Although she had a strong and wealthy personal bodyguard, she couldn't be protected when he wasn't around, such as today when Ren Yun was bothering her - thinking of this, a flash of inspiration suddenly appeared in her mind!

  She suddenly raised her eyes and looked at Cheng Yuan, lightly smiling: "Today, Gongzi and I were talking under the corridor, did you see that?"

  Cheng Yuan lowered his eyes and stroked his beard, "Let Master Ren have a heart-to-heart talk with him, it's enough to move people."

  Xie Wan pulled up the corners of her mouth and looked forward.

  Since he saw it, Qian Zhuang saw it, naturally there are also people who have seen it.

  If Ren Yu took another step forward, her reputation would be ruined in his hands. Fortunately, he was just a bit reckless and not intentional. Otherwise, if the matter were to be exploited by someone with ulterior motives, it would not only be unacceptable for the Ren family to accept her as their daughter-in-law, but Xie Qigong would also use her loss of virtue as an excuse to shut up his uncle and aunt, and interfere in her marriage.

  She stared at Wei Qian there, not wanting to be stared at by Ren Yu. Ren Yu was flustered and lost his composure, and they were stared at by other people again.

  It seems that there are more and more people in this mansion who have their eyes on her.

  Xie Wan did not see Ren Yu for the next two days, and she herself did not go out much either.

  Xie Lang walked in with a gloomy face and said, "Zhan Yan doesn't know what's going on either. He's been restless for the past two days. Yesterday, I caught him drinking alone in his room, and today he suddenly says he wants to go home. Is it because Qiqi has been bothering him?"

  Xie Wan looked at him for a moment and then lowered her head to continue writing.

  Xie Lang said: "He's just too softhearted. This won't do, I have to advise him!" Saying that, he walked out the door again on his own.

  In Bixiangyuan, Xie Yun was also persuading Ren Yu.

  "You've only been here for two or three months, and your studies are just starting to get on track. Everyone is getting along well with each other, so why do you suddenly want to leave? If it were because your family came to pick you up, that would be one thing. But Uncle Ren is extremely in favor of you staying, and Aunt Ren often sends people to remind you to focus on your studies here. I really don't know what's driving you to act this way."

  Thirteen-year-old Xie Yun had been in the capital for two months and had become more worldly-wise, speaking with a few more hints of maturity.

  Ren Youyan smiled calmly, "You don't have to persuade me either. Although your family is good, it's not the place where I belong after all. Where I came from, I should go back there."

  "What are you talking about?" Xie Yun stood up, walked in front of him and bowed down: "What do you mean by 'where did I come from and where am I going'? You mustn't learn those negative ideas from the monks! You weren't like this before, what's wrong with you these past two days?"

  His lips were bitter and astringent, gradually becoming more intense. He was about to turn his face away to avoid him when the little servant outside reported that Second Young Master had arrived. His body shook involuntarily again, and his gaze also followed towards the door. When he saw Xie Cang come in alone, with no one behind him, the fierce flames in his eyes gradually extinguished.

  Xie Yun saw his change and became even more puzzled.

  Xie Lang hastily walked over and said: "Zhan Yan, are you really leaving?"

  Xie Yun hastily said: "Second brother quickly persuade him, I'm all dried up from talking!"

  Xie Qi stood outside the gate of Bi Xiang Yuan under a cluster of green bamboo, until Xie Yun and Xie Lang came out one after another, before he entered.

  Ren You was lost in thought under the corridor, and even when Xie Qi walked in, he didn't notice. He stood under the painted corridor wearing a bamboo-green Taoist robe, like a bamboo painting. Xie Qi couldn't remember how many times she had silently looked up to him in her impression, only remembering that he had been in her memory since she had an impression. But the person who made him lose his mind now was not her.

  "Brother Jun."

  She cleared her throat and forced herself to call out loudly.

  Ren Yu returned to his senses. Looking at her under the railing, he nodded slightly and turned back into the house.

  Her heart sank a little more. She gritted her teeth and followed him in. He sat on the chair behind his desk, his expression so despondent that it made one's heart ache.

  Her emotions were also complicated. On the one hand, she was happy that Xie Wan was indifferent to him. On the other hand, she cared more about his feelings towards her. Xie Wan was still unable to let go of her even if he treated her like this, but he seemed oblivious to her deep affections for him. How could such a difference make one feel balanced?

  "Brother Jun, why are you leaving?" She asked, sitting across from him.

  She knew he was unhappy after being rejected by Xie Wan, so she had been very obedient for the past two days. But she never thought that he would actually want to return to the Ren Mansion! How could she let him go back? If he went back, where else could she wait for another chance to be with him like this? She was more anxious than anyone to keep him from leaving!

  Ren Yun didn't say anything and turned around to pick up two books on the table.

  It's clear that he didn't want to bother with her. Xie Qi felt a bit stifled, and thinking back to what he had said to Xie Wan on that day, those words that were like thorns stuck in her heart, his suppressed tone couldn't be maintained anymore. She stood up, her face tense, saying: "What's so good about Wan? She's the daughter of a widow, destined to be discriminated against! Why are you treating her like this?"

  "Shut up!"

  Ren Yuanteng suddenly stood up, the two books in his hands slapping loudly on the desk, his face pale, but he didn't say anything else. He quickly walked towards the door, as if he couldn't bear to stay with her for another moment.

  However, as he walked to the doorstep, he suddenly stopped and turned around to look at her, saying: "She may be bad in every way, but I think she's better than you! At least she would never speak ill of others behind their backs, nor would she be as jealous and petty-minded as you are! In fact, you're not even a real lady, but you're more uncultivated than any lady I've ever met!"

  Xie Qi's body swayed slightly as he heard the words, his small face turned pale, and his fingers and toes felt numb due to a sudden rush of blood.

  "You say I'm uncultured? You actually say I'm uncultured!"

  She grabbed the book on the table and slammed it at him with all her might, her voice also becoming hysterical.

  He couldn't avoid this blow and was slapped in the face, but he gritted his teeth and went out.

  "Come back!"

  Xie Qi chased him to the door of the house and just saw his clothes disappear at the gate of the courtyard.

  "How dare you say I'm ill-bred! I have a father and mother, she has nothing! She's the one who's really uneducated and uncouth!"

  She was so angry that she rushed out of the courtyard and shouted loudly, but unfortunately, no one responded, not even the servants brought by Ren Yun had long since avoided her.

  "I'll make you give up on her forever!"

  She squeezed out these few words from between her teeth and then she brushed off her sleeves and went out the door.

  Xie Wan didn't leave her room, but she also learned about Xie Lian's return from the people around her. Yu Xue was very curious about her attitude.

  "Although Gongzi is a bit weak-willed, he's still a good person."

  At dinner time, Xie Lang went to visit his fellow student and didn't eat at home. So she served the dishes while probing Xie Wan.

  Although she also knew from Qian Zhuang's mouth what happened between Ren Yun and Xie Wan that day, she always felt that Xie Wan was not such a cold-blooded person. When dealing with Li Ershun and Ning Dabai, although she didn't show mercy either, after all, they had really done something wrong. Ren Yun was indeed impulsive, but he didn't cause her any substantial harm. Besides, he wasn't that kind of person.

  Xie Wan is usually very lenient towards the people around her and doesn't have any particularly strict rules at home, because she herself is a carefree person by nature. As long as they don't give others an opportunity to take advantage of them, that's fine. Even if Xie Wan and Yu Fang do something wrong, she will only reason with them. How could someone like her be so heartless towards Ren Gongzi, who has devoted himself to her?

  At that time, those words made even her, who was just listening to the retelling, feel extremely uncomfortable.

  Her third aunt is so clever, she can't possibly not know.

  Even if it's just to show your attitude, there's no need to speak so harshly.

  Xie Wan bowed her head and drank soup, pretending she hadn't heard.

  Yu Xue saw the situation and could only pluck up her courage to say: "Master Ren knows about the matter, so do the old master and mistress. If he suddenly brings it up, the old master will naturally ask for a reason. If he says something, it won't be good."

  Xie Wan sighed and lifted her head from the bowl of soup.

  Everyone seems to want to know her mind, Cheng Yuan is, Yu Xue also, Xie Liang does not ask because he still doesn't know.

  But what can she say? Ren Yu is already 14 years old, but he's very fragile and when something happens, he'll only negatively escape and won't try to figure it out himself. Can everything in life go smoothly? Just because he likes her, does she have to accept him? If she doesn't accept him, will she have to return home in defeat? Not to mention other things, just this alone makes them incompatible.

  So what attitude can she have towards this?

  She admitted that she had spoken too hastily and heavily, and it was indeed difficult for Ren Yun, who had never experienced setbacks before, to accept. However, she didn't regret it at all. She wasn't unaware of what she was doing. A man who grew up being pampered, when his parents were around, he sought a sense of security from them, and when they weren't around, he sought it from his wife and children, but he wouldn't think about whether or not he should learn how to give people confidence and a sense of security.

  And what is he to Xie Qi?

  But it's not necessary to explain these things to Yuxue. Because she was only sympathizing with the weak out of instinct, and at this moment, in her eyes, Ren Yun is just the person who was "bullied" by Xie Wan, as for whether he did the right thing or acted like a man, they wouldn't care.

  She pushed the bowl out and let Yuxue add some rice.

  Yu Xue saw her sigh and was silent for half a day, but she didn't say another word, and couldn't help but let out a sigh as well.

  Forget it, anyway Ran Jun and she don't have fate, this outsider's concern is also in vain.

  After dinner, Xie Wan boiled a small kettle of tea in the Baoge.

  When the water was about to open, Yufang brought Xie Qi in.

  "What a wonderful moonlight outside, yet you're cooped up in the house brewing tea - isn't that wasting this beautiful night?" Xie Qi smiled as he sat down across from her, taking a stack of three or four small brocade boxes from the maid's hand and whispering mysteriously: "I saw the hibiscus flowers blooming under the Cui Yi Pavilion in the back garden today - why don't we go appreciate the moon while brewing tea? Look, I've even brought some pastries!"

  Xie Wan turned her head to look out the window, and indeed the moonlight was like mercury spilled all over the ground, casting a poetic glow on the entire courtyard, and she couldn't help but smile.

  "However, have you made preparations and gone to invite elder sister yet?"

  Xie Qi smiled and said: "Please. But whether or not I have time to come, that's hard to say." As he spoke, he pointed towards the east direction, then pursed his lips and smiled.

  Xie Wan understood that she was implying that Xie Wei had been spending a lot of time with Wei Xiao lately, and too lazy to bother with her sarcastic tone, smiled and told Yu Xue to prepare.