Chapter 522: I Am Not Worthy

Su Yu’s decision not to press further questions slightly relieved Su Jiu.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ming Wanning’s poison was finally neutralized, leaving her feeling significantly weakened.

“Jinhe, thank you,” Ming Wanning expressed her gratitude.

“Why are you being so polite? We’re friends, how could I stand by and watch you get into trouble?” Wang Jinhe shook her head.

“I…” Ming Wanning attempted to speak.

“If there’s anything on your mind, wait until you’re feeling better. Rest for now,” Wang Jinhe could tell that Ming Wanning was barely holding on.

She reached out to cover Ming Wanning’s eyes, urging her to rest.

Ming Wanning closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Once she was asleep, Wang Jinhe left the room.

“How is she, Xiao He?” Su Jiu inquired.

“The poison has been neutralized, but her body is very weak. It will take some time for her to recover,” Wang Jinhe said, furrowing her brow.

“I’ll have to trouble you to take care of her, Xiao He,” Su Jiu said.

Wang Jinhe looked at Su Jiu with a puzzled expression. “Ming Wanning is my friend, so I will definitely take good care of her. But big brother, why are you so concerned about Ming Wanning?”

Seeing Wang Jinhe’s puzzled expression, Su Jiu cleared his throat and said, “It’s nothing.”

Wang Jinhe didn’t ask further questions and arranged for some pork ribs to be bought, planning to stew some pork rib soup for Ming Wanning.

Su Jiu could sense his brother’s gaze without even turning his head, but he pretended not to notice anything.

“I’m leaving the day after tomorrow,” Su Jiu said.

“Alright, I’ll give you a few bottles of our special wine. One for royal brother and one for the empress dowager. But you have to tell them not to drink too much. A small half cup at a time is enough,” Su Yu said.

“Okay,” Su Jiu didn’t ask why, knowing that Su Yu must have had a reason for saying so.

That night, as Wang Jinhe lay on Su Yu’s shoulder, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Turning over to prop herself up, she looked at Su Yu and asked, “Have you noticed how strange big brother has been acting?”

“Yeah, he’s been overly concerned about Ming Wanning,” Su Yu replied.

“I feel the same way. Do you think big brother has feelings for Ming Wanning?” Wang Jinhe asked, curious.

“I asked big brother, and he said that he’s helping Ming Wanning more because her situation is similar to ours. Both of us have been hurt by our close relatives,” Su Yu said, reaching out to embrace Wang Jinhe and tucking her in with the other hand.

Wang Jinhe was speechless. “Do you believe what big brother said?”

Su Yu shook his head. “I don’t believe it. I’ve grown up with big brother, and I know him very well. If it was just empathy, he wouldn’t be so anxious.”

It seems that big brother hasn’t even noticed how much attention he’s been giving to Ming Wanning, and he’s very concerned about her well-being.

Wang Jinhe nodded in agreement. “I don’t believe it either. Perhaps big brother just has a fondness for Ming Wanning at the moment. But I think given enough time, Ming Wanning should be able to find her way into big brother’s heart. Her background is good, she has a good personality, and she’s outstanding in her own right. It wouldn’t be a bad match for her to be with big brother.”

“I agree with you. Ming Wanning has come to our house to play a few times, and I think her personality really complements big brother’s. If they are destined to be together, and she marries big brother, he should be able to forget the past heartache,” Su Yu hesitated before speaking. He hoped that Su Jiu would be as happy as he was.

“Did big brother say when he’s leaving?” Wang Jinhe asked.

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Let’s observe him for the next two days and see what big brother really means,” Wang Jinhe said thoughtfully, stroking her chin.

“Okay.”

Over the next two days, Wang Jinhe kept a close eye on Su Jiu and noticed that his behavior towards Ming Wanning was indeed different from how he interacted with others.

Before leaving, he went to Ming Wanning’s room to have a chat.

“I’m leaving today. You should stay here and focus on recovering. When Xiao Yu and the others return to the capital at the end of the year, you can go back with them,” Su Jiu said to Ming Wanning.

Ming Wanning nodded. “I understand.”

“I will take care of things over there for you first, and when you return, everything will be in place,” Su Jiu assured her.

Hearing Su Jiu’s words, Ming Wanning felt a bit overwhelmed. “Wouldn’t this be too much trouble for you?”

Wouldn’t it be a problem for him to pay attention to such trivial matters, especially since he was a prominent figure in front of the emperor?

“Please don’t worry about that,” Su Jiu reassured her.

“Mr. Su, then I thank you in advance,” Ming Wanning said.

“Do you have anything to tell your parents?”

Ming Wanning considered for a moment before speaking, “I will write a letter to my father. Could you please take it back to him for me, Mr. Su?”

“Of course.”

Ming Wanning, despite her weakened state, wrote a letter to the head of the Ming family. When she finished and started to walk towards Su Jiu, she almost stumbled.

Su Jiu quickly walked over to support Ming Wanning, bending down to lift her back onto the bed. “Don’t get out of bed for the next few days. Rest well.”

“Okay,” Ming Wanning’s face flushed slightly, feeling too embarrassed to look at Su Jiu.

After instructing Ming Wanning, Su Jiu left with the letter she had written.

“Xiao Yu, I’m heading back now.”

“Okay.”

When leaving, Su Jiu still couldn’t help but worry about Ming Wanning. Seeing Su Jiu’s concerned expression, Su Yu couldn’t believe that he truly had no feelings for her.

“Big brother, don’t worry. Xiao He will take good care of her,” Su Yu couldn’t help but speak up.

“Xiao Yu, don’t talk nonsense.”

Pointing at himself, Su Yu looked at Su Jiu disapprovingly, surprised that he would accuse him of talking nonsense.

“Big brother, do you even believe what your saying?” Su Yu teased.

Su Jiu was left speechless by his brother’s teasing and could only look at him helplessly. “I’m leaving.”

After seeing Su Jiu off, Wang Jinhe came out of the room and said, “Big brother seems to be contradicting himself.”

Su Yu nodded in agreement. “You’re right, but I can understand.”

“Why?”

“Because big brother feels that he hasn’t completely forgotten about the person from his past. Entering into a new relationship now would only hurt the other person, which wouldn’t be fair to them,” Wang Jinhe hadn’t expected Su Jiu to have this perspective, but she also understood his reasoning.

“Big brother and Ming Wanning are both good people. They have both faced many challenges in their relationships. I hope that both of them will find happiness in the future,” Su Yu said.

“Yeah.”

Su Jiu remained silent throughout the journey as he rode away. On the way to Xie’s village, he found himself drawn to Ming Wanning’s strength and intelligence. However, at present…

That night, when Su Jiu arrived at his resting place, he drank the wine he had brought back with him. His subordinates looked at him with concern. “Master, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just thinking about some things,” Su Jiu replied.

“Are you thinking about Miss Rourou and Miss Ming?” He could tell that his master felt differently about Miss Ming.

“She is a good person, and I am not worthy,” Su Jiu replied.

“Master, please don’t say that. It’s been so many years, and it’s enough. You haven’t found anyone you liked before, and that’s understandable. But now that you have feelings for someone else, if you keep thinking about the past, it will only make you feel miserable,” his subordinate advised.