How could this happen?
Serena Feng couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could the outcome be so completely different from what she expected? Sean Xuan really doesn't play by the rules.
Logically, even if Sean Xuan understood her feelings and didn't blame her for being shameless, he should have regretfully called off the engagement. After all, in this era, few men would marry a woman who'd lost her virginity before marriage.
Prince Nolan says he'd marry her, but that's only because she's Serena Feng—because he truly likes her. Serena didn't believe Sean Xuan could fall in love after just a few short weeks.
So why? Why did things turn out like this?
Wait for her? If she never marries, he'll wait forever? Is Sean Xuan really planning to wait a lifetime if she never marries?
Such heavy feelings—Serena couldn't understand Sean Xuan's stubbornness. Her legs felt like they were weighed down with lead, refusing to move.
She couldn't possibly repay feelings this heavy.
It's just not worth it. Truly, it's not worth the price!
Serena Feng let out a powerless sigh and stared silently up at the sky...
Sean Xuan is even more persistent and troublesome than she imagined. Serena didn't want to carry the burden of such deep feelings—it made her feel she owed him a debt she could never repay.
What should she do?
Serena Feng silently asked the heavens, but the sky gave no answer.
By the time Serena pulled herself together and returned to her room, the dark guards had also made their decision: this had to be reported. It was too serious to hide.
As soon as Serena closed the door, the dark guard rushed off toward Ninth Prince Manor, faithfully relaying every word Sean Xuan had said to Prince Nolan.
The dark guard had expected to be frozen by Prince Nolan's icy aura, but to his surprise, Prince Nolan simply nodded, showing no sign of anger at all.
Relieved, the dark guard retreated without waiting for orders. Once out of Prince Nolan's sight, he lifted his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
This night uniform is great—absorbs sweat well. It must've been specially made for people like them. After all, the dark guards protecting Serena Feng sweat more than most.
After praising the uniform, the dark guard took a deep breath and hurried back toward Feng Manor. He didn't dare linger—if his mistress caught him slacking off, he'd be in real trouble!
Kid, you really dodged a bullet—good thing you run fast!
That night, Simon Sun returned from the free clinic, barely catching his breath before Jada Tang hurried over to remind him to do the nightly check-up on Holden Cui. Serena Feng had insisted: Simon must visit Holden's sickroom at least once a day.
Sigh... Simon nodded and reluctantly headed for the sickroom. After seeing so many patients who couldn't afford treatment these days, he couldn't help but strongly resent how Holden Cui monopolized a private room and had a dedicated medical maid.
To quote his master, this was a waste of medical resources. So even though Simon Sun did his job, his gaze toward Holden Cui was far from friendly.
At first, Holden Cui thought Simon Sun was just tired. But after ten days of this, Holden finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Doctor Sun, did I somehow offend you?"
One after another, people kept giving him the cold shoulder. Had everyone forgotten he was a patient?
Holden Cui was honestly frustrated. He could handle putting on a brave face for Prince Nolan during the day, but why did he have to deal with Simon Sun's coldness at night too? Was he somehow indebted to Serena Feng?
"No," Simon Sun was stunned before realizing Holden Cui was talking about his sour expression these past few days. Uh...
His master always said not to bring emotions into work—had he failed at that?
Simon Sun looked at Holden Cui in utter confusion.
His expression... made Holden Cui wonder if he was just overthinking things. Holden quickly tried to reassure him: "I must be imagining things. I saw you frowning these past few days and thought you had a problem with me, Dr. Sun."
He was used to Serena Feng and Prince Nolan's cold faces, but Simon Sun's attempt at being deep and distant was something he just couldn't get used to. It made him worry he'd forgotten to pay his medical fees.
"Ah, I gave you attitude? You noticed?" Simon Sun's mouth dropped open in shock, his hands clenched into fists and pressed to his lips.
Holden Cui didn't say a word, but Simon's cheeks flushed red. He quickly lowered his hands, standing before Holden like a guilty child, and muttered, "Um, Young Master Cui, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let my emotions affect my work. I didn't mean to..."
Realizing he'd shown attitude to a patient—and been caught—Simon Sun grew anxious and rushed to apologize.
So it was real, not just his imagination.
Holden Cui couldn't figure out what he'd done to offend Simon Sun. Seeing Simon's guilty face, Holden didn't dare say anything harsh. Instead, as the patient, he had to comfort Simon and assure him it was fine. Only when Simon believed him did Holden ask why—and when he heard Simon's reason, he felt like crying.
Was it his fault he could afford treatment? Was it his fault he could pay for a medical maid to care for him?
Simon Sun actually gave him attitude for that—Holden Cui didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Was this just hating the rich?
It's not like he'd done anything truly outrageous.
What kind of people did Serena Feng have around her? One was as dark as ink and as deadly as a shadow; another was as pure as a child, wearing every thought on his face.
That night, Marcus Wynn dropped by. When he heard Holden Cui mention what happened, he sighed, "Serena Feng is a good master, and she's taken in a good disciple."
Simon Sun is innately upright and kind, but such purity doesn't last long without protection. He was lucky—first his parents shielded him, now Serena Feng does. Truly fortunate.
Nowadays, it's rare to meet someone willing and able to protect a person like him.
"If you get the chance, look out for this kid. He's simple, and he's a good one," Marcus Wynn added.
No matter how old Simon Sun gets, Marcus Wynn will always see him as a child.
"Isn't that exactly what Serena Feng is doing?" Holden Cui wasn't stupid—he'd noticed how Serena kept giving Simon Sun opportunities. It wasn't obvious, but over time, he'd caught on.
"That's why I said Serena Feng is a good master—she's planned for his future early on." Marcus Wynn took a few steps, standing by the window and gazing out at the snowy night.
Once, someone else had done everything to protect him too, but...
No one can protect anyone forever. Serena Feng is clever—she's planting seeds everywhere, securing protection for Simon Sun from all sides. Even if she can't shield him someday, someone else will.
Serena knows that with Simon Sun's character, unless someone is truly twisted, they'll do their best to protect him—keeping a clean corner in their hearts.
"It's enough to make you jealous," Holden Cui murmured, looking down at his own hands—hands stained with blood. He and Simon Sun were the same age, but his heart was already old.
Yes, it's enough to make you jealous. But so what? Everyone has their own path. Born into families like theirs, it was impossible to stay pure—simple people can't survive in powerful clans. To survive, they had to stain themselves...
In the Su family's secret chamber, Lance Quinn was once again poring over intelligence from the Xuanxiao Palace, focusing on information about Sean Xuan.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll never lose a hundred battles. He hadn't paid much attention to Sean Xuan before, relying on Serena Feng's attitude. But after hearing Sean's words, he had no choice but to take him seriously.
It's not the clingy ones you have to worry about—it's the ones who wait faithfully. If Serena Feng ever tires or wants to marry, Sean Xuan would be the perfect choice.
Sean Xuan's devotion was enough to move any woman's heart.
"Isn't there any suspicious woman around Sean Xuan?" Lance Quinn scanned the documents, but found no one he could use. He refused to believe Sean's heart was entirely untouched.
"Sean Xuan has always kept himself clean—rarely any young women near him. He started roaming the martial world at sixteen, announcing he had a fiancée. That discouraged many would-be admirers."
After all, women these days are practical. Love is precious, but the status of a wife is worth more. Unless she's foolish, a woman from a good family would never become a concubine for so-called true love.
Concubines are just playthings, bought and sold at will; the wife has the right to decide their fate. Better to stay single like Serena Feng than settle for being a concubine.
"If there isn't one, then find one. Find a woman, reveal Sean Xuan's situation to her, and give her a chance to get close to him," Lance Quinn said, setting aside the dossier with a mysterious air.
Sean Xuan is all about loyalty, right? Then I'll give him a woman who's just as loyal. If he's willing to wait for Serena Feng his whole life, I'll send him someone willing to wait for him forever.
On one side, Serena Feng; on the other, a woman who'd give everything for him. I want to see if he can still wait for Serena Feng so righteously then.
"Alright, I'll have Vincent Su look into it. Sean Xuan is well-respected in the martial world, and many women admire him. I'll do my best to find a suitable candidate." Vincent Su silently prayed for Sean Xuan.
Palace Lord Xuan, may you have good fortune. Lance Quinn has only used this trick on Bella Qin before—you’re the second. Hopefully you’ll stand firm and not become another Bella Qin.
"It has to be quick—I don't have time to worry about Sean Xuan for long," Lance Quinn pressed Vincent Su again.
Dealing with Sean Xuan should be just like dealing with Bella Qin: fast, ruthless, precise.
Lately, Bella Qin had been asking about Vincent Su more than about him. He was sure...
If Vincent Su put in a bit more effort, Bella Qin would forget all about her official fiancé. After all, a delicate flower like her needed constant care. As for Sean Xuan, if a loyal woman waited by his side day after day, even a stone would eventually warm up.
"Alright, I'll handle it. I'll make sure you're satisfied." Vincent Su solemnly jotted down the task, treating it as a top priority. But as he finished, he suddenly remembered—there was something important he'd forgotten to mention...