AST 2349 - Widows Receive The Most Attention (2/2)

“Then I’ll depend on you. I have nowhere to stay ever since I arrived here,” Qing Shui said with all seriousness.

“I’ll find you a hotel. What about the one we just went to?” Nalan Qing said.

“I want to live with my friend, not in a hotel,” Qing Shui laughed and said.

Nalan Qing knew that the “friend” he was referring to was her, but were they really friends? They had previously only met each other twice, and barely exchanged much. She stared at Qing Shui, perplexed by his way of thinking.

Qing Shui felt somewhat uncomfortable with her staring. He continued, “Your place should be big. I also don’t have any other intentions. I mean, your place shouldn’t only have you, right?”

“I live there alone, and the place isn’t big,” Nalan Qing responded.

Qing Shui was stunned for a moment, before saying, “I’m not taking a no for an answer, so please let me see it for myself.”

He wanted to help this woman while scouting the strength of the Water Nation in the meantime.

This time Nalan Qing did not oppose. The distance to her place was not far so it was not long before they reached it. Her place really wasn’t big. It was a small manor, but the location was good. It was quiet and exquisite, with only one yard, but all the needed facilities were all there—a small pond with some greenery and two pavilions.

“This place is not bad. It even has two pavilions. Just let me stay in one, how about that? It’ll be a waste if one is vacant anyway,” Qing Shui talked while surveyed the surroundings.

Nalan Qing had never heard such an excuse before. This was too shameless…

“Do you know that there would be many rumors if widows are around?” Nalan Qing said while looking straight at him.

“I’m open-minded. I’m not afraid that my reputation would be tarnished,” Qing Shui said seriously.

Nalan Qing wordlessly stared at Qing Shui for a while, before speaking, “I don't want to be the object of gossip.”

Qing Shui smiled lightly, “Sister Qing, no matter what you do, you will be the center of people’s gossip. You can’t live a lonesome life just because of this.”

Nalan Qing looked at this man who had already addressed her fondly many times barely after a day. She rudely retorted, “Why can’t I live a lonesome life?”

“...Do you really want to live like this?” Qing Shui looked at her quizzically.

“What is it with that look?” Nalan Qing felt a bit panicked after being looked at like that.

“I will analyze it step by step for you. You are a woman, even though you can be said to be a maiden now. Anyway, humans have the natural ‘seven emotions and six desires’, such as kinship. You have your parents and all, but as time passes, they will start to age. Your siblings will each go their own ways and start their own families, having generations of grandchildren after them. But as for you, you will be all alone and will start to feel lonely…”

Nalan Qing felt a bit embarrassed after Qing Shui’s explanation.

“You are still young. Around us, couples are getting married, having children, and when they grow old and are unhappy, they can just divorce. If something happens to one half of the couple, it would also be a divorce. It’s a common occurrence.”

“If I leave the Beiyuan Family, then the Nalan Clan and the Beiyuan’s family relations will be...”

“A country or a family’s bond cannot be decided by a woman’s decisions. Diplomatic ties can be useful, but they hold no true power,” Qing Shui said simply.

“I know that, but I won’t be able to face my father…”

“Am I not here to help you? Tell me how the situation is now, or you can bring me to see your father. I can help you either way,” Qing Shui said earnestly.

Nalan Qing gazed at Qing Shui and asked, “You’re not joking?”

“I wouldn’t make light of such matters.”

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