EBE Chapter 162 The Dream of Honesty
Chapter 162 The Dream of Honesty
Upon hearing this, He Mingning felt as if five thunderbolts had exploded in her head simultaneously, leaving her completely stunned. For a moment, she had no idea how to deal with this sudden situation and could only stand there blankly, bewildered and at a loss.
In her panic, she began waving her hands frantically, trying to express her anxiety and unease. She mumbled incoherently, "No...no! I absolutely didn't lie to you! Everything I said is true."
Meanwhile, Fan Junyu quietly watched the little girl before him, who was as flustered as a startled fawn. A slight, involuntary smile crept onto his lips, a warm and radiant smile as beautiful as spring blossoms. Then, in a voice so gentle it seemed to drip with water, he slowly said, "So, Ningning, could you tell me about these things in detail?"
At this moment, Fan Junyu looked exactly like an adorable little puppy. He stared at He Mingning with his big, watery eyes, looking so pitiful that it was impossible to resist.
Under his gaze, He Mingning's heart melted instantly, as if bathed in the warm spring sun. At that moment, she no longer cared about any pretense of modesty or shyness; she only wanted to pour out all her emotions without reservation. Without hesitation, she raised her hands and gently embraced Fan Junyu, her movements as light and tender as a gentle breeze. She nodded softly to him and replied in an extremely soft and loving tone, "Alright, since you want to hear it, I'll tell you everything now."
After saying these words, she reached out and gently placed her hand on his broad back, her movements as tender as a mother comforting a young child. The moment her hand touched his back, a slight warmth spread through their clothes to their skin.
Fan Junyu was completely stunned. He never expected that this timid and cowardly girl, who always seemed to need protection, would have such courage and take the initiative to open her arms and hug him. This sudden action left him somewhat at a loss, but soon, an indescribable joy welled up in his heart.
When Fan Junyu finally recovered from his surprise, he tightened his arms without hesitation, holding the person in his arms tightly. Their bodies were pressed together perfectly, without a single gap. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and everything around them blurred, leaving only their figures embracing each other.
Fan Junyu closed his eyes, quietly savoring the warmth and softness of the other's body. The feeling was like basking in the warm spring sun, making him feel incredibly comfortable. At the same time, a sweet sensation spread through his heart, like having just tasted a spoonful of the finest honey, sweetening his very soul.
Where the little girl couldn't see, Fan Junyu's face blossomed into a radiant smile, as bright as spring flowers in full bloom. That smile contained boundless happiness and contentment, as if she possessed the whole world.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and it felt like an eternity before He Mingning finally awoke as if from a deep nightmare. As she gradually came to her senses and realized what she had just done, a burning sensation instantly surged up her cheeks, as if she were being scorched by a raging fire. Her originally fair face turned bright red in an instant, and her shyness was palpable, leaving her completely at a loss for what to do.
However, despite her shyness and unease, He Mingning knew this matter couldn't be left unresolved; she had to thoroughly understand the reasons behind it. So, she silently pondered: If she mustered the courage to tell him everything about that bizarre dream and everything she experienced in it, how would he react? What if what she described actually reflected his true feelings? Would he really abandon her without hesitation, just as depicted in the dream? But what if it was all just her own imagination, and he had never actually treated her that way? Besides, if they couldn't get married and continued to delay, the final outcome probably wouldn't change at all. Not only that, but it would also endlessly waste his youth!
Thinking of this, He Mingning couldn't help but sigh deeply, thinking to herself, "Oh well! No matter what the final outcome is, I should bravely stand up and make things clear. If he truly has someone else in his heart, then we can simply dissolve the engagement and give him the freedom he deserves. After all, it's better to cut the Gordian knot than to be immersed in worry day and night like this!" Fan Junyu looked at the shy young girl in front of him, as delicate as a budding flower, wondering what could be causing her to hesitate and sigh so deeply. However, this time, he showed unprecedented patience. He didn't urge her to tell the truth as usual, but stood silently to the side, gazing at her with his deep and gentle eyes, as if trying to see through her eyes to the secret hidden deep in her heart.
Time ticked by, and the air around them seemed to freeze. Finally, after a long silence, He Mingning, as if she had made up her mind, suddenly shifted slightly, then, like a startled rabbit, broke free from Fan Junyu's warm and broad embrace. Immediately afterwards, she reached out her delicate, white hand and tightly grasped Fan Junyu's large hand, pulling him to a chair nearby. The two faced each other and continued their interrupted conversation.
He Mingning lowered her head slightly, reached out her other hand, and carefully picked up the teacup on the table. With her slender fingers, she gently pinched the lid and slowly lifted it. Instantly, a delicate and elegant aroma of tea wafted out, refreshing the senses. Then, she slightly parted her cherry-red, alluring lips, and softly sipped the tea like a nightingale's song. She put down the cup, raised her head, and looked at Fan Junyu with gentle, watery eyes, whispering, "Actually… I'm not really against marrying you, it's just that I've always had this inexplicable sense of unease in my heart that I can't shake off."
Upon hearing this, Fan Junyu's heart clenched involuntarily, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand. He quickly stepped forward and anxiously asked, "Fear? Ningning, what are you afraid of? Is there something I did wrong? Did my words or actions inadvertently frighten you? Or has something else happened that has made you so uneasy?"
Faced with Fan Junyu's barrage of questions, which came like cannonballs, He Mingning slightly raised her eyes and gently shook her head. Her movements were as light as a feather falling, and she murmured as if a mosquito were buzzing, "No, it's not because of you. I just... had a very strange dream a few days ago."
Fan Junyu's face was full of doubt and worry as he continued to press, "A dream? What kind of dream could it be that scared you like this?" He Mingning paused slightly, seemingly gathering her thoughts, before slowly recounting the dream in detail. However, she chose to conceal the fact that she had cried her heart out and looked utterly pathetic in the dream, not mentioning a word about it. After finishing, He Mingning seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden, letting out a long sigh of relief. Then she lowered her head and said in a voice so soft that only she could hear, "If you really meet someone you like, you must tell me. I will definitely not pester you, and I will definitely give you your freedom." After saying this, He Mingning felt as if a heavy stone had finally been lifted from her heart, but at the same time, an indescribable sense of loss quietly welled up inside her.
Upon hearing He Mingning's words, Fan Junyu felt as if a boulder had been thrown into his heart, instantly creating a turbulent sea of emotions. His thoughts surged like a tidal wave, one thought constantly swirling in his mind—he had to find out what He Mingning's true feelings for him were! Did her heart truly belong to him? Because if she had no love for him whatsoever, wouldn't this engagement become a shackle binding them both? Thinking of this, Fan Junyu decided to take a risk and test He Mingning's true intentions. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "If I were to truly choose to break off this engagement with you because of another woman, I wonder how you would feel? Would you feel heartbroken and unable to accept it?"
Upon hearing this, He Mingning's delicate body trembled slightly, her heart seemingly plunging into an abyss. She never imagined Fan Junyu would say such a thing. Did he already have someone he loved? This sudden question caught her off guard, but she quickly suppressed her surging emotions and pondered silently. After a moment, He Mingning raised her head, her gaze firmly meeting Fan Junyu's, and softly replied, "If that's the case, I will naturally respect your choice." Although her heart was already shattered into a thousand pieces, the pain almost unbearable, she still tried her best to maintain a calm and composed facade, just to protect that last shred of pitiful dignity.
He Mingning paused for a moment, as if time had frozen. After a while, she slowly continued, "So, do you already have someone you like?" As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly lowered her head like a startled fawn, her long eyelashes obscuring her beautiful eyes, making it impossible for anyone to see the emotions hidden within.
However, despite her best efforts to conceal her true feelings, her slightly trembling body and the pale face revealed by her tightly biting lower lip spoke volumes about the immense pain and sorrow she was enduring. She believed her disguise was perfect and flawless, imperceptible to everyone, but little did she know that Fan Junyu, who had been silently watching her, had already seen through every subtle change in her expression and the myriad complex emotions in her eyes.
At this moment, Fan Junyu couldn't help but ponder. Looking at the seemingly delicate yet strong woman before him, he wondered if He Mingning might also harbor special feelings for him. However, he wasn't sure if these feelings were real, or if it was merely wishful thinking on his part. Regardless, to ascertain the truth, he decided to press further: "So, Ningning, is there someone you admire and love?"
The moment He Mingning heard these words, her heart pounded wildly, as if it were about to leap out of her throat. She silently murmured to herself, "Of course there is! That person is you!" But how could she possibly say such a thing to him in person? Even if she mustered the courage to confess her feelings, how would he perceive her? Would he reciprocate her affection because of her devotion? Or would he find her frivolous and shameless, and feel disgusted? Or would he simply ignore her and continue pursuing his own happiness? Perhaps he would even be troubled by her confession and deliberately distance himself from her… These possibilities swirled and intertwined in her mind, making her increasingly hesitant and unable to answer.
He Mingning's heart felt as if a giant rock had been thrown into a still lake, stirring up a thousand waves, so turbulent that they almost drowned her entirely. Countless chaotic thoughts and words swarmed through her mind like a group of headless flies, eagerly trying to spill from her tongue. However, whenever she tried to speak, the words seemed to be tightly gripped by an invisible force, leaving her unable to begin, unsure of where to start to recount this long-hidden secret.
She was acutely aware that this might be the last precious opportunity she had to be alone with this person. She was unwilling to silently watch time slip away, turning away with a heart full of regret. Even knowing it was impossible to fully confess to him the deepest, most genuine, and tender emotion buried within her heart—that the person she had longed for and loved was actually him; even fearing his pity or his merciless ridicule, she still hoped to at least tell him, in an honest and sincere way, that a special person had already taken up residence in her heart.
So, He Mingning took a deep breath of the cool air, as if trying to calm her wildly beating heart. Then, summoning all her courage, she slowly raised her head. At that moment, her beautiful eyes shone like the brightest stars in the night sky, containing an unprecedented seriousness and unwavering determination.
Just as Fan Junyu was losing patience and convinced that He Mingning wouldn't respond, He Mingning suddenly parted her cherry-red lips and said in a soft yet exceptionally clear voice, "That's right, in my heart... there is indeed someone I like." As she spoke, her gaze remained firmly fixed on Fan Junyu's face, without the slightest evasion or avoidance, as if she wanted to convey the deepest emotions of her heart to him through this direct and ardent gaze.