Chapter 6: Is This Engagement Still Being Called Off or Not?

"Hongxue, where did you go?"

Shang Hongchen, who had waited a long time, finally saw her sister return. Her sister had come back skipping along the way and had not brought anyone out with her. Shang Hongchen could not help but press for answers.

Shang Hongxue was startled, and after seeing it was her sister, she panicked.

She tried to slip away, but Shang Hongchen grabbed her hand and would not let her leave.

Pulling her back into the courtyard, leaving only the two of them, Shang Hongchen put her hands on her hips and stared at her sister. She walked a circle around her sister, her eyes scanning her constantly, feeling that her sister had become different. The feeling she gave was strange—gone was the weakness from the past couple of days, that pitiful fragility, that Lin Daiyu feeling.

More lively, and more energetic.

She reached out and pressed her sister's hand again, examining her sister's body. After a full examination, she found nothing.

Shang Hongxue's face was full of panic, afraid her sister would notice something. Fortunately, Brother Chuyang's methods were more concealed and more formidable. Her sister had not detected any clue. Shang Hongxue could tell roughly from her expression. She did not speak and immediately lowered her head. At this moment, Shang Hongchen lifted her head but did not meet her sister's eyes.

"Tell me, where exactly did you go? I remember telling you that whenever you go out, you have to tell me. I'll take you out. It's dangerous outside. If something happened to you, what would your sister do? What would Father do?"

Shang Hongchen saw her sister with her head down, not making a sound.

She realized her words had been too harsh. Her eyes softened, and her voice became gentle too.

"Hongxue, it's not that your sister is scolding you, but it really is dangerous outside. Before you have the ability to protect yourself, you can't go out alone."

"Your sister is very worried about you. From now on, you're not allowed to do this anymore."

"Did you hear me?"

Shang Hongxue looked up and smiled: "Mm."

Seeing her like this, how could Shang Hongchen not know she was acting to win sympathy?

"You, really now, you don't let anyone have peace of mind at all."

"You didn't go to Longshe Shan, did you?"

Shang Hongxue's eyes went wide, round and full as she looked at her sister, blinking, blink blink blink.

That look—no need to even see it, it was definitely the case.

Shang Hongchen was furious. She did not understand: "What's so good about Chen Chuyang? Why are you so close to him?"

Chen Chuyang—that man had problems.

Ever since she met him, Shang Hongchen felt this person was not honest, a man of deep cunning.

A person who isolated himself at all times, who liked to live alone, and who liked to hide away on the mountain by himself. Ever since she learned of such a person, that person had been hiding on the mountain, rarely coming down, and rarely gathering with others to socialize.

You could say few people got along with him. A person like this had always been an oddity, the oddity of Longshe Cheng.

In short, a person like this was dangerous. She did not want her sister associating with this person.

But her sister would not listen. She had no guard against Chen Chuyang, and was even very close to this man—closer than she was to her. How could Shang Hongchen stand that? She was Shang Hongxue's own sister.

"Hongxue, didn't I tell you not to go to Longshe Shan? That place is very dangerous. If you encountered danger, what would you do?"

"Chen Chuyang is not a simple person. If he has any designs on you, you'd be ruined. Listen to your sister—go to Longshe Shan less, and have less contact with him."

Shang Hongxue nodded, her attitude thoroughly perfunctory.

Whether she did it or not was her own business.

How could Shang Hongchen not know her sister's meaning? She grew even more angry.

"Hongxue, why are you so close to him?"

Shang Hongchen wanted to know the answer. Why?

That man was very ordinary, with nothing remarkable about him, nothing that could attract them.

But her sister, why... so...

"Hehe." Shang Hongxue giggled foolishly.

She did not answer this question. In her heart, once she had decided on something, it was decided, and she would not change—even her sister could not change her mind.

She still remembered the first time she met Chen Chuyang. At that time, she was very weak, her body about to collapse, about to die out there, when Chen Chuyang stepped in and saved her. And he also gave her a very precious spiritual herb. At the time, Shang Hongxue did not know the price of that spiritual herb. After returning home and looking it up, she discovered it was a second-grade spiritual herb, very precious.

Ever since then, whenever she had free time, she would sneak off to Longshe Shan.

It was just that her sister was always watching her, and her parents at home were the same, watching her, not letting her leave the Shang Clan.

"Forget it, you've already fallen under his spell."

Shang Hongchen was very angry at her sister for being deceived so easily.

She rubbed her temples, her expression turning serious. She held her sister's hand and asked earnestly: "Hongxue, do you like Chen Chuyang?"

"Ah?"

Shang Hongxue was dumbfounded, her eyes wide, looking at her sister in disbelief. These words, coming from her sister's mouth, were truly too shocking.

This kind of thing—how could Shang Hongxue admit to it face to face? She... had her pride too.

Her sister was not Brother Chuyang. How could she...

Denying it was wrong, admitting it was wrong too. Shang Hongxue lowered her head and chose not to answer.

"Mother told me she wants you to take my place and marry into the Chen Clan. What do you think?"

Shang Hongchen directly dropped a bombshell. This question completely stunned Shang Hongxue.

In her heart, there was actually a trace of secret delight and happiness.

Anticipation flickered, but she knew her sister would not be this kind-hearted.

This sister definitely had a scheme.

"Sister, what do you think?" Shang Hongxue did not answer, but asked in return.

Shang Hongchen gritted her teeth and said: "Hmph, Chen Chuyang is just an ordinary person, someone whose cultivation talent isn't even that great. He's not worthy of my sister."

"Hongxue, you and your sister are destined to become people above others, not to stay in Longshe Cheng for a lifetime, playing wife and raising children."

"Don't worry, your sister won't let anyone sacrifice you. With your sister here, your sister will always protect you."

Shang Hongxue knew it would be like this. Her sister would not easily let her marry over there.

Reasons—there were plenty.

This is a test.

"Older sister's word is final."

I can't resist.

Shang Hongxue really wanted to say "I'm willing," but older sister would surely be angry and would surely change her mind.

She only needs to wait for older sister to leave Longshe Cheng and go to the Heavenly Heart Sect to cultivate; then she can settle everything.

For now, she only needs to endure and wait for that day to come.

"Hongxue, this is what you said."

"From now on, you can't regret."

Shang Hongxue nodded: "Mm."

Shang Hongchen drew a deep breath, so afraid of hearing that answer.

Her younger sister will not marry that ordinary person.

Impossible in this lifetime.

Chen Chuyang is not worthy of either of them.

He shouldn't dream of a toad wanting to eat swan meat.

"Hongxue."

"Older sister."

"You don't really like Chen Chuyang, do you?"

"..."

Shang Hongxue almost let it slip, but in the end she held back and didn't say it.

A blink, a foolish smile, no answer, no words—you figure it out yourself.

"Not the best; since that's the case, older sister, I'll go to the Chen family to call off the engagement."

"This engagement must be called off."

Shang Hongxue hesitated for a long time.

"Mm."

After older sister successfully calls off the engagement, she can……