280. I Won't Give Up

‘When you return, I will no longer remember you!’

These words kept echoing in Liu Erlong's mind, causing her to stagger, almost collapsing.

“No, I don’t want this!”

“…”

Ning Rongrong blinked, completely confused by the situation. Didn’t he just say he didn’t know her?

Even Ling Yuan Douluo was puzzled. What could have happened between His Highness and this woman? It couldn’t be possible, right?!

She had been present for most of the Holy Son’s life since he turned nine. How could she have missed something like this happening?

There was no way it happened before she became his protector.

If any woman had dared to be so bold, she'd be long gone, considering the Pope and Miss Xue weren’t easy to deal with.

But regardless of how much Ling Yuan thought about it, the current situation didn't look as if nothing had happened between His Highness and this woman.

If anyone else saw this, they might indeed think the Holy Son had abandoned her.

“If there’s a chance, I’ll come to find you,” Qian Renjue said in a gentler tone.

However, Liu Erlong seemed not to hear him at all, only shaking her head, crying and pleading.

“Ah Jue, please, don’t do this. I’ll do anything you want.”

Qian Renjue remained silent. He had learned some things from the system, but the system was always cryptic. Maybe learning more from Liu Erlong would be helpful, but he couldn’t trust her completely either.

He sighed inwardly, softly saying, “Take care of yourself. Maybe… I’ll remember.”

With that, he turned to Lingyuan and instructed, “Sister Ling Yuan, please take her back to Blue Tyrant Academy.”

“But Your Highness, your safety…” Ling Yuan hesitated.

Releasing her wrist, Qian Renjue reassured her, “Don’t worry. This is the territory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. I’m not weak.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

Though still puzzled, Ling Yuan was always obedient. She walked toward Liu Erlong.

Meanwhile, Qian Renjue, holding Ning Rongrong, turned and began walking away.

“No need, I can walk on my own,” Liu Erlong said, staggering backward, her face wet with tears, her messy black hair disheveled. Her eyes, full of pain, stayed fixed on Qian Renjue’s retreating back.

Ling Yuan, with a frown and a professional tone, said, “Holy Son has ordered it. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”

“Holy Son?!”

Liu Erlong's eyes flickered with confusion, quickly followed by realization. Her face twisted into a bitter smile, though tears still flowed uncontrollably.

“Spirit Hall’s Holy Son… Ha, how foolish of me, really. I’m so stupid… Ha, ha…”

Her body went limp, collapsing to the ground, her hands bracing against the cold stone floor as her tears fell.

Now, she finally understood why she hadn’t been able to find Qian Renjue for so long.

At the time she woke from her dream, Qian Renjue was only a few years old!

In that dream, the one who killed Qian Renjue was none other than the ones who gave him life!

It all made sense now!

Ah Jue had always known he would forget the dream that spanned over ten years, which was why he had warned her never to become an enemy of Spirit Hall!

“Ah Jue, wait for me… I’ll find you. I won’t give up…”

Liu Erlong muttered through sobs.

Ling Yuan, standing nearby, was growing more and more confused.

What was going on between this woman and His Highness?

———

After encountering Liu Erlong, Qian Renjue lost all interest in visiting the inner area of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Instead, he walked around the estate, holding Ning Rongrong, lost in thought.

“Holy Son, what’s going on?” Ning Rongrong cautiously asked.

Even though she loved to play, she could tell that Qian Renjue wasn’t in the best mood.

“Nothing, just a long dream I’ve forgotten,” Qian Renjue replied, shaking his head. He wasn’t even sure how long the dream had lasted.

“A dream?” Ning Rongrong blinked, unable to comprehend.

“Yeah, just a dream…” Qian Renjue forced a smile and took the wine cup from her, downing it in one gulp.

Ning Rongrong, snapping back to her senses, carefully wiped the corner of his mouth with her sleeve. Qian Renjue, slightly annoyed, turned his head away and handed her the cup.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind signaled Ling Yuan Douluo’s return at Qian Renjue’s side.

“Sister Ling Yuan, you’re back already?”

Qian Renjue asked, surprised.

“She refused to let me escort her,” Ling Yuan replied helplessly.

“Alright,” Qian Renjue said, not pressing the issue. After all, Liu Erlong was strong in her own right.

“Did she say anything?” he asked.

“She did!” Ling Yuan nodded, somewhat surprised. “She told me to pass along a message. She said she won’t give up, no matter what, and that she’ll come find you and help you remember.”

“She also said she’s been practicing diligently, sleeping and eating well, living each day properly.”

Ling Yuan then stared at Qian Renjue with a strange expression, as if she was starting to believe he had wronged this woman.

These words sounded like something His Highness would have said back in the day.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Qian Renjue asked, feeling awkward.

“Just curious, Your Highness,” Lingyuan admitted.

“Me too! I’m curious, too!” Ning Rongrong chimed in, her eyes wide with interest.

“I’m curious as well,” Qian Renjue muttered, rolling his eyes at the two women.

Ignoring their confused looks, he instructed Lingyuan, “Sister Ling Yuan, don’t report this incident.”

“Uh…”

Ling Yuan looked slightly embarrassed, as though caught in the act of planning to report it, and nodded.

“I’ll keep it a secret.”

“Good.”

Qian Renjue was mainly concerned about what Bibi Dong might do if she found out.

“And you, Rongrong…”

Before he could finish, Ning Rongrong interrupted with a cheeky smile.

“I know! I’ll keep it secret for Holy Son, I won’t gossip!”

“You’re so well-behaved?”

Qian Renjue was taken aback by her sudden obedience.

“Of course! But Rongrong has a small condition~”

Qian Renjue’s face darkened. Of course, it wouldn’t be so simple.

“What condition?”

“Can Holy Son come visit Rongrong often?”

Without hesitation, Qian Renjue shook his head. “No.”

“Ah, Holy Son! You wouldn’t want your secrets getting out, would you?”

“Ning Rongrong! Where did you learn all this nonsense?!”

“…”

———

The estate’s banquet was gradually winding down. After her son-in-law’s departure, Ye Qinshui didn’t stay much longer and left early.

Seeing a familiar figure struggling ahead of her, Ye Qinshui quickly caught up.

“Dean Liu, what happened to you?”