into the courtyard. The stone table in the courtyard was covered with dust, and he took out a handkerchief to carefully wipe it.

It was here that he had cooked noodles for Zhang Meng, and Zhang Meng had acted like a greedy cat, constantly praising his culinary skills. Thinking of Zhang Meng’s curved eyes when she smiled, his lips unconsciously curved up slightly, but soon, his eyes dimmed.

Wanting to spend a lifetime with her was ultimately just his own wishful thinking.

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