Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

Yun Chu fell silent, the familiar scent filling her nostrils, a cool, refreshing fragrance, and tears welled up in her eyes again. She felt conflicted; she knew perfectly well that the person in front of her wasn't the Gu Ruoxiao from before, yet she still craved his embrace.

"Why, why? You took Ruoxiao away, and you even took my wine." Gu Ruoxiao heard a hoarse voice in his ear, and his heart ached. An indescribable emotion rippled through his heart.

"Your Highness," Yun Chu's sorrowful voice made Gu Ruoxiao's heart skip a beat, "Please let me go, let's let each other go, okay?"

Gu Ruoxiao fell silent.

Yun Chu closed her eyes again. She thought, let her indulge herself one last time and savor this familiar scent.

The room was very quiet, so quiet that Yun Chu thought Gu Ruoxiao would never speak again, when she heard him speak.

"But I don't want to let it go."

Yun Chu was taken aback. She was somewhat puzzled. Her head was throbbing from the alcohol, and she was thinking in a daze. But she didn't have much time to think because Cheng Feng's voice came from outside, "Master, Lord Luo has arrived."

Yun Chu felt Gu Ruoxiao move, and then her feet touched the ground, and the restraints on her waist disappeared. She quickly stood up, raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, turned around and sat back down opposite Gu Ruoxiao. She lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Gu Ruoxiao didn't want to let go, but he also didn't want her to feel embarrassed in front of outsiders.

Soon after, Luo Yan entered. He glanced around the room and saw that Mu Wanqing had already passed out drunk. Yun Chu and Gu Ruoxiao were sitting opposite each other, and there were two empty wine jugs in front of Yun Chu.

He strode up to Yun Chu and asked, "How are you? Are you alright?"

Yun Chu shook his head.

Looking at her already tear-filled eyes, Luo Yan suppressed his agitation and said, "I'll take you home."

Yun Chu did not answer, but stood up and bowed to the person opposite her, "Your Highness, it is getting late, so I will take my leave now."

Having said that, without waiting for Gu Ruoxiao's reply, he turned around and called out, "Mo Han!"

Yun Chu was afraid she wouldn't be able to walk steadily, and she didn't want Luo Yan to help her.

Mo Han rushed in and helped Yun Chu up.

At the entrance of Juxian Pavilion, the waiter had already brought the carriage.

Yun Chu turned to look at Luo Yan, "I can go back by myself. You've been so busy today, go back and rest."

"Yun Chu..."

"I really can, and with Mo Han here, don't worry." Yun Chu smiled at him and got into the carriage.

Luo Yan looked in the direction Yun Chu had left, still feeling uneasy. He summoned his horse, mounted it, and followed her.

Upon arriving at Wangyou Residence, Mo Han helped Yun Chu dismount and then drove the carriage inside.

Yun Chu stood at the gate without moving, knowing that Luo Yan was following behind.

Perhaps seeing Yun Chu still standing at the gate, Luo Yan became worried, rode forward, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Yun Chu looked at him without saying a word.

Luo Yan dismounted and walked up to Yun Chu. "Are you feeling unwell from drinking too much? Let me take a look." He raised his hand to take Yun Chu's pulse.

Yun Chu took a step back.

Luo Yan wasn't annoyed; a drunk person is naturally unreasonable.

He thought for a moment, his gaze softening slightly, and tentatively asked, "Shall I escort you inside?"

"Luo Yan, I am perfectly sober," Yun Chu said softly.

Luo Yan looked at her. Her gaze was cool, yet calm and clear. He knew she was sober, or rather, she had never been drunk at all.

“Luo Yan, you don’t need to come to Shili Pu so often from now on. Your career is more important.”

Ever since learning of Yun Chu and Gu Ruoxiao's divorce, Luo Yan has been coming to Shili Pu every few days, either to bring things or to chat with Yun Chu. Yun Chu felt that things couldn't go on like this; she couldn't give him anything.

Luo Yan didn't speak, but just stared intently at her.

Yun Chu lowered her eyes. "Some things should be cut off in time, and relationships are no exception."

"What are you afraid of?" Luo Yan asked gently.

Yun Chu subconsciously looked up at him.

"Are you afraid that because of my closeness, one day you will develop feelings for me and fall in love with me?" Luo Yan stepped forward and looked directly at her.

"Luo Yan!" Yun Chu was forced to take a step back by his aura.

"If that's the case, I'd be more than happy to accept it." Luo Yan's voice was filled with desolation.

"Yes, I wanted to take advantage of their vulnerability." Luo Yan spoke frankly, as if the words had lost their derogatory meaning, so frank that Yun Chu couldn't hold him accountable.

Yun Chu lowered her head and sighed. She felt powerless and helpless. She closed her eyes and said, "Luo Yan, I can't give you the response you want."

After a moment of silence, Yun Chu heard Luo Yan chuckle softly, "Then let me stay with you, shall I?"

Yun Chu looked up at him and said helplessly, "Why bother?"

"Yun Chu, I would gladly do it. Let me stay with you, please don't stop me, I beg you." Tears welled up in Luo Yan's eyes.

Yun Chu's heart trembled; his plea prevented her from uttering any more cruel words.

Perhaps seeing that Yun Chu neither refused nor agreed, Luo Yan smiled self-deprecatingly, "Go inside quickly, it's late, I should go back too." With that, he mounted his horse and rode away.

Yun Chu stood there, watching Luo Yan's receding figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Not far away, around the corner, Gu Ruoxiao's expression was not good, and Chengfeng beside her did not dare to say a word.

These past few days, my master has been frequently by Miss Yun Chu's side. The frequency of his visits has made Cheng Feng wonder if his master has remembered something. But then he thinks it doesn't make sense. If he really had remembered something, his master would have rushed straight to Miss Yun Chu long ago. There would be no need for Lord Luo.

On this day, Xu Li handed over a gold-embossed invitation, saying that merchants from Luoshui wanted to do business with Shilipu and requested that the owner of Shilipu personally come forward.

Yun Chu accepted the gold-embossed invitation, her fingertips lightly tracing the delicate gold edges, a hint of curiosity and contemplation flashing in her eyes. Merchants from Luoshui? Personally representing them? This certainly piqued her interest.

Looking at the large, gold-embossed characters on the invitation, Zhu Ling muttered to herself, "Who is this? Such a grand gesture, such a ostentatious display. The owner of Shili Pu isn't someone just anyone can meet."

"Do you know the origins of these Luoshui merchants?" Yun Chu asked in a deep voice, her tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

Xu Li shook his head, his expression apologetic: "Miss, I haven't found out the origins of these Luoshui merchants yet, but judging from their lavish spending, they must be either rich or noble."

Yun Chu nodded, already having made up her mind. Luoshui was adjacent to Dongchi; if she could build up her business there and become wealthy, she wouldn't need to fear Dongchi anymore. The other party had invited her to Juxian Pavilion, a place frequented by wealthy people, so it wasn't too dangerous. Thinking this, Yun Chu accepted the invitation. With Mo Han there, nothing would happen.

Yun Chu accepted the invitation and entered the room. There, a man was sitting at the table with his back to the door.

Yun Chu walked in and smiled, "I presume you are Boss Shi?"

When the person turned around, Yun Chu was shocked by their face.

Dongfang Yunche?! What's he doing here?