Chapter Seventeen: Some Things Cannot Be Spoken Aloud

Liu Yuli nearly failed to suppress a laugh. He shook his head and lowered his voice. “I truly didn’t expect Miss Shen to have such a temperament.”

He twirled the fan in his hand. “Back when she always followed you around, she barely spoke. I thought she was just an ordinary young lady, but it seems that’s not the case.”

Rather interesting, actually.

They hadn’t meant to eavesdrop; Liu Yuli merely wanted to help Jun Ci and Lin Yan have a brief word together in such a crowded place. When he saw Lin Yan heading this way, they followed her, not anticipating that Shen Nanyuan would be here, much less that they’d witness this side of her.

It was, in truth, an unexpected turn.

He lifted his chin slightly. “Aren’t you going over?”

Miss Lin was clearly here on purpose.

Jun Ci frowned, his gaze lingering on Shen Nanyuan, momentarily lost in thought. Liu Yuli seemed to remember something and suddenly let out an “Oh”—“Your status isn’t suitable for you to go over.”

He gave a wry smile. “One is your former fiancée, and the other is your future wife. If you walk over there now, it’ll become quite the spectacle.”

Though, admittedly, he was rather curious to see such a scene.

But Jun Ci was his childhood friend; no matter what, he wouldn’t set him up like that.

In this situation, it was up to him to step in. Liu Yuli was just about to approach when Lin Yan’s soft, delicate voice drifted over, making him halt abruptly. His gaze shifted toward the source.

“Miss Shen’s beauty is indeed unparalleled, but it is not right to stand between two people who are in love. Miss Shen’s status is far above mine—I am but the daughter of a Grand Tutor and cannot afford to offend you. Even so, I must boldly ask that, since you and Young Master Jun have dissolved your engagement, you let go completely and allow us to be together.”

At these words, Shen Nanyuan raised her brows with interest, resting her chin in her hand, yet she did not reply. Lin Yan, unable to hide her anxiety, bit her lip and continued, “Young Master Jun and I pledged ourselves to each other long ago. Were it not for his engagement, we would have married already. How else could it be that we now have to meet in secret, unable even to speak openly?”

Shen Nanyuan lowered her gaze, tapping her fingers twice on the table before lifting her eyes again—her gaze dark and bright, yet for some reason, it made Lin Yan feel a chill.

“Miss Lin, did you know that Jun Ci has never once mentioned you to me?”

“…,” Lin Yan replied hastily, “That’s because he was afraid you’d do something to harm me if you knew.”

“Oh, is that so?” Shen Nanyuan’s smile faded, a hint of mockery flashing across her face, enough to startle. “So, Miss Lin, now that you’ve told me yourself, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell my father?”

Her voice turned cold. “A secret betrothal… I wonder if the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Revenue can bear my father’s wrath? Where does this place the Duke Protector’s household or the Grand General?”

Lin Yan’s face blanched instantly. She clutched her sleeve anxiously and forced a smile. “Miss Shen is not that kind of person, I’m sure.”

Shen Nanyuan considered for a moment and nodded. “You’re right, I’m not one to tattle.”

Lin Yan had just begun to breathe a sigh of relief when Shen Nanyuan continued, “But I suppose Miss Lin didn’t come here today just to ask me to let go completely, did you?”

“Perhaps you wished to boast a little, or hoped your words would make me retreat. Still, I think you’re uneasy—seeing Jun Ci and me together here, aren’t you?”

“I don’t understand what makes you so uneasy, but I fear you’ve come to the wrong person.” She shrugged. “Jun Ci and I have long since ended things. His future has nothing to do with me. I did like him once, but now I see things clearly—there will be no more entanglement between us. Does that put your mind at ease, Miss Lin?”

Lin Yan dared not raise her head.

Every word from Shen Nanyuan pierced her heart, leaving her flustered and exposed. She was right—Lin Yan was indeed uneasy.

When she’d heard the engagement between Jun Ci and Shen Nanyuan had been broken, she’d been overjoyed, thinking she’d finally marry him. Unexpectedly, he insisted that if they announced a wedding now, rumors would surely follow and sully her reputation, so they should wait, allowing him time to prepare.

That was when the unease began.

All the capital knew Miss Shen had once loved Jun Ci. What if she changed her mind and insisted on marrying him after all?

Seeing Shen Nanyuan today only made her more nervous.

She rarely had the chance to meet Shen Nanyuan, so she seized this opportunity to speak her mind. Partly, she wanted to dissuade her for her own sake; partly, she wanted to make it clear that she and Jun Ci had long since pledged themselves to each other, and that was why he’d always ignored Shen Nanyuan, hoping she would finally give up.

All of it stemmed from her own worries.

“To disregard the Duke Protector’s household and the Grand General…” When Shen Nanyuan uttered those words, only then did Lin Yan finally feel afraid. The Grand General’s love for his daughter was well-known in the capital; the Duke Protector’s daughter was cherished by all. Even His Majesty had showered her with rare treasures on her birthday. If the General and the Emperor found out about this, they would never let the Jun and Lin families off lightly.

That was precisely what Jun Ci had feared—so he had never spoken of their relationship to outsiders.

He would always apologize with gentle words, promising to make it up to her one day.

Now, the end seemed finally in sight.

And yet, she could not shake her unease.

Shen Nanyuan glanced at Lin Yan. “If you have worries on your mind, Miss Lin, you should speak to Jun Ci, not sit here letting your imagination run wild—nor come to warn or boast to me. None of that will solve anything.”

“You don’t understand,” Lin Yan said, glancing aside with a wry smile. “Some things simply can’t be said aloud.”

She rose to her feet. “Now that I’ve heard your words, I can rest easy. I hope you’ll remember what you’ve promised and keep your distance from Young Master Jun.”

Shen Nanyuan looked up at her lazily, propping her chin in her hand. “And I hope you and Young Master Jun won’t make sport of people again in the future.”

Lin Yan’s expression faltered. She opened her mouth as if to reply, but in the end, said nothing, turning to leave slowly.

How troublesome.

After all this time since the engagement was broken, why did Jun Ci’s name still echo in her ears?

An ideal former lover should be as good as dead.

She stifled a yawn, listless and bored. Fortunately, her maid soon returned, accompanied by Gao Xueluo.