How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Standing outside the courtyard, before even going in, she heard a woman's soft, gentle voice coming from inside. Wan Niang's heart tightened; it sounded like Yingluo, the maidservant of the second concubine. She quickly pulled Master Song away.

Master Song was puzzled, but Wan Niang had already pulled him to the other side to avoid her. Wan Niang was a little afraid of the second concubine. Although the other woman was kind and gentle, she just instinctively felt that she was not easy to mess with, so even her maids had to avoid her.

Master Song had no choice but to step aside as Wan Niang suggested, and when he turned back to look at her, he saw that she looked flustered. He asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you?"

Wan Niang shook her head and said, "I...I'm a little afraid of meeting strangers."

A scrutinizing glint flashed in Master Song's eyes, but he ultimately said nothing. It was he who had taken a liking to Wan Niang and brought her back, so he couldn't blame her for being unpresentable. Besides, wasn't it precisely Wan Niang's complete dependence and trust that made her feel like she was her god?

He patted Wan Niang's shoulder lightly, taking it as a form of comfort. It was his own residence; he didn't need to hide from others because of a concubine.

Although Wan Niang was from the countryside, she knew a little about the rules of wealthy families. The second concubine was clearly the mistress of the Song family.

The people in this courtyard were all arranged by the second concubine. She was both scared and unfamiliar with them, but she dared not tell Master Song directly, for fear that he would think she was making a fuss.

Master Song, however, could not understand her hidden worries. Seeing her anxious and fearful appearance, he stopped asking her and went into the courtyard on his own.

This courtyard is very close to Yanru's place. After a little thought, one can understand what the second concubine means. She simply wants Wan Niang and Yanru to compete.

Ha, I really underestimated her. I used to think that the second concubine was thoughtful and quick-witted, but now I think she went too far. No matter how cunning she is, she shouldn't have schemed against him.

The courtyard had just been cleaned, and the woman's voice had already disappeared. Only a few old servants were cleaning. When they saw Master Song arriving with his entourage, they all stopped what they were doing and greeted him.

Wan Niang felt extremely uncomfortable, following Master Song closely, afraid of being looked down upon.

Back in the house, Master Song said to Wan Niang, "I think this place is clean enough. You can rest here for now. I'll go to the main courtyard today."

Wan Niang quickly agreed, "This courtyard is very nice, much bigger than my house in the countryside, clean and bright. I never dreamed I could live in such a house."

Mr. Song was somewhat displeased. "Alright, now that you're in the Song family, let's not bring up the past anymore."

Wan Niang agreed, and Master Song didn't linger any longer, turning around and leaving.

But then he heard Wan Niang's soft voice calling from behind, "Master..."

Master Song looked impatient and turned around, asking, "Is there anything else?"

Wan Niang bit her lip and mustered her courage to say, "Master, I...I'm pregnant."

Mr. Song was surprised and somewhat taken aback. "What did you say?"

Wan Niang nodded, as if she had made up her mind. "My period is more than a month late. I took care of my mother when she gave birth to my younger brother and sister, so I am very familiar with these things. I probably... I should be pregnant."

She was too shy to look up, only lowering her eyes and waiting for Mr. Song's response.

Upon hearing this, a complex expression appeared on Master Song's face. After a long while, he said, "Let's wait until the doctor has examined him before we talk about it." With that, he turned and left.

After Master Song left, Wan Niang's face showed a relieved expression. Then she thought of Master Song's shock when he heard that she was pregnant, and how little joy he showed, so her heart sank a little.

Wan Niang returned to her room and lay down, tossing and turning, feeling uneasy.

Du Ruo threw things around in a huff, as if serving Wan Niang was some great disgrace. She looked down on the newcomer even more than the little thing had treated Yan Ru.

Soon, Song Ren led a doctor to examine Wan Niang's pulse. After a short while, he confirmed that she was more than a month pregnant, told her to rest well, and then left.

Song Ren also hurriedly offered his congratulations and rushed out to see the doctor off.

Upon hearing this news, Du Ruo felt conflicted, unsure whether to offer congratulations or not. The person she had just looked down upon was now carrying the master's child, and she wondered what the future held for her.

He reluctantly offered his congratulations, then turned and left, seemingly heading to the second concubine's courtyard.

Wan Niang didn't worry about anything else. Once she confirmed she was pregnant, she felt relieved and carefully tended to her belly. This was her first child. Having a child would give her a sense of security in the unfamiliar Song family mansion.

Inside the main courtyard, Du Ruo was reporting to the second concubine, "Madam, the newcomer is indeed pregnant."

Whether the second concubine heard her or not, she called to the other concubines to play mahjong, "Come on, fourth brother, it's your turn, don't just sit there."

Du Ruo was about to say something more when Ying Luo grabbed her arm, so she had to shut up and wait on the side.

After finishing a round of mahjong, he washed his hands with the hot water that Yingluo had brought him before asking, "What did you say? That Wan Niang is pregnant?"

Du Ruo replied, "Yes, it has been more than a month."

The second concubine pondered, "Hiss, does that mean the master got pregnant as soon as he left? That's really good news."

Du Ruo glanced at the second concubine's face and saw that she was all smiles. She was unsure of what to do. But there were several other concubines in the room, so she didn't dare to ask. She could only say, "I don't know how to serve her. Please give me some advice."

The second concubine sighed and said, "I don't know how else to serve her. Yunxiang, please give me some ideas."

Yunxiang, the third concubine, was taken aback upon hearing this, then chuckled, "I think the fifth concubine is the most experienced; she just gave birth not long ago. Speaking of which, this is the first time our Song family has had such a joyous occasion since the fifth concubine gave birth."

The fifth brother, who had no say in the matter, was now being questioned and couldn't pretend to be stupid. "If you ask me, why don't we just hire another maid? You've all had children before, why treat this like such a big deal?"

The second concubine smiled without saying a word, "That's right, I'm worrying too much. It seems that Wan Niang is more favored than the sixth concubine, but Wan Niang got pregnant first, and I don't know what to do."

The women listened, each with their own thoughts, though they didn't show it on their faces, each harboring different ideas.

After spending the afternoon playing wildly with the young masters and ladies of the Song family, Yanru went back to rest.

After washing up, I felt very refreshed, as if all the gloom of the past few days had been swept away.

Although she hadn't figured out how to face the Song family father and son, she had managed to dispel the unease that had been weighing on her mind.

At this moment, Song Yuanliang was thinking of Yanru, but he did not sneak over the wall to her room today. Perhaps it was time to restrain himself, but the longing surged into his heart uncontrollably. Song Yuanliang did not care whether it was right or wrong, he just did what he wanted to do.

However, after all, Yanru was his stepmother in name only, and his father had also returned...

Song Yuanliang looked worried and struggled for a moment before heading towards Yan Ru.

Some even hoped that Master Song would catch them in the act. As a father, he knew who his son's sweetheart was, yet he still took her in. He should be the one who felt ashamed.

At an age where he could be someone's father, he deceived and hid the truth from an innocent young girl. Ah, so this is what his father is like.

"The banquet was like..."

The voice was so tender and affectionate that Yan Ru's heart skipped a beat.

As soon as Song Yuanliang pushed open the door, Yan Ru raised her eyes to look at him.

There was a mix of anticipation and helplessness.

Yan Ru's expression still held a hint of a smile, but then she became calm again. She turned her head away, as if her heart was completely undisturbed, deliberately putting on a cold and aloof demeanor.

Song Yuanliang was somewhat puzzled and couldn't figure out what Yan Ru was thinking, but he didn't want to give Yan Ru any more time to think.

Who knows how many times she will be deceived? Only by making a promise with her will this wavering woman settle down.

"Yuanliang..." Yanru called out, then bit her lip, looking as if she wanted to approach him but also wanted to push him away.

Taking a few deep breaths, Yan Ru forced a smile as she stood up, poured Song Yuanliang a glass of water, and then sat down to see what Song Yuanliang was going to do.

Song Yuanliang's throat was indeed a little dry, and he said urgently in a soft voice, "Yanru, I...I have something to tell you..."

He was a little nervous, but also very much looking forward to how Yanru would answer.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Yan Ru put down her cup, turned around, and mentally prepared herself before looking up at Song Yuanliang, pretending to be nonchalant, and asked, "What is it?"

She still wore a gentle smile, as if the two were just ordinary friends. This made Song Yuanliang feel resentful and unwilling. This little woman had clearly fallen for him, so why did she always pretend to be indifferent?

A sense of estrangement seemed to have appeared in Yan Ru's eyes. Was this woman planning to run away from him again?

Song Yuanliang pursed his lips, hesitant, unsure how to begin, but still gritted his teeth and said, "Yanru..."

Yan Ru sensed that Song Yuanliang's current state was somewhat dangerous, so she quickly coughed lightly, interrupting him, and said, "What is it? Tell me!"

"Actually..." he quickly changed the subject, "My mom introduced me to a girl today, and she asked me to meet her at noon. It suddenly dawned on me that it's time for me to get married too. Between you and me, what are your plans..."

When Yan Ru heard this news, she found it hard to believe, yet it made perfect sense. Yes, Song Yuanliang had come of age and it was time for him to get married. It was perfectly normal for his mother to find him a suitable match.

She had been living a wild and chaotic life for a while, which made her forget the real world. Now that she has come to her senses, she finds it hard to accept.

Her heart was heavy, but she had no right to question or accuse anyone, after all, it was she who had lost her virginity first. Thinking of her own absurdity, Yan Ru felt both ashamed and angry, and only felt desolate. She and he... were already hopeless.

Song Yuanliang was actually hesitant to ask at first, but once he had spoken, he no longer intended to run away from the question.

He didn't want to force Yan Ru to make a decision, nor did he want to hide any longer; he wanted a relationship that was open and aboveboard.

That wretched little woman! She comes when you approach and retreats when you back off. She's so timid; you can easily believe a few scare tactics. I really don't know what her family taught her. If only he hadn't believed her aloof and unapproachable demeanor at school, he should have been bolder, approached her, and won her over. It would have been better than suffering torment day and night like this.

He wanted her, but he was also afraid of hurting her. He was filled with regret.

Song Yuanliang longed more than ever to stand openly before the person he loved, to embrace her proudly, to make her his woman, to... to make her truly fall in love with him, to be devoted to him.

The torment of unrequited love had worn him down, and he no longer wanted to endure it in silence. Therefore, he hoped to receive a response from Yanru, longing for her to share his passionate and unconventional love.

After hearing Song Yuanliang's words, Yan Ru was stunned for a moment, and then showed a dazed expression, as if she was very confused.

Yan Ru lowered her head, unconsciously running her fingers through her long hair. After a moment of silence, she feigned composure and asked, "Really? What do you think of that girl? Isn't she outstanding?"

She avoided the main point, leaving Song Yuanliang feeling quite helpless.

He always knew that his love for her was too humble. But love is selfish, and he couldn't bear to watch her be shy and charming in the arms of another man, especially since that man was his own father.

Song Yuanliang looked directly at her, not giving her another chance to escape, and said, word by word, "No matter how good or outstanding other people are, they are not what I want. The only one I want is you, understand? No matter what you are like, I will love you. Besides, no one is better than you, no one will move my heart more than you. Yanru, why don't you understand?"

His intense gaze left Yan Ru with nowhere to hide, so she simply spoke her mind to extinguish his hopes, "I...I'm a foolish person, don't you know? I've already...Logically speaking, you should call me stepmother. It's not that I don't want to respond to you, it's that I don't deserve it. I can't make any more mistakes, so please don't force me."

Song Yuanliang held Yanru tightly and made a firm promise, "No, Yanru, it's not that you're confused, it's that my father is shameless. I've said before that I wanted to marry you, but he interfered. He's the one who forgot his duty because of his looks. It's his fault, not yours. Yanru, you should be with me, openly and honestly, not with my father. Do you understand?"

Song Yuanliang held Yan Ru's tear-streaked face in his hands and said earnestly, "Yan Ru, don't I deserve to love you openly and honestly?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Ru shook her head, unable to even manage a bitter smile, and choked out, "No, Yuanliang, you don't need to worry about me. You know, I'm not good enough for you right now. The girl Second Madam introduced to you must be from a respectable family. If she's suitable, you should... go and pursue someone else!"

Yan Ru felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, because she knew that it wasn't that she didn't like Song Yuanliang, but... one wrong step led to another, and now she was no longer worthy of him.

Song Yuanliang's face was a little pale, but he still insisted, "Yanru, you know what I'm thinking. I would never abandon you!"

"Yuan Liang..."

Yanru didn't know how to answer, so she silently shed tears. After a long while, she finally said, "I'm tired. You should go back now!"

Seeing her exhausted appearance, Song Yuanliang felt extremely distressed.

He didn't want to force her any further, so he had to back down and say, "Okay, you should get some rest. I'll come over and keep you company tomorrow!"

Song Yuanliang is gone.

Yanru sat alone on the bed for a long time, letting her tears soak the bedding beneath her.

When I first arrived at the Song residence, I was always filled with deep sorrow and grief, and I was filled with worry and fear about the future. It was Song Yuanliang who accompanied and comforted me from time to time, which made me feel a little better. How could I have been so foolish as to agree to Master Song's request... just because of a few unclear words from him that I handed myself over.

Now, that sorrow, now tinged with grief, once again lingers in my heart.

Thinking of her father and sister, she was overcome with grief. Her life had finally undergone a complete transformation.

“Yanru”, Song Yuanliang is back.

Yan Ru was very surprised, "You...you didn't leave?"

Song Yuanliang had originally thought the same thing, but he regretted it before he had gone very far. It was all his fault for being soft-hearted; he had given in as soon as he saw Yan Ru looking tired and irritable, completely forgetting why he had come there in the first place.

He no longer wanted to hide his burning passion. He stepped forward, grabbed Yanru's neck, and kissed her with domineering fervor, as if he wanted to etch her into his very bones, wildly venting his pent-up emotions.

He made up his mind; he had to force Yan to make a decision. Otherwise, she would belong to someone else for the rest of her life! He wouldn't allow any surprises! And he absolutely couldn't give up!

"Mmm~" Yan Ru struggled, but to no avail, and was instead held even tighter by him.

It's unclear how much time passed—perhaps an instant, perhaps a long time—but before the air in their mouths was completely drained, Song Yuanliang finally released her, holding her in his arms as he breathed heavily.

Yan Ru's face flushed, with an unnatural shyness.

Song Yuanliang's eyes were filled with desire, yet he looked firmly into hers and asked, word by word, "Do you have me in your heart? Do you love me, Yanru? Do you?"

Yan Ru's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of her chest. She was about to say that she was not worthy of him, but he stopped her with his burning gaze.

She couldn't utter those high-sounding words; the composure and indifference she had just feigned crumbled instantly, and tears fell uncontrollably once again.

Song Yuanliang held her tightly. Yan Ru resigned herself to it. What did it matter? As long as Song Yuanliang wanted her, she wouldn't back down anymore. She said resignedly, "I have it, Yuanliang, I have it..."

Those six short words exhausted all her strength. But Yan Ru knew that wasn't what she thought; at least she didn't have Song Yuanliang's burning passion. She only knew that if she said no at this moment, she would lose Song Yuanliang forever.

She didn't want to lose Song Yuanliang, so she went along with him and gave him the answer he wanted.

Song Yuanliang embraced her, lifted her chin, and kissed her lips again, the lips he had longed for day and night.

Unlike before, Song Yuanliang's movements were tinged with naivety and tenderness. He was extremely gentle, as if afraid of hurting her.

The scene that had appeared countless times in Song Yuanliang's dreams finally came true, and he cherished and protected it immensely.

Du Juan, holding a bowl of hot glutinous rice balls, blushed as she listened to the sounds coming from inside the door.

With a sigh, Dujuan started eating by herself, while keeping watch at the door for them.