TSWPF -Chapter 435 Why Are You Crying?

Xichun shook her head and said she wanted to get married only after the young miss turned one year old.

By then, the young miss would be a little older, Madam wouldn’t be so exhausted, and she could feel at ease getting married.

Li Qingling asked her repeatedly if she had really made up her mind.

Xichun nodded and said yes.

Li Qingling then asked Liu Shi whether he agreed with Xichun’s decision.

Liu Shi said he agreed.

A few months’ wait was nothing to him.

“Alright, we’ll do as you say.”

Xichun and Liu Shi looked at each other and said in unison, “Thank you, Madam.”

Li Qingling smiled and waved her hand, letting them leave. She stayed behind, leisurely eating.

She needed to think about how to arrange Xichun’s wedding.

As Xichun’s “family,” she had to make sure Xichun married in grand style.

Maybe she should ask Nianxia if she wanted to get married on the same day?

She thought it would be nice if the two sisters married on the same day.

Just then, Nianxia came back cheerfully. Before Li Qingling could speak, she rattled on excitedly about what had happened at the banquet.

After listening with a smile, Li Qingling looked her over carefully and asked, “Nianxia, when do you and Ling Yi plan to get married?”

“…”

Nianxia blinked, feeling a little shy.

“Madam, why are you asking that?” Was Madam tired of seeing her and wanted to marry her off early?

“Xichun just said she’ll marry Liu Shi after Xiaoxiao turns one,” Li Qingling said with a smile in her eyes. “So I thought I’d ask you—when are you and Ling Yi getting married? Do you want to do it on the same day?”

Nianxia stamped her foot and cried, “Madam!”

She and Ling Yi weren’t even officially settled yet. How could they already be talking about marriage?

She… she hadn’t thought about marrying so soon.

Seeing her expression, Li Qingling raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“Don’t tell me you still haven’t agreed to Ling Yi’s proposal?”

Nianxia twisted her handkerchief and softly replied, “Mm.”

She really hadn’t agreed yet.

Li Qingling rubbed her forehead and silently lit a candle for Ling Yi.

Poor boy—he still hadn’t won the beauty’s hand.

She thought it had been settled last time.

Looking at Nianxia, she asked, “Why haven’t you agreed? Hasn’t he proposed several times?”

Nianxia fell silent.

Li Qingling didn’t rush her, letting her think it over.

After a long while, Nianxia finally said, “I’m afraid…”

Yes, she was afraid.

Afraid she wasn’t good enough for him.

That was why she kept rejecting his proposals.

She didn’t know if he would eventually give up.

If he did… she would have to accept it.

“What are you afraid of?” Li Qingling frowned slightly. “Afraid you’re not good enough for him?”

Hadn’t Xichun already talked her through this before? Why was she stuck in it again?

She felt even more sorry for Ling Yi now.

This girl seemed carefree, but when it came to love, she turned into a coward.

She and Xichun were complete opposites.

Xichun was sensitive, yet bold in love.

Nianxia, on the other hand, retreated.

Nianxia lifted her eyes slightly, bit her lip, and nodded again.

She was afraid she wasn’t worthy of him.

She was afraid people would mock him for marrying a maid.

He could have someone better.

Li Qingling looked at her for a moment, then patted the chair beside her.

“Come, sit here.”

“Madam…”

“Sit.”

Nianxia obediently shuffled over and sat down, only perching on half the seat.

She looked at Li Qingling nervously.

Li Qingling burst out laughing.

“Relax. I’m not going to eat you.”

Only then did Nianxia loosen up.

“Madam, when you’re serious, it’s scary…”

“You haven’t done anything wrong. What are you afraid of?” Li Qingling shot her a glance. “Come, tell me what’s really on your mind.”

Nianxia twisted her handkerchief.

“Do I really have to say it?”

“Yes.”

After Li Qingling poured her some tea, Nianxia finally gathered her courage.

“I just think I’m not good enough for him. He deserves someone better.”

She had once impulsively gone to propose to him herself, but later regretted it.

After that, when he asked about marriage, she avoided the topic.

He thought she was unhappy that he hadn’t proposed, so he kept proposing again and again.

But she never agreed.

She couldn’t say she didn’t like him.

Because she loved him deeply.

She envied Xichun’s courage.

She herself was afraid.

Afraid of getting hurt.

Li Qingling was speechless for a moment.

“What does ‘deserves someone better’ even mean? Have you ever told Ling Yi how you feel?”

Nianxia shook her head.

She couldn’t say it.

She was too selfish—unwilling to let go, yet afraid of being hurt.

“Do you like Ling Yi?” Li Qingling asked.

“Yes.”

“I think you don’t like him enough,” Li Qingling said seriously. “If you truly loved him, you’d want to marry him, not keep pushing him away.”

She hoped Nianxia would marry Ling Yi.

She believed she would be happy.

She didn’t want her to regret it someday.

Nianxia bit her lip.

Was it really because she didn’t love him enough?

“Think carefully,” Li Qingling said firmly. “If you don’t want to marry him, then let go cleanly. Don’t hold him back.”

“I… I’m very conflicted,” Nianxia said, tears welling up. “I’m afraid to marry him, but I don’t want to let him go. Am I bad?”

“Silly girl,” Li Qingling sighed and held her hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. If things don’t work out, you can always come back to me.”

Nianxia burst into tears.

She had been suffering in silence for so long.

“Why are you crying?” Li Qingling smiled helplessly and wiped her tears. “You’ll turn into a little kitty.”

Nianxia sniffed hard but couldn’t stop crying.

Li Qingling laughed.

“Why are you crying even more now?”

Then she teased, “Should I call Ling Yi over and ask him?”

“No!” Nianxia protested.

She wiped her face and said with red eyes, “Madam, let me think it through first. When I’m sure, I’ll go find him.”

Li Qingling nodded.

“No one waits forever. If you regret it later, there’ll be no turning back.”

“I’ll think it through,” Nianxia promised.

“Don’t force yourself. Marriage can’t be forced.”

Nianxia nodded again.

She would decide properly—either marry him, or let go.

Li Qingling reminded her earnestly, “Ling Yi is a good man. Don’t miss him.”

“Okay.”

“Go wash your face and think it over. If you’re confused, come talk to me.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Nianxia bowed and slowly walked out.

Outside, Xichun noticed her immediately.

“Why are you crying? What happened? Did Madam scold you?”

Nianxia shook her head.

“No.”

“Then why are you crying?”

Nianxia took a breath and forced a smile.

“I heard you’re getting married… I couldn’t bear to part with you, so I cried.”