Chapter 882   - Extra Story: The Villainess Wants to Fall in Love (16)

It's been more than two weeks since her mother showed up in Cloud Mist Inn and had a confrontation with her. Tang Zhelan thought that her mother would return and pester her to come back to the city with her, but Lady Tang never showed up again.

She supposed that her mother understood now that she wouldn't be able to change her mind that easily and follow their request to settle down with the man they deemed worthy to become their son-in-law.

The news of the rift between her cousin, Tang Moyu and the Tang family reached her ears. It wasn't easy for her to ignore what was happening back in Shenzhen. If the empress succeeded in crushing the Tang family with her own hands, wouldn't that mean that she and the rest of the Tang daughters would eventually get the freedom denied to them for generations?

The proposal Tang Moyu sent to her several weeks ago was still kept inside her drawer, waiting for her stamp of approval. Should she give Tang Moyu a hand in ruining their family, or continue to watch the events unfold on their own?

However, she also couldn't just wait and see her parents do harm against the Zhao family that had taken her in at the lowest point of her life.

One afternoon, Zhao Feng came knocking on her door while she was re-reading the doc.u.ments the empress sent to her.

"Jingjing said you wanted to talk to me. Is there a problem?" he asked, not beating around the bush.

"I'm planning to go back to Shenzhen. I think it's about time for me to face the problems I left when I came running here," she said in response.

"Why do you make it sound like you made a cowardly move by coming here, Miss Lan?" It was hard for her to stop calling her Miss, and Tang Zhelan gave up correcting him every time.

'Strangely enough, I am nothing but a pretentious coward,' Tang Zhelan muttered to herself.

"It's not like that. I'm aware that the Tang family is facing a problem right now," she said nonchalantly.

"So are you going against Tang Moyu again to help them?" Zhao Feng sighed briefly and paid attention to her facial expression. Most of the time, her words contradict what was truly in her mind.

"I am not that stupid to lay myself to protect them, Zhao Feng. Moyu might not be showing her ruthlessness, but the fact that she was stringing the family all along meant that their fate is still in her hands," she said in an apathetic manner.

"You know, maybe I should give her a hand and let the Tang family be at the receiving end of their daughters' grudges." She chuckled amusedly.

"But your parents…"

"I'm also perfectly aware of that, Zhao Feng," she mumbled with a bitter look on her face.

"Zhao Feng, I cannot thank you enough for the things and help you gave to me, even if I do not deserve it," she expressed her gratitude. "I'm also tired of running away, blaming others for my misfortune. That's why I need to go back and clear things up."

Zhao Feng fell silent, and Tang Zhelan couldn't gauge his reaction at all.

After a long silence, he asked her, "Are you leaving for good?"

It wasn't hard for Tang Zhelan not to know what he meant by that question. It had been said that a man in love could be more dense and oblivious than one might expect.

'So this is the end for us? I wouldn't be able to be with you?'

She wasn't that dumb not to realize that Zhao Feng held such romantic feelings for her, but she never raised the issue out of respect. However, she could not pretend that she was oblivious about it anymore.

"Zhao Feng, it's been more than two years since you resigned. In all honesty, there's no need for you to get involved with me and extend a hand to help me. Why did you do it?"

Zhao Feng lifted his head and met her clear gaze set upon him. He opened his mouth to say something, but he suddenly felt that it was hard to breathe, and his palms were starting to feel sweaty.

He didn't want her to hate him, knowing he harbored such feelings for her. Would Tang Zhelan hate him for it?

"I—" He looked at her eyes and realized that she already knew but had decided to keep mum about it. As if it gave him the courage he needed, Zhao Feng continued.

"I have loved Miss Lan for a long time now. Please forgive me. I also apologize for my impertinence." He lowered his gaze, not wanting to see the disgust that may follow shortly after his confession.

Wasn't it why he never mustered the courage before to tell her, even when he resigned from his post two years ago? Zhao Feng knew that he should be satisfied watching over her, accompanying her like a friend. He knew damn well that he couldn't be greedy and ask more from her.

Tang Zhelan remained calm and stared at the man seated across her intently. This was certainly not the first time a man professed his feelings for her, but she thought that Zhao Feng's admission was more sincere than the previous ones she received from other men.

She was aware that when men sought after her, it was only because of her beautiful face and what the Tang family could give to them in the future. But with Zhao Feng, she could sense the honesty in his words.

"You sure are brave for liking a woman like me— a villainous woman like me." She cupped her chin and looked outside the balcony of her room. She pretended to be calm and collected when she said this, but in fact, she had no idea what to do next.

"You don't have to apologize for what you feel, Zhao Feng, but please don't expect me to give you an answer soon."

Zhao Feng's head snapped and looked up at her in surprise. What did she mean by that? Was she… considering him?

The slight blush that dusted her cheeks caught him off guard. What was this supposed to mean for him?