As Gu Xuan tried to take advantage of her, Ye Lingling naturally wasn't about to let him have his way. She immediately pulled her small hand back and scrambled out of his embrace.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded, putting a meter of distance between them and staring him down.
Gu Xuan smiled faintly. "You understand the status of the Nine-Hearted Begonia in the world of Support Type Soul Masters better than anyone. If I give you the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid and your descendants are no longer shackled by that curse, the status of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could be overturned a century from now."
His smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "I am a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Do you really think I can do something that aids an enemy and harms my own home? Even if I were completely seduced by your beauty, how would I explain this to Uncle Ning?"
Ye Lingling was able to follow the logic of the first half, but what on earth was the second half? What did he mean by "seduced by her beauty"? 'So you really do have designs on me, don't you?' she thought. 'The fox has finally shown its tail!'
However, Gu Xuan wasn't wrong. He couldn't act against his clan's interests. If she consumed the orchid and lifted the curse, the Nine-Hearted Begonia could branch out and multiply just like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. It wouldn't just stand on equal footing; it might even surpass them. From a strategic standpoint, this would be like digging a grave for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Even if it didn't destroy them, it would certainly damage their monopoly on the support sector.
"So, do you understand my meaning?" Gu Xuan asked, looking at her intently.
Ye Lingling was incredibly sharp; she instantly grasped the core of the issue.
"So, unless the Ye Family merges into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, you won't give me the orchid, correct?" Her tone was helpless, but she knew it was the hard truth.
Gu Xuan nodded. "Exactly. It might be a difficult demand, but if you want the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, this is the only way. Otherwise, even if I agreed, Uncle Ning never would."
The light in Ye Lingling's eyes dimmed. To get the orchid, they had to merge. Personally, she could agree; she never wanted to experience the pain of being separated from her loved ones by that curse again. But even if she agreed, would her grandmother? Why had the Ye Family lived in seclusion all these years? Wasn't it to stay out of the struggles between great powers and preserve their bloodline? If not for the curse limiting them to only two living heirs at a time, their power would have made them targets for every major faction on the continent.
Sensing her inner conflict, Gu Xuan sighed. "I know your predicament. I don't know exactly what you've suffered to make you crave the end of this curse so badly, but I truly cannot make this decision on my own."
Hearing this, Ye Lingling's heart sank into an abyss. She had seen hope, only to be cast back into despair. She walked over to the lounge chair, curled her legs up, and buried her face against her knees.
Seeing her mood swing so violently in just a few minutes, Gu Xuan felt a pang of genuine sympathy. He sat down beside her and placed a hand on her back—this time, it wasn't an attempt to flirt, but a sincere gesture of comfort.
After a long time, Ye Lingling looked up. Her veil was soaked with tears. Gu Xuan reached out and gently removed it; she didn't pull away. With the veil gone, an exquisite face was revealed, her eyes slightly red and swollen in a way that made one's heart ache.
Gu Xuan sighed. If he had been born into the Ye Family, things might have been different, but as a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, he had to maximize the benefits for his clan. He was forced to play the strategist.
"Lingling, set a time," Gu Xuan whispered in her ear. "I'll go talk to your family. I believe that once they hear news of the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, they will meet with me."
Ye Lingling looked up at him. "You..."
They locked eyes. In her current state, she looked so vulnerable and precious that Gu Xuan almost wanted to steal a kiss. Fortunately, his willpower was firm enough to hold back.
"Sigh, you're just too cute," he teased, unable to resist pinching her cheek. "Since you aren't personally against joining the Clan, I just need to convince your family. And as it happens, I have enough resources in my hand that it might actually work."
Ye Lingling didn't dodge. Though she knew this "scoundrel" likely had improper thoughts about her from the start, she found she couldn't bring herself to hate him. Was it because of how he was treating her now?
She felt a twinge of guilt, however. Her best friend had just left, and here she was, getting involved with Gu Xuan. How could she face Yan-jie in the future?
She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Fine. I'll find Uncle Niu later and ask him to return to the family to tell my grandmother about this."
"Remember to be clear about the requirements," Gu Xuan instructed. "That way, I'll have the initiative. Make sure your tone suggests that whether I give it or not is entirely up to my whim. I need that leverage when your grandmother arrives."
Ye Lingling looked at him strangely. 'You're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and I'm from the Ye Family... is it really okay for you to tell me to plot against my own family like this?'
But she didn't argue. She felt the same way. The shadow the curse had cast over her childhood and her present was too dark; if merging into the Clan was the price to break it, she was willing to pay.
As they finished talking, Gu Xuan pulled her into his arms again. She tried to push him away, but he held her firmly. She glared at him warily, ready to bite him if he went any further.
"I've never been one for hypocrisy," Gu Xuan said bluntly. "I say what's on my mind. I used to have reservations, but given the situation, I don't need them anymore. If the Ye Family merges into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, I will definitely marry you. I wouldn't be at peace if the Nine-Hearted Begonia heirs were no longer part of the family after the curse is broken."
"Whether it's because I like you or because of the Clan's interests, you aren't escaping me in this lifetime."
Ye Lingling's face turned bright red, and her ears began to burn.
"But... what about Yan-jie?" she asked weakly.
If Gu Xuan was taking the lead, she didn't mind being with him. In her family, her grandmother actually had two men to ensure the continuation of the Nine-Hearted Begonia. Polyamory wasn't foreign to her, especially in this era. Given Gu Xuan's looks and talent, she wasn't losing out. She'd much rather be with someone she liked than be forced to marry a stranger just to keep the bloodline going.
Gu Xuan's expression shifted slightly. "Er... let's not tell her for now. I haven't thought of how to explain it yet."
Ye Lingling gave him an odd look. "So... we're having an affair?"
Gu Xuan's expression became quite colorful. "Affair? That sounds terrible. This is mutual affection. Besides, I didn't see you rejecting me."
Ye Lingling's face grew even redder, her ears hot enough to fry an egg.
(End of Chapter)
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