After the frail beauty went to the countryside, she went crazy with scientific research.

Chapter 281, Episode 0296: This world is not simply black and white.
“Xi Bao, why can people be so mean? I didn’t do anything, but they still blame me for everything. I was clearly far away, but they fell down and you blame me.”

The poor child's helpless little eyes made Lin Yuexi feel genuinely sorry for him.

She took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears while saying, "This world is not black and white. Rumors are called rumors because they are not true, but rather weapons in the hands of some malicious people."

"When you go into battle and the enemy attacks you with weapons, you know how to dodge and how to fight back, right? If you get injured, you also know how to get treatment, right?"

"Rumors are the same; they are also weapons in the hands of the enemy. We should treat them in the same way, avoid them, fight back against them, and if we get hurt, we should heal them."

This theory...

hiss~
Absolutely.

Not only was Ren Yan, the person involved, completely bewildered, but the other three people present also looked deeply shocked.

But thinking about it carefully, hey, it actually makes a lot of sense.

That's right, those rumors are like knives to those involved.

What else could this be but a weapon?
It's just a different form.

Since someone has already taken up arms against you, and you can't immediately take their weapon away, your first instinct should be to dodge, and then try to retaliate. That's the right thing to do.

This analogy, which makes it sound like a life-or-death situation, is a bit... well, it wouldn't even qualify as a casualty on the battlefield.

Ren Yan's head was buzzing from the shock. All her sadness vanished in an instant, and all that remained in her mind was the thought of fighting back, fighting back, fighting back!
Yes, why didn't she ever think of fighting back?
Ren Yan, a strong and tough woman, has always been known for her resilience. She has always won people over with her fists.

Suddenly, the question Xi Bao had once asked her echoed in her mind: What's wrong with her?
"As for Xu Zhichuan, I don't know how deep your understanding is, nor do I want to know if he has any difficulties. I only know that I haven't seen you become better because of this understanding. On the contrary, you have changed from being as strong as a pine tree and as optimistic as a sunflower in the sun to being timid and hesitant in everything you do. You can no longer see any magnanimity in your body."

Ren Yan avoided Lin Yuexi's gaze, which seemed to see right into her heart. Feeling so inferior, she even had the urge to find a place to shrink away.

Lin Yuexi refused again, grabbing her arms with both hands to prevent her from moving.

"Isn't it a good thing that you've discovered Xu Zhichuan isn't a good match? If you had actually gotten married, and only found out after the wedding that she wasn't the person you expected, it would have been too late to regret it then."

Zhang Hongying couldn't hold back any longer. This was her former job. She strode out and plopped down on the bunk opposite her.

“Ren Yan, what my sweetheart said is right. Zhichuan is a good kid in every way, but to be honest, he’s not a good husband. He’s polite to everyone and soft-hearted to everyone. He may seem like a good person to everyone, but if you become his partner, it will be very painful for you.”

If Zhang Hongying had said this to Ren Yan in the past, Ren Yan might not only have failed to understand but also have thought that Zhang Hongying had misunderstood Xu Zhichuan.

Xu Zhichuan wasn't bad to Ren Yan; on the contrary, he was very good to her. He always gave her the best things first, treated her gently, and never lost his temper.

He was also excellent in every way. He was not only a native of Beijing, but also the future heir of a large family. He was also handsome and had a gentle and refined temperament.

Which girl wouldn't be interested in a guy like that?
Especially for someone like Ren Yan, whose parents sacrificed their lives and endured considerable hardship, and who, despite having an adoptive father who was also a soldier, didn't have much time to spend with her after being adopted, was left with a gluttonous child in many people's eyes. Xu Zhichuan's kindness was like a curse to Ren Yan, an inescapable spell.

Ren Yan never doubted Xu Zhichuan's feelings for her. Even after learning that Xu Zhichuan had secretly married the daughter of the second brigade leader, she was heartbroken but still defended Xu Zhichuan in her heart, thinking that he must have been coerced and that it was not his own choice.

Just last night, Ren Yan met with Xu Zhichuan. Although they didn't say much, seeing Xu Zhichuan looking so dejected, Ren Yan felt a pain in her heart that felt like it was being stabbed with a knife.

Ren Yan has her own pride. Even though she is no longer as confident and cheerful as before due to the influence of her surroundings, she still has her own principles.

She would never be anyone's mistress, regardless of whether she still loved him or not, or whether the other person still loved her.

So no matter how much it hurt her heart, she finally decided to leave with Lin Yuexi. This was perhaps the only chance in her life to leave. A voice in her heart kept telling her that if she gave up, she would definitely regret it!

However, after experiencing those rumors and gossip, although Xu Zhichuan still occupies a very important place in Ren Yan's heart, it's as if the fog has been cleared away. Unconsciously, Xu Zhichuan is no longer as perfect in her heart as he used to be.

Perhaps that's why she was able to make up her mind to leave.

Last night, in the quiet of the night, she also wondered whether Xu Zhichuan's feelings for her were real or fake. She also thought that her relationship had come too easily and that she had lost it too easily.

She was just confused and couldn't figure things out. All she wanted was to leave, to get away from that person and those rumors. Time would eventually heal all wounds.

Aunt Zhang's words were like a sharp knife cleaving through the fog, revealing to her where the problem lay.

Yes, Aunt Zhang is right, absolutely right. Xu Zhichuan is a very good person, not just to her, but to everyone who has come into contact with him.

Back then, Liu Bingyan forced him to the point where he could barely afford to eat. She was too naive at the time, and when she heard it was because of his mother, she felt sorry for him.

But upon closer reflection, if it weren't for his indulgence, how could Liu Bingyan, a woman, have driven a man to such a state?
It's not like we found any dirt on him, or we robbed him outright; he took it all himself, okay?!
No wonder Xi Bao's expression was so strange when she told Xi Bao that she was dating Xu Zhichuan; the look in Xi Bao's eyes was not one of blessing but of pity.

"Aunt Zhang..."

Ren Yan's lips trembled and tears began to fall again, this time not from sadness, but from anger.

I'm angry at my own stupidity.

Zhang Hongying thought she had touched a nerve and upset her, so she quickly hugged her and patted her back to comfort her. However, instead of trying to coax her with lies, she continued to expose the truth.

"It's not that I'm being mean, but Zhichuan grew up by Old Master Xu's side. Generally, the resources of a family are mainly in the hands of the old master. Since Zhichuan was raised by the old master, naturally the old master devoted the most energy to him."

“Going to the countryside is just a training exercise, an opportunity to gain experience, and a temporary way to avoid trouble. He will definitely return to the capital in the future. He can't decide who his wife will be. The Liu family isn't qualified, and the Xu family is even less likely to agree to your secret marriage with him.”

Zhang Hongying said this not to deliberately belittle Ren Yan, but to tell her a fact: "Xu Zhichuan couldn't possibly not know this."