Chen’er heard Li Zheng mention getting engaged, and the way he was staring at her made her recall what her elder sister had told her: Li Zheng’s family had proposed marriage once before, but it hadn't come to fruition because she had been unwilling. Could it be that Li Zheng’s visit this time was to bring up the matter of their engagement again? Thinking this, Chen’er lowered her head, feeling a touch of bashfulness.

But Li Zheng’s thoughts were elsewhere. He had already passed his fourteenth birthday, and after the New Year, he would turn fifteen. Boys of fifteen were expected to marry, and lately, his parents had been pressing him about finding a match.

In truth, his parents had always favored Chen’er. Not only were their families close, but Li Zheng and Chen’er had grown up together since childhood, and Li Zheng himself was fond of her. That was why they had visited Chen’er’s home to propose marriage a couple of years prior. However, Chen’er’s mother had merely replied that the children were still young, and they should wait and see how things developed based on their own wishes later on.

Li Zheng had understood that at the time. Although the whole family felt a little disappointed, they agreed that Chen’er’s mother had a point—they were still too young, and there was no harm in waiting a couple more years.

As time flew by, the children grew older, and the bond between Chen’er and Li Zheng deepened. Especially their son; aside from attending to necessary matters, he spent his days revolving around Chen’er whenever she was home, looking utterly listless when she was away. Moreover, Chen’er and her family did not seem averse to the connection. Uncle Li and Aunt Xu thought there was genuine potential between the two young ones.

Time moves quickly; two or three years slipped by in a blink. The children had reached the appropriate age for betrothal, and it was high time to start arranging things for them. But then they remembered how their family had initiated the marriage talk last time, only to be politely refused.

So, this time, Aunt Xu decided to have Li Zheng discreetly sound out Chen’er’s feelings first. If Chen’er herself was willing, they were sure her parents wouldn't object. If Chen’er was unwilling, the matter shouldn't be brought up again, and Li Zheng should simply put those longings for her aside. In any case, delay was no longer an option.

Thus, Li Zheng had originally come today intending to ask Chen’er directly if she would marry him. However, the words felt too blunt. After much internal buildup, he still couldn't utter them, so he substituted them with a different approach, hoping to gauge Chen’er’s reaction.

He figured if Chen’er showed some response, he could then ask her outright. But seeing her now simply staring down without speaking, Li Zheng wasn't sure what was going through her mind and dared not act rashly, so he just kept looking at her.

After a while, Chen’er remained silent. Li Zheng grew anxious. He decided he needed to make things clearer and spoke again: "Chen’er, my parents say I'm not getting any younger. If you, Chen’er... they want me to find another girl to become engaged to."

Li Zheng had intended this statement to provoke a reaction from Chen’er, as he was too embarrassed to be direct. He had lowered his voice slightly during the middle phrase, and Chen’er, by chance, missed that soft part. She only registered the final clause: that he was going to become engaged to someone else.

At this, Chen’er began to grasp the situation. It seemed Li Zheng wasn't here today to discuss an engagement with her; he was merely informing her that he was getting engaged. A surge of anger rose in Chen’er’s heart, but she managed to suppress it for a moment, asking again as if needing confirmation: "You came here today just to tell me about your engagement?"

Li Zheng, unaware of Chen’er's internal turmoil, nodded: "Yes."

This confirmation sent Chen’er into a genuine rage. She spoke without choosing her words: "You're getting engaged? Go ahead and get engaged! Why on earth run over here to tell me? I’m not anyone to you! What does your engagement have to do with me? Even if you wanted to invite me to the wedding banquet, you could wait until you’re actually married! Why tell me so early? Are you trying to flaunt that you’ve found a wife? What's so great about having a wife that you have to travel all this way just to show off?"

Finishing her outburst, Chen’er still felt unsatisfied and added, "Once you have a wife, treat her well. Don't come looking for me anymore. I won't see you. And stop sending me those ridiculous things—they are hideously ugly. As if anyone cares! They just take up space at my house. I’ll throw them all away the moment I get back." With that, Chen’er turned and walked away without sparing Li Zheng another glance.

Chen’er’s torrent of words left Li Zheng reeling. Though he couldn't understand why Chen’er suddenly erupted in temper, he clearly heard every word. His interpretation, in that moment, was that Chen’er actually wanted him to marry someone else, and she openly despised the gifts he had put so much thought into giving her as "ridiculous" and "hideously ugly," fit only for the rubbish heap.

But as Li Zheng watched Chen’er turn to leave, he couldn't let go. He grasped her hand and asked one more time, "Chen’er, do you really want me to get engaged to someone else?"

At this point, Chen’er’s anger had reached its zenith. Despite her normally fiery temper, when truly provoked, she possessed an ability to control herself, appearing colder and more composed than usual.

Hearing Li Zheng ask again, she pulled her hand free and stated coolly, "Li Zheng, go ahead with your engagement. I won't be attending when you marry. I will tell my parents to go in our stead; after all, we are neighbors. I imagine your household must be busy these few days, so I won’t invite you in for tea today. Perhaps some other time."

With that, Chen’er walked away. After only a few steps, her eyes involuntarily filled with tears. But thinking Li Zheng might still be watching her, Chen’er stubbornly refused to wipe them away, letting the moisture pool and shimmer in her gaze.

When Li Zheng heard Chen’er’s strikingly 'calm' words, he knew she meant every syllable. Perhaps, just as in the past, she had never held a place for him in her heart, having regarded him merely as an older brother all these years. Perhaps, as people often said, for some individuals, even if you wait a lifetime, they simply won't be yours in the end.

Thinking this, Li Zheng looked up at Chen’er’s retreating figure until she vanished from sight. He longed to go home too, but his feet wouldn't move an inch, and his heart felt utterly shattered.

Hearing this, Lin He grasped the remainder of the story clearly. After being rejected by Chen’er, Li Zheng must have returned home in a state of utter despondency. Coupled with the pressure from his parents, he likely agreed to an engagement with another. Li Zheng was of marrying age, handsome, and well-behaved. Furthermore, his family’s fortunes had improved significantly over the years. If he truly wished it, finding another girl to betroth would not be difficult. And indeed, he had found someone—a girl named Lanhua.

Watching Chen’er in her current state, Lin He sighed. This girl, usually so gentle in her presence, became so stubbornly defiant in front of Li Zheng. She was even more headstrong than Lin He herself had been toward Wen Ningxuan in her youth. And this stubbornness, as her mother had often remarked, was tinged with a certain selfishness, at least where Li Zheng was concerned.