"Yes, Brother Xue, Feihuang... greets you!" Nan Feihuang lowered his head deliberately, as if he dared not look at Xue Qinghe, his voice hesitant.
Xue Qinghe was a little confused. Why did Nan Feihuang have such an expression? Could he have noticed something?
But her disguise was flawless. Even a Titled Douluo couldn't detect her true identity. The ability of one of the six soul bones from the Angel God Suit was not that simple.
"Feihuang, what's wrong with you?"
"I..." Nan Feihuang paused and glanced at Xue Ke beside him. Xue Qinghe immediately understood—there was something he wanted to say but didn't dare to in front of Xue Ke.
So, he took the initiative, "Ke'er, I just came out of seclusion, and I'm a little hungry. Can you help me make a bowl of chicken soup? I don't want the imperial chef's food. During my retreat, what I missed most was your cooking."
How could Xue Ke refuse such a small request from her elder brother? She smiled sweetly and said, "Okay, just wait a moment, Brother. I'll prepare it. Brother Feihuang, don't leave either—stay and have dinner with us."
With that, she bowed to the two of them and left.
After Xue Ke was gone, Xue Qinghe asked again, "Feihuang, what is so difficult to say? Now that Ke'er isn't here, you can speak freely."
"Yes, Brother Xue, Feihuang wants to apologize to you. I'm sorry, I have failed your kindness." Nan Feihuang's voice was low, filled with guilt, as if he had done something unforgivable.
Xue Qinghe grew more surprised. "Failed me? What do you mean? Don't be hasty, sit down and explain."
The two of them sat in the pavilion in the garden, and Nan Feihuang, his expression heavy, said, "Brother Xue, last year when I was in the Tiandou Empire, you and Sister Xue Ke took extra care of me. I know Sister Xue Ke sees me as her fiancé, and you recognize me as your future brother-in-law.
"I promised I would try my best to love Sister Xue Ke and take care of her for life, but something happened during the New Year, and now... I'm not sure I can keep that promise."
"What happened? Do you have someone else in your heart?" Xue Qinghe seemed to have guessed the reason for his guilt.
Nan Feihuang nodded. "Yes. While I was back home, my good friend Dian Wei and my sister, Nan Feiling, both broke through to level 30 Soul Master. So, I went with my family to the Star Dou Great Forest to help them hunt for soul rings. That's when I met her. Brother Xue, do you remember? I once told you the type of woman I admire most—long golden hair, holy and beautiful, with three pairs of wings like an angel. The moment I saw her, I couldn't look away."
"The first time we met was in a tavern. I secretly observed her multiple times, but I didn't expect her to notice and directly call me out on it."
"My father invited them to travel together, but she refused. I was desperate, fearing she would see me as reckless and grow to dislike me. After we parted ways, I thought we would never meet again. But fate had other plans. An accident brought us together once more, and we endured life-and-death trials, supporting each other."
"During those days alone with her, for the first time, I felt my heart race. There are many kinds of love in the world, but I felt something special for her. As long as my heart beats, it beats for her. When we separated, I finally understood what it means to be obsessed with someone. I tried to remind myself that I was engaged, that I should let go of my longing. But longing is like aged wine—the longer it's kept in my heart, the stronger and more intoxicating it becomes."
Nan Feihuang spoke with deep emotion, though inwardly, he was cursing.
"Gou Huo, that bastard, actually learned such corny lines just to chase after Ye Lingling. If my mental strength weren't so strong, I'd cringe saying all this."
While he was putting on a heartfelt performance, Xue Qinghe, on the other hand, was not pretending—she was truly shaken. Wasn't this confession about her?
At that moment, she clenched the edge of her robe tightly, almost tearing the luxurious silk.
Among lies, nine parts truth and one part falsehood make for the most convincing deception.
Yet, everything Nan Feihuang said was true. He had often sneaked glances at her and had been caught every time. They had indeed faced death together. Without him, she might have died multiple times.
Given all that, how could she doubt him?
"So, you've come today to apologize because you fell in love with another woman?" Xue Qinghe tried to maintain a calm facade despite her inner turmoil.
"Yes, most of my heart is already occupied by her. I don't know if I can ever make room for anyone else. I don't want to deceive Princess Xue Ke for life, so I chose to be honest. If you decide to annul my engagement to the princess, I will have no regrets. I will take full responsibility, and if the Tiandou Empire requires compensation, my Gulei Kingdom will not refuse." Nan Feihuang vowed solemnly.
Xue Qinghe admired his sense of responsibility.
But this fool didn't realize—the woman he was apologizing to and the woman he was confessing to were the same person.
"Feihuang, do you want to break off the engagement so you can openly pursue that woman?" Xue Qinghe asked.
Nan Feihuang shook his head. "No. She has an extraordinary background. I know I am far beneath her in strength, status, and talent. I fear I will never be worthy of her. What I told you today, Brother Xue, I will keep to myself. I will never let anyone else know—especially not her. I wouldn't dare make her angry or have her see me as frivolous."
She already knew, and she wasn't angry, Xue Qinghe thought.
Surprisingly, she didn't dislike his confession.
"Since you don't intend to pursue her, why do you want to cancel your engagement with my sister? A marriage between two nations is not a trivial matter. Listen, Nan Feihuang, this engagement is set in stone. No one can break it on a whim. Whether you come to love my sister or not in the future is irrelevant. As long as you treat her well, I will forgive what you've said today." Xue Qinghe stated firmly.
In truth, she didn't want to say this, but for the sake of the grand plan and maintaining her persona, she had no choice.
Moreover, her affection for Xue Ke was real. To Xue Ye, Xue Ke was merely a political pawn. If she didn't marry Nan Feihuang, she would eventually be given to someone else—perhaps someone far worse.
Rather than allowing that, letting things continue with Nan Feihuang was the better option. Given his sense of responsibility, even if he never loved Xue Ke, he would at least treat her well.
"Yes, Feihuang obeys the order!" Nan Feihuang bowed.
His face bore the helplessness of fate, the sorrow of being unable to be with his beloved, and the determination to fulfill his duty.
Just then, Xue Ke returned, carrying two bowls of chicken soup. "Brother, Brother Feihuang, the soup is ready. Come and drink."
Xue Qinghe patted Nan Feihuang's shoulder and whispered, "Feihuang, mask your expression. Don't let Ke'er notice anything. She would be heartbroken."
"I understand, Brother Xue." Nan Feihuang forced a smile and took the bowl. "Thank you, Sister Xue Ke."
"Hey, why is there so little chicken in my chicken soup, and there are chicken neck and chicken butts, but there are chicken legs and chicken wings in Brother Xue's bowl?"
"Hehe, because... I'm biased!" Xue Ke stuck out her tongue, "Brother Feihuang is home for the New Year, Uncle Nan and Aunt Lan will make sure you eat delicacies every day, but my eldest brother has been in seclusion. It's so hard, of course he needs more nourishment, come here, brother, drink soup!"
Xue Ke handed another bowl of soup to Xue Qinghe, who took it with a smile, "Thank you, little sister."
Xue Qinghe's love for Xue Ke has always been sincere, and it comes from this. Even though she already has a lover, the most important thing in Xue Ke's heart is still the eldest brother who brought her up.