"Aunt Rong, the biggest impression you’ve left on before is your strength and independence. Among all the won I’ve known, none can match you in those aspects. Even Zhao Jun lacks the formidable presence and confidence you exude," Ye Fan said.
"Xiao Fan, don’t comfort . I know myself better than you do," Tantai Wanrong replied, not dodging Ye Fan but also not making any effort to play along.
"Aunt Rong, to put it frankly, I’ve admired you from the beginning," Ye Fan said.
Tantai Wanrong said, "Xiao Fan, you mustn’t say that. You have Zhao Jun, you have Xiao Man, and even that silly girl Yaoyao... I don’t know how to describe us..."
"Then let Aunt Rong be my lover!" Ye Fan suddenly said with a smile.
"You... What did you say?" Tantai Wanrong glared at Ye Fan. This ti she abruptly flung Ye Fan’s hand aside and stood up, saying, "Xiao Fan, what do you take for?"
Ye Fan realized that "lover" was a hurtful term, but for him, it was the best way he could think of.
"Aunt Rong, I know you feel lonely. Now that you’re cultivating immortality, you can’t return to the life of an ordinary person. You’ll always need soone by your side. Would you rather marry a mortal, then watch him age over decades and be buried deep in the earth, leaving you lonely once more, or just find another person?" Ye Fan asked.
Tantai Wanrong thought about it, her expression becoming sorrowful as she said, "It’s all your fault for making cultivate immortality, couldn’t I just be an ordinary person?"
"Because I don’t want to see the woman I once loved age before when I’ve grown old. Even if it ans dying, I hope it’s rather than Aunt Rong!"
Ye Fan spoke with determination and sincerity. After he finished, Tantai Wanrong was stunned.
Ye Fan stood up and faced Tantai Wanrong. Tantai Wanrong gazed at Ye Fan, her eyes full of complexity. Ye Fan then extended his arm, pulling Tantai Wanrong into his embrace. Tantai Wanrong nearly sobbed, "Xiao Fan, you’re wonderful, even your words are so touching. But why... why does my heart still feel troubled? Xiao Fan, we shouldn’t be together..."
"Who cares what society thinks? As long as Aunt Rong wants to be with , I want to be with Aunt Rong. We can resolve other matters slowly, later on. Zhao Jun and Xiao Man wouldn’t oppose us being together. We just won’t tell Yaoyao; it’ll be our secret." Ye Fan gently stroked Tantai Wanrong’s back, trying to make her relax.
Tantai Wanrong appeared weary in Ye Fan’s embrace. After so ti, she seed to co to terms with it, lifting her head, while Ye Fan leaned forward, aiming to kiss Tantai Wanrong’s lips.
But she turned away.
"Xiao Fan, we... can’t yet," Tantai Wanrong said.
"Why?" Ye Fan frowned. "Does Aunt Rong have doubts?"
"Yes, I ntioned that there’s always sothing indescribable between us. You want to be your lover, but I can’t get past this ntally. Now I’ve not only competed with other won for a man, but I’ve shalessly beco soone else’s mistress, even fighting my niece for a man—I’ve despised myself." Tantai Wanrong said. "Xiao Fan, please give so ti to think it over, okay?"
Ye Fan was sowhat disappointed, and Tantai Wanrong erged from her emotional gloom. He too felt the sa.
The two had known each other for a long ti, weathered storms together, even faced life and death together. Ye Fan’s feelings for Tantai Wanrong were genuine. Unfortunately, his heart couldn’t fully belong to her. Had he never t Li Zhaojun or Lu Xiaoman, choosing to stay with Tantai Wanrong would have been the best outco.
"Alright," Ye Fan said graciously, nodding. "I will respect Aunt Rong’s decision, but... Aunt Rong can’t keep dragging indefinitely. I need Aunt Rong to give a tiline, think it over and then decide whether to accept or not?"
Still in Ye Fan’s embrace, Tantai Wanrong lowered herself, sitting back on the sofa, with Ye Fan sitting beside her, the two remaining embraced.
Tantai Wanrong said, "Xiao Fan, I don’t know when I’ll figure things out. Aren’t you and Zhao Jun about to get married? Give ... ten days. Even if I accept becoming your woman, I don’t wish to follow Zhao Jun. Even if I can’t beco your wife, I hope to be with you before her..."
So things didn’t need to be explicitly stated; they were already understood.
Ye Fan nodded; indeed, Tantai Wanrong was sowhat possessive, but the person she wanted to possess couldn’t wholly belong to her.
Thus, Tantai Wanrong’s request was rely to establish their relationship formally before Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun’s marriage. Many variables still existed, and Tantai Wanrong could entirely refuse Ye Fan because Ye Fan could see that this Aunt Rong harbored many struggles within. The moral and ethical views of reality made it difficult for Tantai Wanrong to accept being soone’s mistress, as her integrity was one aspect that Ye Fan admired.
"Aunt Rong, I suddenly feel I’m committing a cri, forcing you to accept , beco my lover, and change your fundantal integrity!" Ye Fan said apologetically.
"Xiao Fan, you needn’t feel guilty. Actually... this is all my choice too. When I felt I couldn’t fully claim you, I was deeply pained, yet unable to let go of you. Now that we’re adults, many things require our decisions and confrontations. With no job worries now, I need to occupy myself with sothing. I... also want to experience a grand romantic love, but I know my age doesn’t permit it, and in my heart, there’s only you. Even if I can’t be with you, I can’t accommodate anyone else."
Tantai Wanrong’s words were almost a confession.
Ye Fan listened, moved, yet so words stayed hidden in his heart. If he were more assertive, he could claim Tantai Wanrong, disregard everything, and once the die was cast, Tantai Wanrong would transform her love into duty, reducing many barriers between them.
"Aunt Rong, then ten days it is. I hope after ten days, our relationship can progress further. I’ll also inform Zhao Jun about us, to receive her blessings," Ye Fan said.
"No way!" Tantai Wanrong insisted firmly. "Even if I do beco your lover, I wish to conceal it from Zhao Jun forever. I don’t want to hurt her!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers