Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Xiao Fang gripped her shoulders, his eyes bloodshot like charcoal burning to its last embers.

"If you nod, I will go to the palace to request the imperial decree right now."

Yun Shuyao was stunned.

"Although I, Xiao Fang, am not exactly a gentleman, I never go back on my word."

His voice was strained, but every word was clear.

"I will marry you, with proper ceremony, in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, and with a red bridal procession stretching for miles."

There will be no concubines or maids in this mansion; I will spend the rest of my life with only you.

Xiao Fang reached out and gently stroked her cheek, with a touch of cautious solemnity.

I know what you're afraid of.

I will not do those despicable things like having multiple wives and concubines or being unfaithful before marriage.

"Please trust me just this once, okay?"

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating his face and transforming his usual roguishness into sincerity.

He was really anxious, so anxious that he threw his most valued "freedom" to the back of his mind, and so anxious that he offered her stability in the most clumsy way.

Yun Shuyao looked at him, her heart feeling like it was being squeezed by something, a dull ache in her chest.

She shook her head, not because she didn't believe it, but because she couldn't.

Why?

His voice suddenly rose, tinged with a sense of grievance that was out of control.

"What that scumbag Gu Jinghuai can give you, what can't I give you?"

You'd rather jump into his fire pit than try with me?

"I will not marry him."

Yun Shuyao interrupted him, and tears finally fell.

"I would rather die than marry him."

Yun Shuyao looked at him and suddenly smiled, but a coldness appeared in her eyes.

"Better to perish than be a broken piece of jade!"

These four words were like a knife, piercing deeply into Xiao Fang's heart.

"Are you crazy?"

He gripped Yun Shuyao's shoulders, his fingertips trembling.

"It's not worth it for him! Shu Yao, listen to me, you can't risk your life! I can help..."

"This isn't risking your life."

Yun Shuyao looked up at him, her eyelashes wet with tears, yet she smiled stubbornly.

"This is my nightmare, a recurring nightmare that has haunted me for so long, and I must end it with my own hands."

The resolute look in her eyes was more chilling than any explanation.

It turns out she had already prepared for the worst.

Xiao Fang looked at her, and suddenly couldn't say a word.

For the first time, he discovered that this girl, who always blushed in front of him and would hide in his arms, had such a stubborn and unyielding spirit.

Xiao Fang slowly reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Yun Shuyao didn't struggle; she even leaned closer to him, inhaling his scent with a hint of longing.

The man's embrace was warm, and with a slightly rapid heartbeat, she could clearly feel his body trembling.

That wasn't fear, it was heartache.

"Will you marry me?"

He whispered in her ear in a hoarse voice, as if pleading.

"I don't need to make a decision now; I can stop tomorrow's wedding."

Looking at Yun Shuyao's reddened eyes, he suddenly understood.

She didn't choose Gu Jinghuai; she chose the most dangerous path, a path that even he couldn't interfere with.

Don't do anything foolish.

Xiao Fang gripped the back of her neck, forcing her to look at him, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.

It's not worth it for him.

If you really don't want to marry him... and you really don't want to marry me either, then let's not get married.

He panicked, his tone becoming somewhat incoherent and hesitant as he backed down.

"If you find the capital city too boring, I'll take you to Jiangnan."

It wasn't an elopement; it was a trip to clear one's head.

"Whatever you want then, even if we never get married, I'll stay by your side."

He raised his hand to wipe away Yun Shuyao's tears. His fingertips were rough and scratchy, but his movements were so gentle that he was afraid of breaking her.

"If you want to follow those rules, then follow them; if you want to break the rules, then break them. I'll cover for you."

I won't force you into the Prince's mansion, nor will I force you to do anything. I only ask that you don't hurt yourself.

Xiao Fang suddenly raised his voice, as if speaking in this way would give him more power.

"You don't need to worry about anything tomorrow, I'll take care of everything for you."

Yun Shuyao shook her head in his arms, her tears falling onto his clothes, burning hot.

"You have your responsibilities, Xiao Fang."

You are the only son of the Xiao family, you can't do this for me...

"I don't care!"

"But I care."

Yun Shuyao gently pushed him away, looked into his eyes, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"I don't want to be a deserter."

The one who should feel ashamed is Gu Jinghuai, and those who forced me into this situation, not me.

Tomorrow, I must personally win this battle, otherwise it will become a permanent demon in my heart.

What are your plans?

Xiao Fang immediately pressed for details, his disappointment replaced by worry.

"Where do you need my help? Even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of ​​fire, I..."

"Need not."

She shook her head, her answer firm and resolute.

"I've arranged everything."

Xiao Fang's heart sank.

It turns out that he was never part of her plan from the beginning.

She wanted to end the nightmare herself, but she chose a path to walk alone.

This feeling of being excluded and powerless was more painful for him than knowing that she was going to marry someone else.

Xiao Fang looked at her for a long time, so long that half the candle had burned out. Finally, he spoke softly.

"it is good."

The man turned and walked towards the window, his steps heavy as if filled with lead.

One step, two steps, three steps... Xiao Fang suddenly stopped, turned around sharply, and rushed back.

He grabbed the back of her neck and lowered his head to kiss her.

The kiss was fierce and urgent, tinged with a desperate sense of plunder.

It's as if I want to etch her breath and her scent into my very bones.

Xiao Fang's teeth ground against her lips, tasting a faint metallic flavor of blood, before abruptly releasing her.

His forehead was pressed against hers, and he was panting as if he had just run a hundred miles.

"I've got it."

Xiao Fang's voice was hoarse, and his eyes were frighteningly red.

"It's never too late to change your mind. I'll be waiting for you outside."

It's always been there...

After saying that, he turned around and climbed out the window, his movements as fast as the wind, without looking back.

Yun Shuyao stood there, touching her aching lips, where his warmth and faint smell of blood still lingered.

Tears finally welled up, and she squatted on the ground, covering her mouth, crying like a lost child.

The wind outside the window rustled the fallen leaves, making a soft, whispering sound, like someone lingering, looking back again and again.

She knew Xiao Fang was outside, like a silent stone statue, guarding his promise.

She had to move forward, even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire.

It wasn't for Gu Jinghuai, it was for herself.

So that one day, I can stand before him clean and without any worries, and tell him:

I want to take another gamble!

The morning light made the roof tiles scorching hot, but Xiao Fang felt a chill all over his body.

He curled up his right leg and sat on the corner of the eaves, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the dragon and phoenix jade pendant in his palm.

That was an antique he found at the ghost market the day before yesterday; the jade was warm and lustrous, and it suited her perfectly.

The window below was pushed open, and the matchmaker was smiling as she styled Yun Shuyao's hair.

The bronze mirror reflected half of her face, with fine powder applied to her cheeks, concealing her usual pallor and adding a touch of radiance that didn't belong to her.

A maid sent by the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion carried in a phoenix crown that looked quite heavy, with pearl tassels that made one dizzy.

Xiao Fang's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his knuckles clenched the jade pendant until they turned white, and deep indentations were left on his fingertips from the edges.

"Miss, these eyebrows are drawn so beautifully, I'm sure Young Master Gu will like them."

The laughter of the maids from the Marquis's mansion drifted up, piercing his ears like needles.

He saw Yun Shuyao tilt her head slightly in front of the bronze mirror, neither smiling nor speaking, but simply letting the maid insert the gold-inlaid phoenix hairpin into her hair bun.

Sunlight fell on the jewels in her hair, shattering into a dazzling light.

Xiao Fang abruptly closed his eyes. He had already found the hairpin left by his mother, but hadn't had time to give it to her yet.

But now, she has a phoenix hairpin that someone else prepared for her.

"It's almost time, it's time to change into your wedding dress."

He heard the soft rustling of fabric coming from below. Xiao Fang stared intently at the window and saw her in her bright red wedding dress.

It felt like something was gripping his chest, the pain making it hard to breathe, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.

The jade pendant snapped in his hand, cutting his palm and drawing blood, but he was oblivious, muttering to himself.

"You promised you wouldn't marry him... You said you wouldn't marry him..."

The voice trembled violently, like a withered branch about to break in the autumn wind.

Yun Shuyao finally raised her head, and the two looked at each other from a distance. She suddenly smiled.

Xiao Fang felt a jolt in his heart and immediately understood.

Her plan is about to begin!