WU QI'S DECISION 1

Now that Hu Nayin's status had been demoted to concubine, then her title had also changed.

"Ah..." For a moment Wu Qi was speechless since Xue Mei's accusation was one hundred percent correct. But he was soon alert. "Don't talk nonsense! Lady Hu belongs to His Highness! She is not just any woman who can be easily reached! And she... also has a baby... Ah! Nonsense, Xue Mei! Don't talk such rubbish! You just stir misunderstanding, you know, it may trap me in danger!"

"Be honest with yourself, Wu Qi. You do love Lady Hu. Your love is sincere, and deep. You are not the type who is attracted to women just because of lust. You are a man who glorifies love, and can sacrifice yourself just for love. And if you are determined to love a woman, you will love that woman to the end. In fact, you are very similar to Lady Hu. Once you love someone, you will love her totally without caring for anything else. Perhaps, it is also what attracts you to love Lady Hu. If Lady Hu repayed your feelings, things would be very beautiful. But such a pity, Lady Hu's feeling is not for you." Xue Mei sighed. She looked up at a giant cloud which was covering the sun.

Wu Qi curved a sad smile. "I adore with Lady Hu, and it is a sincere feeling. My feeling will not change in spite of everything. Lady Hu is His Highness' spouse, of course, I must not disturb her with my existence. I must maintain my loyalty to His Highness, and mustn't betray him with my selfishness. Let me look at her from afar, while continuing to wish the best for her, forever."

The breezy wind that came the next second seemed to give a heart-rending calmness.

"You are deceiving yourself," Xue Mei chuckled. "You are just pretending to be tough. But you're still lonely and missing."

Wu Qi was annoyed. He turned away, back to his original activity of looking at the river in the bottom of the ravine. "I'm not deceiving myself. I really wish Lady Hu for the best. That is the meaning of true affection. Every man becomes selfish when it comes to love, he thinks, if he loves a woman then he must possess her and will stop at nothing to get the woman he loves. But I'm not the same. So, I don't feel as lonely and missing as you mean."

"But of course you need a life partner, right? I mean, you want to be unmarried all your life?"

Wu Qi fell silent. The breeze dominated the silence again.

"Actually... I'm the same as you... you know... I'm also looking for a life partner..."

Xue Mei stuttered. She had almost arrived at her intention - the reason why she could also be on Mount Taihang with Wu Qi this time.

"Well... I know that you're also single, just like me. I know that there are lots of men and women who are not married, and choose to be single forever."

"But... I am actually... longing for a companion for my life..."

If Wu Qi still did not understand Xue Mei's true intentions, this time he had totally understood. He turned around, looked at Xue Mei who slightly lowered her head with a flushed face.

"You mean, you... eeehhh?..."

"We've been together for so long, Wu Qi," Xue Mei tried to be courageous. "We often get together while taking medicine, or carrying out His Highness' orders, or doing something else. We have known more than a dozen years. And, now we are in need of the same thing. Therefore... uhm..." She coughed. "Here's what I mean. You can't always yearn for someone who won't turn to you, right? You also need your own happiness. Well, so do I. So... so..."

"What if we try to get on the same boat?" Wu Qi immediately spoke up her true intention. Since they were in the era of Ming Dynasty 600 years ago, it was taboo for women to express their love to men first, so naturally Xue Mei found it difficylt to express her intention. But Wu Qi immediately understood, so he decided to speak it up.

"R... right! But... if only you don't mind it!..."

Wu Qi gave Xue Mei a sharp look. Xue Mei continued. "Well... I know, I'm only an ordinary masseuse, the ability I have is also in ordinary level, can't be compared to Lady Hu. I don't have any talent to be proud of. But... you can be sure, that I will put all my efforts to become a good and responsible wife, I won't disappoint you for eternity."

A moment later, Wu Qi turned away again.

"Please give me a chance to think about it." He answered briefly, and afterward, a long silence followed.

***

Hu Nayin had started to participate in the research project. Even though the physicians always advised her to rest, she did not heed them. She felt very energetic. But it was true. Maybe it was what people called the power of mindset. If we feel sick and have no enthusiasm to do something, even though our bodies are vigorous, we still end up becoming sick people. However, if we have high optimism and strong enthusiasm, even though we are exhausted and unwell, we will still have good energy and it makes us not lose to healthy people. Hu Nayin was very eager to help Zhu Su to realize his very noble dream nonetheless.

"You know, recently I often watch Xue Mei is together with Wu Qi."

Squatting down and watching the dandelion waving in the wind, Hu Nayin promptly got curious about that talk. She raised her head. Di Na and Lin was chatting not far from her.

Di Na responded to Lin's words indifferently. "Isn't that how it always is?"

"It's different. They are too close. Xue Mei greets Wu Qi too often recently, and Wu Qi also helps Xue Mei too many times. Even when the others are gathering together, they often separate themselves, and then they hang out in a quiet spot."

"Hey! You wanna say... they both have a special relationship?"

"It should be! Wu Qi and Xue Mei are both single. They must yearn for a life partner, right?"

What a coincidence, Wu Qi and Xue Mei were passing by. Di Na and Lin quickly closed their mouths (even though their eyes were both blinking meaningfully each other). On the other hand, Wu Qi and Xue Mei heard their names to be mentioned, and immediately moved closer to them.