Chapter 161: Deep Love, No Regrets

Su Yan watched the high-spirited Li Rong on the screen, and unexpectedly, she saw a trace of herself in her.

Although their temperaments were vastly different, they were both living their lives striving toward the goals they desired.

While Yuan Jing was out setting up street stalls, Li Rong also began to move about extensively.

As she resolved evil spirits one after another, she soon gained a small amount of fame in the local area.

However, Yuan Jing knew nothing of this; every day, his mind was occupied only with how to run his business well and earn more money.

The image shook again.

Li Rong mysteriously led Yuan Jing to a certain doorway.

"Brother Yuan, what do you think of this place?"

"It's wonderful, of course. This is the most prosperous street in the entire county. My dream has always been to one day be able to open a shop here, so I wouldn't have to spend every day setting up street stalls anymore."

Yuan Jing looked at the storefront before him, his eyes full of longing.

Li Rong chuckled, "You don't have to wait for 'one day.' Right now, it belongs to you, Brother Yuan!"

A set of shiny keys jingled in her palm, waving before Yuan Jing's eyes.

Yuan Jing froze. "Rong'er, what do you mean by that just now?"

His questioning voice carried a slight tremor.

Li Rong lifted her chin proudly. "I bought this place. It's a gift for you, Brother Yuan."

The moment Yuan Jing took the keys, his breathing grew rapid.

The two walked into the shop together. Yuan Jing was so excited that he instantly began planning how to decorate and arrange the interior.

Li Rong merely watched him with a beaming smile.

After an unknown amount of time, Yuan Jing finally calmed down from his excitement. He walked up to Li Rong, took her hand deeply, and made promises for their future.

"Rong'er, thank you for being so good to me. Without you, I wouldn't have this happiness. In the future, are you willing to walk alongside me? Let us never be parted, forever!"

"Brother Yuan, I am willing."

The two lovers embraced.

It should have been an incredibly sweet scene, yet Su Yan's heart was heavy with complex emotions.

From the beginning until now, Yuan Jing had never once asked what Li Rong did while she was out. Even when she gave him such a valuable shop, he never questioned the source of the money.

She did not doubt that Yuan Jing's feelings for Li Rong at this moment were absolutely sincere, but how much of it was actually love?

In the following scenes, Yuan Jing became even busier, while the situations Li Rong needed to handle became increasingly severe.

No matter what dangers Li Rong experienced outside, she never mentioned them once she returned home.

Instead, it was always Yuan Jing who talked incessantly.

He spoke of his shop, and his business dealings.

And so, spring turned to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

During these two years, both Yuan Jing and Li Rong had grown significantly.

Yuan Jing was no longer the poor boy making a living from street stalls; he had become a small boss in the eyes of many.

Li Rong began to smile less often, until one night, she took the initiative to propose marriage to Yuan Jing.

"Brother Yuan, we have been together for two years. I want to get married."

She was just like that—she never hid anything; if she wanted something, she would say it directly.

Yuan Jing felt a sudden sense of shock. "I want to get married too, but it's too sudden. We should prepare properly."

"There is no need for preparation. We just need to go get our marriage certificates and take a wedding photo." Having received his affirmation, a smile bloomed on Li Rong's face once more.

Yuan Jing affectionately rubbed her hair. "Why the sudden rush?"

"Because I want to go home. When I left, I was acting out of spite against my father. In these two years, I have come to understand many things. Father isn't entirely in the wrong." When Li Rong mentioned home, she seemed like a completely different person.

Desolate, yet longing.

"Then what does that have to do with marriage?" Yuan Jing still didn't quite understand.

"It does. My family is a bit different from others. I can only take you back once we are married."

"Why? Would your father oppose us being together?" Yuan Jing's expression turned serious.

Since it concerned their happiness, he naturally wanted to clarify everything; there could be no room for error.

Li Rong actually hesitated, then nodded under Yuan Jing's gaze.

"Father is indeed very strict in this regard. But you are so excellent, and your business is doing so well. Once we are married, he will accept you."

She was lying. Her family had rules that strictly forbade marrying commoners.

That was why she intended to wait until after marriage to return.

Yuan Jing felt a hint of unease. "Rong'er, you know I can never afford to lose you, but I also don't want you to have conflicts with your family because of me. How about this: this time, you go back by yourself to reunite with your family. Once my business is even better, and I have worked hard enough to ensure your father can find absolutely no fault in me, then we will go back together. Is that okay?"

"No. Brother Yuan, I don't care at all whether you have money or not; I have chosen you for who you are. Even if Father disagrees, I will not leave you!" Li Rong was incredibly firm on this point.

Moreover, no matter how well his business did, her father would never agree.

"But I care. I want our wedding to be under the blessings of your family, not for you to follow me while feeling so wronged. Rong'er, we have walked together for two years. Give me three more years. After three years, I will definitely give you and your family the grandest wedding. If I fail to do so, then let me..."

Li Rong stopped him before he could finish his vow, her eyes reddening slightly.

"Brother Yuan, I believe in you."

A three-year promise, and five years of her best youth—Li Rong had given them all away without hesitation.

Su Yan felt a slight ache in her heart. Even without everything that was happening now, she could have predicted the future of Li Rong and Yuan Jing at this moment.

In the images, Li Rong eventually went back to her home alone, and this departure lasted for three months.

Three months was neither long nor short.

Because the memories belonged to Li Rong, it did not show what Yuan Jing did during these three months.

Li Rong told her father that she was living very well outside and had found a man she truly loved.

Her father, as expected, flew into a rage and locked her up directly.

After three whole months of confinement, she had to exert immense effort to escape with her mother's help.

"Rong'er, don't blame your father. He is doing this for your own good."

"Locking me up is for my own good?" Li Rong roared in anger, even feeling relieved that Yuan Jing had not come back with her. "I am no longer a child. I know what I want, and I have the right to choose my own marriage!"

Her voice was so powerful and resolute.

But her mother was filled with sorrow and unease. "Rong'er, Mama will only ask you one thing. You say he loves you, but does he know your identity? Does he know what it is you do? If he knew, would he still love you like this?"

Li Rong hesitated...

(End of Chapter)