Chapter 97: Is It Because of Me?

Looking at Ye Xuan, Si Nuosang appeared to trust him completely, never doubting him in the slightest. Had he not deliberately complicated matters himself, she might never have discovered the truth.

“Alright, I’ll tell you. I don’t want to deceive you, even if knowing the truth will make you drive me away. I think I have to say it. After that, do whatever you want. After all, I never approached you with pure intentions, so no matter what happens, I deserve it.”

“Go ahead and speak!”

Si Nuosang sensed something was off in his words, but still wanted to know.

“I’m from Ming Lou, and so is Qin Li. We approached you only to get closer to Xuanyuan Juesi. There’s a legend about them. Ming Lou received orders to obtain a certain stone from Xuanyuan Juesi’s subordinates. After Qin Li failed, the head of the Lou ordered me to come near you.”

Hearing this, Si Nuosang was taken aback. She hadn’t expected it to be something like this. There was an urge not to hear more.

“So you mean you’ve been deceiving me all along?”

Si Nuosang wasn’t angry, just looked at Ye Xuan with helplessness.

“Yes, I was deceiving you. I only wanted to fulfill my mission of getting close to you. But later, I saw something different in you. I wanted to change; I wanted to protect you. So I told the Lou’s master that I intended to leave Ming Lou.”

“Leave Ming Lou? Is it that easy to leave such an organization?”

“Not easy, but I want to be straightforward. Knowing you changed me a lot. So I reevaluated everything. At first, leaving Ming Lou was impossible, but later, the Lou’s master set a condition.”

“What condition?”

Si Nuosang looked at him, her eyes full of questions. Honestly, she wasn’t angry. She just thought it was better that he turned back.

“To find the gem of Xuanyuan Juesi.”

“I’ve never heard of any gem from Xuanyuan Juesi worth such a frenzy. There are plenty of common gems in his estate.”

Si Nuosang couldn’t understand if the gem they sought was one of those.

“I don’t know either. It’s just a legend. Whoever possesses that gem can change everything.”

“A legend? Just for a legend?”

“Maybe to you and me it’s just a legend, but to the Lou’s master of Ming Lou and the leader of Qianmen, that legend is reality.”

If it were just a baseless legend, they wouldn’t make such a big fuss. So this legend must be seven or eight parts confirmed.

“Is the Qianmen incident real?”

She meant the murder case.

“That incident should be real.”

“You and Qin Li have been acting together all along?”

Si Nuosang asked calmly, showing no anger, but also not caring much about him.

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize to me. You were executing orders from the start.”

Si Nuosang looked at Ye Xuan like a stranger.

“I’m truly sorry, but I’ve told the Lou’s master. I’ve decided to leave, even if it costs me my life.”

Staring into Si Nuosang’s eyes, he suddenly felt afraid. He really shouldn’t have said it. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have come to this. Her eyes no longer held the trust and brilliance they once had. Now she was as calm as still water, but beneath the surface, her disappointment was faintly revealed.

“That’s good. Your injury was caused by the Lou’s master, right?”

“Yes, I angered him.”

He answered truthfully, no longer daring to deceive even a little.

“Ye Xuan, I will help you. But first, does Xuanyuan Juesi really have that gem?”

Si Nuosang’s reaction surprised Ye Xuan; she was willing to help him.

“I don’t know, but I’ll handle it myself. I don’t want to trouble you.”

“Trouble me? Ye Xuan, what are you saying? Although you deceived me, you have done a lot for me. Now that you want to turn back, that’s a good thing. Honestly, I do feel some disappointment, but more than that, I’m happy for you. Ye Xuan, leave Ming Lou. Start over.”

Si Nuosang really seemed like a good friend, offering advice sincerely.

“You don’t hate me? You don’t resent me?”

“Why would I hate you? Why would I resent you?”

Looking at Ye Xuan, it turned out he was so cautious because he feared she would hate him.

“I truly feel sorry for deceiving you.”

“It’s not really deception. Stop thinking that way. You telling me this actually proves you’re not a bad person. That’s enough for me. As for the rest, I don’t want to pursue it. We both need a fresh start and forget everything. How about that?”

Si Nuosang’s heart ached deeply. If Ye Xuan hadn’t held her, she might have really harmed Xuanyuan Juesi. If that had happened, she would have regretted it endlessly. Fortunately, Ye Xuan prevented the mistake. Otherwise, she definitely would never have forgiven him. Without a doubt, fortunately, fortunately, Ye Xuan corrected his own mistake.

“Are we still friends?”

“Of course, we’re friends.”

Si Nuosang stepped in front of him, looking at Ye Xuan. She didn’t know his past, but he must have gone through much.

“Thank you.”

Ye Xuan suddenly embraced her, deeply grateful that she could still consider him a friend. He had thought that once he spoke, there would be no turning back. But Si Nuosang’s forgiveness surprised him.

Her perspective was truly different. Yet, the more so, the more guilty he felt.

“Let’s go. Don’t worry about whether that stone can change everything. Let’s leave here and live somewhere else, okay?”

Ye Xuan held her as he spoke. Si Nuosang was somewhat moved, but thinking of Ming Lou, she knew they wouldn’t let him go easily. Perhaps this matter was complicated.

“We can’t leave. If Ming Lou isn’t dealt with, you won’t have a peaceful life.”

“Ming Lou is terrifying, but I can return to the Ye Manor. As long as I take over Ye Manor, Ming Lou won’t dare touch me. And I can protect you.”

For Si Nuosang, he was willing to return to the place he hated most.

“Ye Xuan, didn’t you hate going back? Didn’t you hate it there? You said you’d rather die than return. Why have you changed your mind now?”

“Because I want to become stronger. I want to protect those I care about.”

“Is it for me?”

“No, I should return anyway. No matter how great the disagreements with my father are, I’m still his only son.”

He didn’t want to burden Si Nuosang, so he said this deliberately. The truth was, he would never forgive that man.