Chapter 1598 - 1596: Past and Present Lives 34

Chapter 1596

No idea how the other world is, I still have no offspring.

If I die, the world will certainly be in chaos.

...

There weren’t many people in the high-end restaurant, and the food came quickly.

In less than half an hour, all the dishes were served.

Xia Ruqing didn’t order much, there were only two of them, so she ordered only three dishes and two main courses.

"Why didn’t you order more?" Zhao Junyao asked.

Xia Ruqing’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the food, and she smiled.

"Ordering more would be a waste, I just want to try these signature dishes!"

"Come and taste them too!" Her tone was still like that of a host.

She had completely forgotten that the one paying was the person opposite her.

Zhao Junyao couldn’t be bothered to fuss over these things.

He picked a dish that looked light, and with a gentle hand that seemed used to luxury, elegantly took a bite, then frowned.

"The taste is quite strange!"

One shouldn’t speak while eating; if it weren’t for the strange taste, he wouldn’t have said anything.

Xia Ruqing was quite excited.

"This is a dish from another country; it’s normal for it to taste strange, but I think it’s quite good!"

"You’ll get used to it if you try more!"

Zhao Junyao didn’t speak further.

Xia Ruqing knew he didn’t like talking while eating, so she picked up the main course and started a battle with the three dishes.

After the meal.

They rinsed their mouths and then resumed chatting.

Xia Ruqing took a sip of tea and asked him.

"So, why did you call me out today?"

Zhao Junyao, just having eaten his fill, was leaning back in his chair, lost in thought.

Hearing her question, he recalled the purpose of calling her out.

He straightened up and said casually.

"I wanted to know, what requirements do you have for men and women getting married here?"

His father asked him this last night; he had no idea what requirements there were, and he couldn’t ask anyone else, so he had to ask her.

Xia Ruqing was drinking tea and nearly spat it out.

"You’re... getting married?"

Zhao Junyao initially wanted to nod and admit, say yes.

But for some reason, he felt guilty, even betrayed.

Unexpectedly, words of denial slipped out.

"Just asking casually!"

"..." Zhao Junyao realized he had just lied.

Seeing Xia Ruqing’s relieved expression, he couldn’t explain further, so he just continued to cover up.

"Just asking, I’ll have to marry sooner or later!"

What he was saying made no sense; he felt like the more he explained, the worse it got, so he shut his mouth.

Xia Ruqing felt a bit confused, her emotions up and down, and it took a while for her to regain her voice.

"Well... congratulations!"

Her face was a bit pale, her heart inexplicably anxious, but fortunately, she managed to cover it up; it wasn’t visible.

Zhao Junyao nodded without speaking.

Xia Ruqing steadied her emotions and continued.

"Here, men and women fall in love freely!"

"Whoever you want to be with, you can be with; if love fades, either party has the right to break up!"

"If either side no longer loves, they can leave; generally, the other side won’t be overly persistent! This is called a good breakup!"

Xia Ruqing finished in one breath, quickly drank some water to hide her nervousness.

Zhao Junyao nodded in approval.

"Not bad!"

Unlike in the Chu Dynasty, to stabilize the court, he had to marry many women he didn’t love into the palace.

No matter how much he disliked them, he couldn’t dismiss them.

Xia Ruqing gave an awkward smile.

"It’s not bad!"

"Though people are free, most don’t want to get married now!"

"Because they can’t find the right person!"

Before she finished speaking, she instinctively glanced at Zhao Junyao.

Zhao Junyao also looked at her at the same time.

"What about you?"

His gaze was somewhat intense, his face feigned calm, but his trembling fingers under the table betrayed him.

Yes!

He was afraid to hear a certain answer, to hear that Xia Ruqing had someone she loved.

Fortunately, there was no such answer.

Xia Ruqing smiled bitterly.

"I can’t find anyone either!"

"I hope heaven sees my lonely plight and lets me meet that person soon!"

Seeing her filled with expectation, Zhao Junyao felt displeased again.

So he decided to drop the topic.

After thinking, he followed her lead and asked.

"You say you’re lonely, why not find your parents?"

"They might care about you and be looking for you!"

Parents universally love their children; who wouldn’t?

Xia Ruqing’s eyes grew moist, her heart ached, and she choked up unwillingly.

"They’re looking for me?"

"It’s been so many years, just me and my grandmother living together; when did they ever come looking for me!"

"Since they wanted a clean break, why should I look for them?"

"It would only burden others and embarrass myself!"

"Better not to go!"

She had long since despaired; otherwise, she wouldn’t have said such things, but she still felt pain every time, showing she hadn’t let go.

Zhao Junyao remained quiet.

Regret filled his heart; why bring up such topics?

"Alright!"

"Don’t think about unhappy things!"

"If you ever have difficulties, feel free to come to me!" he comforted gently.

Xia Ruqing looked at him with teary eyes, gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Why would I come to you? You’re about to get married!"

"I am destined to be alone for life!"

"In the future..."

She pondered and solemnly said.

"Didn’t you ask earlier what marriage requirements are?"

"I’ll tell you now!"

"When you marry a girl, cherish her, care for her, protect her!"

"If nothing urgent, best not to interact with other women, especially single ones!"

"Your wife wouldn’t be happy, and avoid sleeping out unless important!"

"Give her a sense of security, surprise her often, love her as much as you can!"

Speaking of this, she choked up, her eyes turned red, forcing herself not to cry.

Zhao Junyao felt alarmed and more sympathetic, cautiously asked.

"Single women? That includes you?"

"Yes!"

"Including me!" Xia Ruqing said definitively.

This absurd relationship ought to end!

If they can’t be together openly, better not love.

If there’s no fate, better never meet again.

Opposite, Zhao Junyao sighed, slightly criticized in his heart.

’The Chu Dynasty isn’t all bad; at least he could marry whoever he wants without worrying about others’ opinions.’

But thinking again, the only one he wanted to marry was... just one person.

Xia Ruqing gently sniffed, wiped away the tears from her corner.

She glanced at the jewelry store business card in his pocket, then stood up calmly.

"It’s getting late; you don’t need to send me today!"

"In the future... if there’s no business, don’t bother asking me out, if really needed, contact me by phone!"