TFWYH – Chapter 429 This is called a simp

Xie Wenjie said angrily, disappointed in him, “Brother Su, have you forgotten how difficult life is for the Imperial Noble Consort in the palace? Or have you forgotten the oath you once made—to study hard, enter the court, and become her support? Or have you forgotten your own words about rising above others and protecting the Su family?

“If Yuan Yuan returned your feelings, that would be one thing. But it’s obvious there’s no place for you in her heart, and yet you still keep chasing after her. Are you planning to abandon the Su family and ignore the Imperial Noble Consort just for this woman?”

These were words Xie Wenjie had wanted to say for a long time.

Ever since meeting Yuan Yuan, his friend seemed like a completely different person.

All his former ambitions seemed to have been thrown away, his sense of responsibility vanished. All he did now was revolve around a woman.

And not even a woman who loved him—a courtesan!

He had heard Yuan Yuan clearly refuse, both openly and indirectly, many times. She had no intention of becoming Su Yangyu’s concubine.

Yet Su Yangyu behaved as though he simply couldn’t understand!

Was this really choosing beauty over ambition?

If Tang Wan had witnessed this scene, she would definitely have commented: No! This is called being a simp—one who ends up with nothing in the end!

Su Yangyu felt deeply ashamed after hearing his friend’s words.

He didn’t know what had happened to him either. Ever since their first meeting, he had been unable to forget Yuan Yuan.

He truly liked her.

But Yuan Yuan… refused to follow him.

He genuinely couldn’t understand why.

“Brother Xie, you’re right. I feel ashamed. But… I still want to go ask Yuan Yuan for a clear answer. This will be the last time. If she still insists on rejecting me, then I won’t cling to her anymore.”

“You… fine, fine. Go if you must. It’s better to ask clearly and give up sooner,” Xie Wenjie said helplessly. He was completely exasperated and could only choose not to watch any longer.

Su Yangyu cupped his hands in farewell and hurried off eagerly to find Yuan Yuan.

At this moment, Yuan Yuan was on Flower Street, inside an old brothel.

This brothel had just been taken over by Xianglan and had not yet been renovated.

Inside, it looked like any other brothel—gaudy to the extreme, with a lingering, overpowering fragrance still hanging in the air.

After looking around, Yuan Yuan discussed renovation plans with Xianglan, then asked about the girls.

Xianglan immediately led her upstairs to a private room where more than a dozen girls sat neatly together, appearing gentle and refined.

However, most of them wore blank expressions, their eyes filled with lifeless despair.

Yuan Yuan was very familiar with that look—it was the same as her own in the past.

No tomorrow. No hope.

She slowly scanned each girl, her tone softening.

“Don’t be afraid. Our Qingyuan Elegant House isn’t like other brothels. In the future, whether you choose to perform or sell your body will be entirely your own decision. I will never force you.”

Upon hearing this, faint light returned to the girls’ lifeless eyes. They looked at Yuan Yuan in disbelief.

“You really won’t force us to sell ourselves?”

“Really,” Yuan Yuan said with a smile. “But there is one requirement…”

Hearing this, the girls’ expressions immediately fell again.

Of course—how could there be a brothel where women could freely choose between selling their bodies or performing? If such a place existed, it wouldn’t even be called a brothel anymore.

Seeing their reactions, Yuan Yuan chuckled softly.

“Don’t misunderstand. My only requirement is that each of you must master at least one skill—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, or song. If you don’t know any, Xianglan will teach you.”

What?

All the girls froze, wondering if they had heard her wrong.