CHAPTER 1746: CHAPTER 1746: DIRECT WALL SLAM

Bai Ruozhu thought about her own rowdy and noisy boys, and then compared them to her elder brother’s quiet and adorable daughter, Chenxi. Her resolve to have two daughters only grew stronger—just seeing them would brighten her mood.

So every time her sons weren’t around, she’d gently stroke her belly and say, "Good babies, make sure you are both girls."

However, she started to struggle again, wondering whether she should find out the gender of the babies beforehand.

During her indecisive days, the wedding date of Guizhi and Wa San was approaching.

But just three days before the wedding, Guizhi suddenly came running in tears.

"Ruozhu, Wa San is gone!"

She was holding a letter, her face already wet with tears.

Bai Ruozhu immediately became nervous when she heard this, "Does he still not understand? Did he leave any message?"

"He left a letter saying he felt inadequate, having nothing to his name, fearing he couldn’t provide me a stable life. He said he was going north to do horse trading." Guizhi cried even harder, "He didn’t even say he’d come back after earning money to marry me. He thinks he doesn’t match me now and doesn’t want to burden me. But without him, how could I have survived until now?"

Bai Ruozhu quickly hugged Guizhi, gently patting her back to soothe her. "He’s stuck in a difficult mindset, but I’ll send someone to find him. Maybe we’ll locate him soon."

Guizhi quickly nodded, "Good, good, thank you."

Bai Ruozhu promptly called Jianqi, instructed him to arrange people to find Wa San, and Jianqi immediately responded, deploying several dark guards to search for him.

Inside the room, Bai Ruozhu took out a handkerchief to wipe Guizhi’s tears. Having grown up together with Guizhi, she had stayed by Ruozhu’s side the most and helped her the most during the time she first transmigrated, besides her family.

She regarded Guizhi as her own sister, and seeing her so heartbroken made her equally sad inside, silently cursing Wa San a dozen times.

After crying for a while, Guizhi suddenly lifted her head and said, "Don’t let our parents know yet; I fear they’ll get angry at Wa San."

Her voice was notably softer as she said this.

Bai Ruozhu felt even more tender-hearted, wondering why Guizhi’s love path was so challenging?

"Alright, we won’t tell them." Bai Ruozhu could only agree.

Guizhi started crying again, speaking through her tears, "He used all his wealth to protect me out of the Capital. Along the way, he always made sure I had the first bite whenever there was anything to eat. If it ever got cold, he’d take off his outer garment for me. Once, we were surrounded by mountain bandits. The leader said he was a real man and wouldn’t harm him if he surrendered. But he would rather die with me."

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help shedding tears. Wa San really had been nothing but good to Guizhi.

"But now that we’re finally back, he’s hiding away himself. What am I supposed to do?" Guizhi spoke with a sudden persistent gleam in her eyes, "Even if we can’t find him, the wedding won’t be canceled. Even if I have to marry a rooster, I’ll still marry him. Whether he comes back or not, I’ll wait for him my whole life!"

Bai Ruozhu was so shocked she forgot to cry. She hurriedly took Guizhi’s hand and said, "Guizhi, don’t act impulsively. Let’s find Wa San and talk things through with him first. He’s just tangled up in his heart, and besides..."

She hesitated, feeling speaking these words might be a bit unkind, but couldn’t avoid saying them for her dear sister.

"I’ve noticed Wa San’s personality has changed dramatically, even becoming somewhat gloomy. As a doctor, I know of many such cases where severe injuries caused a shift in personality, turning someone irritable or easily angered, prone to overthinking. I’m not saying Wa San will necessarily change, but his previous state wasn’t promising." Bai Ruozhu cautiously explained.

"Marriage is a lifetime commitment. I don’t want you to marry Wa San out of guilt and gratitude, nor do I want Wa San to feel that you’re marrying him out of obligation. There will always be a knot in his heart, and with time, it will only worsen."

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath, "Guizhi, we’ve been through so much together. I wish for you to have a happy and fulfilling life, so I hope you can calm down and consider this matter carefully."

"I know his personality has changed, but he just hasn’t figured things out yet—it will surely improve over time. Ruozhu, I’ve thought it through too; I won’t give up on him. It’s only with him that I can find happiness!" Guizhi said tearfully.

"Alright then, since you’ve made up your mind, go ahead and do it. If we find him, you should have a good talk with him and let him know you love him truly, not because you feel you owe him." Bai Ruozhu reminded, "Perhaps you are always showing that without him, you wouldn’t be where you are today, or that you feel you owe him, which may lead him to misinterpret your intentions as guilt."

Bai Ruozhu thought of Xu Huilin at this time and continued, "Like my sworn brother, his family hurt over his injury and showed him excessive concern, constantly asking about his condition. Yet, it made him feel worse, as though he were receiving pity. He’d rather be treated like an ordinary person, like his family did in the past, even if it meant indifferent treatment."

Listening to this, Guizhi looked stunned. "I—I understand now. Wa San has his pride and doesn’t want pity—I’ve made a mistake."

Bai Ruozhu patted her head, "You’re blinded by love because you’re too nervous about him."

Guizhi blushed, "Ruozhu, perhaps you don’t understand, but I genuinely like Wa San. Before, I thought he was much older and hesitated, but now just thinking of him makes me feel warm. Not seeing him makes me uneasy all over. Knowing he’s gone makes my heart feel suffocated, like I can’t breathe."

Bai Ruozhu quietly felt at ease. Isn’t this what it means to love someone? She had always worried that gratitude wasn’t true affection, but fortunately, Guizhi truly loved Wa San.

Just then, Jianqi reported from outside, "Master, we’ve found Wa San. He bought a horse at the West Market and was about to leave when our people intercepted him. Only he refuses to come back—perhaps the second young lady should go see him herself."

Guizhi already rushed out the door, "Where is he now? Take me to see him!"

Bai Ruozhu nodded at Jianqi, "I’ll accompany you on this trip."

But Guizhi stopped in her tracks, suddenly raising her hands, twisting her hair into a woman’s bun, then said to Bai Ruozhu, "Alright, let’s go."

Bai Ruozhu sniffed, admitting she was moved by Guizhi and Wa San, especially Guizhi’s determination. He wouldn’t turn back, so she would self-braid and wait for him, even if it meant never marrying.

The two boarded a horse carriage and headed toward the West Market. Guizhi sat restless inside, wishing she could sprout wings and fly away.

"He’s been intercepted and can’t escape. Why are you in such a rush? Better think about what to say when you meet." Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but chuckle.

Guizhi felt even more nervous, "What if he won’t listen to me? Help me come up with something!"

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes twinkled, "Then don’t say anything—just pin him against the wall and kiss him!"