12dz Chapter 177 Dai You is rambling again.
Chapter 177 Dai You is rambling again.
Gwangju was indeed a bustling place, with its streets and alleys crisscrossing and connecting in all directions, allowing citizens to move freely.
At night, this place truly resembles the scene described in the poem: "A thousand lights illuminate the night market, and red-sleeved beauties throng the high-rise buildings."
The Hongyun Restaurant is especially magnificent at night, brightly lit and splendid.
Xia Lanyue and Dai You sat by the window on the first floor, watching the various guests coming and going in the restaurant.
Judging from people's clothing and conversation, it is not difficult to see that many celebrities have gathered here.
This is indeed a great place.
Xia Lanyue couldn't help but look at Dai You with curiosity, "How much more prosperous is the capital than here?"
“It’s much better,” Dai You said.
"This is already very good. What would it be like if it were even better?" Xia Lanyue couldn't help but dream about it.
Seeing Xia Lanyue's happy expression, Dai You said, "If you like it here, you can stay."
Xia Lanyue smiled but didn't say anything.
"Want some wine? The wine here is much better than what you get in town," Dai You suggested.
Xia Lanyue thought for a moment, then shook her head, "No, I've quit drinking now."
"why?"
“Hmm… probably because I already have the answer,” Xia Lanyue said with a smile.
Dai You didn't understand what he was talking about, but he still nodded in agreement.
Xia Lanyue looked out the window at the bustling night market, but couldn't help feeling lonely.
Over the next few days, Dai You took Xia Lanyue to different streets and various places to play.
Go to a teahouse to enjoy tea and listen to stories, and go to a food street to savor delicious food.
Go boating on the lake, or practice horseback riding in the countryside.
Xia Lanyue saw Dai You looking relaxed and happy, a side of him she had never seen before.
She was so happy that she didn't even think about Xia Yao, and didn't even want to go back to Gujing Town.
However, just as they were having fun, Xia Lanyue was unexpectedly taken by Dai You to a clinic in an alley.
Xia Lanyue stood at the door, looking at the signboard and the patients waiting for their consultations in the courtyard, hesitating to go in.
Dai You grinned foolishly at Xia Lanyue, "Since we've run into each other by chance, let's go in and take a look."
Xia Lanyue rolled her eyes at Dai You. Didn't she understand that this was all Dai You's deliberate arrangement? However, she didn't want to have those memories anymore.
But seeing Dai You's expectant look, Xia Lanyue softened and walked into the courtyard.
No one knows where Dai You found out about this clinic, but even though it's located in a deep alley, it attracts many patients who come from far and wide.
They waited until noon before it was their turn for a face-to-face consultation.
The doctor on duty was nearly seventy years old, with almost all of his hair turned white.
After a series of diagnoses, the doctor lowered his head and began writing a prescription.
Dai You, unable to contain himself any longer, simply asked, "Doctor Yang, can my sister's illness be cured?"
"Her memory loss is due to qi stagnation and blood stasis after the accident, which has blocked her meridians and caused malnourishment of her sensory organs. However, in general, with proper care, she can recover in about a month. It is rare for a young lady to be like this after more than two months. I will prescribe a prescription first, and I will come back to check on her after one course of treatment," said Doctor Yang.
"Thank you, doctor," Dai You said.
Xia Lanyue looked at the paper full of medicine names and sighed.
After leaving Yang Langzhong's clinic, Xia Lanyue lost all interest in having fun.
Dai You followed behind Xia Lanyue, carrying the medicine, not daring to utter a sound.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, Dai You quickly handed a packet of medicine to the waiter, instructed him on how to prepare it, and then hurriedly followed Xia Lanyue into the room.
Xia Lanyue was sitting at the table with a displeased expression.
Dai You smiled and sat down next to Xia Lanyue. "Ayue, this medicine isn't bitter."
Xia Lanyue glanced at Dai You, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, "I'm not eating."
Dai You's smile faded, and he looked at Xia Lanyue with some helplessness. He probably knew that if Xia Lanyue refused, he wouldn't be able to get a single drop of medicine into her mouth.
Xia Lanyue understood Dai You's intentions and knew that her conflict with Xia Yao had given Dai You a glimmer of hope. But she knew her own feelings; if things continued this way, Dai You would only get hurt again.
She didn't want Dai You to get hurt again. After all, he was truly sincere towards her.
Xia Lanyue let out a long sigh, turned to him and said, "We've been playing for several days, shouldn't we go back now?"
Dai You was in low spirits. "Don't you like it here? There are so many things here that you haven't seen before."
"Then we should go back. I... still have things to take care of," Xia Lanyue said, lowering her eyes.
"You still want to be with him?" Dai You frowned. "He doesn't care about you at all."
"How do you know he doesn't care? If he didn't care, would he want to marry me?" Xia Lanyue said these words stubbornly, but she had already lost confidence in her heart.
“He’s been using you from beginning to end, just using you to build a good reputation for himself,” Dai You said.
"What good reputation can I bring him?" Xia Lanyue asked, puzzled.
"That day, when you were falsely accused by Li Zhuang and flogged, he didn't speak up for you. Instead, he was praised by the neighbors for being fair, just, and not protecting his own. When those dirty things between you and him came out, you were belittled for not respecting yourself, but he was praised for his sense of responsibility. After he became the village magistrate, someone spread the word that he resolutely gave up the imperial examination so as not to worry you, and he was praised for his loyalty and righteousness," Dai You said, his emotions already running high. "A-Yue, I know what you've been through, so I feel even more sorry for you."
These words were unknown to Xia Lanyue, and they deeply saddened her. Only she knew the grievances and helplessness expressed within them.
"Hmph," Dai You snorted coldly, "saying that he became the village magistrate for your sake is just an excuse he made because he failed the imperial examination. Besides, I heard that he bribed Village Chief Zhao to get this position."
Xia Lanyue felt her mind was a little foggy. She had asked Xia Yao to save Dai You. With Xia Yao's reputation and knowledge, he was more than qualified to be a village head, so there was no need to bribe Village Chief Zhao, right? "I think you've misunderstood. There was indeed a reason why he became a village head. I asked him for help. At that time, you were on a hunger strike in prison and ignoring me. I was afraid you would die, so I went to beg him for help."
Dai You looked shocked. "You begged him?!"
Xia Lanyue nodded.
Then, Dai You seemed to understand something, "So, you asked him to help me, and that's why he made demands of you? That you marry him?!"
Seeing Dai You's expression gradually turn painful, Xia Lanyue quickly comforted him, "Yes and no, I... I really like him and want to be with him."
This explanation seemed to make it even harder for Dai You to accept.
Dai You looked utterly remorseful. He sighed deeply, "I shouldn't have done this, I shouldn't have done this." He slumped onto the stool. "I shouldn't have gone on a hunger strike. I never imagined I'd push you to his side. How could I be so stupid?! I just... I just wanted that Zhao guy to release me sooner. Why did it have to end like this?!"
Xia Lanyue suddenly realized, "Let you out earlier...? So you went on a hunger strike?!"
Dai You's eyes were empty. "I don't think the guy surnamed Zhao will let me die in jail. He'll definitely throw me out so I can get out and see you sooner."
Xia Lanyue once mistakenly believed that Dai You's hunger strike was due to heartbreak, but now she understands. She can let go of her feelings for Dai You. "No matter what, all of this is in the past."
Dai You suddenly stood up and grabbed Xia Lanyue's shoulder. "You can't go on, Lanyue. Leave him. He's not right for you. He can't even keep his distance from the Zhen family, how can he be devoted to you?"
Xia Lanyue looked into Dai You's eyes, her expression calm. She had already experienced what Dai You was talking about.
However, her relationship with Xia Yao was none of Dai You's business. She pushed Dai You's hand away, saying, "No matter what, I only feel familial affection for you."
“Our feelings were never familial,” Dai You said with a forlorn expression.
These words made Xia Lanyue a little nervous. She had never asked Dai You how far their relationship had progressed. She didn't dare to ask because she was afraid that if Dai You told her, their relationship would be completely beyond repair. "You said before that you are my brother, and that's true."
Dai You lowered his eyes, sighed, and immersed himself in his memories. "Your father found out about our affair. He was furious and wanted to kill me. You threatened to kill yourself to save my life. In order to completely sever our connection, your father announced in public at his birthday banquet that he would adopt me as his godson, in order to bind us together with our status."
Hearing this, Xia Lanyue finally understood the origin of their relationship, and all her previous confusion vanished. "Since that's the case, then we really are..."
“No,” Dai You interrupted Xia Lanyue, “Our relationship is not that simple. Besides, your father did not follow the proper etiquette for the family reunion, so strictly speaking, we are not sworn siblings. Therefore, you don’t need to feel burdened by our relationship.”
Xia Lanyue stared into Dai You's eyes, hesitant to speak. She saw the hope that ignited in Dai You's eyes, but she knew that what he wanted was something she couldn't give him. She had to extinguish his hope again, "Dai You, we are not meant to be, don't force it."
"No, A-Yue, you've just forgotten me, not that you don't love me anymore. As long as you can remember, everything will go back to normal," Dai You stared at Xia Lanyue with pleading eyes, seeking a little bit of attention.
Xia Lanyue appeared unmoved and turned her head to the side.
Dai You's eyes gradually dimmed. "What do you love about him? He doesn't care about you at all. His mother bullies you, and he's entangled with other women. If you stay with him, you'll suffer endless hardships and grievances. Don't you understand that?"
These words truly touched a nerve with Xia Lanyue, but she remained stubborn, saying, "He obeys his mother, that's his filial piety. The women outside chasing after him, what does that have to do with him? It only shows that he's outstanding."
Dai You sneered, "I really understand you less and less. Everyone else would run away as soon as they hear this, how can you still say it so rationally?"
Dai You's words made Xia Lanyue's heart clench.
She chose Xia Yao because he helped her when she was helpless and helped her through difficult times. But Dai You was also involved in all of this. Hearing Dai You say such things, Xia Lanyue couldn't help but feel resentful. "He wasn't good enough to me, but what about you? First, you ran away without saying a word, and then you didn't come to find me when I was kidnapped."
Dai You noticed Xia Lanyue's emotional fluctuations, and his tone softened. "It's not that I didn't want to save you, it's just that Xia Yao didn't tell me where you were, so I didn't rush over."
Xia Lanyue wanted to tell him that if he had been the one to save her, she wouldn't have rushed into a relationship with Xia Yao, or things wouldn't have turned out this way. But all she could say was a sigh, "So, it's all too late."
“Ah Yue…” Dai You grabbed Xia Lanyue’s shoulder, wanting to continue persuading her.
Xia Lanyue pushed his hand away, interrupting him, "Stop talking, I don't want to hear it."
Seeing Xia Lanyue's resolute expression, Dai You didn't dare to speak again.