Cui Wenjing left.

Zhao Changhe sat alone in the pavilion, drinking and staring blankly.

How did this happen... Wasn't I here to refuse?

Is something wrong... The proposal was clearly meant to help the Cui family save face. It could have been explained away after three years with no incidents. Cui Wenjing should have just gone along with it. But how did it turn into this... Although it seemed like he said everything himself, the other party was actually guiding him. The first few lines were just a show of authority, but the rest was just a caring father worried about his daughter, reasonable and kind.

Having seen how rich and powerful families treat poor boys who take away their daughters in novels and movies, Zhao Changhe couldn't believe what he experienced was real.

However, upon closer inspection, the other party got everything they wanted. Although he said the words, the other party had been leading him all along. The proposal of being sworn siblings was actually a good idea, and the relationship Zhao Changhe wanted the most, but the old man switched the concept. The original problem was Cui Yuanyang's reputation. If he was willing to acknowledge him as a sworn sibling, then it would be normal for him to escort his sister, and the reputation problem would be solved. But how did it become about whether the sworn siblings could get together? These were two different things, but he was led into it...

In the end, if he was nothing after three years, the other party would naturally treat it as if nothing happened. If this kid could really make it onto the human list after three years, then he would be an unparalleled genius. If they just got married on the spot, everyone would just laugh.

No matter how you look at it, the Cui family wouldn't lose anything.

It felt like being sold and still helping to count the money, and feeling like the other party was pretty good... Zhao Changhe finally realized, feeling helpless and amused.

This is the Cui family.

As a family that has stood for so many years, they have their own ways. You can't treat them like a martial artist in the Jianghu. The identity of being ninth on the heavenly list is not applicable in this situation in Cui Wenjing's mind. This is his daughter's lifelong event and a major issue for the Cui family, and also a political issue. With his suspicious identity, how could Old Cui acknowledge him as a sworn sibling!

They treat it with great caution, and he is just a young man who can't keep up.

He doesn't know how things will be handled once the news gets out.

Headache.

"Brother Zhao, Brother Zhao!" Cui Yuanyang's voice came from far away.Zhao Changhe turned his head and saw the little girl running towards him with joy in her eyes, holding up her dress like a butterfly in the flowers. Her smile was even more beautiful than the surrounding flowers.

Was it worth it just to see her smile like that?

He didn't know if he should thank Cui Wenjing instead for handling the situation so well, without turning it into a fight.

As for what would happen in the future, he had no energy to think about it.

"Zhao Big Brother!" Cui Yuanyang ran into the pavilion happily, looking like she wanted to jump into Zhao Changhe's arms. But then she blushed and stopped in front of him, lowering her head and saying, "My father said... "

Zhao Changhe couldn't help but rub her head and interrupt her, "Whatever he said, at least I don't want to leave now. I can stay as a guest for a few days."

Cui Yuanyang played with the hem of her clothes and said shyly, "In my father's eyes, if we can't meet the conditions in three years, it's natural to end this matter. But I... I know that Zhao Big Brother has a strong will and wants to accomplish this, not just to save face."

Zhao Changhe smiled, "It's not something I can do just because I want to. I don't want to underestimate the People's List."

Cui Yuanyang lowered her head even more and said in a soft voice, "I... I also want you to succeed. I believe you can do it."

This was like saying, "I hope you will marry me," but it was more touching than saying it directly.

Zhao Changhe sighed and couldn't help but say, "Yuanyang, have you ever thought that maybe you don't really like me, but only feel moved because we went through this life-and-death experience together? Maybe you'll meet someone else in the future who you'll really love?"

"Why are you becoming less naive? Is this your emotional cognition?" Cui Yuanyang asked.

"Because a lot of people were buzzing in my ear about this last night. I thought you were straightforward and frank, but it turns out you're like an old gossip," Zhao Changhe replied with a wry smile.

"Is Zhao Big Brother having a hard time...? In Zhao Big Brother's heart, Yuanyang is just a child, and he really doesn't have that kind of feeling for her. That's why he said those words, to advise Yuanyang... but..." Cui Yuanyang finally looked up at him bravely and said, "I will grow up and make Zhao Big Brother like me!"

The gentle light in the girl's eyes could melt even the hardest heart, like a strand of silk that wrapped around his heart and couldn't be untangled.

Zhao Changhe knew he couldn't untangle it anymore. Whether he had that kind of feeling before or not, he had it now.

It turned out that being liked and confessed to by a girl was such a feeling."Who can handle this test for cadres!"

His mind was wandering, and he didn't know what he was thinking. The words that came out of his mouth were: "Yuanyang doesn't need to grow up. Brother Zhao likes Yuanyang like this."

Cui Yuanyang smiled, and the joy at the corners of her eyes and eyebrows brightened, making the surrounding colors pale in comparison.

She happily held Zhao Changhe's hand and strolled casually in the garden, whispering, "Yuanyang has seen many talented men. My father is on the Heavenly List, and my uncles are on the Earth and Human Lists. My elder brother was third on the Qianlong List at the age of twenty. We come from a family of scholars and have seen many outstanding people. I thought there were no heroes in the world, but it seems there is also Zhao Lang..."

Zhao Changhe couldn't help but interject, "Unexpectedly, there is also Zhao Lang in this world? It sounds like a trend."

Cui Yuanyang looked at him in surprise for a moment and chuckled, "You're shameless."

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"Hmph."

Cui Yuanyang pouted, "Since Brother Zhao wants to hear it, then let it be. It's almost the same anyway."

"Hey...it sounds perfunctory."

"I just want to say that no matter how good they are, and no matter how vulgar and uncivilized Zhao Changhe is, Yuanyang still chooses you." Cui Yuanyang didn't look at him, her eyes turning to the butterflies and flowers nearby. "If you can't fulfill your promise in three years, I will...I will elope with you."

She didn't know what the postures of the butterflies and flowers reminded her of, but with the words of eloping, her blushing face shone like the morning glow.

Zhao Changhe didn't answer her words. He couldn't say that he couldn't do it, and it would be arrogant to boast that he could fulfill her request.

But at this moment, he had one more reason to cultivate, and he knew that he didn't need to struggle on his own like before. The Cui family would definitely be of help. For them, this was an investment, and they wouldn't let him develop and perish on his own.

As expected, Cui Yuanyang said the next moment, "Wei County is only our sphere of influence. The magistrate of Zhang County is our person, but this is not Qinghe. Father will be leaving today, and there are still some things to deal with at home... Brother Zhao, come with us to Qinghe and stay for a few days as our guest. There will be something for you at home, and you're not allowed to refuse. Even if it's just a thank-you gift, it's only right."

Zhao Changhe nodded without being pretentious, "I also want to go to Qinghe... Besides, I think your father is more likely to be luring the snake out of the hole, and the one who was imprisoned is probably not the real culprit..."

Cui Yuanyang was stunned, her eyes widening in surprise.