Chapter 048: I Can Explain

Originally, the annulment letter was intended only for Xuan Yu, sent by the Ou family. However, with Ou Xinlai’s scene, the matter was brought entirely into the open. Ou Xinlai's stance was crystal clear—she no longer cared for Xuan Ye and wanted to break off the engagement. Xuan Ye was known as the most distinguished young man in Xuanwu, and if he hesitated or delayed on this matter, wouldn’t he become the laughingstock of all?

“Step harder,” Ou Xinlai instructed languidly from her reclined chair.

Ou Jinjue, tormented by her demands, felt exasperated. In his memory, it was rare to see Ou Xinlai standing upright. Given the chance, she would always find a place to lie down.

“Fine, just jump then.” Seeing Ou Jinjue’s attitude, Ou Xinlai decided to make things more interesting.

“Jump… jump?!” Ou Jinjue glared at her. Previously, she had somehow acquired a heap of raw jade, which she made him polish smooth, one by one. He had thought she simply wanted to play with them. Who would have guessed that, using some method unknown to him, she strung the jade beads together into tightly woven mats, resembling exquisite carpets.

Then, she actually laid those priceless jade mats on the floor and began her torment. She made people walk barefoot across them, pressing down with force, and now she wanted him to jump on them. Just imagining it, Ou Jinjue knew it would be excruciatingly painful!

“Won’t jump?” Ou Xinlai arched her delicate brows slightly, like a willow leaf swaying gently in the breeze—softly stretching, then returning to tranquility.

“Ah, young people these days, all wanting to rise above others, yet unable to bear the slightest hardship.” She looked at Ou Jinjue with utter disdain, then turned away, ignoring him.

Ou Jinjue nearly spat blood. Ever since he had begged her to teach him that secret technique, Ou Xinlai had done nothing but exploit him. In all the time he had followed her, she had never taught him a single thing—now she even criticized his inability to endure pain?

Wasn’t it just a few jumps on a jade mat? How bad could it be?

Gritting his teeth, Ou Jinjue really did jump, landing heavily on the jade mat with a loud thud.

Instantly, his usually dark skin turned pale as snow. That single jump twisted his insides with pain.

“Again.” Ou Xinlai, reclining as if she felt no pain herself, ignored his suffering and demanded he continue. Clenching his jaw, Ou Jinjue didn’t know what benefit there could be to this torture besides pain, but since she ordered it, he was bizarrely willing to comply.

He must be out of his mind, he thought. Otherwise, why would he go along with her madness?

With each command from Ou Xinlai, he continued jumping on the jade mat, his face growing paler and beads of cold sweat dripping down. By the tenth jump, his stomach churned violently. Then came Ou Xinlai’s cool, indifferent voice, “If you’re going to vomit, do it outside. Don’t stink up the place.”

Without a second thought, barefoot, Ou Jinjue rushed outside, grabbed onto a large stone, and vomited violently.

He didn’t recall eating that much, yet somehow, there seemed to be an endless amount of things in his body to throw up.

Old Xuan, who was quite interested in Ou Xinlai, watched Ou Jinjue’s condition and his eyes brightened. This little girl truly had some skill. He glanced at Ye Zifei, as if to ask, “Did you know how capable that girl was, is that why you helped her?”

Ye Zifei returned a half-smile, prompting Old Xuan to roll his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ve lived long enough and I’m no gossiping woman. I won’t go around spreading rumors.”

“Hey, your rival in love is here.” Old Xuan patted Ye Zifei’s shoulder, having already spotted a glimpse of pale moon-colored robes. These past days, Xuan Ye had been desperately searching for Ou Xinlai, eager to explain the engagement.

“Rival? At this point, barely.” Ye Zifei shook his head. Whether Ou Xinlai cared or not, if Xuan Ye were truly outstanding and deeply in love with her, perhaps he could barely qualify as a rival. Unfortunately, Xuan Ye was not someone who loved Ou Xinlai to his core, and Ou Xinlai now felt nothing at all for him. A rival? Xuan Ye didn’t deserve the title.

“You really have feelings for that girl?” Old Xuan was astonished. He had always thought Ye Zifei was even more detached from worldly matters than himself. After all, Old Xuan had lived nearly two centuries, had countless women but never lost his heart. Ye Zifei, on the other hand, found even the company of women troublesome—how could he possibly be moved by one?

Unbelievable.

“She’s not yours,” Ye Zifei replied coolly.

Having just finished vomiting, Ou Jinjue looked up and saw a swish of pale robes pass before his eyes. Sensing trouble, he returned to the room to find not only Ou Xinlai, but also a stunningly handsome man.

“I can explain.” After searching high and low, Xuan Ye finally found Ou Xinlai. Seeing that slender white figure, all his prior anxiety and restlessness vanished. Ou Xinlai lay quietly there, as though she would never leave, as though she would always exist within his gaze. Such a feeling brought him inexplicable peace and joy.

Ou Xinlai turned over, casting an impatient glance at him. “No explanation needed. I just want the engagement annulled.” The engagement with Xuan Ye had already exhausted her patience. Though her temper wasn’t bad and she had been willing to let him profit from this arrangement, she was no sacrificial lamb.

To be calculated and treated as a dumb, fat sheep was an experience she found utterly distasteful. Her patience with Xuan Ye was now entirely spent.