369 The Death of Master Liu

Seeing Qiao Muchen's somewhat unhappy expression, Zhao Zhitong pursed her lips, finally steeled her heart, and asked, "What about those six hundred taels?"

Qiao Muchen was silent.

Zhao Zhitong asked in surprise, "Is—is it still not enough?"

Qiao Muchen said, his face dark, "Is this a problem money can solve?"

Zhao Zhitong felt somewhat troubled. "Then—then how do you want me to take responsibility?"

Qiao Muchen replied, "Naturally, by marrying me. Once this case is closed, I'll come to propose. How about it?"

Zhao Zhitong's eyes widened in shock. "M-marry... you?"

Qiao Muchen put on a wronged expression again. "Sigh! If you don't want to take responsibility, then forget it. Alas, I, an innocent man, have now lost my purity. I might as well find a monastery and become a monk..."

Zhao Zhitong stammered, "...I—I didn't say I wouldn't take responsibility. You... you, don't be like this."

Hearing this, Qiao Muchen instantly dropped his wronged expression and said excitedly, "Great! Then I'll tell my mother right now to have her go to your family to propose first. Let's get the marriage engagement settled!"

"Huh?"

Zhao Zhitong was still reeling. Didn't he say he'd propose after the case was over? How did it suddenly become an immediate proposal?

Zhao Zhitong was dumbfounded. "Th-this... so quickly?"

Qiao Muchen nodded. Absolutely. He'd finally managed to coax his wife-to-be into his grasp this time. He had to strike while the iron was hot to prevent any long delays from causing new problems.

Thus, Zhao Zhitong was bamboozled by Qiao Muchen into agreeing to the engagement.

Upon receiving the letter from her son, Mother Qiao, though surprised, hurriedly prepared the engagement gifts as instructed, hired a matchmaker, chose an auspicious day, and went to the Zhao Family to propose.

Both families had watched each other's children grow up and knew each other very well. They had always considered a marital union. However, concerned about the children's own wishes, the parents hadn't interfered excessively.

Now that the two young people seemed to be in agreement, they were naturally overjoyed.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zhitong was still regretting her drunken 'indiscretion' and swore she'd never dare to drink again. This time, getting drunk had resulted in bringing a man home; who knew what might happen next time?

While all this 'fuss and feathers' was happening with Zhao Zhitong, Xiao Ge's romance, however, was not progressing smoothly.

Master Liu also found out about Liu Baixue and Zhao Yu's relationship. He invited Zhao Yu to the Liu Clan, where the two had a cordial conversation.

Master Liu was very satisfied with Zhao Yu and immediately asked if he was willing to marry his daughter.

Zhao Yu was flabbergasted. He hadn't expected to pass his future father-in-law's test so quickly. He immediately affirmed his willingness to marry Liu Baixue and swore to cherish her for the rest of his life.

Master Liu naturally nodded with satisfaction, immediately approving their marriage, and Zhao Yu was overjoyed.

But just then, Liu Baixue suddenly rushed in and flatly refused, "I don't agree!"

Zhao Yu instantly froze on the spot.

Master Liu's face showed anger. "What did you say?"

Liu Baixue's eyes were red-rimmed—it was unclear if from sorrow or anger—but she said firmly, "I said, I disagree! I won't marry!"

Master Liu's brows knitted slightly. "Say that to me again!"

Liu Baixue insisted, "Even if I say it a hundred times, it will be the same: I won't marry! Don't think I don't know what you're planning. You're just fond of Young Master Zhao's fame as Nan Dao!

"By having me marry Zhao Yu, not only can you get close to Nan Dao's successor, but you can also get rid of me, this dying burden, right?!

"Don't even think about it! I will not agree."

Liu Baixue angrily exposed her father's 'schemes' one by one, then turned and ran out.

At this moment, Zhao Yu stood frozen, his mind filled with Liu Baixue's 'unwillingness.'

Master Liu took a few heavy breaths, sighed helplessly, and said to Zhao Yu, "Young Master Zhao, don't take it to heart. Baixue is just being a bit willful. I'll talk to her again."

Zhao Yu said nothing. After bidding Master Liu farewell, he hurriedly chased after Liu Baixue.

"Baixue, don't run..."

Zhao Yu caught up with Liu Baixue and grabbed her arm.

Liu Baixue turned and said angrily, "Zhao Yu, are you a fool? My father knows I'm dying! He just wants to dump me, this burden, onto you! Don't you understand?"

Zhao Yu retorted, "Baixue, you are not a burden!"

Liu Baixue's eyes were red-rimmed. How could someone like her deserve such a good man? She shouldn't have. She shouldn't have started this in the first place. It was all her fault, her greed for that little bit of warmth. The more impossible it seemed, the more she couldn't help but wonder how wonderful it would be if it were possible.

Zhao Yu grabbed Liu Baixue's shoulders, his gaze firmly locked on her eyes. "Baixue, from the second time I met you, I made up my mind. I choose only you to spend my life with. So, you have never been a burden, do you understand?"

Zhao Yu's eyes were sincere, fervent, and as they looked at each other, it felt as if they could drown in that gaze.

For a second, Liu Baixue almost nodded in agreement, but then she abruptly remembered her condition and ultimately held back.

Liu Baixue asked, "Zhao Yu, do you believe in a next life? If there is one, I will definitely find you."

Zhao Yu held onto Liu Baixue, not letting her leave. "Baixue, if you say you're not ready, I can wait for you. No matter how long, I can wait. But I don't understand. We clearly have a chance in this life, so why must we pin our hopes on the next? Isn't it better to cherish the present?"

Liu Baixue fought back tears and said softly, "Zhao Yu, I'm sorry."

She was being selfish. She was afraid—afraid they couldn't be together forever, afraid she would die and leave Zhao Yu alone in this world. If it was destined to be incomplete, she would rather it never began.

Then, she turned and ran away,

leaving Zhao Yu standing there alone, dejected and sorrowful.

As an outsider, Zhao Zhitong could only worry helplessly about their relationship.

Too much interference from others might prove counterproductive.

But not long after this incident, trouble struck Lingjian Villa. Master Liu was killed. It was said that he was searching for medicine for his daughter and accidentally fell off a cliff to his death.

Although there was no evidence, Liu Baixue was convinced that her father's death was no simple fall from a cliff; it had to be related to her deeply calculating Uncle!

Although she harbored many grievances against her father, it was all because she didn't feel his love. Her defiance towards him was merely an attempt to gain his attention.

The moment she learned that her father had gone to Lingshan specifically to find medicine for her, she knew that perhaps her father did love her.

Therefore, Master Liu's death was also a significant blow to Liu Baixue.

When Zhao Zhitong received the news and rushed over, she saw Liu Baixue sobbing over Master Liu's corpse.

Nearby, Liu Yian was consoling his sister.

"Little Xue," Liu Yian comforted, "don't be too sad. Father would be heartbroken too if he knew.

"We all misunderstood Father. He does care about us; he just doesn't know how to express it. When he agreed to your marriage with Zhao Yu, it wasn't to get rid of you, his burden, nor was he [just] fond of [him as] the Nan Dao's successor. Father just thinks that Zhao Yu is a trustworthy person and wants you to be happy. That's why he agreed to let you marry Zhao Yu. You misunderstood him."