Chapter 266: Sorry, I’ve been slow all these years
"Senior." She murmured, her lips quivering, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Her appearance made Yuan Chengmo a bit unaccustomed, he raised his head, looking at the conflicted and guilty Qin Muni, already guessing from her expression what she was about to say.
He habitually reached out his hand, affectionately patting Qin Muni’s head, not hiding his fondness for her in his expression, then encouraged, "Just say what you have to, don’t hesitate."
Qin Muni stared at his familiar face, the face that always smiled at her so gently, finally speaking, "Senior, I’m sorry, I’ve been so oblivious for so many years."
The words of rejection, in the end, were still difficult to utter.
She was worried that after rejecting him, they would never be as close as they were before, and also worried that if she didn’t reject him, it would cause him even more harm.
The night wind was cooler than the day, as it blew past, the flowers in the flower bed gently swayed, the air seemed to be filled with a faint floral fragrance.
Just as Qin Muni was wavering on whether to cruelly speak out, Yuan Chengmo spoke first.
"It’s okay, these years have been quite happy." He smiled lightly, his laughter holding a gentle softness, "I’ve never confessed to you, so don’t give me any reply."
In his subtle words, he was letting Qin Muni know he already understood her thoughts, no need to be conflicted about how to respond to him.
The gentle moonlight shone unreservedly on his tall and handsome figure, his lips curved into a serene and elegant smile, yet his surroundings unconsciously emanated a trace of heart-wrenching sadness.
Qin Muni tilted her head up to look at the close friend she had known for many years, a crack of heartache appearing in her moist and bright eyes.
She couldn’t give him the love he wanted, but she genuinely wanted to give him, this man who loved and cared for her like a brother, her most sincere blessings.
Staring at Yuan Chengmo, the heartache in her eyes gradually replaced by warmth, she opened her mouth, solemnly and sincerely saying one word at a time, "Senior, you must be happy! Very happy!"
She thought, her senior, such an amazing man, deserved to meet a good woman who would treasure him, deserved to have the happiness everyone yearns for, deserved to be treated kindly by life.
Yuan Chengmo once again gently patted Qin Muni’s head, even though he tried hard to hide it, the watery sadness deep in his eyes still betrayed his feelings.
He thought...this was probably the only chance in his lifetime to express his true feelings.
So this time, he didn’t flinch or hesitate like usual.
He said, "Munni, I truly like you, and I truly waited for you. But I think, maybe in this lifetime, I’ll never be able to wait for you, so I’m sorry, I won’t wait anymore. I add my blessings to the blessings you gave me and send them all to you, please be happy, happier than me, happier than anyone else in the world, that’s my wish."
His voice was as warm as the brightest ray of sunshine in winter, shining on Qin Muni’s heart, giving her an indescribable urge to cry.
The clear eyes of hers filled with a thin layer of mist, her hands hanging by her sides clasped tightly into fists, trying hard to control the emotions in her heart that were about to collapse.
"Senior, I’m sorry."
"Silly girl, feelings are all about mutual willingness. Not liking is simply not liking, no need to apologize. Can we still be good friends in the future?"
Qin Muni knew he was subtly referring to her intentional alienation after she once rejected Zhao Ziji’s confession.