Finest Servant
Chapter 663

Chapter 663 Coldness

"I am not any important figure," Lin Wanrong stated earnestly, "Just like everyone else, I am an insignificant person. It's just that I've done many bad things in the past, so many people remember my name. Some like me, and some hate me, that's all there is to it."

"Ah Lin Ge, if all the men from the Hua people were 'insignificant' like you, what chance would we Miao girls have?" Yilian shook her head gently, sighed softly, and quietly lowered her head, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

"This..." Lin Wanrong laughed awkwardly, unsure of how to respond.

Yilian was absolutely right. If all the Hua men were as brave, skilled, and insightful as Ah Lin Ge, which Miao girl wouldn't like such a man? He might be an insignificant person, but he was indeed a unique one in the world!

Hearing her faint sigh, he knew she must be troubled. Yilian, silently choked up, slowly handed over the dried Miao clothes from behind the stone: "Ah Lin Ge, your clothes are dry!"

Lin Wanrong hummed in acknowledgment, reaching out to take the still warm garments. Yilian's delicate hands tightly clutched the Miao attire, revealing the tense, fine veins on her pale hands. Crystal tears fell drop by drop on the collar of the clothes, vanishing in an instant.

Lin Wanrong felt a dryness in his throat. The Miao clothes in his hands felt heavier than ever. Helplessly, he turned his head away, sighing, "Yilian, don't be like this! I am not worthy of your affection."

"Whether you're worthy or not, I know best!" Yilian murmured to herself with a faint, sad smile.

Lin Wanrong quickly dressed and only then dared to face others. Looking at Yilian's intense gaze, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to hide in. When Yilian had disappeared earlier, he had been more anxious than anyone. Now that the little sister was safe, he found himself unable to face her.

The girl silently and gently straightened his clothes, then suddenly beamed, "Ah Lin Ge, I just remembered how you looked the first time you wore Miao clothes!"

"Really? What did I look like?" Lin Wanrong asked involuntarily.

Yilian's eyes brightened, a hint of reminiscence in her gaze, "I don't know why, but the same outfit looks majestic and upright on Father. But on you, it just doesn't seem proper at all. Hehe—"

Her face revealed a long-missed smile as she stealthily observed him, "Luckily, I know you're a good person. Otherwise, Father and Mother would have chased you out long ago!"

Lin Wanrong chuckled bitterly and shook his head, "I'm inherently improper. No clothes can change my nature."

Yilian burst into laughter, her cheeks flushing red. After hesitating for a long while, she finally mustered all her courage, looked up at him intently, and asked, "Ah Lin Ge, am I very unattractive?"

"How could that be?!" Lin Wanrong quickly gestured with his hands, "You are famously beautiful throughout the nine villages and eighteen hamlets. Young men lining up for you would stretch across the Jinsha River!"

Yilian bit her lip, her cheeks burning like fire, bravely meeting his gaze, "Then why don't you like me?"

"This..." Lin Wanrong was suddenly at a loss for words.

Miao girls were known for their passionate and spirited nature, a trait evident in other mi cai of Yingyue Hamlet, but Yilian was an exception.

Yilian was the most outstanding in the Miao village, far surpassing others in learning, insight, and leadership abilities. However, when it came to expressing emotions, she was much shyer than other girls.

She harbored a secret affection for Ah Lin Ge, never daring to voice it. Finally, under the encouragement of others, she mustered the courage to confess her love through a song, only to face a heartless rejection. Such a blow was not something anyone could easily endure. Yet, at this moment, Yilian's stubbornness and strength shone through; she was a Miao girl who refused to admit defeat easily!

"What's this and that, Ah Lin Ge? Why don't you like me?!" The girl seemed to throw caution to the wind, disregarding her burning cheeks as she bit her teeth and looked at him.

Although shy, Yilian was the most outstanding Miao girl. Once she got going, she was much fiercer than the mi cai like Zitong. Lin Wanrong found himself struggling to cope: "That, that, I cannot like you!"

"Why can't you like me?" Yilian, somewhat agitated, grabbed his hand forcefully and pressed it against her chest: "Ah Lin Ge, feel my heart—"

"Ah—better not!" Lin Wanrong recoiled in fright, hastily withdrawing his hand and looking around nervously. It was better to be honest in life; Sister An was a divine being and might just be watching him from somewhere!

"We Miao girls, when we love someone, it's for life, never to betray!" Yilian smiled at him, her eyes shimmering with tears: "I've already given you my belt, whether you want me or not, Yilian will be yours for all eternity! Let the Wulian Peak and the Jinsha River bear witness!"

Too much devotion can also be a hassle! Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly: "Yilian, don't be impulsive, you don't know my situation—"

"What situation? Is it because of the Holy Maiden?" Yilian lowered her head silently: "Ah Lin Ge, you really are a faithful man!"

Can he really be associated with faithfulness? What a big joke! Lin Wanrong smiled wryly, sighing deeply: "Now you know my true identity—"

"Yes!"

"What you know is just the surface," Lin Wanrong sighed: "Simply put, I'm already married back home!"

"What?!" The girl bit her teeth, her nose suddenly sour: "Then what about you and the Holy Maiden?"

"Me and the Holy Maiden are mutually in love, destined to be together. My family has long agreed, so I came to the Miao village to marry her. But the Holy Maiden values her dignity, insisting that I win her over in front of all the villagers with my true abilities before she would marry me, so, you saw—" Lin Wanrong spread his hands and finished in one breath, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

Yilian hummed softly, her voice tinged with sorrow: "Your wife back home must be a kind person! If it were me, how could I let my own brother marry someone else?!"

"Yes, they are all good people—"

"They?!" Yilian gasped in shock: "How many wives do you have?"

Lin Wanrong scratched his head embarrassingly: "Let me count. Xian'er, Qingxuan, Qiaoqiao, Ning'er, Fairy Sister, these are the ones I've married! Miss Xu, the Holy Maiden, Yushuang, the Eldest Miss, and little Yueya’er are all in line to be married! Oh, and there's also an unexpected one—"

He counted each wife by extending a finger, first using his left hand and then his right. When he ran out of fingers, he almost wished he could use his toes for counting. Observing his arrogant manner, Yilian, infuriated, smacked the back of his hand hard: "You, how can you have so many wives? Do you think you're an Emperor?!"

"I wish I weren't!" Ah Lin Ge spread his hands innocently, "In the jianghu, one often has no control over their fate! Actually, I am quite particular about quality in love. But I never expected that as the quality increased, so did the quantity! Such an illogical thing happened to me, truly bizarre and strange!"

What a bizarre and strange thing. In her heart, Yilian felt a mix of sourness and bitterness. She had never imagined that Ah Lin Ge, whom she had always been proud of, would have so many wives. Gritting her teeth, she questioned, "Ah Lin Ge, you've taken so many women. Did they all willingly agree? Or did you force them to come with you?"

"If I were that kind of person—" Ah Lin Ge shook his head with a bitter smile, "you would have been taken by me long ago."

The girl blushed and lowered her head, silently, not knowing whether to feel happy or sad.

"You might not believe it, but marrying these wives was not easy. Each of them has her own story." Lin Wanrong began to recount with a smile, mentioning Qiaoqiao, Qingxuan, the Eldest Miss, and Fairy Ning. Each was unique and charming, as if entering a garden of fragrances.

Initially, Yilian listened with some disdain, but gradually she became engrossed, vaguely recalling that these women had already been woven into the stories he used to tell.

After he finished, it was like turning over a complete page in a book. Not only did Yilian listen in a daze, but even Lin Wanrong himself was deeply moved. Looking back at the past events, they were as vivid as if they had occurred just yesterday, unforgettable.

"Ah Lin Ge, the day you asked me about the Miao poison, was it for that Turkic Khan, Yueya’er?" The girl sighed softly, asking in a gentle voice.

Lin Wanrong smiled tenderly, "Yes, her. She is the smartest Great Khan in the world, yet also the most foolish little sister."

Just by looking at the affectionate smile on his face, one could tell his deep connection with that female khan. Yilian lowered her head silently, "I really envy that Yueya’er. If only I could be like her, perhaps Ah Lin Ge would never forget me!"

That thought was too dangerous. Lin Wanrong's expression became serious, "Yilian, every person is unique and cannot be simply compared. You have your own strengths; you must not underestimate yourself!"

"Ah Lin Ge, I want to ask you something," Yilian suddenly raised her head, her face flushed, looking at him intently, "Please don't avoid the question or give evasive answers. You must tell me the truth. It's Yilian begging you!"

Her eyes were misty with tears, shy yet brave. Lin Wanrong's heart softened at the sight, and he nodded silently, "Ask. I will answer sincerely."

"Ah Lin Ge," Yilian, trembling, gripped his hand tightly, her eyes intently fixed on his, her slender neck flushed with a bright pink, "Please tell me, have you ever, ever liked Yilian? Don't say you dared not like me, and don't lie; I just want to hear the truth—"

Upon finishing her words, the young girl shyly closed her eyes, slowly lowered her head, her body swaying like a leaf in the wind, as if ready to fall to the ground at any moment.

Whether he liked her or not, those words were not so easy to utter. Lin Wanrong's lips felt as heavy as if they were laden with lead, unable to open.

Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Yilian's face turned deathly pale, her heart aching like it was pricked by needles: "I understand!!"

"What do you understand?!" Lin Wanrong said urgently, "I haven't said anything yet!"

"You don't have to say it; I understand," Yilian shook her head, a light laugh escaping her lips, even as tears couldn't be stopped, "Ah Lin Ge, my belt for you—"

"Oh, it's here!" The belt, along with several treasures from his body, had already been packed into the Miao bag. Lin Wanrong hurriedly searched for it and handed it to the girl.

Seeing the belt, as white as snow, Yilian's face turned pale, she wiped away her tears and murmured with a smile, "This belt was my gift to you, Ah Lin Ge. Do you really not want it?"

How could he answer that question? Lin Wanrong's throat felt dry, and he couldn't utter a single word.

The girl looked at him gently, "Whether you want it or not, I want to see you wear it. Ah Lin Ge, will you grant me this last request?"

Lin Wanrong sighed helplessly, "If you want to see it, I'll wear it just this once!"

As he reached out, Yilian pushed his arm away, "No, the belt must be tied by me to be effective."

Her arms trembling, she gently wrapped around his waist and tied the pure white jade belt tightly around him.

According to Miao customs, once a Miao girl personally ties her belt around a man's waist, it signifies a lifelong commitment, never to be abandoned.

Lin Wanrong, still confused, felt Yilian's breath quicken, her face flushed with excitement and shyness, yet also filled with deep, searing pain, "We Miao girls love only one person in a lifetime! Cough, cough, Ah Lin Ge, Yilian is yours, forever yours! Please, hold me, you must hold me—"

Her voice was a mix of sobs and pleas, growing fainter until barely audible. Lin Wanrong hesitated, only to feel a soft body collapsing into his arms, something warm and wet dripping onto his hand. The droplet was pitch black, eerily familiar.

Blood?! Lin Wanrong was shocked, suddenly lifting his head.

The girl collapsed softly into his arms, curling up tightly, black blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. Her face, as beautiful as jade, was now crystal clear, stained with tears.

"Ah Lin Ge, I'm cold, please hold me—" Yilian's tears fell like rain, a forlorn smile on her lips, as she used all her strength to cling to his chest.

Before Lin Wanrong could react, he felt her body suddenly tense up, then go limp in his arms, silent, as a creeping chill slowly spread from her delicate body.

"Yilian—" Lin Wanrong, as if awakening from a dream, roared in utter despair, his heart feeling as if it had shattered.

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